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Movie Review: Ride Along
Movie Review: ‘Jack Ryan: Shadow Recruit’
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Paramount goes back to the beginning (as is the trend lately with franchise characters) with an actor who’s already used to doing exactly that, Chris Pine,. Instead of treading the halls of a space ship, this time he walking through Wall Street as Tom Clancy’s spy hero, Jack Ryan.
Yes, I said Wall Street. I know, doesn’t seem like the world’s most exciting beginning for a spy, but don’t worry, eventually the whole story moves to Russia with a Bond villain-esque Kenneth Branagh, Kevin Costner as a experienced and weary handler, and Keira Knightley as the world’s most needy girlfriend.
Thrill to the danger as the Unusual Suspects choose to accept this dangerous mission of reviewing Kenneth Branagh’s (that’s right, he directed it too) “Jack Ryan”. Your agents for this case will be Chris, Beau, Martin and Elliot. Good Luck.
Batman Vs. Superman and Justice League Might Be Shot Back-To-Back
The slow build to the DC Comics cinematic universe has created quite the rumor mill. They’re obviously trying to catch up with Marvel, but their means to that end haven’t been announced quite yet. So, in the latest of rumors to pop up it seems that the upcoming Justice League film might be coming sooner than we thought.
According to “a trusted source” for Latino Review, Batman Vs. Superman and Justice League will be shot back to back. Much in the same vein as the Back to the Future or Pirates of the Caribbean second and third installments, the filmmakers are hoping to have another film ready to be released within a year of Batman Vs. Superman in order to strike while the iron is hot. This would explain the various casting rumors as of late for various DC productions, which include Dwayne Johnson (who has confirmed his involvement) and Jason Momoa (who has denied being connected with any DC project).
There are many questions to be asked about this news. Is this back to back shooting a plausible idea? Sure. I could see Warner Bros. and DC actually doing this. Is Latino Review’s “trusted” anonymous source legitimate? Well it hasn’t stopped them from revealing big secrets in the past, so I’ll at least give them the benefit of the doubt. Now for the main question; does this give me much hope for the Justice League film? … Probably not.
Ever since the release of Man of Steel last summer, I’ve been worried about how DC has been planning out their attempt at a cinematic universe. I really don’t mind what they’ve done with the casting of Batman and Wonder Woman, but making decisions like keeping Zack Snyder as director for Batman Vs. Superman or trying to move ahead with a Justice League film without developing these characters has me a bit worried. Sure they don’t have to go the Marvel route of introducing a character with each film, but this plan would only allow for two films to introduce the entire Justice League, develop their characters, getting them together, injecting a threat into the plot, etc. It all feels so rushed, especially since this rumor would place the Justice League film as coming out in 2016. Continue to put me in the doubting corner for DC, personally.
But that’s just one man’s opinion. How do you all feel about this idea? Could it move the DC cinematic universe along solidly or will it sink their ship before it can sail? Post your thoughts in the comments below!
Via Latino Review
Watch the trailer for ‘Doomed! The Untold Story of Roger Corman’s The Fantastic Four’
Despite the fact that it was never officially released, director Roger Corman’s 1994 Fantastic Four film holds infamous status among comic fans and movie buffs alike. Even with the incredibly low expectations (not to mention budget) and the rather suspect motives behind the movie’s creation, the final product is laughably, sacrilegiously bad. At some point in the near future, a documentary by Marty Langford and Mark Sikes, entitled Doomed! The Untold Story of Roger Corman’s The Fantastic Four, will allow you to learn everything there is to know about the failed cult classic. The trailer is here for your viewing pleasure.
According to the legend, the film was made solely so Bernd Eichinger could retain the film rights of the Fantastic Four. Given the need to get literally anything made in time to meet the legal deadline, the movie was shot in less than a month for a mere $1 million. The limited constraints of the project explain why the film is just unspeakably horrible. Seriously, the 2005 Fantastic Four movie looks like Hitchcock compared to this one. Of course, there is a worthy story behind this movie, and Langford and Sikes sought to tell it with this film. While there is no release date for the movie, it has a website with more information and a trailer was released this week.
If you need any more convincing that this documentary is a necessary addition to our culture, please look at this scene from the film. In this video, the Four have just returned from their disastrous space journey and Ben Grimm has yet to find out that he has been transformed into a living piece of shit the iconic rock-like monster we all know and love.
Yeah, Forrest Gump may have won the Oscar in 1994, but we all know what the true best picture was. In case you just can’t wait, the entirety of Corman’s film is available on YouTube. Here’s hoping that the documentary comes out in the near future.
Have you ever seen Roger Corman’s Fantastic Four movie? What are some of your beloved yet terrible superhero movies? Share your thoughts in the comments!
Digital Noise Episode 27: Danger Zone
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Do not attempt to adjust your tracking, Digital Noise is indeed on the air! Also, adjusting the tracking would have little to no effect on a podcast.
This week, Brian and Chris rewind through the past week and talk about some of the standout Blu-ray and DVD releases…as well as some you’d be better off completely avoiding. Among the top tier titles are Archer Season 4, the VHS documentary Rewind This, and (believe it or not) Big Ass Spider!
On top of all that, we are giving away a DVD copy of the exceptional home invasion thriller You’re Next!
It’s about to get extremely noisy in here!
Thinking of purchasing any of the titles we discussed? Or anything from Amazon in general? Please access Amazon via our links to help support the site. We really appreciate it.
How To Win This Week’s Giveaway:
1.) Follow @OneOfUsNet on Twitter
2.) Tweet what masks you and your crew of scary home invaders would wear (à la You’re Next)
3.) Add hashtag #yourenextgiveaway
4.) We’ll select our favorite and contact that winner via Twitter. (U.S. Residents only)
Follow Digital Noise on Twitter and make sure to review us on iTunes.
Saltire: Scotland’s first Superhero – Comic Book preview
The first thing that is immediately upon apparent entering the home of Diamondsteel comics creator John Ferguson and his business partner Clare Ferguson is how a midst all the successful reviews and coverage, they are the epitome of humble. Balancing working together and three wonderful children, John, Clare and the entire Diamondsteel creative team have the privilege of introducing the world to Scotland’s first superhero – Saltire.
Dundee has a rich heritage of comic books which are recognized worldwide, which include titles such as The Beano, The Dandy, Oor Wullie. The list is vast and it is iconic. But in the world of comic books and graphic novels, superheroes is a genre almost entirely untouched in Scotland, and even the UK despite the fact that Scotland has produced such comic book writers as Grant Morrison. So why then has Scotland never tackled the superhero genre? This was the catalyst for John in many ways as he explains:
I came to this position I suppose fortuitously by being inspired by an article to create a new concept and a new superhero based on Scottish ideas and ideology’s because a specific article I read pertained that this wasn’t possible, that Scotland couldn’t have its own superhero, that it was too drab, too dreicht, too boring. This gave me inspiration to create exactly what this article said couldn’t be done.
Diamondsteel was established to ensure that John and his creative team had full control of their project. But being a new company, it also meant finding a creative team which could be unleashed onto what could have been perceived as a risky, or daunting challenge. John and I spoke a lot about start ups and entry into the industry. He understood that genuine talent could be found in the young local talent and that is exactly who he opened the opportunity up to from the beginning. Using his finished scripts and concepts, he worked with Dundee’s Duncan and Jordanstone College of Art and Design and invited anyone and everyone to submit concept art:
When the entries came back, there were actually two artists that jumped out for different reasons. One was incredibly beautiful and one was incredibly dynamic. And we thought imagine if we could take the best of these two, it would be incredibly fantastic.
It transpired that these two artists, Gary Welsh and Tone Julskjaer worked together in animation and found it natural to work on the comic together.
It’s very apparent, even on first glance that the art work is truly wonderful. It is very much carving out its own identity and visual style, rather than attempting to emulate other popular graphic novels. The visual flare and uniqueness is also aided by the variety and distinctive personality that Scotland has everywhere you look along with the rich history and culture, and the team have encapsulated that, both in the distinct visual style and the writing (more on that in the review).
We also discussed the political landscape right now in Scotland. We face a historic year in carving out our future with the referendum on independence taking place on the 18th of September. Regardless of where one stands, it’s an important year. But it can also be quite antagonizing and aggressive. Saltire itself has been accused of being propaganda for the yes vote but John is adamant that this isn’t the case.
I mentioned that both John and Clare are incredibly humble. But it is also clear that they are both very proud about what they and the team have begun. Saltire has made a big impact on the comic book community and work has already begun on book number two which I am informed is even more exciting and epic than the first. With interest from film companies, more positive reviews than you can shake a diamond steel sword at it’s clear that Saltire is here to stay.
Check out the full interview below and look out for our review later this week.
Tarantino Releases Details of His Next Film!
Quentin Tarantino loves him some westerns. Even though there was much controversy with his last film, Django Unchained, it would be hard to ignore its style and adherence to the western motifs. Regardless of the debate of ‘He is ripping things off’ vs. ‘He is paying homage’, one thing remains clear: he is incredibly passionate about his influences.
So much so, the title of his next film feels like he wants to make a quasi-sequel-but-not-really to John Sturge’s The Magnificent Seven. Tarantino isn’t ready to retire his spurs just yet, as he returns to the Western genre with his next film entitled…
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The Hateful Eight!
Meh, I don’t know about you, but in terms of the title, I feel like he’s trying a bit too hard.
Not much has been released on the plot of the film, but judging from the title, it sounds like he wants to do his own Western adaptation of Kurosawa’s own Seven Samurai, which actually sounds pretty sweet! The story about a village hiring seven bad asses to defend them from bandits, just sounds like something that is begging for Tarantino to get his paws on. That being said, there’s just something I don’t like about the title The Hateful Eight. It comes off as him trying too hard to make it sound like he is making a Western with attitude. But hey, if the movie turns out to be awesome, I’ll eat my words.
Also, he has started casting for the film. The Hollywood Reporter stated that:
No one has been cast yet, but Tarantino has reached out to veteran casting director Victoria Thomas, who worked on Django, to work with him on casting the movie, say several insiders. A part has been written for Christoph Waltz, who starred in Tarantino’s Django and Inglourious Basterds.
So really, not much has happened in terms of casting. So you know what? Why don’t we put on our casting hats, and play the ‘Who do we want to cast in this Tarantino Western’ game. Seeing as Christoph Waltz has already secured a part, here are the Magnificent Seven I would want cast in this film!
1. Timothy Olyphant
Marshal Raylan is one bad-ass dude, and to see him deliver on some Tarantino-esque dialogue would be pretty awesome.
2. Russell Crowe
His character Ben Wade in 3:10 to Yuma was basically a Tarantino character. Calm and cool, good with the ladies, and a badass when he needs to be. Why hasn’t this pairing happened already?!
3. Bill Paxton
If you haven’t seen 2 Guns, it kind of felt like a fun discount Tarantino film. Also, Bill Paxton was having so much fun playing this villain, I would love to see him go all out in a wild Western!
4. Raymond Cruz
Interesting bit of trivia for ya. Breaking Bad’s Tuco Salamanca was named after Eli Wallach’s Tuco Ramirez from The Good, The Bad, The Ugly. So here, Raymond Cruz can be the wild cannon, and basically be the Hulk of the Hateful Eight. Just give him some of that Blue Sky, and he’ll be tight tight tight!
5. Jonathan Banks
Pulling more from the Breaking Bad cast, Mike Ehrmantraut was probably my favorite character. He was cold, efficient, and intimidating. When Mr. Banks went to Community, I was surprised at how funny he could actually be! So to have a badass funny old guy in a Tarantino Western will have me in the theater in a heartbeat!
6. Leonardo DiCaprio
If I had a complaint about Django Unchained, it’s that there wasn’t enough of my home boy Leo Di-Cap! (I am SO street). He tore up the screen in that film PLUS he has experience with Tarantino, and from what we’ve seen, it’s like mixing together chocolate and peanut butter!
7. Nathan Fillion
We’ve consistently seen Nathan Fillion work with Joss Whedon. He’s witty, funny, and can handle a gun pretty well (Phrasing!). It would be really interesting to see how what kind of a performance Tarantino can pull out of him. Hey, if Jonah Hill made the transition, why can’t Nathan?
So fellow OOU.netties, now it’s your turn! What are your casting choices? How do you feel about the name? Whatever your thoughts, comment below and let One of Us know!
Wally West Speeds Back Onto The Scene!
I grew up pretty much a Marvel kid. I dabbled in DC, but like most casual DC fans, my choices usually boiled down to either Batman or Superman. Other DC heroes were touched upon from time to time, but they were more passing fancies than anything I really grabbed onto. It wasn’t until my late teens where I found a book that made me legitimately interested about the greater DCU. I had read a few stories with this character and really enjoyed them, but never had I connected with a DC writer or character on this sort of level before. The writer was Geoff Johns and the character was Wally West, the Flash. Through Wally I got to know the Titans (both teen and otherwise) and the extended DCU.
So you can imagine my jubilation (along with many other Flash fans) when I heard that finally Wally West is coming back to the DCU! Wally has been MIA since the whole “New 52” fiasco… erm, I mean event of 2011, but will return on the tail end of April of this year in The Flash Annual No. 3. This return is being handled by the new creative team of Robert Venditti and Van Jensen with artist Brett Booth who take over the book that same month. That’s right folks, within the first month of taking over the book, the new guys will bring Wally back! Talk about your ballsy starts!
Now before we bust out the cervezas and have a fiesta let’s get a few things straight. For one thing, just because Wally is coming back doesn’t mean he’ll be the Flash again. In fact it seems Barry Allen isn’t going anywhere, so whatever role Mr. West will have to play in the scheme of things remains unknown. Secondly, although Wally is returning, the fate of his wife Linda as well as their children (if they even still exist post “52”) remains unknown. Lastly, Wally’s return doesn’t mean the book will be good again either. Despite the brilliance in terms of the art from the soon to be departing team of Francis Manapul and Brian Buccellato, the duo as a writing pair left so very much to be desired. The departing team’s next gig will be to go make Detective Comics extremely pretty yet boring and pointless to read.
In terms of the Flash, at least, this new team brings hope, not just for Wally West, but the entire Flash franchise as a whole. I really want the book to be great again, and whatever role Wally plays in Flash or possibly in his own title, I want to be there to enjoy one of my favorite characters once more.
So are you guys excited to be getting Wally back? Who is your favorite Flash and why? Let your feeling be known in the comments below!
Via USA Today
Eric Snider Channels Randy Newman in His ’12 Years A Slave’ Song
If Eric Snider’s self-written biography is anything to go by, he is a busy man of several talents. To paraphrase from his own website, Eric is a freelance writer for several websites and publications, a critic, a columnist, a humorist, a bon vivant, a raconteur and a man-about-town. He is certainly a man with a diverse skill set!
Apparently, he is also quite modest, because he omitted “hilarious musician” from the list. Through his song-writing talents, Eric has the ability to make light of even the most depressing movie of the year, 12 Years A Slave. If you’ve ever wondered what kind of song Randy Newman would write for Steve McQueen’s harrowing drama, Eric has an answer for you. Give “Randy Newman’s Title Song from 12 Years A Slave” a listen because it is amazing.
If you enjoyed that (and of course you did because you have a great sense of humor), you should know that you can hire Eric to bring his particular brand of comedy to your publication by emailing him. Good show Eric, keep the gold coming!
Via SoundCloud and ericdsnider.com
‘From Dusk Till Dawn: The Series’ Trailer Sucks More Than Just Blood
As a die hard fan of Robert Rodriguez’s 1996 film, From Dusk Till Dawn, I know the one question I was asking for almost two decades was, “When will they finally milk this for all it’s worth and make a TV series?”
Wait, no, that’s the opposite of what I was waiting for.
Quite frankly, just a worthwhile sequel would have been perfectly fine but that was apparently too much ask for, apparently. No matter, some studio folks have come up with a From Dusk Till Dawn TV series and the trailer is here for you to watch and promptly place your face in palm.
I smelled trouble immediately when the first shot is some random nobody trying to do his best George Clooney impression of one of the original film’s memorable opening moments. Suffice to say that the actor completely butchers the line. This is the kind of stuff soap operas would be embarrassed to let slip onto the air. There are guys walking around in suits wielding guns and knives mumbling through really hackneyed dialogue surrounded by visuals that might be the best thing this trailer has to offer, but are equally as hackneyed and cliche.
There appears to be nothing new or exciting about this series and the trailer reflects all the evidence of that. How many times have you seen a dead body floating in a pool as blood spreads in the water? How many vampire/zombie movies have you see where the supernatural force is feeding on a body, only to have it quickly turn around and snarl at you? Those are almost the only two scenes I can really remember vividly after watching the trailer, aside from shots of cops standing in a hallway with their guns drawn, generic tough guy talk and other scenes of random action. All of this adds up to a series that I suppose I will at least try to watch the pilot, but have almost no hope of enjoying.
If you too feel inclined to check out the series and see how bad it might be for yourself, it premieres March 11th on the El Rey Network.
What do you think of the trailer? What are your thoughts on the original film? Were you begging for a TV series to begin with? Sound off below!
Via: YouTube