Negromancer News Bits and Bites from December 26th to 31st, 2021 - Update #12

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

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ENTERTAINMENT AND CULTURE NEWS:

REVIEW - From Negromancer:  My review of "Spider-Man: No Way Home."

MOVIES - From Variety:   Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson has publicly declined Vin Diesel's invitation to rejoin the "Fast Saga" mainline franchise for the supposed finale, "Fast 10."

COVID-19 - From Deadline:  On Tuesday (12/28/2021), the United States recorded 512,553 daily new COVID-19 cases, according to Johns Hopkins University. That is, by far, the single highest daily case number recorded during the entire COVID-19 pandemic. 

From RSN:  According to the Associated Press, "FEMA Wants to Give Families Up to $9,000 for COVID Funerals, but Many Don't Apply"

MOVIES - From HotNewHipHop:  Ice Cube reveals why actor Chris Tucker did not return for "Next Friday" (2000), the first of two sequels to the cult hit film, "Friday" (1995).  It was for religious reasons.

BOX OFFFICE - From BoxOfficePro:   The winner of the 12/24 to 12/26/2021 weekend box office is Sony Pictures/Marvel Studios' "Spider-Man: No Way Home" with an estimated take of 81.5 million dollars.

From THR:   "Spider-Man: No Way Home" is now Sony Pictures' all-time top-grossing film at the U.S. box office with a total to date of 405.5 million dollars.  The previous champ was "Jumanji: Welcome to to the Jungle" (2017) with a domestic total of 404.5 million.

From THR:  On Sunday, "Spider-Man: No Way Home" passed the billion-dollar mark in global box office.  It is the first film to do so in the pandemic era.

MOVIES - From Variety:  Actor Michael B. Jordan talks about getting directing advice from Denzel Washington as Jordan prepares to direct "Creed III."

OBITS:

From THR:   American animal advocate and beloved television actress and comedienne, Betty White, has died at the age of 99, Friday, December 31, 2021.  A five-time Emmy winner, White starred on CBS's "The Mary Tyler Moore Show" from 1973 to 1977, NBC's "The Golden Girls" (1985-92), and TV Land's "Hot in Cleveland" (2010-15).

From Variety:  Former NFL coach and retired sportscaster, John Madden, has died at the age of 85, Tuesday, December 28, 2021.  Madden won Super Bowl XI (Jan. 1977) as head coach of the Oakland Raiders.  He was the Raiders head coach from 1969 to 1978.  Madden was a color commentator for CBS from 1979 to 1993, for Fox from 1994 to 2001, for ABC Sports from 2002 to 2005, and for NBC Sports from 2006 to 2008.  In 1988, Madden lent his name, voice, and personality to EA Sports sports video game, "John Madden Football" (1988-94), which has been best known as "Madden NFL."  Madden was "Pro Football Hall of Fame Class of 2006."

From Deadline:  Canadian director and screenwriter, Jean-Marc Vallée, has died at the age of 58, Sunday, December 26, 2021.  Among his best known directorial efforts are the Oscar-winning films, "Young Victoria" (2009) and "Dallas Buyers Club" (2013) and the Oscar-nominated "Wild" (2014).  He also directed the first season of the HBO TV series, "Big Little Lies."

From TheNewYorkTimes:   Archbishop Desmond Tutu has died at the age of 80, Sunday, December 26, 2021.  A South African Anglican bishop, Tutu was known as an anti-apartheid and human rights activist.  He was one of the most prominent opponents of South Africa's apartheid system of racial segregation and white minority rule.  He was a key figure in apartheid's dismantling and in South Africa's transition away from it.  Tutu appeared in over a hundred television, film, and video documentaries and TV specials and series to discuss his work and beliefs.

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AWARDS:

From Deadline:  The Los Angeles Film Critics Association has named the Japanese film, "Drive My Car," the "Best Picture" of 2021.

From Deadline:  The 2022 / 37th annual Film Independent Spirit Awards have announced their nominations. "Zola" leads with six nominations. The winners will be announced Sun., March 6, 2022.

From THR:  The 2022 / 79th Golden Globes Awards nominations have been announced.  "Belfast" and "The Power of the Dog" lead with seven nominations each.  Winners will be announced Jan. 9th, 2022.

From GoldDerby:   The 2022 Critics Choice Awards nominations have been announced. "Belfast" and "West Side Story" leads with 11 nominations each. Winners will be announced Jan. 9th, 2022.

From Deadline:   The American Film Institute announced the "2021 AFI Awards" Top 10 list, and the list includes "Dune," "The Tragedy of Macbeth," and "West Side Story."

From THR:  Director Aleem Khan's "After Love" tops the 2021 British Independent Film Awards, winning six awards, including "Best Film of 2021."

From Variety:   The New York Film Critics Circle has named the Japanese drama, "Drive My Car," as the "Best Film of 2021."

From Deadline:  The National Board of Review hands director Paul Thomas Anderson's "Licorice Pizza" it "Best Film" and "Best Director" awards.  Will Smith picks up the "Best Actor" award for "King Richard."

From THR:  Netflix’s "The Lost Daughter," directed by actress Maggie Gyllenhaal, dominated the 2021 Gotham Awards in New York on Monday night (Nov. 29th).  The film won in four of the five categories in which it was nominated, including "Best Feature."

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"RUST" ACCIDENTAL SHOOTING DEATH:

From Deadline:  This link will take you to Deadline's Halyna Hutchins page, which articles related to everything about her shooting death on the set of the Western film, "Rust."

From Variety:  One of the producers of tragic Western film, Rust, Emily Salveson, pushes tax shelters and hid income.

From THR:  "I let go of the hammer and 'Bang,' the gun goes off" says Alec Baldwin says in his first interview of the moment when a gun he was holding accidentally killed cinematographer Halyna Hutchins on the set of the Western film, "Rust."

From Deadline:  Alec Baldwin will sit down with ABC's news-reading clown George Stephanopoulos for a one hour special tomorrow night to talk about what happened on the set of the movie "Rust."  It will be Baldwin’s first extensive interview about the shooting.

From Deadline:  Industry veteran, Thall Reed, the father of Hannah Gutierrez-Reed, the armorer on the Western, "Rust," may have handed the police a tip on why the film's cinematographer, Halyna Hutchins, was shot to death on the set.

From THR:  A search warrant affidavit filed Tuesday for a prop shop sheds light on how alleged live ammunition ended up on the set of the Western film, "Rust," where cinematographer Halyna Hutchins was killed in October.

From Deadline:  A month after cinematographer, Halyna Hutchins, was shot and killed on the New Mexico set the movie Western, "Rust," by a prop gun “discharged” by Alec Baldwin, those closest to the cinematographer held a private ceremony and interred her ashes at an unknown location.

From Deadline:  Actor Daniel Baldwin defends his brother, Alec Baldwin, in the accidental shooting death of cinematographer Halyna Hutchins on the set of the film, "Rust."  "Someone loaded that gun improperly," Daniel says.

From Deadline:  The newest lawsuit involving the tragic shooting on the set of the Western film, "Rust," has been filed by the film's script supervisor, Mamie Mitchell, against Alec Baldwin, the producers, the production company, armorer Hanna Gutierrez Reed, and others.

From Deadline:  Serge Svetnoy, the gaffer on "Rust," has filed a lawsuit against several parties related to the film, including the production, the financiers, star Alec Baldwin, armorer Hannah Gutierrez Reed, and first Assistant Director David Halls.

From THR:   In the wake of the tragic accidental shooting on the set of his film, "Rust," Alec Baldwin on Monday took to social media to urge Hollywood to employ a police officer on every film and TV set that uses guns.

From THR:   The budget for "Rust" - Alec Baldwin was set to earn $150,000 as lead actor and $100,000 as producer, while $7,913 was earmarked for armorer Hannah Gutierrez-Reed and $17,500 was set aside for the rental of weapons and $5,000 for rounds.

From Deadline:  Attorneys for Hannah Gutierrez-Reed, the armorer on the set of the film, "Rust," said that they’re looking into whether a live bullet was placed in a box of dummy rounds with the intent of  “sabotaging the set.”

From THR:   Hannah Gutierrez-Reed, the armorer on the film, "Rust," released a statement through her lawyers.  She says she had “no idea where the live rounds came from” that were recovered by the Santa Fe County Sheriff's during the investigation of the accidental on-set shooting death of Halyna Hutchins.

From Jacobin:  An opinion piece says that cinematographer Halyna Hutchins' death on the set of the film, "Rust," was not a freak accident, but was about Alec Baldwin and his fellow producers' cost-cutting decisions.  Baldwin accidentally fired the gun that killed Hutchins.

From Deadline:   Two of executive producers on "Rust," Allen Cheney and Emily Salveson, disavow responsibility for the film's troubled production.

From THR:   Iconic "Ghostbusters" actor Ernie Hudson is reeling from the news of the death of Halyna Hutchins, like the rest of Hollywood. Hudson also appeared in the film, "The Crow," the film in which its star, Brandon Lee, was killed because of an on-set accidental shooting.  He also agrees with the call to ban real guns from movie sets.

From THR:  The Sheriff of Sante Fe County says that his office has recovered three guns and 500 rounds of ammunition from the set of the movie "Rust" where cinematographer Halyna Hutchins was killed.

From Deadline:  Regarding criminal charges in the death of Halyna Hutchins on the set of the film "Rust," District Attorney Mary Carmack-Altweis, "all options are on the table - no one has been ruled out."

From THR:  Does Hollywood Need Guns? Will new regulations lead to an overreactions to a tragedy.

From Deadline:   "Rust" producers have opened an internal investigation into the fatal shooting on the set of the Western film.  They have hired outside lawyers to conduct interviews with the film's production crew.

From Deadline:  "Rust's" AD (assistant director), Dave Halls, has come under scrutiny in the wake of the on-set shooting death of the film's cinematographer, Halyna Hutchins.

From Deadline:  The affidavit of Sante Fe Sheriff's Department Detective Joel Cano has been made public. It can be read at "Deadline."  The affidavit was for a search warrant from the property were the Western, "Rust," was being filmed.

From THR:  The production company behind "Rust" has shut the film down until the police investigation into the fatal, on-set shooting of cinematographer Halyna Hutchins is through.  The Sante Fe County Sheriff's Office has also revealed a timeline of the shooting.

From Deadline:  The Santa Fe Sheriff’s Department confirmed Thursday night that Alec Baldwin “discharged” a prop gun on the New Mexico set of the movie, "Rust."  As a result, one crew member, director of photography Halyna Hutchins, was killed and director Joel Souza was injured and remains in a local hospital - his condition unknown.

From THR:  "Rust" director, Joel Souza, who was wounded in the accidental on-set shooting, says that he is "gutted" by the death of his cinematographer on the film, Halyna Hutchins.

From Deadline:  The fatal shooting on the set of "Rust" may have been "recorded" according to detective for Santa Fe Sheriff's Department.

From Deadline:  The production company behind the film, "Rust," will launch an internal safety review after the fatal accident that killed Halyna Hutchins; possible prior gun incidents; and a camera crew walkout.

From CNN:   Crew member yelled "cold gun" as he handed Alec Baldwin prop weapon, court document shows.

From Variety:  Actor Alec Baldwin releases statement on the death of Halyna Hutchins: "There are no words to convey my shock and sadness."

From Variety:  The prop gun that killed “Rust” cinematographer Halyna Hutchins and wounded director Joel Souza on during an on-set accident on Thursday contained a “live single round,” according to an email sent by IATSE Local 44 to its membership.

Comics Review: "JENNIFER BLOOD Volume 2 #3" is All Fun and Games ... and Death

JENNIFER BLOOD VOLUME 2 #3
DYNAMITE ENTERTAINMENT

STORY: Fred Van Lente
ART: Vincenzo Federici
COLORS: Dearbhla Kelly
LETTERS: Simon Bowland
EDITOR: Nate Cosby
COVER: Lucio Parrillo
32pp, Color, $3.99 U.S. (December 2021)

Rated Teen+

Jennifer Blood created by Garth Ennis and Adriano Batista.

“Bloodlines” Chapter Three: “Play Date”

Jennifer Blood is a a comic book character created by writer Garth Ennis and artist Adriano Batista.  A suburban wife and mother by day, Jennifer Blood is a ruthless vigilante by night.  Born “Jessica Blute,” she took her mother's first name, Jennifer, and created the alter ego, “Jennifer Blood, and sought revenge against her father's family for the death of her parents.  The first Jennifer Blood comic book series ran for 36 issues from 2011 to 2014.

Jennifer Blood returns from the dead in a new comic book series, Jennifer Blood Volume 2.  It is written by Fred Van Lente; drawn by Vincenzo Federici; colored by Dearbhla Kelly and lettered by Simon Bowland.  In the new series, someone is acting like Jennifer Blood, who is supposedly dead.  And this “copycat” loves to kill criminals just like the original did.

Jennifer Blood Volume 2 #3 (“Play Date”) opens outside of Bountiful, Utah, population 4302 – a town run by and for criminals.  Bountiful is where the U.S. Department of Justice sends the most infamous East Coast mobsters into the federal “Witness Protection Program” (WPP).  One of the criminals enjoying life in Bountiful is former drug trafficker and Border Patrol agent turned heroin smugger, Marco Martinez.  Today, he has delivered a U-Haul truckload of Spanish-speaking migrants to an abandoned army base located outside Bountiful.

These migrants believe that they are beginning a new life, but they're actually here to be targets.  The Mafia dons of the criminal-run town of Bountiful have gathered together for “the Hunt,” the annual event that pits the East Coast mob against the West Coast mob to see who can track down, kill, and tag these innocent, unknowing human.

In this most dangerous game, however, a third player has entered this year's competition: Jennifer Blood!  Her targets are the mobsters and she plays for keeps.  Now, mob assassin, Giulietta Romeo, will at last come face to face with her elusive prey.

THE LOWDOWN:  Dynamite Entertainment's marketing department recently began providing me with PDF review copies of some of their titles.  One of them is Jennifer Blood Volume 2 #3.  This is the third Jennifer Blood comic book I have read, although I had previously heard of the series.

I'll say the same thing about Jennifer Blood Volume 2 #3 that I said about the first two issues.  It's a fun read and a funny read.  Writer Fred Van Lente offers his best issue yet.  In fact, I could read a miniseries worth of this issue, and I enjoyed the confrontation between Blood and Romeo.

The art and storytelling by Vincenzo Federici perfectly fits this stories emphasis on cruelty and bigotry, and the colors by Dearbhla Kelly splash tag-colors and gore all over the pages.  Simon Bowland's lettering continues to be the soundtrack of sacrifice to mob violence and bloody revenge.  So let's keep going, dear readers.  Jennifer Blood is turning out to be quite good.

I READS YOU RECOMMENDS:  Fans of Jennifer Blood will want to read Jennifer Blood Volume 2.

A-

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


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Review: In "TARZAN, the Ape Man," Bo Derek Could Drive a Man Ape

TRASH IN MY EYE No. 74 of 2021 (No. 1812) by Leroy Douresseaux

Tarzan, the Ape Man (1981)
Running time:  115 minutes (1 hour, 55 minutes)
MPAA – R
DIRECTOR:  John Derek
WRITERS:  Tom Rowe and Gary Goddard (based on characters created by Edgar Rice Burroughs)
PRODUCER:  Bo Derek
CINEMATOGRAPHER:  John Derek (photographed by)
EDITOR:  James B. Ling
COMPOSER:  Perry Botkin

FANTASY/ADVENTURE

Starring:  Bo Derek, Richard Harris, Miles O'Keefe, John Phillip Law, Akushula Selayah, Maxime Philoe, Leonard Bailey, and Steve Strong

[I am working my way through the films that I first saw in a movie theater for which I have not previously written a movie review.  The first time I saw a movie in an in-door theater (as opposed to a drive-in cinema) was in 1980 – likely The Empire Strikes Back.  However, I am starting this process in the year 1981, and it turns out that there are only two movies left from that year that I saw in a theater for I which I have never written a formal review.  Tarzan, the Ape Man is one of them.]

Tarzan, the Ape Man is a 1981 fantasy-adventure film and Tarzan movie directed by John Derek.  The film is loosely based on the 1912 novel, Tarzan of the Apes, by Edgar Rice Burroughs.  Tarzan, the Ape Man is told from the point of view of Jane Parker, who meets Tarzan while on an African expedition with her estranged father.

In 1910, Jane Parker (Bo Derek) arrives in West Africa.  She is looking for passage deep into the jungle where she hopes to find her long estranged father, James Parker (Richard Harris), whom she has never met.  When she does arrive at “Parker's camp,” she discovers that James Parker is the typical “great white hunter,” loud and boastful, full of songs and stories.

James is searching for the legendary “elephants' graveyard,” which is also known as the “escarpment.”  James reluctantly allows Jane to accompany him and his photographer, Harry Holt (John Phillip Law), on the expedition.  During the journey they also hear the call of Tarzan, the mythical “white ape.”  James declares that he will kill this Tarzan and have him mounted as a trophy, but James does not realize that he is also being hunted.  Meanwhile, Jane finds herself captured by Tarzan (Miles O'Keefe), but she is as fascinated by him as she fears him.

Film critics generally panned Tarzan, the Ape Man upon its initial release to movie theaters.  Some called it “one of the worst movies ever made” or “the worst movie ever.”  It is certainly not highly considered among the decades of feature films based on the Tarzan character.  However, the late Pulitzer Prize-winning film critic, Roger Ebert, was correct when he wrote that Tarzan, the Ape Man has a certain charm or disarming charm, although it is ridiculous in many ways.

I saw it as a 15-year-old in a local theater four decades ago, and I liked it then, although I was not crazy about it.  The reason I saw the film was because of Bo Derek, and I wanted to see her have sex on screen.  That did not happen, but there was a lot of sexual playfulness, some of which I can say, as an adult, has a wrongness to it.  I did not think that at the time; I just wanted as much Bo Derek as I could get, especially nude Bo Derek.

Watching it 40 years later and for the first time since then, I can say that I appreciate Bo Derek even more.  When this film was made and screened, she was in her mid-20, and Derek in her 20s was at the height of her powers, in terms of her looks, her body, and her sexual appeal.  Then and now, some women (and men) would sell their souls to have a her lithe, sexy body and those perfectly plump breasts.  I don't think I lusted for her as a teen as much as I did this time around.  I thought I would have a heart attack when, as Jane Parker, she emerged from the water in a white gown turned see-through when it got wet.  As Booger says in Revenge of the Nerds:  We got bush!

Bo Derek's husband, the late John Derek, made four films featuring his wife:  Fantasies and Tarzan, the Ape Man, both released in 1981; Bolero, released in 1984; and Ghosts Can't Do It, released in 1989.  Other than this Tarzan film, the only other one I saw was Bolero, which was, quite frankly, terrible.

Tarzan, the Ape Man is certainly a Bo Derek film, but a few other actors manage to stand out.  Richard Harris, in some ways, saves the film by giving a mad, over-the-top performance in order to create Jane's father, James Parker.  John Phillip Law as the photographer Harry Holt is good; Law certainly makes obvious Holt's naked lust for Jane Parker.

Miles O'Keefe was not the first choice to play Tarzan in this film, but he was intended to be the stunt double for the actor that would take the role.  Well, the actor who was to play Tarzan was fired or quit the film, and I don't know his identity.  O'Keefe stepped in to play Tarzan, and at that time, his body was the perfect male equivalent of Bo Derek's.  Lean, sinewy, muscular, and possessing perfectly sculpted abs, O'Keefe was an eye-appealing Tarzan, even if he was a really odd one.

If I remember correctly, the estate of Tarzan's creator, Edgar Rice Burroughs, was not pleased with this film, which made significant changes to the source material.  For instance, Jane Parker is really Jane Porter in the books, and her father is the professor, Archimedes Q. Porter, and not James Parker, the great white hunter.  Still, I hope that Tarzan, the Ape Man is not completely forgotten.  Future generations of men and teen boys should be able to partake of the opportunity that this film gives them to appreciate what, for a time, was one of American cinema's most beautiful women.  I plan to partake of that opportunity, again...

6 of 10
B

Monday, December 27, 2021


The text is copyright © 2021 Leroy Douresseaux. All Rights Reserved. Contact this blog or site for reprint and syndication rights and fees.

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Manga Review: Rumiko Takahashi's MAO: Volume 2

MAO, VOL. 2
VIZ MEDIA

MANGAKA: Rumiko Takahashi
TRANSLATION: Junko Goda
ENGLISH ADAPTATION: Shaenon Garrity
LETTERS: Susan Daigle-Leach
EDITOR: Annette Roman
ISBN: 978-1-9747-2058-3; paperback (November 2021); Rated “T+” for “Older Teen”
192pp, B&W, $9.99 U.S., $12.99 CAN, £7.99 UK

Mao is a Japanese manga series written and illustrated by Rumiko Takahashi.  It has been serialized in the Japanese manga magazine, Weekly Shōnen Sunday, since May 2019.  In September 2021, VIZ Media began publishing an English-language edition of Mao as a series of paperback graphic novels under its “Shonen Sunday” imprint.

Mao focuses on 15-year-old Nanoka Kiba.  Eight years ago, she was in a mysterious car accident in which she and her parents died, but Nanoka continues to live on.  One day, while visiting the shopping alley on Fifth Street, Nanoka inadvertently enters a portal that transports her back to Japan's Taisho era.  There, Nanoka meets a young-looking exorcist named Mao and his helper, Otoya, a shikigami that resembles a small boy.  As they try to discover what thread of fate connects them, they'll kick demon butt along the way.

As Mao, Vol. 2 (Chapters 1 to 10) opens, Nanoka, Mao, and Otoya investigate the strange cult of Priestess Shoko in hopes of bringing her to justice.  However, diabolical forces surround her, and they will kill anyone who stand in their way.  Meanwhile, Shoko reveals a shocking doomsday prophecy.  Later, Nanoka and her friend, the boy who wants to date her, Shiraha, do some historical research and discover a cataclysmic event that is yet to occur in Mao's timeline.

THE LOWDOWN:  The Mao manga is the latest multi-genre manga from Rumiko
Takahashi.  As usual, this title pairs a young female touched by the supernatural with a youngish male whose trade is in the supernatural.

Mao Graphic Novel Volume 2 finds Nanoka hopping back and forth between timelines.  She and Mao investigate all manner of demons.  Meanwhile, a historical disaster connects the two different worlds in which they live, but history may not be entirely correct about the details of event.  The Princess Shoko story arc reveals that while both their personalities and their methods sometimes clash, Nanoka and Mao are actually a rather nice match.

As she did in the first volume, Shaenon Garrity once again offers an English-language adaptation that is a delightful read, capturing the magic that infuses this volume and also the curious and inquisitive nature of Nanoka.  I couldn't stop reading Mao Vol. 1, and by the time I finished Vol. 2, I really wanted to read more.  I heartily recommend this series to any fans of supernatural fantasy comics and graphic novels even if they have never previously read Rumiko Takahashi.

I READS YOU RECOMMENDS:  Readers who love Rumiko Takahashi’s manga will want the Shonen Sunday title, Mao.

A

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


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Review: Walt Disney's "TARZAN" is Something Old, Something New, and Sometimes Amazing

TRASH IN MY EYE No. 114 (of 2004) by Leroy Douresseaux

Tarzan (1999)

Running time:  88 minutes ( hour, 28 minutes)

MPAA – G

DIRECTORS:  Chris Buck and Kevin Lima

WRITERS:  Tab Murphy and Bob Tzudiker & Noni White; from a story by numerous writers (based upon the Edgar Rice Burroughs novel Tarzan of the Apes)

PRODUCER:  Bonnie Arnold

EDITOR:  Gregory Perler

COMPOSER:  Mark Mancina

SONGS:  Phil Collins

Academy Award winner

ANIMATION/ACTION/ADVENTURE/FAMILY

Starring:  (voices) Tony Goldwyn, Minnie Driver, Glenn Close, Brian Blessed, Lance Henriksen, Wayne Knight, Alex D. Linz, Rosie O’Donnell, and Nigel Hawthorne

The subject of this movie review is Tarzan, a 1999 animation fantasy-adventure film and musical directed by Chris Buck and Kevin Lima.  The film is based on Tarzan of the Apes, the first Tarzan novel written by Tarzan creator, Edgar Rice Burroughs.  Walt Disney’s Tarzan focuses on a man who was raised by gorillas, but who must decide where he really belongs when he discovers that he is a human.

Tarzan, Walt Disney’s animated version of Edgar Rice Burroughs’ classic character Tarzan, was one of the best films of the year 1999.  In fact, it was better than the Academy Award winner for Best Picture that year, American Beauty.  Many film fans and critics point to 1989’s The Little Mermaid as Disney’s return to the kind of high quality animation that made the studio so famous from the later 1930’s to the early 1950’s.  From 1989 to 2004 (when Disney stopped making feature length animated films for theatrical release, for the foreseeable future), Tarzan stands as a high water mark, being one of the best efforts of that second golden age of Disney animation (known as the “Disney Renaissance”).

However, the film isn’t just a great effort in animation, it’s also a great film, period.  Like classic Disney films, there is something for everyone.  The drama, humor, action, and adventure reach across generations to entertain anyone, especially if adults have open minds about opening up to the story of an animated film.

In this version of the classic tale, the gorilla Kala (Glenn Close) rescues an orphaned human after she finds its parents’ murdered bodies.  She names him Tarzan (Alex D. Linz) and takes him as her own because she is left childless after a leopard killed her infant.  Years later, the adult Tarzan (Tony Goldwyn) discovers he is human when he falls in love with Jane Porter (Minnie Driver), who comes to Tarzan’s jungle home with her father, Professor Porter (Nigel Hawthorne).  His love for Jane forces Tarzan to decide where he belongs when he has to choose between staying with his gorilla family or following Jane back to England.

Unlike many Disney animated films, Tarzan is thoroughly a boys’ action/adventure tale filled as it is with jungle chases over trees and through dense foliage and with combat fought to the death.  He is a boy’s man, having fun all day, surfing by his feet over thick and long tree branches, and he’s a whirling dervish of flips, twists, spins, leaps, dives, etc.  The film is, however, also quite poignant in its drama, particularly in the romance between Tarzan and Jane and in the relationship between Tarzan and his mother, Kala.

What would a Disney cartoon be without laughter and songs?  There is plenty of humor, some of it surprisingly provided by Rosie O’Donnell as Tarzan’s gorilla playmate, Terk (performed when she was still the “Queen of Nice.”).  The musical score is also very good, soaring and emotional.  However, it is Phil Collins’ song score that really makes the film, and Collins finally won his long sought after “Best Music, Original Song” Oscar® for a track entitled, “You’ll Be in My Heart.”

9 of 10

A+

NOTES:

2000 Academy Awards, USA:  1 win: “Best Music, Original Song” (Phil Collins for the song “You'll Be In My Heart”)

2000 Golden Globes, USA:  1 win: “Best Original Song - Motion Picture” (Phil Collins for the song “You'll Be In My Heart”)

Updated:  Saturday, August 02, 2014

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Review: "TARZAN and the Lost City" is Entertaining in Spots

TRASH IN MY EYE No. 117 (of 2006) by Leroy Douresseaux

Tarzan and the Lost City (1998)

Running time:  84 minutes (1 hour, 24 minutes)

MPAA – PG for adventure violence

DIRECTOR:  Carl Schenkel

WRITERS:  Bayard Johnson and J. Anderson Black (based upon the stories by Edgar Rice Burroughs)

PRODUCERS:  Stanley S. Canter, Dieter Geissler, and Michael Lake

CINEMATAGRAPHER:  Paul Gilpin

EDITOR:  Harry Hitner

COMPOSER:  Christopher Franke

FANTASY/ACTION/ADVENTURE

Starring:  Casper Van Dien, Jane March, Steven Waddington, Winston Ntshona, Rapulana Seiphemo, and Ian Roberts

The subject of this movie review is Tarzan and the Lost City, a 1998 fantasy and adventure film from Village Roadshow Productions and Warner Bros. Pictures.  It was the first Tarzan movie shot entirely in Africa.  The film is loosely based on the Tarzan stories that were written by the character’s creator, Edgar Rice Burroughs.  In Tarzan and the Lost City, Tarzan returns to his African homeland to save it from destruction.

John Clayton, Lord Greystoke (Casper Van Dien) is about to marry his love, Jane Porter (Jane March), in London, when he learns through a kind of psychic connection with a lion that his old African homeland is in danger.  You see, Clayton is also Tarzan, Lord of the Apes, the famous jungle king who was orphaned on the Dark Continent (Africa) as an infant and raised by apes.

Tarzan puts off his wedding, much to Jane’s chagrin, and returns to Africa to stop the pillaging and animal poaching by the explorer, Nigel Ravens (Steve Waddington).  Raven has embarked on a quest to discover the lost city of Opar, said to by the birthplace of civilization.  While Tarzan begins his gorilla war against Waddington, Jane arrives in Africa and joins Tarzan in his bid to stop Waddington from finding Opar and looting it of its secrets and treasures.

Tarzan and the Lost City was the first Tarzan movie filmed entirely in Africa, and that gives the film a sense of realism, which isn’t necessarily a good thing.  Tarzan, who first appeared in the 1912 novel Tarzan of the Apes by Edgar Rice Burroughs, is a fantasy.  He’s larger than life, and he belonged to an era when people still romanticized the mythical great white hunter and the idea that a smart white man could, just on his superior intellect and physical superiority, conquer the mysterious and unexplored jungle worlds.

That said, this is a mildly entertaining flick, a few steps above a TV movie, and Christopher Franke’s score (which recalls strains of John Williams’ Raiders of the Lost Ark music) gives this film the feel of an epic adventure.  Casper Van Dien (Starship Troopers) is a credible Tarzan, and he almost, but not quite, copies the famous yell of the most famous film Tarzan, Johnny Weissmuller.

5 of 10

C+

Original:  Saturday, May 27, 2006

Update:  Saturday, August 02, 2014

The text is copyright © 2014 Leroy Douresseaux. All Rights Reserved. Contact this site for syndication rights and fees.

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Marvel Studios Negromancer Link-o-Rama 2021 - Update #149

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

Support Leroy on Patreon:

MOVIE REVIEWS - From Negromancer:  My review of "Spider-Man: No Way Home."

From Negromancer:  My review of "Eternals."

From Negromancer: My review of "Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings."

From Negromancer:  My review of "Black Widow."

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MARVEL STUDIOS NEWS:

SPIDER-MAN - From Deadline:  "Spider-Man: No Way Home" is apparently already a profitable film.

From Variety:  Why "Spider-Man" is Hollywood's most potent box office force.

From Deadline:  "Spider-Man: No Way Home" is poised to become the first billion dollar film of the pandemic era.

DOCTOR STRANGE 2 - From EW:  There is a teaser for "Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness" that ties into the Disney+ animated series, "What If...?"

SPIDER-MAN - From THR:  A list of all the box office records that "Spider-Man: No Way Home" has broken.

From Variety:  In one weekend, it's debut weekend, "Spider-Man: No Way Home" is the highest grossing film at the domestic box office this year ... and has done better than any film released last year (2020).

From THR:   "'No Way Home' and the Tragedy of Spider-Man," a feature article by Graeme McMillan.

From YahooEntertainment:   Tom Holland explains how "Spider-Man: No Way Home" fits into the Marvel multiverse.

From Variety:  The site looks at the reviews and reactions to "Spider-Man: No Way Home."

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ETERNALS - From Deadline:  Marvel Studios' recent hit superhero film, "Eternals," will start streaming on Disney+ January 12, 2022.

THOR 4 - From TheDirect:  There is a teaser poster for next year's film, "Thor: Love & Thunder."

DAREDEVIL - From CinemaBlend:  Marvel Studios President Kevin Feige has reportedly confirmed that actor Charlie Cox, who played Matt Murdock/Daredevil on the Netflix series, "Daredevil," will also play the character in the Marvel Cinematic Universe ... at some point.

SPIDER-MAN: NO WAY HOME - From BoxOfficePro:  "Spider-Man: No Way Home" is tracking for a 200 million dollar-plus opening.

SPIDER-MAN - From Fandango:  In an interview with "Fandango," producer Amy Pascal said that Sony Pictures plans to make more "Spider-Man" movies with Marvel Studios.

HAWKEYE - From THR:   "How ‘Hawkeye’ Finally Gives an Avenger His Due"

SCARLETT JOHANSSON - From Deadline:   Scarlett Johansson became the 35th recipient of the "American Cinematheque Award."  Marvel Studios President Kevin Feige, while paying tribute to her, teased a secret Marvel project for Johansson that has nothing to do with the "Black Widow" character she has made famous.

ETERNALS - From BoxOfficePro:  On Wednesday, Nov. 17th, "Eternals" crossed the 300 million dollar mark in global box office.

SPIDER-MAN - From Deadline:   Sony Pictures and Marvel Studios have dropped the "official trailer" for "Spider-Man: No Way Home," which is due Dec. 17th.

BLADE - From THR:  SPOILER - The "Eternals'" end credit scene featuring Blade's voice is explained.

DOCTOR STRANGE 2 - From THR:  "Doctor Strange in the Madness of the Multiverse" is undergoing "significant" reshoots which will run through the end of the year.

DISNEY+ - From Variety:  First looks at "Moon Knight," "She-Hulk," and "Ms. Marvel" from "Disney+ Day."

From THR:  Among its many announcements today (Nov. 12th), Disney+ has ordered "X-Men '97," a sequel to the "X-Men" animated TV series that ran from 1992-97.  The animated "Spider-Man: Freshman Year" is set before the events depicted in "Captain America: Civil War."  There will also be a "Marvel Zombies" animated series and a second season of "What If...?"

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ETERNALS -  From THR:  Richard Newby of "The Hollywood Reporter" explains "Why 'Eternals' is Dividing Audiences" in a very favorable review of an excellent film.

From Variety:   "How ‘Eternals’ Brought Sex to the Marvel Cinematic Universe: ‘It’s Very Tasteful’"

From IGN:  Director Chloe Zhao only needed 25 minutes to film the Marvel Cinematic Universe's first sex scene - Sersi and Ikaris getting down on a beach in "Eternals."

From ComicBook:   Two characters in "Eternals," Barry Keoghan's Druig and Lauren Ridloff's Makkari, appear to have captivated audiences with their onscreen chemistry. 

From BuzzFeed:  Salma Hayek says she cried when she first saw herself in her "Eternals" costume.  "I saw my brown face in a superhero suit."

From DiscussingFilm:   Chloe Zhao talks about how she originally pitched "Eternals" to Marvel Studios.

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BLACK PANTHER 2 - From THR:   "Black Panther: Wakanda Forever" is temporarily shutting down production while star, Letitia Wright ("Shuri"), is recovering from an on-set injury.

ETERNALS - From THR:  Actress Lauren Ridloff talks about becoming the first deaf superhero in the Marvel Cinematic Universe via "Eternals."

GUARDIANS OF THE GALAXY 3 - From Variety:   Writer-director James Gunn has announced that actor Will Poulter will play the Marvel Comics character, "Adam Warlock," in "Guardians of the Galaxy 3."  The film is due May 5, 2023.

WANDAVISION - From THR:   Disney+/Marvel Studios is in early development of a "WandaVision" spinoff TV series focusing on the character, "Agatha Harkness," with actress Kathryn Hahn reprising the role.  Hahn received a Primetime Emmy nominations for playing the role in "WandaVision."

BLACK WIDOW - From Variety:  Scarlett Johansson and The Walt Disney Company have reached a settlement over Johansson's pay lawsuit regarding the release of "Black Widow."  Terms of the settlement were not disclosed.

SHANG-CHI - From CNBC:  "Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings" is now the highest grossing release of 2021 at the domestic box office.

WANDAVISION - From Deadline:  The Disney+ series, "WandaVision," has won Marvel Studios its first two Emmy Awards.  At the first night of the 2021 Creative Arts Emmy Awards, "WandaVision" won in two categories, "Outstanding Production Design For A Narrative Program (Half-Hour)" and "Outstanding Fantasy/Sci-Fi Costumes."

SHANG-CHI - From THR:  "Shang-Chi and the Legends of the Ten Rings" has smashed the record for Labor Day openings with a four-day haul of $90 million and has posted the second-biggest three-day debut ($75.5) of the pandemic year so far, behind fellow Marvel Studios film, "Black Widow."

From YahooStyleCaster:  Beginning Oct. 15th, 2021, you'll be able to see "Shang-Chi" free on Disney+.

From YahooEntertainment:  "Shang-Chi" star Simu Liu breaks down that amazing bus fight scenes that occurs early in the film.

From Inverse:   How Marvel's "Shang-Chi" had to destroy its own racist origins.

From YahooEntertainment:  "Shang-Chi" star Simu Liu uses physics to describe the film.

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BLADE - From IndieWire:  Bassam Tariq, director of Marvel Studios' "Blade" reboot, does some vague teasing about the film, which will begin shooting in July 2022.

THE MARVELS - From CNALifestyle:   According to IMDb, South Korean actor, Park Seo-joon, will appear in the "Captain Marvel" sequel, "The Marvels."

IRONHEART - From Variety:   The character "Ironheart" will make her debut in "Black Panther: Wakanda Forever," which is due next year.  Played by actress Dominique Thorne, Ironheart will be the star of an upcoming Disney+ series.

SHANG-CHI - From Variety:   The history of the controversy around the logo for "Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings."

CAPTAIN AMERICA 4 - From Deadline:   "Deadline Hollywood" is reporting that Anthony Mackie has closed a deal to star in "Captain America 4."

ETERNALS - From EW:   "Entertainment Weekly" has a guide to Marvel Studios' "Eternals," which is scheduled to open Nov. 5th.

SHANG-CHI - From Deadline:   "We are not an experiment!"  "Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings" star, Simu Liu responds to Disney CEO Bob Chapek's recent comments about the film.

THE MARVELS - From Nerdist:  The "Captain Marvel" sequel, entitled "The Marvels," has begun filming.

WHAT IF...? - From Inverse:   Brad Winderbaum, executive producer of Disney+ "What If...?," says that some of the characters and stories explored in the animated series could be revisited in a film.

WHAT IF...? - From Deadline:   Jeffrey Wright, the narrator of Disney+/Marvel Studios' animated "What If...?," speaks on the late Chadwick Boseman who appears in the series via a voice performance.

BLACK WIDOW - From Variety:  Scarlett Johansson has filed suit against Disney over the way it released "Black Widow."  Much of Johannson's financial compensation for the film is based on ticket sales and box office benchmarks.

HAWKEYE - From EW:   In a first look from the Disney+ series, "Hawkeye," Clint Barton/Hawkeye (Jeremy Renner) meets Kate Bishop (Hailee Steinfeld).  The series debuts November 24th.

FRANCHISE - From YahooBGR:   David S. Goyer, someone who has written for DC Comics and who has written films based on DC characters, explains why Marvel Studios movies are so much more successful than movies based on DC characters.

ANT-MAN 3 - From Nerdist:   "Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania" has begin filming.

BLACK PANTHER 2 - From Variety:   The site is reporting that actress Michaela Coel (HBO Max's "I May Destroy You") has been cast in "Black Panther: Wakanda Forever" in an unknown role.

From TimeOut:  Here is everything publicly known about "Black Panther: Wakanda Forever."

BLACK WIDOW - From WeGotThisCovered:  The "Black Widow" character, "Yelena Belova" (played by actress Florence Pugh), reportedly will make multiple appearances in the upcoming Disney+/Marvel Studios series, "Hawkeye."

BLADE - From Deadline:   Bassan Tariq "(Mogul Mowgli") is apparently Marvel Studios' choice to direct its "Blade" reboot film starring Mahershala Ali.

BLACK PANTHER 2 - From Collider:   Winstone Duke, who played M'Baku in "Black Panther, has confirmed that he will return for the sequel, "Black Panther: Wakanda Forever."

SHE-HULK - From YahooMensHealth:   Actress Jameela Jamil, who will play "Titania" on Disney+/Marvel's "She-Hulk," shows off her fight training.

KEVIN FEIGE - From TheDirect:   Marvel Studios just held a big meeting about multiverse rules in the MCU.

BLACK WIDOW - From Deadline:  "Black Widow" crosses the 100 million dollar mark in domestic box office in record time during the pandemic.

LOKI - From Deadline:  Disney+ has renewed its Marvel Studios hit, "Loki," for a second season. Audiences found out during the credits of the final episode of Season One. 

From Deadline:  Kate Erron, executive producer and director of "Loki," says that she won't be returning for the series' second season.

EMMYS - From Deadline:  Don Cheadle expresses surprise at his Emmy nomination ("Outstanding Guest Actor in a Drama Series") for his 98-second appearance in "The Falcon and the Winter Soldier."

BLACK WIDOW - From Variety:   We do know that "Black Widow" won the 7/9 to 7/11/21 weekend box office.  Now, we know how much the movie made via "Disney Plus Premiere Access," in which consumers pay an additional 30 dollars to see a new Disney film.  In a rare look at its profits, Disney announced that "Black Widow" made an additional 60 million dollars via premiere access.

BLACK WIDOW - From Deadline:   "Black Widow" director Cate Shortland talks about the potential for a sequel to this film and about how the current film was made.

BLACK WIDOW - From Variety:  "Black Widow" Cate Shortland talks about turning down directing the film before accepting the gig. 

GUARDIANS OF THE GALAXY - From Variety:  Chris Pratt ("Peter Quill/Star-Lord") says that "Guardians of the Galaxy 3" will begin filming later this year.

WANDAVISION - From Deadline:   The story of "WandaVision," according to Marvel Studios president, Kevin Feige, "will continue."

SHE-HULK - From Variety:   The news site is reporting that actress Jameela Jamil has been cast in Disney+/Marvel's "She-Hulk."

GUARDIANS OF THE GALAXY - From Kotaku:   At E3, Square Enix announced "Guardians of the Galaxy," a new game based on the popular Marvel team featured in movies and comics. The game is being developed by Eidos Montreal. It’s out on October 26, 2021.  The game also features a new original story featuring Marvel’s cosmic misfits. At the start of the game, they have only been together for a year. Players will take on the role of Peter Quill, also known as Starlord.

LOKI - From Metro:   Michael Waldron, the head writer of Disney+/Marvel's "Loki," teases cameos from Marvel Comics characters.  "Expect the unexpected," he says.

WANDAVISION - From RollingStone:   Elizabeth Olsen, Paul Bettany, Kathryn Hahn, Marvel Studios president Kevin Feige, and more tell the story of how the year’s biggest, boldest show came together

MOON KNIGHT - From Variety:   Marvel Studios finally officially confirms that Oscar Isaac is the star of its Disney+ series, "Moon Knight."

DOCTOR STRANGE - From Deadline:  Marvel Studios President Kevin Feige now says that it was a mistake to cast Oscar-winning actress Tilda Swinton as "The Ancient One" in "Doctor Strange" (2016).

FALCON AND WINTER SOLDIER - From Variety:  Sebastian Stan talks about being injured on-set during film of "The Falcon and the Winter Soldier."

FRANCHISE - From Variety:  Did you know that Marvel Studios' does not use a "showrunner" for its Disney+ series, a position that is industry standard for TV series.  Some TV writers are worried and upset about that. 

BLACK WIDOW - From HypeBeast:   Here are the "Black Widow" character posters.

WANDAVISION - From Movieweb:   Marvel Studios boss Kevin Feige says "Doctor Strange" was written out of "WandaVision" to keep from having a "white guy" save the day.

ETERNALS - From Marvel:  A new promotional video from Marvel Studios includes footage from the upcoming film, "Eternals," which is due for a Fall 2021 release.

MS MARVEL - From ComicBook:  There are some photos that are alleged to be from the set of Disney+/Marvel's "Ms. Marvel" TV series.  Those photos provide a look at Ms. Marvel's uniform.

DEADPOOL - From Deadline:   Via a NYPD officer, Hugh Jackman makes of request of "Deadpool" star Ryan Reynolds - put me in "Deadpool 3" as Wolverine.

FALCON AND WINTER SOLDIER - From WeGotThisCovered:   A second season of Disney+ "The Falcon and the Winter Soldier" is a possibility.

ETERNALS - From Variety:   Oscar-winning director Chloe Zhao apparently impressed Marvel Studios President Kevin Feige with her use of practical locations instead of CGI when filming the Marvel film, "Eternals."

FALCON AND WINTER SOLDIER - From Deadline:   The site interviews Malcolm Spellman, the showrunner and executive producer of Disney+ "The Falcon and the Winter Soldier."  Spellman is also the announced writer of the developing film, "Captain America 4."

SAM WILSON/CAPTAIN AMERICA - From Deadline:   Disney+ has released a poster featuring Sam Wilson (Anthony Mackie) as Captain America.

CAPTAIN AMERICA - From Deadline:   The site is reporting that Marvel Studios is developing a fourth "Captain America" film.  It would follow the events depicted in "The Falcon and the Winter Soldier," with the series' showrunner, Malcolm Spellman, writing the script.  This fourth film could follow Sam Wilson/Falcon as the new Captain America or could feature the original Captain America, Steve Rogers.

FALCON AND WINTER SOLDIER - From Deadline:   SPOILER - the final episode of "The Falcon and the Winter Soldier" reveals Sharon Carter to be the "Power Broker."  Sam Wilson/The Falcon takes on the mantle of Captain America.

THOR LOVE AND THUNDER - From ScreenRant:  Oscar-winning actor Russell Crowe has reportedly confirmed that he is in Marvel Studios' "Thor: Love & Thunder," and that he will play the role of the Greek god, "Zeus."

FRANCHISE - From YahooTelegraph:   How being in a "Marvel movie" became every serious actor's dream.

SECRET INVASION - From Variety:   "Game of Throne's" Emilia Clarke has reportedly joined Marvel Studios' Disney+ series, "Secret Invasion."

SHANG-CHI - From YahooEntertainment:  "Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings" star, Simu Liu, celebrates with fans the release of the first official teaser trailer for the film. 

From Variety:  What the "Shang-Chi" Teaser Reveals About Marvel Studios’ Groundbreaking Movie

SECRET INVASION - From THR:   Oscar-winning actress Olivia Colman is reportedly in negotiations to appear with Samuel L. Jackson in the Disney+/Marvel Studios' series, "Secret Invasion."

SPIDER-MAN: NO WAY HOME - From Variety:   Actor Alfred Molina, who appeared as Doctor Octopus" in 2004's "Spider-Man 2," talks about reprising the role in the upcoming "Spider-Man: No Way Home."

BLACK PANTHER II - From Deadline:  In a guest column, director Ryan Coogler explains why "Black Panther II" will film in Georgia, while he uses his voice to continue to fight Georgia's recent Jim Crow voting laws.

FALCON AND WINTER SOLDIER - From BleedingCool:   In a series of videos, the cast of DisneyPlus' "The Falcon and the Winter Soldier" talks about the appearance of the Dora Milaje, and there is a final teaser trailer for the series.

DEADPOOL - From WeGotThisCovered:   Rumors say that Ryan Reynolds is attempting to revive an animated Deadpool TV series that was dropped a few years ago.  He also wants the series to be canon in the Marvel Cinematic Universe...

SHANG-CHI - From YahooFinance:  Simu Liu will be Shang-Chi, Marvel Studios first Asian-American superhero in the upcoming film, "Shang-Chi: Legend of Ten Rings."  Liu says the time of rising hate crimes against the Asian-American and Pacific Islander communities is not a time for AAPI actors to feel discouraged about pursuing their passions.

HAWKEYE - From BleedingCool:  Disney+ offers some prep on the character, Kate Bishop, who will appear in the still-filming "Hawkeye" series.

FALCON AND WINTER SOLDIER - From YahooEntertainment:  Malcolm Spellman talks about going from stealing comics as a young man to showrunning Disney+/Marvel Studios' "The Falcon and the Winter Soldier."

FALCON AND WINTER SOLDIER - From BuzzFeed:   Actor Desmond Chiam talks about appearing in "The Falcon and the Winter Soldier" and about being starstruck by series stars, Anthony Mackie and Sebastian Stan.

SPIDER-MAN NO WAY HOME - From WeGotThisCovered:  According to the site is is official that previous screen Spider-Man actors, Tobey Maguire and Andrew Garfield, will appear in "Spider-Man: No Way Home."  Apparently, numerous villains from the previous Spider-Man films will also appear, and Doctor Strange is the instigator of this live-action "Spider-Verse."

THOR LOVE AND THUNDER - From Deadline:   Reports indicate that Oscar-winning actor, Russell Crowe, is joining Marvel Studios' "Thor: Love and Thunder" in a mystery role.

FALCON AND WINTER SOLIDER - From YahooEntertainment:   Isaiah Bradley, a black Marvel Comics character exposed to the super-soldier serum, makes his official appearance in the MCU in the second episode of "The Falcon and the Winter Soldier."

BLACK WIDOW - From Deadline:   Disney has moved the release date for "Black Widow" from May 2021 to Friday, July 9, 2021, when it will play in theaters and on Disney+.  Disney is also doing that with its film, "Cruella" (May 28th).

RUMOR - From Variety:   Disney+ is reportedly in early development of a TV series featuring Native American Marvel Comics' character, "Echo."

FALCON AND WINTER SOLIDER - From YahooEntertainment:   Not everyone is crazy about the new Captain America, "John Walker," who appears in the first episode of Disney+ "The Falcon and the Winter Soldier."  Still, the article has some information on him.

FALCON AND WINTER SOLDIER - From Variety: Writer Malcom Spellman explains why "The Falcon and the Winter Soldier" is so pointed about race, nationalism and the world today.

RUMOR - From WeGotThisCovered:   Hot rumor is that Michael B. Jordan and his character, "Killmonger," will return to take up the mantle of Black Panther in "Black Panther 2."

SECRET INVASION - From Deadline:   British actor Kingsley Ben-Adir will star in Marvel's "Secret Invasion" series.  Ben-Adir recently portrayed Malcolm X in Regina King's "One Night in Miami."

FALCON AND WINTER SOLDIER - From Deadline:   While he would not commit to a Season Two of "The Falcon and the Winter Soldier," Marvel Studios President and CCO, Kevin Feige, says that there are ideas...

BLACK WIDOW - From ComicBookMovies:  During a shareholders' meeting, Disney CEO Bob Chapek says that will "Black Widow" still on course for a May 7, 2021 release.

ANTHONY MACKIE - From Variety:   "Variety" offers the profile of actor Anthony Mackie as he finally takes the lead in a Marvel Studios production, "The Falcon and the Winter Soldier."

ANT-MAN 3 - From THR:  Rapper and actor, T.I., who appeared in the first two "Ant-Man" films will reportedly not appear in the third film.

SPIDER-MAN: NO WAY HOME - From WeGotThisCovered:  Spider-Man: No Way Home reportedly has the largest physical set of any Marvel Studios film.

SPIDER-MAN: NO WAY HOME - From YahooNerdist:   Cast members of the third Sony-Marvel "Spider-Man"film share early images from the film and also speculations on the title of the film.

DOCTOR STRANGE 2 - From Inverse:  Emmy and Grammy Award winning composer, Danny Elfman, has apparently confirmed that he will be provided the musical "Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness," which will be directed by Sam Raimi.

RUMORS - From WeGotThisCovered:   Once upon a time, Luke Cage and Iron Fist each had a TV series on Netflix.  Now, they may be reunited in a "Heroes for Hire"-type series that would be styled after Disney+'s upcoming, "The Falcon and the Winter Soldier."

CAPTAIN MARVEL 2 - From Deadline:   Actress Zawe Ashton will reportedly play the main villain in "Captain Marvel 2."  The film will be directed by Nia DeCosta and star Brie Larson in the title role.

BLADE - From THR:   Stacy Osei-Kuffour, a playwright who acted as story editor and writer on HBO'S Emmy-winning and acclaimed limited series, Watchmen, will write the screenplay for Marvel Studios' "Blade" reboot that will star Oscar-winner Mahershala Ali in the title role.

ANT-MAN - From IndieWire:  Writer-director Edgar Wright ("Baby Driver") walked off the first Ant-Man movie over six years ago over creative differences with Marvel Studios.  Wright says he recently reconnected with Marvel boss Kevin Feige, and that he was glad he did.

SPIDER-MAN: NO WAY HOME - From Variety:   Spider-Man himself, Tom Holland, said that Sony/Marvel "Spider-Man 3"is the "most ambitious superhero movie of all time."

THOR LOVE AND THUNDER - From MCUDirect:  This link will take you to set photos from "Thor: Love and Thunder" featuring Chris Hemsworth (Thor) and Chris Pratt (Peter Quill/Star Lord).

From MensHealth:   Chris Hemsworth confirms the beginning of the filming of "Thor: Love and Thunder" with a set photo.

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DISNEYLAND - From YahooEntertainment:  Tom Holland teases a new Marvel ride at Disneyland: 'It's the most I've ever felt like Spider-Man'

SPIDER-MAN: NO WAY HOME - From ScreenRant:  Recent set photos from Sony/Marvel's third "Spider-Man" film indicates that the film may be partly set during Christmas.

MOON KNIGHT - From THR:  Four-time Oscar nominee Ethan Hawke has reportedly signed a deal to play the lead villain in Disney+/Marvel Studios' "Moon Knight" series.

MOON KNIGHT - From THR:  Actress May Calamawy has been cast in an unnamed key role in Marvel Studios' "Moon Knight"series.

CAPTAIN AMERICA - From Deadline:   Sources say that Chris Evan is in negotiations to reprise his role as "Steve Rogers/Captain America" in a future Marvel Cinematic Universe film.

HAWKEYE - From CBR:   Actress Hailee Steinfeld promises that her portrayal of "Kate Bishop" in the Disney+ series, "Hawkeye," will be "comics-accurate."

BLACK PANTHER 2 - From YahooEntertainment: Marvel chief Kevin Feige talks legacy of Chadwick Boseman, how they'll approach 'Black Panther 2' without him.

DEADPOOL 3 - From Collider:   Marvel Studios boss, Kevin Feige, says that "Deadpool 3" will be part of the Marvel Cinematic Universe, but won't start filming until at least 2022.

SECRET INVASION - From Collider:  Marvel Studios boss, Kevin Feige, explains why "Secret Invasion" is a series and not a movie.

MOON KNIGHT - From THR:   Justin Benson and Aaron Moorhead, indie genre filmmakers behind sci-fi horror movies, "The Endless" and "Synchronic," are joining Mohamed Diab, the Egyptian filmmaker behind Middle Eastern drama, "Clash," as directors of Marvel Studios TV series, "Moon Knight, which will star Oscar Isaac.

FRANCHISE - From WeGotThisCovered:   Rumors suggest that Marvel Studios boss Kevin Feige wants most Marvel heroes to be women and people of color going forward.

WHAT IF...? - From YahooEntertainment:   Marvel Studios boss Kevin Feige has confirmed that the late actor, Chadwick Boseman ("Black Panther") recorded a number of voice performances for Marvel's upcoming animated series, "What If...?"

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TRAILERS AND PREVIEWS 2021:

From Marvel:  Here are the first official trailer and poster for Disney+/Marvel Studios' "Hawkeye" series.  The series starts streaming November 24, 2021.

From YouTube:   This is the first official teaser trailer (Aug. 23rd) for "Spider-Man: No Way Home," which is due December 2021.

From YouTube:  Here is the final trailer for Marvel Studios' "Eternals," which is due Nov. 5th.

From YouTube:   Marvel Studios releases an official trailer for its upcoming animated series, "What If...?"  The series debuts on Disney+ August 11th.

From Marvel:   Marvel Studios has released a brand-new video that provides a glimpse into its plans for its "Phase 4" movies.

From Marvel:  In celebration of "National Super Hero Day," Marvel has released (Wed., April 28th) this "Black Widow" featurette, "How Much Do You Really Know About Natasha Romanoff?"  "Black Widow" finally arrives in theaters and on Disney+ July 9th. [Disney should have kept they May 7th, 2021 release date. - Leroy]

From YouTube:   First official teaser trailer for Marvel Studios "Shangi-Chi and the Legend of Ten Rings."  It is now due in theaters Sept 3rd.

From YouTube:   New "Loki" trailer - released Mon., April 5th, 2021.  "Loki" is due on Disney+ on June 11, 2021.

From YouTube:  New "Black Widow" trailer - released Sat., April 3rd, 2021.  Film is due in theaters and on Disney+ July 9th.

From YouTube:  Spider-Man 3 has a name. It's "Spider-Man: No Way Home," as revealed in this video clip (Wed., Feb. 24th, 2021).  It is due in theaters Christmas 2021.

From YouTube:  "The Falcon and the Winter Soldier" Super Bowl LV trailer. Series arrives on Disney+ March 19, 2021.

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TRAILERS AND VIDEO PREVIEWS FROM 2020:

From Marvel:   A first look at Disney+ series, "Loki" (Thurs., Dec. 10th, 2020)

From Marvel:   A first look at "The Falcon and the Winter Soldier" (Thurs., Dec. 10th, 2020)

From Marvel:   A first look at Marvel Studios' "What If ... ?" (Thurs., Dec. 10th, 2020)

From YouTube:  The official trailer for the Disney+ series, "WandaVision." (released, Sun., Sept. 20, 2020)

From YouTube:  The "final trailer" for "Black Widow" (released Mon., March 9, 2020).

From Newsarama:  This Disney+ Super Bowl TV spot focuses on the upcoming Marvel Studios TV series, "The Falcon and the Winter Soldier," "WandaVision," and "Loki."

From Newsarama:  Here is the 30-second TV spot for "Black Widow" that was shown during Super Bowl LIV (Sun., Feb. 2nd, 2020).

From EW:  Here is the special look at "Black Widow" shown during the "College Football Playoff" Championship game between LSU (winner) and Clemson (Mon., Jan. 13th, 2020).

From Marvel:  See first official teaser trailer for Marvel Studios' "Black Widow" (Tues., Ded. 3, 2019).

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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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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)

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