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Preview of Star Mage #1

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JC De La Torre, author of the critically acclaimed novel Ancient Rising, gives us a new fusion of Science Fiction and Magic in Star Mage, which is released this week by IDW Publishing. Here’s a preview of Star Mage #1

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“Darien Connors discovers he’s not from Earth, has strange magical powers and is the key in an ancient war between two alien races of necromancers. Like Harry Potter meets the Last Starfighter, Star Mage offers wizard battles with a side of spaceship warfare, alien worlds and weird creatures.”

Star Mage #1 is out on Wednesday, priced $3.99.

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Chris Pratt talks Guardians of the Galaxy

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Chris Pratt as Star-Lord in Guardians of the GalaxyDuring the MTV Movie Awards, MTV News caught up with man of the moment Chris Pratt (The LEGO Movie), who is set to make his debut in the Marvel Cinematic Universe this August as Peter Quill, a.k.a. Star-Lord, the leader of the ragtag group of misfits turned superheroes, the Guardians of the Galaxy. Pratt offered an update on the current status of the movie, as well as a promotional campaign that so far has been fairly reserved (of course, expect all that to change by the summer).

“They’re cutting it together and loving everything that they see. They’re being very careful about what they release and very smart about getting people excited without giving away what the movie’s about and not giving away the best jokes or story. I think people are very fired up to see it, and don’t know what to expect. That’s the best way to see a movie. If I’m really excited to see something, and I have no idea what I’m about to see, I love that. I think that can be a problem you get when you’re dealing with [franchises where moviegoers] want to know everything about it.”

Meanwhile, Pratt also expressed his hopes that the cosmic superhero ensemble will be well received by fans, opening the door for further appearances for Star-Lord in the Marvel Cinematic Universe: “I hope people really like it, and I hope I get to play that character for a very long time. I think Marvel’s been very smart about projecting into the future and what they’re putting on their slate. It’s based on what people like, so we’ll put this movie out there and see how people react to it. Who knows?”

Guardians of the Galaxy is set for release on August 1st, with James Gunn (Super) directing a cast that also includes Zoe Saldana (Star Trek Into Darkness) as Gamora, Dave Bautista (The Man with the Iron Fists) as Drax the Destroyer, Bradley Cooper (American Hustle) as Rocket Raccoon, Vin Diesel (Riddick) 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.

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Carnage to appear in the Venom movie?

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CarnageAfter teasing the character in a Daily Bugle viral article for The Amazing Spider-Man 2, producer Matt Tolmach has now touched upon the idea of the crazed serial killer Cletus Kasady appearing in Sony’s planned Venom spin-off movie.

“The idea of Venom and Carnage, taking it into consideration,” said Tolmach in an interview with IGN to promote the release of the Spidey sequel. “Watch out for this Venom movie. We are crazy excited.”

So, might we see Carnage as the antagonist to the original symbiote?

Venom is currently in development under The Amazing Spider-Man 2 screenwriters Alex Kurtzman and Roberto Orci, along with Ed Solomon (Men in Black), while Kurtzman is also attached to direct.

 

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Preview of The X-Files Annual 2014

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The X-Files writer/producer Frank Spotnitz returns with an untold tale from Mulder and Scully’s first stint with the FBI this week with IDW’s The X-Files Annual 2014. Check out a preview below…

When a man returns from the dead with a warning for his wife, the agents investigate and cross paths with a very peculiar priest. And in the second story, Cerebus creator Dave Sim writes his first-ever The X-Files story and first scripted licensed work in… forever? with “Talk to the Hand,” a nightmarish tale starring a sleeping Dana Scully!

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The X-Files Annual 2014 is out on Wednesday, priced $7.99.

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Studio Ghibli Season – Grave of the Fireflies

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As part of the BFI’s Studio Ghibli Season, Simon Columb reviews Grave of the Fireflies…

grave3A Studio Ghibli season at the BFI has highlighted the very best of Japanese animation. We can define the cuddly Totoro or fantastical world of Princess Mononoke as what Studio Ghibli stands for – but Grave of the Fireflies proves otherwise. In fact, Isao Takahata’s 1988 film(released alongside My Neighbour Totoro) is a sobering, heart-breaking tale of those final years in Japan at the end of World War II, told through the eyes of two children, Seita and Setsuko. Grave of the Fireflies may be one of the most impressive, and surely ground-breaking, animations from the studio and challenges Disney – and western animators – to make such mature, intelligent and brutal films for a young audience.

Based on a novel by Akiyuki Nosaka, it is semi-autobiographical as he himself survived the fire-bombings of Japan while his sister died of malnutrition. This truth is loud and clear as the story is open and frank about the horrors of war. Indeed, aimed at children, this will surely establish a sense of pacifism in the youngest of minds. “September 21, 1945… that was the night I died.” is the first line. Seita is dead. We hear this narration from beyond the grave, and merely seeing his starved corpse in the centre of Sannomiya Station is a shock unto itself. Does author Nosaka believe this should’ve been his fate? But his soul is reawakened and we flashback to the countless moments of injustice that he, and his sister Setsuko, are forced to bear to stay alive. Something, known from the outset, they fail to do.

The spectacular backdrop of nature and blue skies; the neon glow of the fireflies, contrasts against the war-time horrors. Bandaged bodies and ashen corpses litter the streets. Setsuko herself – a baby-faced four-year-old – has red-rash skin, diseased by malnutrition, whereby her rib-cage, even in animated form, evokes such sadness. We know Setsuko was not the only young child affected.

grave2But Grave of the Fireflies rests on the shoulders of 14-year-old Seita. His downward spiral of sorrow begins as he desperately runs from the fire-bombs hitting his home-town, as Setsuko clings to his back. His only goal is to find his Father and look after his sister. Irrespective of the burnt towns and desperation on their faces, Seita and Setsuko try and laugh. They play on the beach and carry gem-like fruit-sweets in a tin. Setsuko’s laugh highlights her happiness and her innocence, but we know it won’t end well. Seita steals to stay alive and a cruel aunt abuses the limited rice they gain (accumulated by selling their deceased mothers kimono). These are desperate times and, too young (and rightfully scared) to support the nation, but too old to be pitied and helped by others. Seita is trapped in the grey area whereby adults can’t comfortably ignore his troubles.

Compared with films that tackle the destruction and decimation of war in the context of childhood, such as War Horse, it doesn’t do the film justice. Grave of the Fireflies stands tall alongside Schindler’s List considering the emotional honesty revealed in the death of two children; the lead roles. Roger Ebert notes the influence of Hiroshige and Hergé in the animation, detailing how it the narrative “mediates on the consequences” of action rather than exploiting it. Indeed, the patience and calmness is overpowering as we see the humanity in the story. Ebert goes so far as to state that Grave of the Fireflies “belongs on any list of the greatest war films ever made”, and I’d be inclined to agree. As part of the Studio Ghibli season, it is amongst the very best.

Throughout April and May, the BFI on Southbank are screening all the Studio Ghibli films. For more information, click here.

Simon Columb

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UK trailer for Oculus starring Karen Gillan, Katee Sackhoff and Brenton Thwaites

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It may already be out in the States, but there’s still a couple of months to go before the UK release of writer-director Mike Flanagan’s horror Oculus, which stars Karen Gillan (Doctor Who), Katee Sackhoff (Battlestar Galactica) and Brenton Thwaites (Maleficent). To ease the wait, Warner Bros. has released a new UK trailer and poster, which we’ve got for you right here…

Oculus UK poster

Ten years ago, tragedy struck the Russell family, leaving the lives of teenage siblings Tim and Kaylie forever changed when Tim was convicted of the brutal murder of their parents. 
 
Now in his 20s, Tim is newly released from protective custody and only wants to move on with his life; but Kaylie, still haunted by that fateful night, is convinced her parents’ deaths were caused by something else altogether:  a malevolent supernatural force unleashed through the Lasser Glass, an antique mirror in their childhood home. 
 
Determined to prove Tim’s innocence, Kaylie tracks down the mirror, only to learn similar deaths have befallen previous owners over the past century.  With the mysterious entity now back in their hands, Tim and Kaylie soon find their hold on reality shattered by terrifying hallucinations, and realize, too late, that their childhood nightmare is beginning again…

Oculus is set for release on June 13th in the UK, with a cast that also includes Rory Cochrane (Argo), Annalise Basso (The Red Road), Garrett Ryan (Insidious: Chapter 2) and James Lafferty (One Tree Hill).

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Preview of Superman: The Silver Age Newspaper Dailies, Vol. 2 (1961-1963)

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IDW continues its collection of the Man of Steel’s newspaper adventures with the release of Superman: The Silver Age Newspaper Dailies, Vol. 2, featuring never-before reprinted stories from August 1961 – November 1963. Check out a preview here…

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Wayne Boring and Stan Kaye provide the artwork, and once again, Superman co-creator Jerry Siegel scripts adaptations of stories that first appeared in comic books. Siegel and Boring offer alternate versions of now classic stories originally written by Siegel himself, Bill Finger, Edmond Hamilton, and Leo Dorfman—and drawn in comic books by Curt Swan, Al Plastino, Kurt Schaffenberger, and Boring himself.

Superman: The Silver Age Newspaper Dailies, Vol.2 is out on Wednesday, priced $49.99.

 

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Godzilla gets a WonderCon poster

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This Saturday at WonderCon, Warner Bros. and Legendary Pictures will be showcasing Godzilla, and in advance of the convention a special Godzilla WonderCon poster has been released online, which pays tribute to Toho’s original King of the Monsters….

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An epic rebirth to Toho’s iconic Godzilla, this spectacular adventure, from Warner Bros. Pictures and Legendary Pictures, pits the world’s most famous monster against malevolent creatures who, bolstered by humanity’s scientific arrogance, threaten our very existence.

Godzilla is set for release on May 15th, with a cast that includes Aaron Taylor-Johnson (Kick-Ass), Bryan Cranston (Breaking Bad), Elizabeth Olsen (Martha Marcy May Marlene), Ken Watanabe (Inception), David Strathairn (The Bourne Legacy), Juliette Binoche (The English Patient), and Sally Hawkins (Blue Jasmine). Watch the latest trailer here.

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True Detective – Episode 8 Review

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Matt Smith reviews the season finale of True Detective…

true-detective-finaleTrue Detective is a prime example that, even with our methods of watching a TV show changing, that stories don’t have to necessarily change. It also exemplifies the way TV can be about telling shorter, self-contained stories. And while this could’ve been handled well enough in a movie, True Detective is made that much more powerful and exciting by the way it’s a slower TV series that is essentially a movie with a runtime of just under eight hours.

In this final part of the series, Rust and Marty are nipping at the heels of their prime suspect. Back together after so many years driven apart by their own issues and prior events, can the pair of them use their skills to finally track down one of the men behind it all?

It’s fitting for a show that is so slow that it’s also extremely concentrated and tight. Each movement and cut in an episode seems deliberate, and True Detective may be receiving critical platitudes just because it’s a show that rewards those that pay attention. Much more enjoyment can be gleaned from it if an eye’s kept on it and every detail is kept under close scrutiny. It’s a method that ensures those who’re watching will gossip about what could happen, and means teasing can be kept to a minimum.

In the same way it’s never over the top, meaning it can be disconcerting in subtler ways. True Detective never gives away too much, so every little glimpse of something can be looked at. It’s one of many TV shows and movies that eschew audience baiting while at the same time tempting audiences in with elements that are guaranteed to catch the eye.

And once this show catches the eye, it won’t let you go. Especially in this tense, nail biting finale, the lovingly composed shots and heart pounding sense that this is the end in at least one way for these characters means you can’t look away. Just like the moments that led before, it’s also fitting that there are more questions to ask even once the final scene is over. Another season seems set up, but Rust and Marty figuring again seems impossible. With McConaughey and Harrelson both reportedly not returning, it’ll be a tough job if a second season does happen.

But what can be said about this final episode of the first season that hasn’t already been said? Phenomenal acting from everyone involved (with an especially creepy turn with an overriding sense of power from Glenn Fleshler as nominal villain Errol). Storytelling so well balanced and paced it kept hold of you until the end. A feeling of pure darkness taking hold in this world with horrible characters that in the end is slowly becoming brighter, to the point where you don’t notice until the main characters point it out. True Detective is and will remain a fantastic series of enduring quality, self contained and confident enough in its quality that it never put a step wrong. Here’s to Rust and Marty, for providing eight hours of brilliance.

Matt Smith – follow me on Twitter.

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Nightwing comic to be replaced by Grayson

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It looks as though it doesn’t matter if you followed Forever Evil or not , as Dick Grayson is going to be alive and well in a new title that will fill the void left when Nightwing ends at issue 30.

But what form will the new title take?

Well, it looks as though Dick is trading in his black one piece for something a touch more Mission: Impossible.

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At the urging of Batman himself, Dick hides his survival from everyone he knows and starts working for the international group SPYRAL, introduced in Batman Inc.

The new title begins on 2nd July and is written by Tim Seeley and Tom King. King is a former CIA counter-terrorism operations officer, so should add a nice layer of realism to proceedings.

King explains that this is Grayson’s chance to “to take off the mask and step out on his own in a world where he’s not simply being another hero like the hero he grew up with,”.

“He’s doing something that’s going to cause pain to his friends and family, but he believes in the cause. That tension between having to do something good but having the cost of it being pain to his family, it drives him a little crazy.” Leaving your life behind, as well the rest of the Bat-Family will do that I guess. 

Spoilers for Forever Evil – Grayson was captured by the Crime Syndicate of Earth 3, publicly outed as Nightwing and seemingly murdered. Looks like staying ‘dead’ might be the best way to go.

In parallels with Marvel’s S.H.I.E.L.D. organisation, “He has to save the world, but he’s dealing with an organization that may go beyond his comfort zone,” King says. Supposedly SPYRAL ”purports to be on the side of the angels, but clearly, there’s some weird stuff going in. Their penchant for manipulation instantly makes them nefarious.”

For more details, including costume details and who Dick will be facing in this new chapter, check out USA Today.

This does look interesting though. DC were never going to actually kill off someone as popular as the first Robin, though the ramifications of such an act would have been felt across the new 52, such is the characters friendly and heroic nature. I do find myself wondering how he feels about using a gun now though.

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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Game of Thrones Season Four – Episode 2 Review

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Oliver Davis reviews the second episode of Game of Thrones Season Four….

The Lion and the Rose.

Directed by Alex Graves.

Written by George R. R. Martin.

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Nobody major usually dies in these earlier Game of Thrones episodes. The big plot events are often kept until the close of a season, historically episode 9. So don’t worry, you can relax for a moment, just sit back and enjoy th-

“Written by George R. R. Martin”

Crap.

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Theon Greyjoy (Alfie Allen), or ‘Reek’ to his friends/masochistic torturers, is having a bad time of it up North. After appearing sporadically in Season 3, and not at all in last week’s series opener, the reminder of how frail and subservient the once-cocksure character has become is rather distressing. You actually feel empathy towards the guy – the same guy who betrayed his adopted Stark family and had the most annoying sneer this side of King Joffrey *kisses fist, holds in air for minute silence* “R.I.P. Your Grace.” More on that later…

The Lion and the Rose opens on Theon and his best friend/masochistic torturer Ramsey Snow (played with manic delight by Iwan Rheon). Rheon has uncovered a dimension to Snow absent from the books. Martin writes him as an out-and-out sadist. Rheon’s faux-politeness, twinkling eyes and eerily permanent smile, however, give the character more of a Heath-Ledger’s-Joker edge. Snow and Myranda (Charlotte Hope) chase a girl through the woods, with the bastard’s dogs in tow. What’s most disturbing, though, is Theon limping along behind, twitching like an abused cat, a whole different person to his Winterfell days.

Theon’s submissiveness has him spill the fates of the younger Stark boys, Bran and Rickon. The returning Roose Bolton (Michael McElhatton) sends his men to track them down. He wants the North for himself, and that means wiping out the Stark lineage…

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Which isn’t amazing news for Bran (Isaac Hempstead-Wright) and co., North of the Wall. This storyline has been somewhat ignored since Bran revealed his super-charged Warg-powers (he controlled a person), and is one of the weaker narratives running through Game of Thrones. It’s soon to pick up, though, as evidenced in this episode.

In a flashforward vision/trailer for Season 5, Bran sees a a three-eyed crow, the shadow of a dragon flying above a King’s Landing-like city, Ned Stark’s forehead and a glimpse of a White Walker. Exciting stuff. This episode also had the season’s first “Hodor,” always a highlight, bringing both the season and episode’s Hodor Tally to ’1′.

Joffrey (R.I.P.)

Rest in peace, King Joffrey (Jack Gleeson) – the Seven Heavens gained a new angel today. In a tour de force episode showcasing the personality traits that made Joff such a wonderfully intolerable prick – being rude, his stupid face, getting bored really quickly – he has finally perished, being poisoned on the day of his wedding.

The Lion and the Rose was an odd episode for Game of Thrones, in that the last half was entirely focused on one scene. Usually the narrative jumps around from character to character (of which there are many), or place to place, but here the last half hour all occurred at King Joffrey (RIP) and Margaery Tyrell’s (Natalie Dormer) wedding. Every second longer the scene continued compounded the sense of dread. The last Westeros nuptials that took place didn’t end so well…

I’ve got a lot of notes on this scene – how the books made the wedding seem grander (the television version appeared budget by comparison); the giant, oddly tacky lion’s head (or “Brian Gibb sculpture,” as my housemate put it); Sigur Ros’ rendition of the Rains of Castamere (The National’s was better) – but this space is reserved for something else: a celebration of Gleeson’s interpretation of King Joffrey.

Tyrion’s (Peter Dinklage) your favourite character. That’s easy. If you say otherwise, you’re lying. He’s the most empathetic, well-written and best acted of the bunch. But who’s your second favourite character? Jon Snow (Kit Harrington)? Daenerys (Emilia Clarke)? All solid answers. Mine was Joffrey.

In the books, Joffrey is a phenomenal dick. But the television series somehow improved on this, and in a world where so much is reduced or taken away by adaptations, this should really be applauded.

Gleeson’s performance of Joffrey is…*sniffs, wipes eye*…was the best in Game of Thrones. Dinklage already had the best dialogue, Gleeson had to work more. He was used sparingly, but to devastating effect. His presence was increased in the television series, which I strongly believe is down to how well Gleeson played the character.

He had these evil mannerisms, facial sneers, but beneath it all was an overwhelming insecurity. He broke down whenever challenged, and then responded in the most immature, wounded way possible. I hated him with a smile on my face.

It’s all typified by one moment in The Lion and the Rose, when he cuts the wedding pie with his new Valyrian sword. On slicing the crust, he recoils in genuine fright – it’s etched on his face – when a half-dozen birds take flight from within. But birds in pies is a normal tradition for big celebrations like these. Surely he knew what was inside. But he still jumped back, surprised.

The crowd decide to overlook their King’s insecurity and erupt in applause. On hearing the claps, Joffrey looks up with the most abhorrent confidence, cockily swiveling on his heel to look at his beautiful new wife. That transition encapsulates the King, and Gleeson’s pitch perfect execution. His death might not have been as shocking, or as poignant, as Ned’s or those at the Red Wedding, but Joffrey’s passing might arguably be the most cataclysmic in terms of Westeros politics…and my own heart. The Iron Throne is once again vacant.

And, of course, it provides a delicious cliff hanger for the next episode. Cersei (Lena Headey) has accused Tyrion of poisoning her son. The way Joffrey treated him during the ceremony certainly gives him motive. A murder mystery is afoot. What do you think, Joff?

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Christ, I miss him so much already.

Oliver Davis is one of Flickering Myth’s co-editors. You can follow him on Twitter (@OliDavis).

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Extended TV spot for Marvel’s Guardians of the Galaxy

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gotg-official-stillDuring the MTV Movie Awards, Marvel Studios debuted an extended TV spot for the upcoming space epic Guardians of the Galaxy; sadly, it doesn’t contain any new footage from the eagerly-anticipated film, but if you’d like to check it out anyway you can do so below courtesy of CBM

From Marvel, the studio that brought you the global blockbuster franchises of Iron Man, Thor, Captain America and The Avengers, comes a new team — the Guardians of the Galaxy. An action-packed, epic space adventure, Marvel’s “Guardians of the Galaxy” expands the Marvel Cinematic Universe into the cosmos, where brash adventurer Peter Quill finds himself the object of an unrelenting bounty hunt after stealing a mysterious orb coveted by Ronan, a powerful villain with ambitions that threaten the entire universe. To evade the ever-persistent Ronan, Quill is forced into an uneasy truce with a quartet of disparate misfits — Rocket, a gun-toting raccoon, Groot, a tree-like humanoid, the deadly and enigmatic Gamora and the revenge-driven Drax the Destroyer. But when Peter discovers the true power of the orb and the menace it poses to the cosmos, he must do his best to rally his ragtag rivals for a last, desperate stand — with the galaxy’s fate in the balance.

Guardians of the Galaxy is set for release on August 1st with James Gunn (Super) directing a cast that inlcudes Chris Pratt (Parks and Recreation) as Star-Lord, Zoe Saldana (Star Trek Into Darkness) as Gamora, Dave Bautista (Riddick) as Drax the Destroyer, Bradley Cooper (American Hustle) as Rocket Raccoon, 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. Watch the first trailer here.

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Hans Zimmer confirmed to score Batman vs. Superman

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superman-vs-batman-logoHaving previously refused to commit one way or another, composer Hans Zimmer has now confirmed that he’s set to take a second stab at scoring the Caped Crusader after Christopher Nolan’s Dark Knight Trilogy, revealing to Digital Spy that Zack Snyder has invited him to compose the music for the upcoming Man of Steel sequel Batman vs. Superman.

We’ve already had a couple of chats, and once I finish the movie that I shall not talk about [Christopher Nolan's Interstellar] I will probably head over to where Zack is shooting his movie and just hang out a bit and see if we can come up with any ideas,” said Zimmer, who also composed the score to Man of Steel, as well as The Amazing Spider-Man 2.

Zimmer then went on to admit that he’s anxious about finding a new take on the Dark Knight for Ben Affleck’s Batman, which will distinguish it from his work on Nolan’s Bat-films: “That’s my problem, that’s my dilemma. I don’t want to betray, if that’s the right word, the Dark Knight movies. That was Christian Bale, it was Christian’s role. It’s not just that it was nine years of our lives, so you want to stay honest and honourable to that period. So it’s really about, ‘Is there something else I can find that I haven’t tapped into?’ Which I don’t know until I sit down with Zack.”

Are you glad that Hans Zimmer is returning for Batman vs. Superman? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below…

Batman vs. Superman is set for release on May 6th 2016 with returning Man of Steel stars Henry Cavill (Superman), Amy Adams (Lois Lane), Diane Lane (Martha Kent) and Laurence Fishburne (Perry White) also joined by Gal Gadot (Fast & Furious 6) as Wonder Woman, Jesse Eisenberg (Now You See Me) as Lex Luthor, Jeremy Irons (The Borgias) as Alfred Pennyworth and Holly Hunter (The Piano), Callan Mulvey (300: Rise of an Empire), and Tao Okamoto (The Wolverine) in as-yet-unrevealed roles.

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Movie Review – The Raid 2 (2014)

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The Raid 2, 2014.

Directed by Gareth Evans.
Starring: Iko Uwais, Cocep Rahman, Julie Estelle, Tegar Satrya, Yayan Ruhian, Arifin Putra, Alex Abbad, and Donny Alamsyah.

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SYNOPSIS:

Having escaped from the infamous tower block in the first film, Rama (Uwais) is thrown back into the brutal environment of the Indonesian underworld via a dangerous undercover mission.

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Of all the different types of films out there, it is arguably those belonging to the action-film genre that best lend themselves to sequels. Perhaps it is their penchant for high-concept plot structures that enable the filmmakers to so easily copy and paste action sequels, or maybe it’s the fact that they rarely require carefully-considered framing devices. Whatever the reason, it’s hard to deny that the annals of cinema are littered with carbon-copy action-sequels, with the only alteration from the originals being location. Thankfully, The Raid 2 does not fall under this description.

To be fair, Gareth Evans et al. have certainly changed up the location; long gone is the claustrophobic brilliance of the world’s most violent tower block. Instead we are treated to a wide variety of sprawling locations ranging from murky drug-dens to immaculate restaurant kitchens. These simple changes act as a perfect analogy for the film as a whole: the cramped world of high-concept has been replaced by something far bigger and braver.

Everything about the sequel has been expanded and kicked up a gear. Where the original’s fairly basic plot took place over just one day, the sequel spans years and is labyrinthine in its structure. Evans shows he’s capable of quite the plate-spinning act as he has meticulously controls the ever-revolving narrative, resulting in one of the most surprisingly complex action flicks in many years.

Loyal fans of the original need not fear though; The Raid 2 is, in many ways, worlds apart from its predecessor, but it has undoubtedly retained all the key assets that made the first film such a revelation. I am of course here referring to the fight scenes. Just as The Raid reinvented the way we consume on-screen fisticuffs (for unfamiliar, international audiences anyway), the sequel picks up right where it left off. The fighting on display is once again raw and inventive, delivered at a blistering pace that results in footage that is almost hypnotizing it’s brutality.

And brutality is the keyword here too; the use of claw hammers in this film makes Oldboy seem like a B&Q advert.

As you’d expect, the violence is the star attraction here, and it definitely does not disappoint. However, the biggest surprise of The Raid 2 is how well it tackles every other element of the plot. Everyone involved has pulled together in search of the resolute goal of making an ‘epic’, and they’ve all succeeded. The size and scale of the story has been multiplied tenfold, and done so to devastating effect. Even the runtime has ballooned, now nearly an hour longer that The Raid.

Is it better than its forerunner? As always, only time will tell, but one thing remains for certain: The Raid 2 is an undisputable master-class in high-octane violence. Bring spare adrenalin.  

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

Jackson Ball – follow me on Twitter.

The post Movie Review – The Raid 2 (2014) appeared first on Flickering Myth.

New clip and images from Son of Batman

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Ahead of its upcoming WonderCon premiere this coming Friday, Warner Bros. has debuted a new clip and three images from the upcoming DC Universe Animated Original Movies release Son of Batman, which we’ve got for you right here…

Son of Batman

Son of Batman

Son of Batman

Hidden atop a secret mountain stronghold lies the League of Shadows and its fearless leader, Ra’s al Ghul. Together with his equally dangerous daughter Talia, he oversees a trained army of assassins with plans for global domination. But an uprising from within the league now threatens to shift the balance of power and sends Talia and her young son, Damian, fleeing to Gotham City. With assassins on their trail, Talia seeks the protection of Batman, who, unbeknownst to him, is the boy’s father. With his son in tow, Batman wages war against the villain Deathstroke and the League of Shadows, all while teaching his headstrong boy that one can’t fight crime by becoming a criminal. With help from Gotham’s finest, including Commissioner Gordon and Nightwing, Batman will soon discover that his son and most trusted ally are one and the same!

Son of Batman is set for release on May 6th, with a voice cast that includes Jason O’Mara (Justice League: War) as Bruce Wayne / Batman, Stuart Allan (Rise of the Guardians) as Damian Wayne / Robin, Sean Maher (Firefly) as Nightwing, Morena Baccarin (Homeland) as Talia, Giancarlo Esposito (Once Upon a Time) as Ra’s Al Ghul, David McCallum (The Man from U.N.C.L.E.) as Alfred Pennyworth, Xander Berkeley (24) as Kirk Langstrom / Man-Bat and Thomas Gibson (Criminal Minds) as Deathstroke / Slade Wilson.

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New cast photo for The Expendables 3

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Ahead of a flood of set visit reports tomorrow, Lionsgate and Millennium Films have debuted a new cast photo for the upcoming action sequel The Expendables 3, which features returning stars Sylvester Stallone, Dolph Lundgren, Terry Crews, Jason Statham, Randy Couture and new cast addition Wesley Snipes (Blade) alongside director Patrick Hughes (Red Hill)…

The Expendables 3 cast photo

In THE EXPENDABLES 3, Barney, Christmas and the rest of the team comes face-to-face with Conrad Stonebanks, who years ago co-founded The Expendables with Barney. Stonebanks subsequently became a ruthless arms trader and someone who Barney was forced to kill… or so he thought. Stonebanks, who eluded death once before, now is making it his mission to end The Expendables — but Barney has other plans. Barney decides that he has to fight old blood with new blood, and brings in a new era of Expendables team members, recruiting individuals who are younger, faster and more tech-savvy. The latest mission becomes a clash of classic old-school style versus high-tech expertise in the Expendables’ most personal battle yet.

The Expendables 3 is set for August 15th with a cast that also includes returning Expendables Arnold Schwarzenegger and Jet Li and franchise newcomers Harrison Ford (Star Wars), 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. Watch the latest trailer here.

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Apocalypse Al lives up to her name in trade paperback edition

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ApocalypseAl_V1Maintaining the family business is never easy especially when you have to prevent a deranged artefact collector from opening the door to Hell. The creative talents of writer J.M. Straczynski, and artists Sid Kotian and Bill Farmer have produced a smart and sassy protagonist who would be a great pal of Buffy the Vampire Slayer and Veronica Mars.

Allison Carter is the latest in her family’s long line of paranormal investigators specializing in preventing the end of the world. Her grandfather and umpteenth-great-grandfathers probably never anticipated her father having only a daughter, but Al employs the same Carter wit, smarts, and deadly accuracy as her male predecessors—and then some. With an attitude of “shoot first and to Hell with the questions,” she leads a life that would drive other investigators mad, filled with monsters, demons, trolls, mad prophets, zombie detectives, techno-wizards, machinegun toting imps, and undead boyfriends.

The Adventures of Apocalypse Al which contains the four-part New Joe’s Comic miniseries arrives on May 28, 2014 in comic book stores and on June 10, 2014 in bookstores.

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Channing Tatum and Mila Kunis in new Jupiter Ascending still

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Thanks to Total Film, we’ve got a new still from The Matrix duo Andy and Lana Wachowski’s next sci-fi offering Jupiter Ascending, which gives us a fresh look at the film’s two leads, Channing Tatum (21 Jump Street) and Mila Kunis (Ted)…

Channing Tatum and Mila Kunis in Jupiter Ascending

Jupiter Jones (Mila Kunis) was born under a night sky, with signs predicting that she was destined for great things. Now grown, Jupiter dreams of the stars but wakes up to the cold reality of a job cleaning toilets and an endless run of bad breaks. Only when Caine (Channing Tatum), a genetically engineered ex-military hunter, arrives on Earth to track her down does Jupiter begin to glimpse the fate that has been waiting for her all along – her genetic signature marks her as next in line for an extraordinary inheritance that could alter the balance of the cosmos.

Jupiter Ascending is set for release on July 25th, with a cast that also includes Sean Bean (Game of Thrones), Eddie Redmayne (Les Miserables), Douglas Booth (Noah), Tuppence Middleton (Trance), Doona Bae (Cloud Atlas) and James D’Arcy (Hitchcock). Watch the trailer here.

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New TV spot for The Amazing Spider-Man 2

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Electro in The Amazing Spider-Man 2Ahead of its UK release tomorrow [read our review here], and just so we don’t forget Sony has released the umpteenth TV spot for its superhero sequel The Amazing Spider-Man 2, which we’ve got for you below…

We’ve always known that Spider-Man’s most important battle has been within himself: the struggle between the ordinary obligations of Peter Parker and the extraordinary responsibilities of Spider-Man. But in The Amazing Spider-Man 2, Peter Parker finds that a greater conflict lies ahead. It’s great to be Spider-Man.

For Peter Parker, there’s no feeling quite like swinging between skyscrapers, embracing being the hero, and spending time with Gwen. But being Spider-Man comes at a price: only Spider-Man can protect his fellow New Yorkers from the formidable villains that threaten the city. With the emergence of Electro, Peter must confront a foe far more powerful than he. And as his old friend, Harry Osborn, returns, Peter comes to realize that all of his enemies have one thing in common: OsCorp.

The Amazing Spider-Man 2 is set for release on tomorrow (April 16th) in the UK and on May 1st in North America, with a cast that includes 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) alongside 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 and B.J. Novak (The Office) as Alistair Smythe.

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Channing Tatum has met with Fox over X-Men role as Gambit

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GambitBack in September, Magic Mike and 21 Jump Street star Channing Tatum stated that he’d like to join Fox’s X-Men universe in the role of the Cajun card-throwing mutant Gambit, with longtime X-Men producer Lauren Shuler Donner subsequently stating that she is “dying” to do a Gambit movie with Tatum in the role. Well, it seems that both may get their wish, with Tatum revealing that he’s met with the producer about taking on the role previously played by Taylor Kitsch in X-Men Origins: Wolverine.

“I met with Lauren Shuler Donner,” Tatum tells MTV. “And I would love it. Gambit is really the only X-Man I’ve ever loved. I mean I’ve loved them all, they’re all great, but I guess from being down south – my dad’s from Louisiana, I’m from Mississippi, Alabama, Florida – I don’t know. I just related to him. He’s just kind of suave… He’s the most un-X-Men X-Man that’s ever been in X-Men. Other than maybe Wolverine, who’s like the anti-hero. He’s a thief. He’s not even a hero. He’s kind of walking the line of grey…He loves women and drinking and smoking and stuff so he’s just a cool guy who happens to have a moral center… I hope it [comes together]. You never know it’s a weird industry. If the stars align, I would die to play it. I’m already working on the accent. It’s crappy at the moment.”

With Bryan Singer teasing the inclusion of Gambit in the line-up of 2016′s X-Men: Apocalypse on two occasions lately [see here and here], could we see Tatum lining up alongside James McAvoy (Professor X), Michael Fassbender (Magento), Jennifer Lawrence (Mystique) and Nicholas Hoult (Beast) in the next X-Men sequel, or does Kitsch deserve a second throw of the cards? Let us know your thoughts…

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