Marvel Studios Negromancer Link-o-Rama 2022 - Update #94

by Leroy Douresseaux a.k.a. "I Reads You"

Support Leroy on Patreon:

TRAILERS AND TEASERS:

From THR:   New "Black Panther: Wakanda Forever" trailer with more Namor and a closer look at a new Black Panther.

From Marvel:  New trailer (5/24/2022) and poster for "Thor: Love & Thunder."

From MovieWeb:   Here is the first teaser trailer for "Thor: Love & Thunder" (4/18/2022).

From YouTube:  The first official trailer for "Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness" (2/13/2022)

From YouTube:  First official trailer for Disney+/Marvel's "Moon Knight."

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MARVEL NEWS:

WAKANDA FOREVER - From NBCNews:  "Black Panther: Wakanda Forever" actor Tenoch Huerta has been named as one of nine "breakthrough entertainers" of 2022 by the Associated Press.  Huerta plays the character "Namor."

From GeeksofColor:  Actors Tenoch Huerta and Mabel Cadena talk "Black Panther: Wakanda Forever," representation and their hopes for a Namor movie in an interview with "Geeks of Color."  Huerta plays "Namor" in the film, while Cadena plays "Namora."

BLADE - From THR:  Yenn Demange, who directed the pilot for HBO's "Lovecraft Country," will reportedly direct Marvel Studios' "Blade" film.  Emmy-nominated writer, Michael Starrbury ("When They See Us"), is reportedly the film's screenwriter.

WAKANDA FOREVER - From Variety:  "Black Panther: Wakanda Forever" leads the domestic box office with an $180 million opening and a $300 million global opening.

From EW:   Oscar-winning actress Lupita Nyong'o says that it was a dream come true to speak Spanish in "Black Panther: Wakanda Forever."

From IndieWire:  Director Ryan Coogler says that Warner Bros.' "Aquaman" paved the way for Namor in "Black Panther: Wakanda Forever."

From Variety:  Director Ryan Coogler talks about his future with Marvel and with the world of "Black Panther."  Marvel boss Kevin Feige also talks about Coogler's future.

From Deadline:  "Wakanda Forever" ticket pre-sales are 20 percent behind "Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness."

IRONHEART - From CBR:  "Black Panther: Wakanda Forever" will lead directly into the Disney+ series, "Ironheart," which act as a sequel to Wakanda Forever, according to writer-producer Nate Moore.

WAKANDA FOREVER - From Inverse:  Director Ryan Coogler talks about what was in the script for "Black Panther: Wakanda Forever" before the death of star Chadwick Boseman. For one thing, Coogler says it was "Endgame-centric."

WONDER MAN - From Variety:   Emmy-winner Yahya Adbul-Mateen II (HBO's "Watchmen") is reportedly going to play the lead, "Simon Williams/Wonder Man" in Marvel Studios' Disney+ series, "Wonder Man."

VISION QUEST - From Deadline:   The site is reporting that Marvel Studios is developing another "WandaVision" spinoff for Disney+.  "Vision Quest" would focus on the Vision's quest to regain his memory and humanity and will star Paul Bettany.

GUARDIANS OF THE GALAXY - From THR:  The teaser trailer for "The Guardians of the Galaxy Holiday Special" features a surprise appearance by Kevin Bacon.  The special, which arrives on Disney+ November 25th, will close out "Phase 4" of the Marvel Cinematic Universe.

HARRISON FORD - From Deadline:   It is apparently official that Harrison Ford will replace the late William Hurt in the Marvel Cinematic Universe role of "General Thaddeus "Thunderbolt" Ross."  He is scheduled to debut in the role in the 2024 film, "Captain America: The New World Order."

BLADE - From THR:   Marvel Studios has delayed the release of its "Blade" film from Nov. 2023 to Sept. 2024 in order to find a director and to develop the screenplay.

WAKANDA FOREVER - From Deadline:   "Black Panther" and "Black Panther: Wakanda Forever"" director Ryan Coogler says he almost quit "Wakanda Forever" and filmmaking after the death of "Black Panther" star, Chadwick Boseman.

AVENGERS - From Deadline:  "Loki" and "Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness writer, Michael Waldron, will writer "Avengers: Secret Wars."

ARMOR WARS - From Variety:  Marvel Studios' planned Disney+ series, "Armor Wars," is being redeveloped as a movie.  Don Cheadle will remain as the film's leading, playing the character James "Rhodey" Rhodes a.k.a. "War Machine."

BLADE - From Variety:  Bassam Tariq has quit as director of Marvel's planned 2023 "Blade" film.  He will remain as an "executive producer."

WAKANDA FOREVER - From THR:  "Black Panther: Wakanda Forever" will have a running time of two hours and 41 minutes, 26 minutes longer than the original film.  That will make it the second longest Marvel Studios film, behind "Avengers: Endgame" (2019), which was three hours and 1 minute long.

BLACK PANTHER - From Empire:  Marvel Studios boss Kevin Feige explains why they did not recast the role of T'Challa/Black Panther in the wake of star Chadwick Boseman's death.  "It just felt like it was much too son to recast."

FANTASTIC FOUR - From Deadline:  Sources tell "Deadline" that Jeff Kaplan and Ian Springer are writing Marvel Studios' "Fantastic Four" film, which is scheduled for release late in 2024.

AVENGERS - From Deadline:  Jeff Loveness, who recently wrote "Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania," will reportedly write "Avengers: The Kang Dynasty," which is due May 2, 2025.

THUNDERBOLTS - From Variety:  At D23, Marvel Studios reveals cast members of its July 2024 film, "Thunderbolts," which include Florence Pugh, Sebastian Stan, David Harbour, Julia Louis-Dreyfus, to name a few.

CHADWICK BOSEMAN - From THR:  At Saturday's "Creative Arts Emmy," the late actor Chadwick Boseman posthumously won an Emmy Award.  The late "Black Panther" star won in the "outstanding character voice-over performance" for his role as "Star-Lord T’Challa" in the “What If… T’Challa Became a Star-Lord?” episode of the Disney+ Marvel Studios animated series, "What If...?"  This is Boseman's first Emmy nomination and win.

WONDER MAN - From Deadline:  Oscar-winner Ben Kingsley played a character called "The Mandarin" in "Iron Man 3" (2013), but he turned out to be an actor named "Trevor Slattery," who appeared in "Shang Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings." Slattery is slated to return in the Marvel Studios Disney+ series, "Wonder Man."

FANTASTIC FOUR - From THR:  The site is reporting that according to sources, Matt Shakman, the veteran TV director who directed "WandaVision" is in early talks to direct Marvel Studios' "Fantastic Four" film, which is due in late 2024.

MARK RUFFALO - From Variety:  Mark Ruffalo Defends Marvel Output: ‘You Get the Same Version’ of ‘Star Wars’ Every Time, But Not the MCU

AVENGERS - From THR:  The site is reporting that Marvel Studios' "Avengers: The Kang Dynasty" will be directed by Destin Daniel Cretton, who also directed "Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings."

SDCC - From IGN:  This article has "everything announced at the Marvel Studios San Diego Comic-Con 2022 Panel."

SDCC - From Marvel:  At Comic-Con, "Marvel Studios Animation Panel" reveals four upcoming Disnty+ animated series, "What If...?" (Season 2), "Marvel Zombies," "X-Men 97," and the surprise, "Spider-Man: Freshman Year."  Plus, there was some info on the "I Am Groot" shorts.

From Polygon:  What to expect from Marvel Studios' Saturday, July 23rd Comic-Con panel.

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BLACK PANTHER - From Deadline:  Actor Daniel Kaluuya won't reprise his "Black Panther" role as "W'Kabi" in the sequel, "Black Panther: Wakanda Forever."

PRIMETIME EMMYS - From Variety:  Marvel Studios series:  "Hawkeye," "Loki," "Moon Knight," and "What If..." pick up multiple Primetime Emmy Award nominations.  Eligible shows aired between June 1, 2021 to May 31, 2022.

THOR: LOVE AND THUNDER - From THR:  "Thor: Love and Thunder" director Taika Waititi says that there won't be a "director's cut" of the film because he says that scenes are cut because "they suck."

MS MARVEL - From THR:   "Ms. Marvel" director Sharmeen Obaid-Chinoy talks about the big twist in the next-to-last episode and about the part the real-world "partition of India" played in recent episodes.

CAPTAIN AMERICA 4 - From THR:  Nigerian-American filmmaker, Julius Onah, will direct "Captain America 4," which will star Anthony Mackie as Captain America.

ECHO - From THR:  Two actors from Netflix/Marvel's "Daredevil" will appear in the Disney+ Marvel Studios series, "Echo."  Charlie Cox ("Matt Murdoch/Daredevil") and Vincent D'Onofrio ("Wilson Fisk/Kingpin") will join the series that is due in 2023.

FUTURE - From THR:  Actor Taron Egerton has met with Marvel Studios boss Kevin Feige, and Taron wants to be the new Wolverine.

THOR LOVE AND THUNDER - From Variety:  Early reviews and reactions are in for "Thor: Love & Thunder," which is due July 8th.

KEVIN FEIGE - From GamesRadar:  In an interview with "Total Film" magazine, Marvel Studios boss Kevin Feige says that the fate of "Phase 4" will be revealed in the "coming months."

WONDER MAN - From THR:  Destin Daniel Cretton, the director of "Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings," and Andrew Guest, a writer-producer of sitcoms "Brooklyn Nine-Nine" and "Community," are developing a TV series based on the Marvel Comics' character, "Wonder Man."

IRONHEART - From Deadline:  The Disney+ Marvel Studios series, "Ironheart," has begun filming and Manny Montana ("Good Girls") has joined the cast a series regular opposite the series star, Dominique Thorne.  

THUNDERBOLTS - From Deadline:  Marvel Studios has chosen Jake Schreier as the director for its top secret "Thunderbolts" movie project.

GotG VOL 3 - From Deadline:  Daniela Melchior, who was a breakout star in director James Gunn's "The Suicide Squad" will have a small role in Gunn's "Guardians Of The Galaxy Vol. 3."

DAREDEVIL - From Variety:  The site is reporting that Marvel Studios is moving forward with a Disney+ "Daredevil" series by hiring Matt Corman and Chris Ord to write and executive produce.

ECHO - From Marvel:  Production has begun on the 2023 Disney+ Marvel Studios series, "Echo."

DOCTOR STRANGE IN THE MULTIVERSE OF MADNESS:

From ComicBook:  Michael Waldron, the writer of "Doctor Strange 2," talks about the future of Stephen Strange.

From Variety:  An article about why "Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness" should have been rated "R" by the MPA (formerly MPAA) instead of the "PG-13" rating it does have. [I'm not interested in this conversation, but you might be, dear readers.]

From THR:  "Doctor Strange 2" has a $185 million domestic opening weekend and a $450 global opening at the box office.

From Variety:  Every shocking cameo in "Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness."

From Variety:  "Doctor Strange" star Elizabeth Olsen says that fellow Marvel star, Scarlett Johansson ("Black Widow"), taught her how to be a superhero.

From THR:  Actors Benedict Wong ('Wong") and Xochitl Gomez ("America Chavez") discuss their onscreen partnership and off screen friendship in "Doctor Strange and the Multiverse of Madness."

From Marvel:  Marvel.com interviews "Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness" actress, Xochitl Gomez ("America Chavez").

From ComicBook:  Marvel Studios executive, Victoria Alonso, speaks out about LGBTQ+ character, "America Chavez," from "Doctor Strange" in the wake of the film being banned in some backwards nations.

From WeGotThisCovered:  Actress Xochitl Gomez reveals her shock at being cast as "America Chavez" in the upcoming "Doctor Strange" sequel.

From THR:  Marvel Studios' upcoming blockbuster, "Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness," has been banned in Saudi Arabia.  Speculation is that it is because of the inclusion of an LGBTQ+ character, "America Chavez."

From WeGotThisCovered:  Director Sam Raimi, best known for his "Spider-Man" trilogy and for his "Evil Dead" trilogy, says that "Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness" has "flavors of horror."

FUTURE - From Variety:  Marvel Studios' "The Marvels" and "Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania" have switched release dates.  The "Ant-Man" sequel will now move up to Feb. 17, 2023 and "The Marvels" will move back to July 28, 2023.

KEVIN FEIGE - From IGN:   Marvel Studios President Kevin Feige says that Marvel's leadership will have its first retreat in three years in order to plan out the next 10 years of Marvel films.

THOR LOVE & THUNDER - From TheDirect:  Chris Hemsworth kicks off the promotion for "Thor: Love & Thunder" ahead of a trailer release.

DOCTOR STRANGE - From Deadline:  Marvel Studios has released four new images from "Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness."

NOVA - From Deadline:  The site exclusively reports that Marvel Studios is developing a project involving the character, Nova, with "Moon Knight" writer, Sabir Pirzada.

SECRET INVASION - From ThePlaylist:  "Secret Invasion" star Samuel L. Jackson has apparently confirmed that Don Cheadle as "War Machine" and Martin Freeman as "Everett Ross" will appear in the series.

OBIT - From Deadline:  Oscar-winning actor William Hurt has died at the age of 71.  Hurt played Marvel Cinematic Universe character, Thaddeus Ross, in five films, beginning with "The Incredible Hulk" (2008) and most recently in "Black Widow" (2021).  Hurt won a "Best Actor" Oscar for his performance in "Kiss of the Spider Woman" (1985).

HALLOWEEN SPECIAL - From THR:  Oscar-winning film composer Michael Giacchino is directing Marvel Studios' untitled Halloween special for Disney+.

DEADPOOL 3 - From Deadline:  Shawn Levy is reportedly in negotiations to direct "Deadpool 3," which reunite him with his "Free Guy" star, Ryan Reynolds.

DOCTOR STRANGE 2 - From ComicBook:  Marvel Studios has revealed the "Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness" covers for "Empire Magazine."

BLACK PANTHER - From Deadline:  "Black Panther: Wakanda Forever" director Ryan Coogler was handcuffed and briefly detained by Atlanta police at a bank on January 7, 2022 after a bank employee mistook his written request for a $12,000 cash withdrawal as a robbery attempt.

THE FUTURE - From GQUK:  British "GQ" takes a look at upcoming Marvel Studios film and TV projects.

BLACK PANTHER - From BlackEnterprise:  The 53rd NAACP Image Awards honored Ruth E. Carter with the Vanguard Award for Costume Design.  This is the first time that the Image Awards have honored a costume designer.  Carter is was Oscar-nominated for her work on "Malcolm X" (1992) and "Amistad" (1997). Carter on an "Best Costume Design" Oscar in 2019 for "Black Panther" (2018), the first African-American to win the award.

BLADE - From Deadline:  The site is reporting that actor Aaron Pierre, who played rapper "Mid-Sized Sedan" in last year's "Old," will co-star in Marvel Studios' "Blade" film with star, Mahershala Ali.

LOKI - From Deadline:   The site is reporting that Justin Benson and Aaron Moorhead will direct a six-episode second season of the Disney+/Marvel Studios hit streaming series, "Loki."

SPIDER-MAN - From Deadline:  "Spider-Man: No Way Home" passes "Avatar" at the all-time domestic box office.

MOON KNIGHT - From EmpireOnline:  When it comes to the depiction of brutality in the Disney+/Marvel Studios series, "Moon Knight," Marvel president Kevin Feige says that they did not pull back.

IRONHEART - From Deadline:  Sources say that actor Anthony Ramos ("In the Heights") is set for a key role in the Disney+/Marvel Studios series, "Ironheart," which will star Dominique Thorne as "Riri Williams/Ironheart." His character will reportedly appear in other Marvel productions.

SPIDER-MAN: NO WAY HOME - From THR:  In an interview about his upcoming film, "Uncharted," and about "Spider-Man: No Way Home," Tom Holland also talks about the scene in "No Way Home" that made him, Andrew Garfield, and Tobey Maguire cry.

From THR:  Charlie Cox, who played Matt Murdoch/Daredevil on Netflix/Marvel's "Daredevil," spills the secrets about his return in "Spider-Man: No Way Home" and about a dinner with Andrew Garfield.

GUARDIANS OF THE GALAXY - From Deadline:   Writer-director James Gunn says that "Guardians of the Galaxy, Vol. 3" will be the last time the current Guardians team is seen.  The film is due May 5, 2023.

DOCTOR STRANGE 2 - From Variety:  Sam Raimi, director of "Doctor Strange in the Madness of the Multiverse," says that "Marvel's been a great team to work with" and "I've been super-supported by the whole Marvel operations..."

SPIDER-MAN: NO WAY HOME - From Deadline:  This link will take you to complete and revised final script for "Spider-Man: No Way Home" in PDF form.  The title page reads "Serenity Now."

From Deadline:  Tom Holland, Tobey Maguire, and Andrew Garfield unite again to talk about playing Spider-Man and why "No Way Home" was such an emotional experience.

From Variety:  Jon Watts, director of "Spider-Man: No Way Home," talks more secrets about the film in an article that pushed for the film to get Oscar nominations.

MOON KNIGHT - EW:  Gaspard Ulliel, the French actor who was set to star as "Anton Mogart / Midnight Man" in the Disney+ series, "Moon Knight," has died at the age of 37 after "suffering serious brain trauma" following a ski accident.

BLACK PANTHER 2 - From THR:  "Black Panther: Wakanda Forever" is ready to resume film because actress Letitia Wright ("Shuri") has recovered from the injury she suffered on set last August (2021).

From WeGotThisCovered:  Actor Winston Duke has reportedly negotiated a "hefty" pay raise because his "Black Panther" character, "M'Baku," has a much expanded role in the sequel film, "Black Panther: Wakanda Forever."

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MARVEL CINEMATIC UNIVERSE (MCU):

Review: Iron Man (2008)

Review: The Incredible Hulk (2008)

Review: Iron Man 2 (2010)

Review: Thor (2011)

Review:  Captain America: The First Avenger (2011)

Review:  Marvel's The Avengers (2012)

Review: Iron Man 3 (2013)

Review: Thor: The Dark World (2013)

Review: Captain America: The Winter Soldier (2014)

Review: Guardians of the Galaxy (2014)

Review:  Avengers: Age of Ultron (2015)

Review: Ant-Man (2015)

Review: Captain America: Civil War (2016)

Review: Doctor Strange (2016)

Review: Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 (2017)

Review:  Spider-Man: Homecoming (2017)

Review: Thor: Ragnarok (2017)

Review:  Black Panther (2018)

Review:  Avengers: Infinity War (2018)

Review: Ant-Man and the Wasp (2018)

Review:  Captain Marvel (2019)

Review: Avengers: Endgame (2019)

Review:  Spider-Man: Far From Home (2019)

Review: Black Widow (2021)

Review: Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings (2021)

Review: Eternals (2021)

Review: Spider-Man: No Way Home (2021)

Review: Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness (2022)

Review: Thor: Love and Thunder (2022)

Review: Black Panther: Wakanda Forever (2022)

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Click here for the 2021 edition of "Marvel Studios Negromancer Link-o-Rama."

Click here for the 2020 edition of "Marvel Studios Negromancer Link-o-Rama."

Click here for the 2019 edition of "Marvel Studios Negromancer Link-o-Rama."

Click here for the 2018 edition of "Marvel Studios Negromancer Link-o-Rama."

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#WandaVision Negromancer Link-o-Rama 2021 - Update #14

by Leroy Douresseaux a.k.a. "I Reads You"

You can support Leroy via Paypal or on Patreon.

TRAILERS:

From YouTube:  One minute TV trailer released Tuesday, Jan. 12th, 2021

WANDAVISION News: 

6/1 - From RollingStone:   "The Oral History of 'WandaVision.'"

3/5 - From Vox:  SPOILERS! - WandaVision episode 9 finale: Recap and 2 credits scenes, explained

2/26 - From TheWrap:   "WandaVision" just retconned the MCU in a really big way

2/19 - From YahooInsider:   "WandaVision" Episode 7 recap with SPOILERS.

2/10 - From GamesRadar:  Marvel artist shares his design sketches for "Sparkly," the dog from "WandaVision."

2/3 - From YahooLifestyle:   "WandaVision" Fans Think This Leak Might Confirm the Show Will Finally Bring X-Men Into the MCU

From Sideshow:   Watching WandaVision on Disney+? Here’s What Marvel Comics to Read Next

1/26 - From YahooEntertainment:   Paul Bettany Says Major "WandaVision" Actor Hasn’t Been Leaked Yet: "Scenes Are Pretty Intense"

1/22 - MensHealth:   SPOILERS: Monica Rambeau—Also Known as "Geraldine"— Is the Key to Expanding WandaVision's Story

1/22 - From YahooEntertainment:   SPOILERS: "WandaVision" - What you need to know about the bonkers ending of the Marvel show's third episode

1/18 - From GazetteXtra:   A list of comic book stories that might help readers understand what is happening in "WandaVision."

1/14 - From YahooEntertainment:   When Paul Bettany was called in for a meeting at Marvel Studios, he thought he was being fired.  Instead, he was offered a TV show.

1/8 - From THR:  The Marvel Comics titles to read before "WandaVision" arrives.

1/4 - From IndieWire:  Everything you need to know about "WandaVision"

From Wikipedia:  "WandaVision" has a "Wikipedia" page.

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General Organa's General Star Wars Link-O-Rama 2017 - Update #111

Posted by Leroy Doureseaux - on Patreon.

SOLO - From BleedingCool:  There is a rumor that Disney is prepared for its young Han Solo movie, "Solo: A Star Wars Story," to bomb.

CARRIE FISHER - From ComicBook:  Billie Lourd shares a touching tribute to her mother, Carrie Fisher, who died a year ago today. #CarrieOnForever

A NEW HOPE - From YahooEntertainment:  There has been a death in the Star Wars family.  Alfie Curtis played the Mos Eisley cantina thug who threatens Luke Skywalker and promptly gets his hand lopped off by Obi-Wan Kenobi.  He died Tuesday, December 26, 2017 at the age of 87.

THE EMPIRE STRIKES BACK - From io9:  Here is an article about what fans thought about Episode V.

THE EMPIRE STRIKES BACK - From THR:  James Earl Jones did not believe that Darth Vader was Luke Skywalker's father.

RETURN OF THE JEDI - From THR:  See a touching farewell scene between Luke Skywalker and Han Solo that was cut from the film.

WEIRD - From Nerdist:  There are indeed Star Wars sex toys.

FRANCHISE - From BleedingCool:  Lucasfilm's Kathleen Kennedy would like to see Taika Waititi ("Thor: Ragnarok") director a Star Wars film.

COMICS - From Crunchyroll:  Yen Press has the first manga license in years and will publish the "Star Wars: Lost Stars" manga in May 2018.

CELEBRITY - From YahooGMA:  Mark Hamill surprises "Star Wars" fans at a Disneyland ride.

NEW TRILOGY - From THR:  Rian Johnson, the director of "The Last Jedi," create a new Star Wars trilogy set in an until now unexplored corner of the galaxy.  Johnson will write and direct at least the first film.

STREAMING - From THR:  A live-action Star Wars TV will help launch Disney's streaming service in 2019.  Neither the service nor the series have a title yet.

FRANCHISE - From ScreenRant:  Lucasfilm is planning the next decade of Star Wars films.

HAN/LEIA - From RollingStone:  Harrison Ford did finally speak a little on Carrie Fisher's claim of their affair during filming of the first Star Wars film.

THE FORCE AWAKENS - From RollingStone:  Mark Hamill was afraid to come back to Star Wars, but credits Harrison Ford for changing his mind.

OBIT - From THR:  Film costume designer, John Mollo, has died at the age of 86, Wednesday, October 25, 2017.  He won a Academy Award for designing the costumes for "Star Wars."  He shared a second Oscar for his work on "Gandhi."

BOOKS - From WeGotThisCovered:  New "Star Wars" novel, ""The Legends of Luke Skywalker," links Luke with the "Battle of Jakku."

THE FORCE AWAKENS - From BleedingCool:  Acclaimed director David Fincher says he turned down directing "The Force Awakens" because he was afraid of Harrison Ford and Carrie Fisher.

EPISODE IX - From CinemaBlend:  Star Wars 9 may tie into the prequel trilogy.

SOLO - From YahooEntertainment:  Ron Howard announces that the young Han Solo movie will is entitled, "Solo: A Star Wars Story."

EPISODE IX - From ScreenRant:  John Boyega expresses happiness that J.J. Abrams is returning to direct Star Wars 9.

EPISODE IX - From YahooEntertainment:  Domhnall Gleason (General Hux) is glad that J.J. Abrams is back to direct Episode 9.

SOLO - From BleedingCool:  Paul Bettany has wrapped up filming his part in "young Han Solo" movie.

EPISODE IX - From Variety:  The release date for "Star Wars Episode 9" has moved from May 24, 2019 to December 20, 2019.

EPISODE IX - From THR:  J.J. Abrams is the new director of Star Wars 9.  He will co-write the film with Chris Terrio, an Oscar-winning screenwriter for "Argo."

EPISODE IX - From Entertainment.ie:  Lucasfilm boss, Kathleen Kennedy, sack Colin Trevorrow as director of Episode 9 because he was unbearable and difficult.

EPISODE IX - From TheWrap:  "The Last Jedi" director Rian Johnson says that he is not directing "Star Wars Episode 9," in the wake of announced director Colin Treverrow's firing... at least for now.

EPISODE IX - From YahooEntertainment:  Colin Trevorrow supposedly chased off Star Wars 9 because he was "difficult."

SOLO - From ScreenRant:  For the "young Han Solo" film, Han Solo will have a new version of the Millennium Falcon.

EPISODE IX - From Deadline:  Not that Colin Trevorrow is no longer directing IX, could VIII's director, Rian Johnson, become IX's new director.

EPISODE IX - From Deadline:  Colin Trevorrow out as director of Star Wars Episode 9.

SOLO - From Variety:  Ron Howard announce that Paul Bettany has joined the "young Han Solo" movie.  Bettany previously worked with Howard on "A Beautiful Mind (2001)."

HAN SOLO - From Vulture:  Ron Howard shared a photo of Donald Glover with his Lando Calrissian mustache.

HAN SOLO - From TheWrap:  Because he was not available for reshoots, Michael K. Williams' character had to be cut from the "young Han Solo" film.

FILMS - From Variety:  Disney in early development of a stand-alone Obi-Wan Kenobi film, with Stephen Daldry ("Billy Elliot") in early talks to direct.

GEORGE LUCAS - From YahooNews:  George Lucas still offers advice on the new films.

HAN SOLO - From ScreenRant: Ron Howard shares a new set photo from "young Han Solo" movie.

A NEW HOPE - From YahooNews:  George Lucas says that Princess Leia received her Ph.D. at age 19.

HAN SOLO - From CBR:  Ron Howard hints that his brother, actor Clint Howard, will have a part in the "young  Han Solo" movie.

EPISODE IX/9 - From THR:  Star Wars Episode 9 is getting a new writer, Jack Thorne, who will work on the script written by Colin Trevorrow and his writing partner, Derek Connolly.

HAN SOLO - From YahooNews:  Emilia Clarke, whose role in the young Han Solo movie remains a mystery, teases the new Chewbacca.

DARTH VADER - From CinemaBlend:  Spencer Wilding, who currently wears the Darth Vader costume, is apparently currently filming another Star Wars film.

HAN SOLO - From YahooTV:  Warwick Davis will appear in the "young Han Solo" film, according to a tweet from director Ron Howard.

HAN SOLO - From ShadowandAct:  Ron Howard reveals glimpse of Donald Glover at young Lando.

HAN SOLO - From USAToday:  No one from the "young Han Solo" movie was at D23 Expo 2017.  Should we be worried about this film?

HAN SOLO - From Mashable:  Ron Howard teases Lando Calrissian's costumes.

HAN SOLO - From CinemaBlend:  Woody Harrelson thinks the "young Han Solo" movie is in good hands with Ron Howard directing.

HAN SOLO - From TMZ:  A set photo from the "young Han Solo" movie reveals a scene with Woody Harrelson.

From FlickeringMyth:  Will the "young Han Solo" debacle with its original directors teach Disney not to tread on Star Wars sacred ground?

CARRIE FISHER - From YahooMovies:  Carrie Fisher's only child, her daughter Billie Lourd, will inherit her late mother's estate.

ANIMATION - From USAToday:  Rey turns in animated shorts, "Star Wars: "Forces of Destiny."

CULTURE - From YahooMovies:  An R2-D2 droid that was using in several Star Wars movies was sold at auction for $2.76 million.

HAN SOLO - From WeGotThisCovered:  Disney CEO Bob Iger is confident that Han Solo movie will be alright.  Yes, because Ron Howard is directing it.

HAN SOLO - From Mashable:  With every new Han Solo revelation, Phil Lord and Chris Miller look like the problems and got themselves fired.

HAN SOLO - From Gizmodo:  Lucasfilm was so concerned about Alden Ehrenreich's performance as Han Solo that they hired an acting coach for him.

HAN SOLO - From THR:  In an exclusive breaking story, "The Hollywood Reporter" is reporting that Oscar-winning filmmaker, Ron Howard, will take over as director of the "young Han Solo" movie after the original directors, Phil Lord and Christopher Miller, were fired.

HAN SOLO - From THR:  Golden boys, Phil Lord and Christopher Miller, have quit as the directors of the "Young Han Solo" movie over creative differences.

From THR:  Why were Lord and Miller fired?  It seems the comedic tone they used in making the film clashed with what Lucasfilm and the "Han Solo" movie screenwriter, Lawrence Kasdan, wanted.

From TheUKIndependent:  Maybe, the firing of Lord and Miller indicates that Disney and Lucasfilm are afraid of the future for Star Wars.

------------------------------
VIDEO GAMES - From YahooNews:  The upcoming video game, "Star Wars Battlefront 2" will give the "first official on-screen look" at the years between "Return of the Jedi" and "The Force Awakens."

CARRIE FISHER - From USMagazine:  Los Angeles County coroner's office says Fisher dies of combination of factors, including sleep apnea.

COMICS - From BusinessInsider:  Marvel Comics will tell the story of Captain Phasma in a new four-issue comic book series.

EPISODE 9 - From YahooNews:  Director Colin Trevorrow wants Star Wars Episode 9 to be kid-friendly...

RUMOR - From CNET:  Could director Edgar Wright ("Baby Drive," "Shaun of the Dead") be involved with Star Wars.

FRANCHISE - From NME:  The identity of the third stand alone anthology film will be revealed in June.  The first film was "Rogue One" and the second will be a "Young Han Solo" film due May 2018.

CARRIE FISHER:  From SideshowToys:  A look at Carrie Fisher/Princess Leia - then and now - on the 40th anniversary of the theatrical debut of Star Wars (May 25th 1977).

CARRIE FISHER - From Vulture:  Princess Leia would have been center stage in Episode 9.

DISNEY - From MiceChat:  The blog has updates on "Temporary Star Wars Land."

A NEW HOPE - From ComicBook:  To celebrate the 40th anniversary of the original theatrical release of the original Star Wars films, New Zealand Mint will release a commemorative silver coin.

CULTURE - From YahooMovies:  Kid wears Darth Vader costume to school on "Star Wars Celebration Day" (May 4th - as in May the Fourth/Force Be With You) and causes a panic, started by a "concerned parent."

CULTURE - From CNNHealth:  There is a hospital tech in Tennessee whose real name is "Darth Vader."

STAR WARS REBELS - From ScreenRant:  The Disney XD animated series, "Star Wars Rebels" is heading into its fourth and final season.  It may also tie into the recent live-action, "Rogue One."

CARRIE FISHER:  From THR:  George Lucas and Billie Lourd, daughter of Carrie Fisher, offer tributes to the late actress and Star Wars icon.

From YouTube:  A Tribute to Carrie Fisher video.

From YouTube:  Carrie Fisher tribute at Star Wars Celebration 2017.

From YahooMovies:  A touching photo of Mark Hamill, Harrison Ford, and Billie Lourd (Carrie's daughter) - "It was almost as if we were cuddling our princess again."

From YahooMovies:  Lucasfilm boss says no Carrie in Episode IX.

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A NEW HOPE - From Movieweb:  A big 40th anniversary announcement is coming tomorrow morning, Tues., April 11th, on "Good Morning America."

EPISODE IX - From NYDailyNews:  Carrie Fisher will appear in Star Wars Episode 9 (due for 2019), according to her brother, Todd Fisher.

HAN SOLO SPINOFF - From Variety:  "Sing Street" breakout star Ian Kenny joins "Young Han Solo" film.

FRANCHISE - From YahooMovies:   Disney CEO Bob Iger talks (vaguely) about the future of the franchise, including "The Last Jedi" and the "Han Solo" spinoff.

FRANCHISE - From CinemaBlend:  Future Star Wars films will move away from legacy characters and story elements.

A NEW HOPE - From Deadline:  This may be the very first photographic image of Mark Hamill as Luke Skywalker.

COMIC BOOKS - From YahooNews:  Marvel Comics is launching a new "Darth Vader" comic book series, which will be set immediately after the events depicted in "Star Wars: Episode III - Revenge of the Sith."

HAN SOLO - From Variety:  Michael K. Williams in final talks to join "Young Han Solo" film.

ORIGINAL TRILOGY - From SlashFilm:  The original cuts of the original Star Wars films may get a re-release or release for the 40th anniversary of the original theatrical release of Stars Wars, which is this year.

THEME PARKS - From FlickeringMyth:  Disney announces "Star Wars Land."

THE FORCE AWAKENS - From YahooNews:  Fans freak out over database saying that there is a connection between Kylo Ren and Rey.

HAN SOLO SPINOFF - From Variety:  Thandie Newton in talks to join the "Young Han Solo" spinoff movie.

HAN SOLO SPINOFF - From Variety:  Pheobe Waller-Bridge, hot off the Amazon series, "Fleabag," is being considered for a role in the Han Solo spinoff movie (which would be set before the event depicted in "Star Wars: A New Hope."  Reportedly, the role would be CGI-driven.

HAN SOLO SPINOFF - From THR:  Billy Dee Williams, the original Lando Calrissian, had lunch with Donald Glover, who will play the character in the "Young Han Solo" movie.

A NEW HOPE - From Forbes:  20 years ago, "Star Wars: Special Edition" arrived.

OBIT - From Variety: Sound engineer Richard Portman has died at the age of 82, Saturday, February 28, 2017.  He won an Oscar for his work on "The Deer Hunter."  He mixed the sound on "Star Wars."

EPISODES 8 AND 9- From CinemaBlend:  Should Lucasfilm reconsider its decision about a CGI Leia for Episode 9.

RETURN OF THE JEDI - From YahooMovies:  Mark Hamill reunited with the lightsaber prop he used in "Return of the Jedi."

HAN SOLO SPINOFF - From Deadline:  Donald Glover wants to live up to the expectations of playing Lando.

THE FORCE AWAKENS - From YahooNews:  Chewbacca yanks off an arm in deleted scene.

HAN SOLO SPINOFF - From StarWars:  It's official.  Woody Harrelson has signed on for the "Young Han Solo" movie due late 2018.

HAN SOLO SPINOFF - From Variety:  Oscar-nominated actor, Woody Harrelson, is being considered to play the mentor of the title character in the "Young Han Solo" movie.  Alden Ehrenreich has been cast as young Han Solo.

FRANCHISE - From Wired:  You won't live to see the final Star Wars movie.

ROGUE ONE - From Deadline:  "Rogue One" at $775 million in worldwide box office.

ROGUE ONE - From Deadline:  "Rogue One" is now the second highest grossing film at the domestic box office of 2016, behind "Finding Dory."


CARRIE FISHER:

From THR:  Carrie Fisher and her mother, Debbie Reynolds, were celebrated at a jubilant memorial.

From YahooNews:  Carrie Fisher wanted Harrison Ford to sing at her Oscars' tribute.

From YahooCelebrity:  Dan Akroyd speaks about Carrie Fisher, whom he once considered marrying.

From YahooCelebrity:  Debbie Reynolds was buried with some of her daughter Carrie's ashes.

From YahooCelebrity:  Carrie Fisher's urn is a giant Prozac pill.

From YahooMovies:  There is a fan petition to make Princess Leia a "Disney Princess."

From YahooNews:  Disney could receive a $50 million dollar insurance payoff because of Carrie Fisher's death.

From YahooNews:  Mark Hamill talks about the first time he met Carrie Fisher.

From YahooNews:  Billie Lourd, the only child of actress Carrie Fisher, breaks her silence about the deaths of her mother and her grandmother, Debbie Reynolds.

From BleedingCool:  Carrie Fisher dies at the age of 60, Tuesday morning, December 27, 2016.  Carrie was, of course, best known as Princess/General Organa in the "Star Wars" film franchise.

From THR:  Debbie Reynolds, the mother of Carrie Fisher, has died at the age of 84, Wednesday, December 28, 2016, one day after the death of her daughter.

From YahooNews:  Carrie Fisher's autopsy was completed Friday morning, December 30, 2016 and her body was released to her family.

From ET:  Carrie and her mother, Debbie Reynolds, will be buried together at Forest Lawn Memorial Park after a joint funeral.

From BleedingCool:  "Bright Lights: Starring Carrie Fisher and Debbie Reynolds" is a documentary about the Star Wars daughter and her Hollywood legend mother.  It's release date has been moved up to January 2017 on HBO.

From People:  "I want to be with Carrie" were Debbie Reynold's last words according to her son, Todd Fisher.

From YahooStyle:  Why she really hated the gold metal bikini in "Return of the Jedi."

From YahooNews:  Debbie Reynolds speaks about the death of her daughter, Carrie Fisher - our Princess Leia.

From Variety:  Fisher reportedly finished her work on Star Wars Episode 8 before she died.

From TheWrap:  Posted a little over an hour ago, Debbie Fisher, mother of Carrie Fisher, who suffered a heart attack about a day and a half ago, says that Carrie is in "stable condition."
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Marvel Studios Begins Production on 2016's "Captain America: Civil War"

Marvel Studios Begins Production on Marvel's 'Captain America: Civil War'

Learn more about the upcoming film in theaters May 6, 2016

Marvel Studios has commenced principal photography at Pinewood Studios in Atlanta, Georgia on “Captain America: Civil War,” the third installment of its Super Hero franchise. The production will shoot on location in Atlanta, Georgia, which serves as the base for the film’s production, as well as locations in Germany, Puerto Rico and Iceland.

Set for release in the United States on May 6, 2016, “Captain America: Civil War” is directed by Anthony and Joe Russo (Marvel’s “Captain America: The Winter Soldier,” “Community”) from a screenplay by Christopher Markus & Stephen McFeely (“Captain America: The Winter Solider,” Marvel’s “Captain America: The First Avenger”). The film returns Chris Evans (“Captain America: The Winter Soldier,” Marvel’s “Avengers: Age of Ultron”) as the iconic Super Hero character Steve Rogers/Captain America along with Robert Downey Jr. (“Avengers: Age of Ultron,” Marvel’s “Iron Man 3”) as Tony Stark/Iron Man, Scarlett Johansson (“Avengers: Age of Ultron,” “Captain America: The Winter Soldier”) as Natasha Romanoff/Black Widow, Sebastian Stan (“Captain America: The Winter Soldier,” “Captain America: The First Avenger”) as Bucky Barnes/Winter Soldier, Anthony Mackie (“Avengers: Age of Ultron,” “Captain America: The Winter Soldier”) as Sam Wilson/Falcon, Paul Bettany (“Avengers: Age of Ultron,” “Iron Man 3”) as The Vision, Jeremy Renner (“Avengers: Age of Ultron,” Marvel’s “The Avengers”) as Clint Barton/Hawkeye, Don Cheadle (“Avengers: Age of Ultron,” “Iron Man 3”) as Jim Rhodes/War Machine and Elizabeth Olsen (“Avengers: Age of Ultron,” “Godzilla”) as Wanda Maximoff/Scarlet Witch.

After his debut in Marvel’s “Ant-Man” on July 17, 2015, Paul Rudd (“Ant-Man,” ”Anchorman 2: The Legend Continues”) will make his first appearance alongside the Avengers as Scott Lang/Ant-Man in “Captain America: Civil War.”

The film also includes outstanding additional cast, including Chadwick Boseman (“42,” “Get on Up”) as T’Challa/Black Panther, Emily VanCamp (“Captain America: The Winter Soldier,” “Revenge”) as Sharon Carter/Agent 13, Daniel Brühl (“Inglourious Basterds,” “Bourne Ultimatum”), Frank Grillo (“Captain America: The Winter Soldier,” “Warrior”) as Brock Rumlow/Crossbones, William Hurt (“A History of Violence,” Marvel’s “The Incredible Hulk”) as General Thaddeus “Thunderbolt” Ross and Martin Freeman (“The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey,” “The Hobbit: The Battle of the Five Armies”). 

“Captain America: Civil War” picks up where “Avengers: Age of Ultron” left off, as Steve Rogers leads the new team of Avengers in their continued efforts to safeguard humanity. After another international incident involving the Avengers results in collateral damage, political pressure mounts to install a system of accountability and a governing body to determine when to enlist the services of the team. The new status quo fractures the Avengers while they try to protect the world from a new and nefarious villain.

Marvel’s “Captain America: Civil War” is produced by Marvel Studios’ president, Kevin Feige, with Louis D’Esposito, Alan Fine, Victoria Alonso, Patricia Whitcher, Nate Moore and Stan Lee serving as executive producers.

Directors Joe and Anthony Russo’s creative team also includes director of photography Trent Opaloch (“Captain America: The Winter Soldier,” “Elysium”), production designer Owen Paterson (“Godzilla,” “Matrix”), and three time Oscar®-nominated costume designer Judianna Makovsky (“Captain America: The Winter Soldier,” “Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone”).

Based on the Marvel comic character first published in 1941, “Captain America: Civil War ” continues the lineage of epic big-screen adventures chronicled in  “Iron Man,” “The Incredible Hulk,” “Iron Man 2,” “Thor,” “Captain America: The First Avenger,” “Marvel's The Avengers,” “Iron Man 3,” “Thor: The Dark World,” “Captain America: The Winter Soldier,” “Guardians of the Galaxy,” “Avengers: Age of Ultron” and the upcoming release schedule, which includes Marvel’s “Ant-Man” on July 17, 2015, Marvel’s “Doctor Strange,” on November 4, 2016, Marvel’s “Guardians of the Galaxy 2,” on May 5, 2017, and Marvel’s “Thor: Ragnarok,” on November 3, 2017.

Marvel Studios most recently continued its unprecedented success with the release of “Avengers: Age of Ultron” on May 1, 2015. The film recorded the second biggest opening weekend of all time with a $191.3 million box office. It has also been the #1 release in every country where it has been released.

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Review: "Avengers: Age of Ultron" is Bigger and Better

TRASH IN MY EYE No. 20 (of 2015) by Leroy Douresseaux (support on Patreon)

Avengers: Age of Ultron (2015)
Running time: 141 minutes (2 hours, 21 minutes)
MPAA – PG-13 for intense sequences of sci-fi action, violence and destruction, and for some suggestive comments
DIRECTOR: Joss Whedon
WRITER: Joss Whedon (based upon the comic book created by Stan Lee and Jack Kirby)
PRODUCER: Kevin Feige
CINEMATOGRAPHER: Ben Davis
EDITORS: Jeffrey Ford and Lisa Lassek
COMPOSERS: Brian Tyler and Danny Elfman

SUPERHERO/ACTION/DRAMA/FANTASY/SCI-FI

Starring: Robert Downey, Jr., Chris Evans, Mark Ruffalo, Chris Hemsworth, Scarlett Johansson, Jeremy Renner, Aaron Taylor-Johnson, Elizabeth Olsen, Paul Bettany, Cobie Smulders, Don Cheadle, Anthony Mackie, Idris Elba, Stellan Skarsgard, Claudia Kim, Linda Cardellini, Andy Serkis, Thomas Kretschman, Stan Lee, Henry Goodman, Julie Delpy, Haley Atwell, Kerry Condon (voice), and James Spader (voice), and Samuel L. Jackson

The answer to your likely first question is a resounding “Yes!”  It is good and even better than the first  movie, which was itself quite good.  I want to see this movie again.  Now, on to the formal review...

Avengers: Age of Ultron is a 2015 superhero movie written and directed by Joss Whedon and produced by Marvel Studios. The film, which is based upon the comic book created by Stan Lee and Jack Kirby, is the sequel to 2012's Marvel's The Avengers.  Jon Favreau and Stan Lee are among the executive producers of this film

Avengers: Age of Ultron features the comic book superheroes, the Avengers:  Captain America (Chris Evans), Iron Man (Robert Downey, Jr.), The Hulk (Mark Ruffalo), Thor (Chris Hemsworth), Black Widow (Scarlett Johansson), and Hawkeye (Jeremy Renner).  In this new film, a well-meaning peacekeeping program inadvertently creates a powerful artificial intelligence, which decides to destroy the Avengers before destroying all of humanity.

Avengers: Age of Ultron opens in the Eastern European country of Sokovia.  There, The Avengers are in the midst of raiding a Hydra outpost led by Baron Wolfgang von Strucker (Thomas Kretschmann).  The Baron has been experimenting on humans using the scepter of Loki, Thor's villainous brother.  The Avengers retrieve Loki's scepter, but encounter the results of von Struker's experimentation, a twin brother and sister who now both possess super powers.

Tony Stark (Robert Downey, Jr.) a.k.a. Iron Man and Bruce Banner (Mark Ruffalo) a.k.a. the Hulk discover an artificial intelligence (A.I.) inside the scepter's gem.  They decide to use that A.I. to complete Stark's global defense project, but they don't tell their fellow Avengers about their experimentation.  The result is a dangerous new being calling itself “Ultron” (voice of James Spader) that decides to exterminate humanity and has the power to match the Avengers.

My summary of Avengers: Age of Ultron is wimpy compared to the actual size and scale of this movie.  Avengers: Age of Ultron, in terms of action, is as massive as one of Michael Bay's Transformers movies, but Age of Ultron is more entertaining than any Transformers movie by far.  In terms of story, this movie is big, encompassing multiple settings, enough characters for three movies, and a plot surrounded by multiple sub-plots.  Age of Ultron, however, does not collapse under its own weight, and it is not hard to follow.  Because the story has so much... well, story, I find myself ruminating over it still, two and a half days after I saw it.

Writer-director Joss Whedon is beloved by fans because the story writing and storytelling he brought to his television series, “Buffy the Vampire Slayer.”  Whedon takes fantasy seriously enough to be serious about crafting a story about vampire hunters and superheroes with all the careful consideration that other writers give to such Oscar winners as Terms of Endearment and A Beautiful Mind.  Concerning the parts of the script that deal with the personalities, motivations, and interior lives of the Avengers, Whedon makes Age of Ultron intimate, probing, and surprisingly individualized.

As I wrap up this review, Age of Ultron lingers in my mind.  I could talk about the eye-popping effects and the fantastic superhero action that are true to the comic book while simultaneously breaking free of the confines of the comic book page.  I could talk about the high-quality acting; the performers take these characters seriously, also.  However, I will say that with Avengers: Age of Ultron, Marvel Studios delivers again... and again... and again...  This is one of the best superhero films ever made.

9 of 10
A+

Sunday, May 3, 2015


The text is copyright © 2015 Leroy Douresseaux. All Rights Reserved. Contact this site for syndication rights and fees.

Review: "Firewall" is Not Memorable Harrison Ford Flick

TRASH IN MY EYE No. 145 (of 2006) by Leroy Douresseaux

Firewall (2006)
Running time:  105 minutes (1 hour, 45 minutes)
MPAA – PG-13 for some intense sequences of violence
DIRECTOR:  Robert Loncraine
WRITER:  Joe Forte
PRODUCERS:  Armyan Bernstein, Basil Iwanyk, and Jonathan Shestack
CINEMATOGRAPHER:  Marco Pontecorvo
EDITOR:  Jim Page
COMPOSER:  Alexandre Desplat

CRIME/THRILLER/ACTION

Starring:  Harrison Ford, Paul Bettany, Virginia Madsen, Mary Lynn Rajskub, Robert Patrick, Robert Forster, Alan Arkin, Carly Schroeder, Jimmy Bennett, Kett Turton, Nikolaj Coster-Waldau, Vince Vieluf, and Vincent Gale

The subject of this movie review is Firewall, a 2006 British-American crime thriller starring Harrison Ford.  The film focuses on a security specialist who is forced into robbing the bank that he protects in order to pay a ransom for his family.

From 1990’s Presumed Innocent to 2000’s What Lies Beneath, Harrison Ford literally ruled the box office charts with a series of hit thriller flicks.  It didn’t matter if the film was set in a courtroom (like Presumed Innocent), in foreign countries (the Jack Ryan movies), a jet (Air Force One), or a haunted marriage (What Lies Beneath); Ford films were hits – some even blockbusters.  However, the new century has found Ford’s box office success largely diminished.  His 2006 film, Firewall, is a return to his 90’s form, but the film has only about a third of the scope and action thrills of his glory days.

Jack Stanfield (Harrison Ford) is the creator of Seattle-area Landrock Pacific Bank’s state-of-the-art-security system.  He has a reputation as being the man who’s thought of everything when it comes to protecting the bank from electronic theft, but Jack doesn’t know that he’s being watched.  A wily and vicious thief who says his name is Bill Cox (Paul Bettany) has hacked his way into Jack’s personal life and knows everything about Jack and his family:  wife, Beth (Virginia Madsen), his 14-year old daughter, Sarah (Carly Schroeder), and 8-year old son, Andy (Jimmy Bennett).

Now, Cox is holding Beth and the children hostage to force Jack to be their unwilling accomplice in a scheme to steal $100 million dollars from Landrock and the larger bank system with which Landrock recently merged.  Under constant surveillance, Jack must breach the very security system he created and siphon funds to several offshore accounts Cox and his accomplices own.  Jack, however, is sure that Cox will kill him and his family once Cox gets what he wants.  With only hours to accomplish his task, Jack must find, within Cox’s labyrinth of false identities, subterfuge, and plots Cox, an escape hatch through which he and his family can escape with their lives.

Firewall is an entertaining thriller, although it seems as if Ford is on automatic for this role.  Sure, he’s done this before.  He can turn on the grim intensity and growl on cue at the bad guys about what will happen if they hurt his family.  In fact, the script really plays up the hurt my family, protect the family, and family is all-important angles, as if the filmmakers were trying to hit some key red state demographic.  This family protection angle, like Ford’s performance, lacks spontaneity.

A thriller doesn’t have to be plausible to be thrilling, but Firewall stretches the limits of belief.  For every moment that I spent being thrilled, I spent two counting the times in this tale when some bank official, co-worker, or policeman would (or realistically should) have become so suspicious that he or she would have stepped in to stop this insane plot to rob a bank with the oh-so-formidable security system that the hero himself designed.  What?  Is there no oversight at this bank?

Other than Ford’s Jack Stanfield and Paul Bettany’s mechanical villain, Bill Cox, the script and the director ignore the rest of the characters, including several bank employees and officials.  The reason is simple:  the more you bring other people at the bank into this story, the more likely both the film’s plot and the villains’ plot would fall apart.  Still, Firewall is passable entertainment, especially for fans of Harrison Ford.  They won’t remember Firewall the way they do 1993’s The Fugitive, but it’s still something.

5 of 10
C+

Saturday, July 08, 2006

Updated:  Saturday, November 02, 2013

The text is copyright © 2013 Leroy Douresseaux. All Rights Reserved. Contact this site for syndication rights and fees.

Review: "Iron Man 3" About the Man in the Iron

TRASH IN MY EYE No. 31 (of 2013) by Leroy Douresseaux


Iron Man 3 (2013)
Running time: 130 minutes (2 hours, 10 minutes)
MPAA – PG-13 for sequences of intense sci-fi action and violence throughout, and brief suggestive content
DIRECTOR: Shane Black
WRITERS: Drew Pearce and Shane Black (based on the characters and stories created by Stan Lee, Don Heck, Larry Lieber, and Jack Kirby)
PRODUCER: Kevin Feige
CINEMATOGRAPHER: John Toll (director of photography)
EDITORS: Peter S. Elliot and Jeffrey Ford
COMPOSER: Brian Tyler

SUPERHERO/SCI-FI/ACTION

Starring: Robert Downey, Jr., Gwyneth Paltrow, Don Cheadle, Guy Pearce, Rebecca Hall, Ty Simpkins, Ben Kingsley, James Badge Dale, Stephanie Szostak, William Sadler, Miguel Ferrer, Jon Favreau, and Paul Bettany (voice)

Iron Man 3 is a 2013 superhero film co-written and directed by Shane Black and starring Robert Downey, Jr. in the title role. It is the third movie in the Iron Man film franchise and the seventh installment in the Marvel Cinematic Universe (which began with the first Iron Man movie in 2008). In Iron Man 3, Tony Stark/Iron Man is forced to rebuild his world after it is torn apart by a formidable terrorist.

Iron Man 3 finds billionaire inventor Tony Stark (Robert Downey, Jr.) suffering from anxiety after his experiences with The Avengers. He has built several new Iron Man suits, which causes friction with his girlfriend and current CEO of Stark Industries, Pepper Potts (Gwyneth Paltrow). Also, Tony’s friend, James “Rhodey” Rhodes (Don Cheadle), is now the U.S. government’s go-to-guy when it needs Iron Man-type help. Rhodes in his War Machine armor has also been re-branded as the Iron Patriot.

Tony has been working non-stop for months, but one thing that does catch his attention is the global tension caused by a mysterious terrorist known as The Mandarin (Ben Kingsley). After his friend, Happy Hogan (Jon Favreau), is gravely wounded in one of The Mandarin’s terrorist attacks, Tony vows revenge, but The Mandarin strikes first. Tony begins a journey of rebuilding and retribution, which is complicated by a cast of characters that includes friends and foes and even people whose allegiances are suspect.

Iron Man 3 is spectacular. Destruction is rendered in vivid colors and in awesome visual effects generated by computer software with the god-like ability to create new realities. But I was buying it the way I did for the first two Iron Man films. Don’t get me wrong, Iron Man 3 is good, and I enjoyed it – for the most part. For all its superhero action pageantry and its out of this world combat between demigods and demigod wannabes, I was only somewhat titillated.

There is one glaring thing that dampened my enthusiasm for Iron Man 3, and it is the entire Tony Stark anxiety, panic attack, quasi-PTSD, crisis of faith/conscience factor that is at the heart of Iron Man 3. To me, Tony’s angst comes across as contrived. I just wasn’t buying it. Didn’t we already litigate Tony Stark’s mental demons, relationship shortcomings, and personality glitches in Iron Man 2?

I did enjoy Gwyneth Paltrow as Pepper Potts, and the actress shows that if the filmmakers did more than just scratch the surface of this character, they’d have something super. In addition, Don Cheadle easily moves past being the replacement actor (as Terrence Howard played Rhodes in the first Iron Man), as he fully comes into his own as James Rhodes. Here, Cheadle is funny and engaging, and he clearly has the film personality to be an action-movie star – certainly in superhero movies. Also, Ty Simpkins is surprisingly good as the Harley, a non-annoying, forthright boy.

In terms of tone, attitude, and spirit, Iron Man 3 is different from its predecessors. In fact, it seems odd, and The Mandarin subplot keeps things weird – perhaps too much. So Iron Man 3… maybe I’ll like it more when I see it again, on DVD or television. It is a good movie, but I can only be generous enough to give it a grade of “B.”

6 of 10
B

Sunday, May 5, 2013

Review: Tom Hanks' Magic Touch Energizes "The Da Vinci Code" (Happy B'day, Tom Hanks)

TRASH IN MY EYE No. 109 (of 2006) by Leroy Douresseaux

The Da Vinci Code (2006)
Running time: 149 minutes (2 hours, 29 minutes)
MPAA – PG-13 for disturbing images, violence, some nudity, thematic material, brief drug references, and sexual content
DIRECTOR: Ron Howard
WRITER: Akiva Goldsman (based upon the book by Dan Brown)
PRODUCERS: John Calley, Brian Grazer and Ron Howard
CINEMATOGRAPHER: Salvatore Totino
EDITORS: Dan Hanley, A.C.E. and Mike Hille, A.C.E.

MYSTERY/THRILLER

Starring: Tom Hanks, Audrey Tautou, Ian McKellen, Alfred Molina, Jürgen Prochnow, with Paul Bettany and Jean Reno, Jean-Yves Berteloot, Etienne Chicot, and Jean-Pierre Marielle

The subject of this movie review is The Da Vinci Code, a 2006 American mystery thriller from director Ron Howard and starring Tom Hanks. The film is based upon Dan Brown’s 2003 novel, The Da Vinci Code, which was a worldwide bestseller.

The French police summon famed Harvard Professor of Religious Symbology, Robert Langdon (Tom Hanks), to the world renown Paris museum, the Louvre, to assist them in a murder investigation in which the victim, curator of the Louvre, Jacques Sauniere (Jean-Pierre Marielle), has left behind a bloody trail of symbols and clues, including a bloody pentacle Sauniere drew on his own body before he died. However, police cryptologist, Sophie Neveu (Audrey Tautou), also arrives at the crime scene and surreptitiously informs Langdon that the lead investigator, Captain Fauche (Jean Reno), has pegged him as the first and only suspect in the murder.

Together, Langdon and Neveu unveil a series of stunning secrets hidden in the works of Renaissance painter Leonardo Da Vinci housed at the museum, all of which lead to a legendary secret society that has been guarding a secret nearly 2000 years old. Barely escaping the museum with the police hot on the tracks, Langdon and Neveu race from Paris to the French countryside to London, collecting clues as they attempt to crack Da Vinci’s code and reveal a conspiracy that may shake the very foundations of mankind. There, are however, sinister forces determined to stop them – personified in the form of a murderous albino monk, Silas (Paul Bettany).

Ron Howard’s latest film, The Da Vinci Code, is adapted by screenwriter Akiva Goldsman from author Dan Brown’s insanely popular novel of the same name. In fact, at 60 million copies sold worldwide, Brown’s book is the biggest selling hardcover work of fiction in history, and it has courted controversy because of its mix of conspiracy theory and pseudo history about the origins of Christianity virtually since the day it was published. Howard’s adaptation opened the 2006 Cannes Film Festival, where many of those who saw it allegedly panned the movie. By the time it opened theatrically worldwide on May 19th, U.S. film critics were either damning the movie with faint praise or simply skewering it.

Some critics have said that Tom Hanks and Audrey Tautou have no screen chemistry, but their characters certainly connect the first time they meet one another in the narrative. Some said that Hanks was miscast as novelist Dan Brown’s cerebral version of Indiana Jones, Robert Langdon, and Hanks is certainly older than the Langdon in Brown’s books (Langdon is also the star of Brown’s Angels and Demons) who is 30-something. However, Hanks is one of the most popular actors of his generation and of the last two decades, not to mention that he is a stellar movie actor. Regardless of the roles he takes, audiences take to Hanks and willingly live vicariously through his characters – seeing the movie through his eyes. He could sell salvation to the devil. So if he’s not like the Langdon of the book, it hardly seems to matter in the context of the movie.

Some critics have said that Howard’s direction is slow and makes The Da Vinci Code clunky. The film is riveting from beginning to end, and Howard, who has a Spielberg-like penchant forgetting audiences to respond favorably to the emotional cues he sets for different points in his films, takes us on an thrill ride that is equal parts intellect-engaging mystery tale and pulse-pounding, action/adventure flick. Some critics have also said that Howard’s film buries us in exposition. Much of the novel amounts to page after page of endless (but interesting) discussion of philosophy, religious history, art history, Middle Ages history, symbols, codes, Catholicism, etc. Goldsman screenplay only retains the exposition that is necessary for the turning the central plot of Dan Brown’s book into a film. Howard takes much of the novel’s historical discussion and turns it into flashbacks for the movie, so (for instance) we see snippets of The Knights Templars’ history rather than just be told about it.

The Da Vinci Code is simply a grand adult thriller that more than retains the spirit of Brown’s both controversial and internationally beloved book. The filmmaking on the part of writer and director is superb. The art direction and set decoration is top notch, all of it filmed in a cool and comforting photography that creates a sense of great mystery – an atmosphere that recalls Raiders of the Lost Ark. The acting is just right, with the performers knowing how to play up or down the fantastical and preposterous notions from Brown’s books – how to make their characters make the outlandish seem worth the effort to unravel it. The best at that is Ian McKellen as the jovial, bon vivant of alternative and wacky history, Sir Leigh Teabing. It all makes The Da Vinci Code one of the truly exceptional film mysteries to come along in many a year.

9 of 10
A+

Tuesday, May 23, 2006

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