December 23, 2024

About the author  ⁄ Josh Wigler

‘Godzilla’: The Reviews Are In

by 05/16/14

He’s back!

“Godzilla,” directed by Gareth Edwards for Legendary Entertainment, stomps into movie theaters this weekend, poised to blow fans away with his atomic breath. (Do they make Godzilla-sized toothbrushes? The big guy could probably use some mouthwash at least.) Reviews are in for the reboot of the classic creature film, with critics praising the action, the mysterious way the monsters are revealed, and, of course, the King of Monsters himself.

However, reviews are less kind when it comes to the humans at the heart of “Godzilla.” Only Bryan Cranston’s character, engineer Joe Brody, has received uniform praise. The rest, unfortunately, appear to fall flat — but for some critics, those thinly-rendered characters are small potatoes compared to the meat of everything “Godzilla” gets right.

Read on for our review round-up:

The Story
“The topheavy plot kicks in when Dr. Serizawa (Ken Watanabe) and his partner, Dr. Graham (Sally Hawkins), chopper into a Filipino mine, where they discover a pod containing a MUTO (Massive Unidentified Terrestrial Organism) and evidence of another MUTO that has escaped. In Tokyo, engineer Joe Brody (Bryan Cranston) and his scientist wife, Sandra (Juliette Binoche), work in a nuclear plant whose product is mother’s milk to the MUTO. Cue the tremors. Start the explosions.

“Jump ahead 15 years to Ford Brody (Aaron Taylor-Johnson), Joe’s son, an explosives expert working for the Navy in the person of Admiral Stenz (David Strathairn). Ford thinks Daddy is crazy, preferring to spend time in San Francisco with his nurse wife, Elle (Elizabeth Olsen), and their young ...

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‘Agents Of S.H.I.E.L.D.’: 12 Questions About The Finale

by 05/14/14

By the end of “The Beginning of the End,” the title of the “Marvel’s Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.” season finale, at least one thing was clear: Coulson’s team isn’t going anywhere.

Deputized by Nick Fury to rebuild S.H.I.E.L.D. from the ground up, Phil Coulson and friends remain tasked with protecting civilization from internal and external threats. Grant Ward, meanwhile, will rot in a prison cell for the rest of his life, or until he’s broken out. And John Garrett, the man formerly known as the Clairvoyant, is a pile of goo in a sub-basement somewhere.

It was a satisfying finish for the show’s turbulent first season, but it left more questions in the air than it answered. Here are 12 of our most pressing questions coming out of the finale:

Seriously? No Outer Space?
Between the Kree connection, the fact that Skye is an 0-8-4, Garrett’s ability to see and feel “the universe,” and the upcoming release of “Guardians of the Galaxy,” the “S.H.I.E.L.D.” finale was all set up to take the team to the cosmos. But that didn’t happen. Instead, the agents are staying right here on Earth, focused on rebuilding their agency. Will next season take us to the stars, once “Guardians” firmly establishes the Marvel galaxy? Or will Coulson’s team always stick on this planet, protecting it from external threats?

Did Garrett Have To Die?
Yeah, he did. It would’ve been nice to leave the door open for Bill Paxton’s return (and, frankly, it’s still possible; this ...

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Here’s Your First Look At ‘The Walking Dead’ Season Five

by 05/14/14

The only thing harder than breaking out of the cannibal-infested Terminus is waiting to see how our heroes will manage to break out of the cannibal-infested Terminus.

Okay, on second thought, actually breaking out of Terminus is harder than the wait. But the wait for more “Walking Dead” still sucks! It’s not even summer yet, and the AMC zombie series won’t premiere its fifth season until close to Halloween. We have a long wait between now and the return of “Walking Dead,” and it simply isn’t very fun.

But here’s something that is fun: our first look at “Walking Dead” season five, courtesy of a brand-new photo of gunslinging, throat-biting hero Rick Grimes. It doesn’t tell us much, if anything, but it’s still nice to see Rick Grimes in action for the first time since he entered the “A” train.

Here he is:

Grimy Rick Grimes, covered in dirt and blood, peering out at who-knows-what. It’s nice to see that Rick will see the light of day again, after finding himself in the clutches of Terminus’ cannibals. Okay, we haven’t officially confirmed that Terminus is run by cannibals, but come on. They’re cannibals. The signs are all there.

We’ll find out more about our cannibal theory, and more about Rick and the gang’s safety, when “The Walking Dead” returns in October.

What do you make of the first “Walking Dead” season five photo?

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‘Star Wars’ Rumor: Is Adam Driver Han Solo’s Son?

by 05/13/14

Do you believe that this guy:

Could be the offspring of these guys?

Whether you believe it or not, it’s a possibility that’s out there: Jedi News reports the rumor that Adam Driver’s character in “Star Wars: Episode VII” is not the villain that’s been rumored in the past, but actually the son of Han Solo and Princess Leia.

Well, not exactly the villain. According to the rumor, Driver’s character “will be seduced to the Dark Side, and a main plot point for the movie will be their attempt to rescue him.”

It’s nothing more than rumor for now, but it’s an intriguing prospect all the same, particularly because it calls upon some elements of the “Star Wars” Expanded Universe — a series of stories that have been deemed all but irrelevant for the future of the franchise.

Until we know more for sure, though, don’t go turning the question marks surrounding Driver’s character, and the film at large, into exclamation points. Nothing is set in stone until it’s made public and official. The only thing we know for sure about Driver and “Star Wars” is that the actor is headed to

Directed by J.J. Abrams, “Star Wars: Episode VII” arrives on December 18, 2015.

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Visionary ‘Alien’ Designer H.R. Giger Has Died

by 05/13/14

H.R. Giger, the legendary artist responsible for the acid-spewing menace at the heart of “Alien,” among other creature designs, passed away on Monday afternoon from injuries sustained during a fall. He was 74 years old.

Even if you couldn’t pick him out in a lineup, all it would take is one look at his work to fully recognize and appreciate the power of Giger’s art. And while the Swiss artist is no longer with us, he’ll never truly be gone, thanks to the lasting power of his striking designs — designs that influenced countless artists and science fiction endeavors over the past several decades.

Although he was involved in numerous projects over the years, Giger will always be best remembered for his Oscar-winning work on “Alien,” the Ridley Scott film that redefined the horror and science fiction genres, merging them into one unforgettable, classic space thriller. Giger was responsible for the designs of the titular alien itself, as well as the “Space Jockey” creature that eventually became the Engineer centerpiece of 2012′s “Prometheus.”

Share your memories of Giger and your condolences in the comments below.

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‘Batman Vs. Superman’: What To Expect From Today’s Reveal

by 05/13/14

It’s (almost) the moment we’ve all been waiting for.

At long last, today brings our first substantial “Batman Vs. Superman” revelation, at least from a visual standpoint. On Twitter, director Zack Snyder teased an image of a covered Batmobile, promising to remove “the tarp” at some point today.

What exactly does Snyder have in store for fans of the Man of Steel and Caped Crusader today? Here’s what we think you can expect, as well as what to hope for:

1. The Batmobile
That’s a no-brainer. If Snyder posted that image of the partially obscured Batmobile, with no further plans to take us for a spin in Batman’s ride, then we all should grab the nearest torch and pitchfork and get to work.

2. The Batcave
If the Batmobile is coming out for a spin, why not take things a step further and see the new Batmobile’s parking spot? If Snyder and Warner Bros. aren’t quite ready to show off the film’s actual characters, then at least it can start shedding some light on iconic locations such as the Batcave, no?

3. The Batman
It’s about time we see Ben Affleck as the legendary Batfleck er, Batman. Photoshopped images placing Affleck and his unmistakable chin under Batman’s cowl can only suffice for so long. With the Batmobile coming into the picture today, why not put Affleck’s Batman behind the driver’s seat — if not in full costume, then at least in a Bruce Wayne tuxedo?

4. The Batman and Superman
An even higher pie-in-the-sky wish: the first sighting ...

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‘Game Of Thrones’: What To Expect From ‘The Laws Of Gods And Men’

by 05/11/14

Tonight is dark and full of terrors, especially where a certain Imp is concerned.

On tonight’s episode of “Game of Thrones,” titled “The Laws of Gods and Men,” it’s finally time for Tyrion Lannister to stand trial for the murder of King Joffrey Baratheon — a crime that he most certainly did not commit, even though everyone in the Seven Kingdoms believes otherwise.

What can we expect from Tyrion’s day in court? And what else will happen on “Game of Thrones” tonight? Here’s what to expect:

The Trial of the Century Begins
The last time he stood trial for a crime he didn’t commit, Tyrion nearly found himself on the wrong end of the Moon Door, thanks to his signature snark. In all likelihood, Tyrion didn’t learn his lesson from that brush with death. Expect the former Master of Coin to give plenty of lip and bad attitude when standing before his father, Tywin, and fellow judges Mace Tyrell and Oberyn Martell. It might not be the best move for Tyrion, but it’ll be a heck of a show for us.

Dragons are Officially Terrifying
Tywin and his court in King’s Landing have more to worry about than Tyrion and the trial. In previews for tonight’s episode, Tywin expresses his concern about Daenerys Targaryen’s recent conquest of Meereen. The Khaleesi has an army, and she has dragons. Now that she’s on Tywin’s radar, can we expect an imminent confrontation between Daenerys’ Essos forces and the wider world of Westeros?

Stannis Sails East
There’s another developing danger ...

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The ‘Power Rangers’ Reboot Needs These 9 Mighty Morphin’ Characters

by 05/08/14

It’s morphing time — or, at least, it’s almost morphing time.

Lionsgate, home of the “Hunger Games” films, is set to reboot the “Power Rangers” franchise as a new series of feature films. It’s an unexpected move that shook the Internet to its core, causing clusters of friends to activate their comically-sized wristwatches and meet in private to discuss disaster management.

If there’s one way to manage the potential crisis, it’s this: Lionsgate, do what you will with the “Power Rangers” franchise, but if you want to win over longtime fans of the series, there are a few characters from the glory days that need to factor into the movie. And here they are:

Zordon
You can’t have “Power Rangers” without the crew’s esteemed, disembodied, floating head of a leader.

Alpha
Ai-yay-yay! Without this never-endingly nervous android in play, who else could possibly recruit a team of teenagers with attitude?

Bulk and Skull
More specifically, actors Paul Schrier and Jason Narvy. They need a cameo. They are “Power Rangers,” as much, if not more, than any other actors in the series. Also, dat music.

Rita Repulsa
If only because Cate Blanchett or some other Oscar winner as the cackling space sorceress is a thing the world needs to see.

Goldar
With wings or without. Preferably with. Get Keanu Reeves to play him; he already has action experience, and familiarity with playing unrecognizable, dog-faced freaks.

The Putty Patrol
And keep their signature weakness intact, please. Kids these days need to realize that sometimes, ...

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Is ‘X-Men: Days Of Future Past’ The Best ‘X-Men’ Movie Ever?

by 05/08/14

If you were worried that “X-Men: Days of Future Past” is overstuffed with mutants, or that a very strange looking Quicksilver would bring down the whole house, or any other scattered fears you might have — well, perhaps it’s time to put them to bed.

The newest “X-Men” movie, directed by Bryan Singer, hits theaters in two weeks, but it’s already screening for critics. Late last night saw a smattering of online reactions from press members who attended the “X-Men” screening, and by and large, the reviews are overwhelmingly positive.

In fact, depending on who you ask, “Days of Future Past” just might be the best “X-Men” movie yet:

FOX 5 film critic Kevin McCarthy had similarly high praise for the movie:

In fact, according to McCarthy, the whole movie is worth seeing for one moment alone:

What could that scene involve? Something between the old and young generations of Charles Xavier and Erik Lensherr, perhaps? Maybe something involving Wolverine?

Or could it be… something entirely unexpected?

Quicksilver? Really? This guy?

Really. This guy. Apparently, people who saw “Days of Future Past” love Quicksilver.

So, what do we take from all this? A grain of salt, if you’re smart. This is just an early look at “Days of Future Past,” hardly representative of a wider field of reactions, but still — it’s encouraging, and even a bit surprising, at least as far as Quicksilver goes.

Could Evan Peters’ mutant, who up until now was a laughing stock among most fans, turn out to be one of the best on-screen ...

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Exclusive: ‘A Million Ways To Die In The West’ Red Band Trailer Aims To Kill You

by 05/07/14

There are a million ways to die in the west. Don’t believe us? Consult the red-band trailer for “A Million Ways to Die in the West.”

If it wasn’t clear before, it should be clear now: this extraordinarily unsafe for work trailer emphasizes the gory, gratuitous ways people are going to die in Seth MacFarlane’s latest directorial effort. Ice blocks to the head, explosive cameras, a good old fashioned gunshot from Liam Neeson — if you can think of it, it’ll kill you, at least in MacFarlane’s world.

Set in the Wild West, MacFarlane’s “Million Ways” stars the “Family Guy” and “Ted” mastermind as Albert, a sheep farmer with a sharp wit and a weak shot. Seriously, he can’t even shoot a glass bottle off a fence from point-blank range.

It’s unfortunate, too, because Albert is about to face the great outlaw Clinch (Neeson) in battle. What chance does Albert have if he can barely hold a pistol, let alone last a second against a legendary gunslinger like Clinch? Luckily, Clinch’s estranged wife, Anna (Charlize Theron), is around to give Albert some pointers — even though Albert has a few, ah, “pointers” of his own to provide Clinch.

In addition to MacFarlane, Theron and Neeson, “A Million Ways to Die in the West” features an all-star lineup including Giovanni Ribisi, Amanda Seyfried, Neil Patrick Harris and Sarah Silverman. It hits theaters on May 30.

What do you think of the “Million Ways to Die in the West” red-band trailer?