Smark Country: Big Fish, Bigger Pond?
‘Batman vs. Superman’ Has Its Wonder Woman
Big news on the Man of Steel/Batman vs. Superman front! It has been reported Wonder Woman will indeed appear in the film and she has been cast. Actress, model, and former Israeli soldier Gal Gadot will portray the third member of DC Comics’ triumvirate in the character’s first movie appearance.
Gadot’s resume includes two films in the Fast and Furious franchise and two 2010 films, Knight and Day and Date Night. While her acting career is not particularly extensive, there is evidence to suggest she possesses the physicality required to adequately portray the Amazonian warrior princess. Gadot was born in Israel and joined the Israeli army, the Israeli Defense Forces, at 20 years old. Furthermore, she served as a sports trainer during her two-year term in the IDF. It is likely that her military experience contributed to her success in scoring this coveted role. Director Zack Snyder had this to say about Gadot’s selection:
Wonder Woman is arguably one of the most powerful female characters of all time and a fan favorite in the DC Universe. Not only is Gal an amazing actress, but she also has that magical quality that makes her perfect for the role. We look forward to audiences discovering Gal in the first feature film incarnation of this beloved character.
I have to hand it to Warner Bros., picking Gadot to portray Wonder Woman is a brilliant move. Executives have been wringing their hands and worrying about this character’s debut on the silver screen (a bit too much, in my opinion) for years. Gadot’s diverse and unorthodox background provides a number of attributes that safely account for any complaints or excuses that could hinder Woman Woman’s appearance in Batman vs. Superman.
I am especially pleased that they opted to pick someone who can fight and likely has some experience in an actual combat scenario over anything else. There are plenty of other actresses that have more experience than Gadot, but Wonder Woman’s penchant for combat and aptitude for warfare are among her most distinctive features. Given that this is her first appearance in a movie, it is important to emphasize Diana’s fighting prowess early on and demonstrate it well. WB was wise to look to the IDF, one of the fiercest armies in the entire world, for a battle-tested actress up to this task.
I can only hope that the material she has to work with allows her to succeed in the role. After all, Zack Snyder and David S. Goyer are still the creative engines behind this project and their previous efforts brought us Man of Steel, one DC’s most polarizing films. Pessimism aside, Gadot’s addition is the first piece of news that has me excited for this film. I didn’t know it, but she’s the Gadot I’ve been waiting for this entire time!
What say you, Us Nation? Does Gadot’s inclusion positively influence your expectations for Batman vs. Superman? Is there someone you believe would make a better choice? Let us know in the comments!
Via Deadline and Entertainment Weekly
Digital Noise Episode 22: Decembermas Is Upon Us
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On the first Digital Noise of Christmas, the studios sent to us, a blu-ray of My Name is Nobody.
On the second Digital Noise of Christmas, the studios sent to us, Turbo and Blackfish, and a Blu-ray of My Name is Nobody.
On the third day….well, you get the point. It’s that season, folks, so pay close attention ’cause some of the titles we’ll be looking at as we ramp up towards our big holiday episode are ones you very well might want to be picking up for your loved ones. Like the new Doctor Who: The Doctors Revisited set. Or Criterion’s latest acquisition Frances Ha. Or maybe even the latest Ip Man film, Ip Man: The Final Fight.
Either way, Brian, Luke and Chris break it all down for you in that merry way you’ve come to associate with the boys in blu. Holidazed or not, the solid scoop on this week’s home releases is all 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!
<–GIVEAWAY!!!!
How To Win This Week’s Giveaway:
1.) Follow @OneOfUsNet on Twitter
2.) Tweet your diabolical practical joke that you would play on your friends (it can’t kill, maim, or sexually assault them…we’re going for humorous here, not depraved).
3.) We’ll select our favorite and contact that winner Twitter.
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South Asian International Film Festival: ‘Anima State’ Review
Have you ever went to one of those modern art galleries? You know, one where an artwork may involve a string running down from the ceiling to about five feet above the ground with a colored pencil tied at the end of it, being blown ever so slightly by a fan, just enough to put small marks on the wall?
I’m not kidding, I’ve literally seen this at an art gallery.
If you ask the artist what this piece means, you might hear something along the lines of, “It means that art is art within itself, and no man can recreate it. It can only create itself. The art of my piece does not lie in what you see, but rather in the act of creating the piece in itself…”
Anima State, an entry in this year’s South Asian International Film Festival (which is taking place December 3rd thru the 8th in New York City), does not reach that level of pretentiousness, but it does reach that level of abstractness. What is this film about you ask? Well, let’s just say there’s not necessarily a real plot. I think(?) the plot is about a nameless man on the edge of his own sanity whose face is wrapped in bandages, and goes out on a killing spree for some unknown reason. However, the narrative does a COMPLETE 180 in the third act, almost discrediting everything we have just seen, in attempts to bring in a sort of meta-message context.
Anima State from Anima State on Vimeo.
So… is the film any good? Well my lovelies, let’s take out our microscopes and find out, shall we?
First Impression
I have never heard of director Hammad Khan, and apparently this is his second feature film. So when I saw this trailer, I was really excited. The opening quote was really provocative when it stated, “What does Pakistan mean? There is no god but Allah.” When it was followed with a gnarly dubstep sound track and images of some bad-ass wrapped in bandages taking out a bunch of dudes, the first thing that came to mind was Darkman… only with more social political commentary. And you know what? I was down with that! So I sat down and said, “Alrighty Mr. Khan, let me witness your awesome wrath.”
Presentation
The cut of the film that I saw was incomplete in terms of color correction and sound mixing. So for the most part, everything was a bit bland. Bland lighting, bland colors, and a bland score. But, I’ll give it the benefit of the doubt, and say that this was due to the film still being a work in progress. I will say although, that the way the director framed certain shots was really interesting. It felt like I was watching a film modeled after a Winding Refn work at some points. The blocking of certain scenes had a strange kind of symmetry to them, so kudos for that. But other than this, there’s not much else to say on the technical level.
The acting was bizarre, but these performances suited the context of the film. It seemed like the people in this worlds were in a sort of dream state. This all made sense when I recalled the opening of the film. Early on, viewers are provided with the definition of the word anima, which means “the part of the psyche that is directed inward and in touch with the subconscious.” In addition, the other half of the title, state, is defined as “condition, situation, or country.” After considering these definitions and viewing the actors through this context, it is clear that the director intended for the cast to act in a lethargic, subconscious manner to demonstrate how they were reacting to the events around them. Overall, the cast is successful in this regard.
The Review
This is a tough one to review. The film was so far off from what I expected it to be, that for the first 20 minutes or so, I was completely lost. There was a point however, where viewers see the protagonist masturbate to a stick cricket game in a stranger’s house. At the moment when Pakistan won the world cup, he…well… let’s just say he “commended” their victory. When I saw this, everything made sense. This is an art house film made by a college student. The kind of film where professors will show in class, and have you write up a 12-page analysis of the Mise-en-scene and the symbolic meanings of each frame and dialogue. The kind of film where you would write up something like:
“When the protagonist was masturbating to the stick cricket game on television, in where he climaxed when Pakistan won the world cup, it’s as if the director was trying to portray how patriotism is essentially masturbating to the glorification of one’s country through the media, but that glorification doesn’t hold true to reality. However, there is something to be said that masturbation is also kind of a form of self-abuse…”
Was that actually the intention of the director? The truth is, I don’t know. What I do know is that it was most definitely heavy-handed in its political/social message, and even tried to squeeze in a commentary about the media, all having to do with the director’s opinion of what is happening in Pakistan. Now, that is a fine message, but when it gets to the point where the protagonist was literally staring directly in to the camera and preaching to me, the message is a bit too on the nose and the film begins to lose some of its artistic integrity.
The meaning of what he was trying to say was lost to me in translation, but I don’t mean that because of the language barrier, but rather in the manifestation of themes cinematically. It’s a film that might require more than one viewing to understand what he was trying to accomplish, but this is a film that is meant to be studied. It is not for your entertainment.
Verdict
The film itself is disjointed and not cohesive, but that was what Hammad Khan was going for. There’s even a point where the protagonist buries his face into his hands and says, “This story doesn’t make any sense.” So if you’re in to analyzing abstract films with a message about politics and the media, and creating a thesis based on that analysis, then this film might be for you. As for me? I’d rather just pop in my copy of Darkman, and enter an Enema State.
On the classic ten-point scale, I’d give Anima State a six.
So OOUies, do you plan on watching this film? What are your thoughts about the trailer? Whatever they are, comment below, and let One of Us know! Also, if you’re in New York City this week and you have an interest in foreign films, be sure to check out the rest of the South Asian International Film Festival’s offerings here!
‘Tarzan’ (2013): The Most Baffling Trailer Ever
Tarzan is probably my favorite 2D animated Disney film, next to The Lion King. The musical numbers are particularly fun and memorable. Who can forget the creative Trashin’ the Camp, where the animals get together and do a jazz scat number with clever uses of dishes and and other miscellaneous objects as percussion instruments? The researchers may not have been pleased, but the song was definitely worth it. It’s almost a celebration of primitiveness and the rejection of civilization. To hell with fancy-shmancy living and fine dining! Let’s be free of society and live in the jungle! For reference, here it is:
Honestly, there is something liberating about entertaining the idea of abandoning everything, and just living the rest of my days swinging on vines, eating foods without trans fats, and not wearing pants. But then again, my life wouldn’t be complete without cat videos.
So when I discovered that they were doing another adaptation of Tarzan, I asked myself that age-old question, “Do we really need another Tarzan movie? Especially one made with 3D animation?” But, I decided to give it the benefit of the doubt, and sat down and watched this new Tarzan trailer, and well… I’ll get back to you when you watch this:
So uh… I don’t… I don’t even… What was even that? First of all, the animation was bizarre. It’s not that it was bad per say, it’s just that the characters look dead in the eyes. Kind of like a Robert Zemeckis animated film. The colors look pretty bland and lifeless as well, which is the last thing you want out of an animated film. The voice acting is also pretty atrocious, it honestly sounds like the actors are just reading lines from the script for the first time and at gunpoint. It also looks like they are trying to modernize it, and have it take place during present times, and you know what? I can be down with that. They did it with Sherlock, and that’s a pretty awesome show. With all these elements, I would usually just dismiss it and just go meh…
But then they introduce the CRAZY ASS elements: space rocks and aliens. Like seriously? A space corporation that wants to harvest the energy of a meteor that wiped out the dinosaurs? What in the hell does a man raised by apes in a jungle have ANYTHING to do with the hunt for unobtainium? That’s basically what it is. It’s Avatar meets Tarzan. So it’s probably some garbage on how the meteor landed near where Tarzan lives, and the woman they sent out to find it bumps in to him, and Tarzan knows exactly what and where they are looking for. Also, are you telling me that this meteor has spawned alien life forms and a Pandora-like biome? Ugh, there is just so much this film is making you swallow, and it’s really hard to even care. Honestly, this isn’t Tarzan anymore, and the title seems like it’s just a cash grab. It feels more like an Avatar rip-off than anything else. They might as well call it, “Jungle Man Battles Nuclear Energy Corporation in the Race For Space Rock Energy.”
So OOUies, what are your thoughts? Whatever they are, comment below, and let One of Us know!
Millennium Falcon Back For ‘Episode VII’?
Generally speaking, I’m not one for the Hollywood rumor mill. Most everything turns out to be pointless speculation and the few flecks of truth sprinkled in the mix are very hard to find. However, every once in a while, I come across something so awesome that if it isn’t true Hollywood should hop to it and make it so.
This is one of those stories.
It has been reported that “a source close to production” has let it slip that a full size Millennium Falcon has been built for the upcoming Star Wars: Episode VII!
“A full-scale 1:1 Millennium Falcon has been built as well as the interiors of the ship for filming. The Falcon is done – inside and out. The sets were built off-site, ready to move when Lucasfilm/Bad Robot were ready to move into Pinewood.”
Now hold your fangasm folks. Nobody from Disney or Lucasfilm has said one word to support this rumor. However, there is some simple logic that lends credence to the story. First of all, the Falcon is not just the most well-known ship in the Star Wars universe, it is indeed one of the most iconic ships in all of sci fi/fantasy, so Disney knows that people are going to want to see the ship in the new movie. Secondly, George Lucas caught a lot of flak for using CGI for everything, a practical Falcon would do much to endear the naysayers in the fanbase to the project. Lastly, imagine how much money the Mouse could make if after the movie(s) were done they plopped that sucker inside one of their parks. The cash they could make from that would be staggering.
We can only hope that Disney is clever enough to make this a reality if they haven’t done so already.
So what say you fine people on this? Do you think the rumor is true and would you travel to one of Disney’s parks just to see the Millennium Falcon? Let us know in the comments below!
Via Yahoo
‘Introduction to Actor Training’ – Week 5
Status plays a complex role in the Theatre. It can define where one stands in society. For example, a king would have high status whereas a beggar would not. However, I discovered that status is not absolute and can change in given circumstances. Also, whilst society plays a role there is also status within social groups – for example, Macbeth may have higher status to those he commands, but privately his higher status may be leveraged to Lady Macbeth.
We started of simply, throwing balls to each other in a repeated pattern saying a type of food. We then added two more balls which became a car and a colour. With three balls going around the circle, it was very easy to become distracted and not know when to catch or where to throw, along with forgetting which item goes where. We began to move this exercise around the room, first with the balls then without. Eye contact and focus was key to keep the pace and rhythm going. It was an important lesson in not only being ready as an actor to give, but having the ability to listen. It was very apparent when I concentrated too much on delivering my ball without concern for my partner, who wasn’t ready to receive the ball and therefore dropped it. This was my fault, and not hers.
As a metaphor for performing, it’s very important to listen to a scene partner to react accordingly and not just rush to deliver the next line. Something I have first-hand experience in at an amateur dramatic society. All too often a scene would consist of two people on stage saying lines (regardless of what came before, even if it was the wrong line) rather than characters interacting truthfully.
Next, we began to construct a scene full of chairs and a table. As a group, we rearranged them to create different status for the object. The interesting thing was, there is no discernible reason for a table to have more status in the room than the chairs, but it ultimately comes down to focus.
We each received a number from 1 – 10. We entered the scene (location of our choice) with that status, sat down and then left. My number was 2. Therefore I entered the scene quite timid, didn’t make eye contact. I acted as if I didn’t have permission to be there, uncomfortable in my own skin. It was incredibly fascinating to see each interpretation of their own numbers.
With different numbers, we created an improvised party scene, each interacting with each other as our status number. Here, it was very clear that status can create conflict and change rapidly within a scene based on other statuses around and given circumstances.
Some basic terms:
-status: a person’s perceived access to power
-status ladder: a ranking of characters from highest status to lowest status
-status challenge: when one or more characters try to change their relative place on the status – ladder by strengthening their position
-status equalizer: when one or more characters try to even out their relative places on the status ladder by weakening their position
A status chart can be found here
Drama student or not, an understanding of status is important. Understanding your own status in a situation can help infer behaviour and one should act.
Have the biggest status and comment your thoughts on this week below!
The INTERN-net Show #10: Paul Walker, Magneto, Friday the 13th
WELCOME TO EPISODE 10 OF THE INTERN-NET SHOW, WITH YOUR HOST CHRIS HARRISON.
THERE IS A VAST POOL OF EXCITING NEWS EVERY WEEK, AND IN OUR EFFORT TO BRING YOU BRAND NEW, ENGAGING CONTENT JOIN US IN A DISCUSSION ABOUT FILM, TV, COMIC BOOKS AND ANYTHING ELSE THAT GETS US TALKING. GOT SOMETHING TO SAY? THIS IS THE PLACE TO DO IT!
THIS WEEK, CHRIS DISCUSSES PAUL WALKER, FRIDAY THE 13TH, DAY OF THE DEAD AND PARANORMAL ACTIVITY!
MOST IMPORTANTLY, THIS SHOW IS ALL ABOUT YOU. GET INVOLVED IN THE DISCUSSION, TELL US WHAT YOU THINK ABOUT THESE STORIES AND IF THERE’S A STORY YOU WANT TO CREATE CONVERSATION ABOUT THEN THROW A QUESTION MY WAY EITHER ON TWITTER OR RIGHT HERE EACH WEEK. WE’RE WORKING ON MAKING THE SHOW EVEN BETTER SO DO MAKE ANY SUGGESTIONS YOU HAVE BELOW!
TELL YOUR FRIENDS TO JOIN THE INTERN-NET!
Ron Burgundy in hilarious real life newscast
Viral Marketing is a wonderful thing. It’s a chance for a creative means of advertising a film that goes beyond a simple trailer. We’ve had some great viral campaigns recently, including the Bent Bullet campaign for ‘X-Men: Days of Future Past’.
Anchorman 2 has been doing a number of great vignettes featuring Ron Burgundy including a rather hilarious ‘Doctor Who’ video in which Ron didn’t know who Peter Capaldi was. Will Ferrell made his latest, and rather genius appearance on Saturday night when he dropped by KXMB-TV in Bismarck to co-anchor a news broadcast. You can check out the full video right here!
Ferrell first starred as Ron Burgundy in 2004’s “Anchorman: The Legend of Ron Burgundy” and I must say, I was never too enamoured with the first film. But the marketing campaign, bringing Ron’s character to the forefront has shown me the potential in the character and the humour I am perhaps missing out on. All in all, I’d say a successful campaign.
Source: KXMB news
New Ghost Rider Swaps Hog For Muscle, But Spirit of Vengeance Remains
In continuing coverage of Marvel Comics’ successful re-branding intiative Marvel NOW, we now turn our attention to Ghost Rider. Some of you may remember our coverage of New York Comic Con where I gave my initial impression of the upcoming title, but with new details about the new series by Felipe Smith and Tradd Moore, and a little time and perspective on my part I’ve found a lot more to say.
First the new details, in addition to the regular cover by series artist Tradd Moore, Smith, who is also a talented Mangaka (artist of Japanese manga) will be doing a variant cover for issue #1.
Tradd Moore’s cover Felipe Smith’s variant cover
Speaking to CBR in October about the new series, Smith had this to say about the new Rider we will see in the relaunch:
“Our All-New Ghost Rider, as the title suggests, is an absolutely new character: Robbie Reyes. Robbie’s an East Los Angeles high school senior with a short fuse and a passion for electronic music and absolutely anything powered by an engine. In comparison to previous Ghost Riders, he’s young and inexperienced in life; but his harsh inner city upbringing, overall distrust for most people, and serious contempt for his violent surroundings make him the perfect host for a Spirit of Vengeance.”
First hitting the pages in 1972, the original Ghost Rider was inspired by American counterculture and a sense of rebellion. The motorcycle and biker culture was seen as an expression of danger and excitement, but also freedom. It tapped into what it meant to be a rebel in in the Vietnam era. For the kids of today however, that vibe just doesn’t have the same resonance, which is perhaps why character has had problems finding an audience in recent years. For OG Ghost Rider the movie was Easy Rider, for New School Ghost Rider the influence seems pull heavily from The Fast And The Furious and its sequels. It is no mistake that this version of Ghost Rider is driving a black muscle car á la Vin Diesel’s character Dom. This new iteration is taking the trappings of today to try and connect to the same rebel spirit of the original.
So have I changed my mind about this new series? Well, I’ve made no bones about being a classic Ghost Rider fan, in fact, if I ever did manage to break into mainstream comics, doing a Ghost Rider series (Johnny Blaze version, of course) would be something I would be actively pursuing. I wish these new people and their new direction the best, but it still doesn’t interest me much. I applaud what they are trying to do, but this doesn’t feel like a ride I’m going to be interested in taking.
If I’ve managed to pique your interest in Ghost Rider, and you would like to read some of his stories, the classic series has been collected in Marvel Essential and the collections can be picked up for a song.
To anybody looking for some more modern bad-ass Rider stories, I suggest these gems:
So, are you folks hyped about the new Ghost Rider series? Speak your minds in the comments below!
Via CBR