Hollywood Icon Doris Day Has Died At 97

Hollywood Icon Doris Day Has Died At 97

If you're a fan of classic Hollywood films, it's pretty safe bet that you're a fan of Doris Day. Day was one of the top box office attractions of the 1950s and 60s starring in such hits as Pillow Talk, The Man Who Knew Too Much, and Move Over, Darling. Day passed away this morning at her home at the age of 97 following a brief fight with pneumonia.

Born Doris Mary Kappelhoff on April 3, 1922, Day's goal as a child was to be a dancer but a serious car accident when she was very young cut those dreams short. Instead, she turned to singing. She performed with some of the most popular bands of the 1940s and recorded several hits.

Singing success then led to screen opportunities and Day was cast in her first film, 1948's Romance on the High Seas. While she never stopped singing, releasing an album as recently as 2012, it would be her film work for which she would become best known.

Doris Day would come to be known as the "girl next door" or the "Virginal Queen." Most of her most popular film roles were romantic comedies, and while sex was always in the subtext, Day's characters always remained pure.

Doris Day starred in three such films opposite Rock Hudson, including Pillow Talk for which she would be nominated for her one Academy Award. She also starred opposite James Garner in Move Over, Darling, a 1963 comedy in which Day performed a role that had been intended for Marilyn Monroe, who died during the film's initial production under the title Something's Got To Give.

While Doris Day may have been best known for comedies, she made her share of serious drams as well and showed no less of an aptitude for them. 1951's Storm Warning dealt with the violence of the Klu Klux Klan. In 1956 she would star opposite Jimmy Stewart in Alfred Hitchcock's The Man Who Knew Too Much.

Day made her last film in 1968 and transitioned to television, where she starred in The Doris Day Show, which ran until 1973. Following her retirement from the screen, Doris Day became somewhat reclusive, dedicating her time to her passion for animals, founding the Doris Day Animal Foundation, in the 1970s. The Foundation announced her death this morning.

There was a rumor a few years back that Day might actually come out of retirement to make a movie with Clint Eastwood, but nothing ever came of it.

Doris Day outlived her only child, record producer Terry Melcher, who died of melanoma in 2004 at the age of 62.

Doris Day was the definition of a Hollywood legend. Her career spanned decades and she was always at the top of her profession. Her best performances have truly stood the test of time. Check out a great scene from Pillow Talk below.

Doris Day will truly be missed by those who knew her, even if many of us only knew her through her music and her movies.

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Dark Phoenix Director Compares Movie To Avengers: Endgame And Game Of Thrones

Dark Phoenix Director Compares Movie To Avengers: Endgame And Game Of Thrones

In 2019, we’ve already witnessed the the end of an era in the Marvel Cinematic Universe and the polarizing end to HBO’s Game of Thrones. But wait, that’s not all! The X-Men franchise and current Star Wars saga are also coming for our hearts this calendar year.

The mutants are up next with the release of Dark Phoenix, and the film’s writer/director Simon Kinberg is prepping fans to say goodbye. Check out his recent words:

I approach this movie as the culmination of 20 years of storytelling, of living with the X-Men for all this time and watching this family come together, and this movie is the movie that challenged that family and tears them apart in a new way. And so I imagined it as the culmination, and I even pitched it to the studio, as this is the culmination of this cycle of X-Men stories. Which there will be more X-Men movies in the future no doubt, but this particular cycle with this cast, it felt like it was time to do kind of what Game of Thrones has done, what Endgame has done, really see them challenged in a new way and sort of survive and go off into the sunset.

Did all our favorite franchises coordinate to leave our lives all at once? Because I feel like we need a breather here. These are a lot of farewells at once. Dark Phoenix will hit theaters less than three weeks after the Game of Thrones finale and a little over a month away from Avengers: Endgame, the culmination of the MCU thus far. Now that we’ve grown accustomed to bittersweet endings, will this X-Men conclusion measure up?

When Simon Kinberg sat down with Comicbook.com, he also teased the movie as being the most intense of the X-Men films. When Sophie Turner’s Jean Grey gets hit by a solar flare during a mission in space with the rest of the team, she develops new incredible powers that threaten the X-Men and the world.

One trailer for the film particular heightened the stakes when it showed that Jennifer Lawrence’s Mystique would be killed off by Jean in the first act. While the decision to reveal this in the trailer surprised many, Kinberg has said Mystique’s death won’t be the only major casualty in Dark Phoenix.

The movie also marks the last of Fox’s main X-Men movies, since Disney recently obtained the rights to the franchise. So while the mutants will likely be seen again someday in the MCU, Kinberg took this chance to close out the stories told through the franchise since 2000’s X-Men. He has noted that it has always been the plan to end the series with Dark Phoenix; this isn’t only a side effect of the Disney/Fox merger.

Ride off into another fictional sunset with the X-Men with Dark Phoenix coming to theaters on June 7.

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Kathleen Kennedy Teases The Star Wars Sequel Characters Returning For Future Installments

Kathleen Kennedy Teases The Star Wars Sequel Characters Returning For Future Installments

Through the course of the most recent trilogy of films released to the public, the Star Wars saga has introduced new and exciting characters like Poe, Finn, and Rey to audiences that have come to love them. But with the end of the Skywalker Saga coming in Star Wars: The Rise of the Skywalker, a lot of people are worried their new favorites might not be coming back.

That concern has been addressed Lucasfilm president Kathleen Kennedy who, when asked about whether or not we’ll have to wait for any of these characters to come back, gave a pretty optimistic case for their return:

You know, there is an appropriate time. We're using this appropriate time as an opportunity to see where we're going now that we're leaving the Skywalker Saga behind. But there's no question that there's certain characters that we've created certainly in the last three movies that we may very well wanna see down the line in the future.

So while Star Wars: Rise of the Skywalker will close out the stories of characters like General Leia Organa or Luke Skywalker, it sounds like the younger wave of characters that brought this new trilogy to the masses are still up for grabs. And Kennedy had her eye on one specific platform to make that all come true.

As she discussed this matter with MTV News at the most recent Star Wars Celebration, Kathleen Kennedy played the Disney+ card, stating that the platform is being keenly looked at for ways that these characters can live on. Everything from the broad scope of the upcoming Mandalorian series to what Kennedy calls potentially smaller and grittier stories, are in play.

Both film and TV appearances certainly feel like good ideas, and since Poe, Finn, and Rey aren’t as deeply entrenched in the Star Wars lore as key figures like Han Solo or General Leia Organa, there’s room for them to be part of new and exciting adventures outside of that realm. And that’s where the universe seems to be headed on the whole.

With two different film trilogies being crafted by both Rian Johnson, he of Star Wars: The Last Jedi fame, and Game of Thrones masterminds David Benioff and D.B.Weiss, both of those series have opportunities to expand the Star Wars brand to a point where the original trilogy isn’t such a cornerstone of accessibility.

Combine that with the fact that Disney+ has already lined up star-studded shows continuing their Marvel Cinematic Universe, and you’ve got another chance to jump into a new corner of that world. If Tom Hiddleston, Elizabeth Olsen, and Anthony Mackie can jump on board for MCU projects on Disney+, then Oscar Isaac, John Boyega, and Daisy Ridley don’t sound like terrible reaches.

There’s far from an exact game plan as to how or when we may see our favorite characters from the final trilogy in the Skywalker Saga. But at the very least, there’s hope that we will see them again; and as Star Wars has taught us, hope is a very powerful thing.

Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker brings us the last installment of the Skywalker Saga on December 20th. But seeing as you’re probably an avid moviegoer, use our 2019 release schedule to plan out all the fun movies that can help pass the time between now and then.

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4 Great Frozen Songs That Aren't 'Let It Go'

4 Great Frozen Songs That Aren't 'Let It Go'

Listen, everyone knows "Let It Go." Chances are, if you have lived through the year 2013, or especially if you have young children running around the house, you have heard the popular, Oscar-winning Disney single from the hit animated film, Frozen. Then, you've probably heard it again. And again. And again, and again, and again, and again.

The invigorating, wondrous and captivating song has been a persistent fixture of pop culture ever since it was first belted by the great Idina Menzel (also known as "Adele Dazeem" by certain Oscar presenters). But even though it's the most famous song from the movie, the other songs from the hit album shouldn't be dismissed in the process. There is enough love to go around when it comes to the Frozen soundtrack.

There is no denying that "Let It Go" is a great song. But we want to make a case for the rest of the songs from Frozen's soundtrack. Therefore, here are some other Frozen songs that you've certainly heard before but should be given a second thought before you put "Let It Go" for the 400th time today.

"Frozen Heart"

Before we meet Elsa, Anna, Olaf, Kristoff and all our main characters, and before we even heart the opening notes of "Let It Go," we're introduced to the world of Frozen through the thunderous, nordic village song, "Frozen Heart." An intensive, pulsating working tune is our worldbuilding song, the track that puts us into the world of our animated characters and invites us into their wintry terrain. As a result, while it is gruffer and more action-intensive than the other songs on this soundtrack, it's a great way into get yourself immersed in the frosty story.

The rhythmic slashing of the pickaxes trudging into the frozen ground sets the mood for the introductory song, letting us see the beauty in the mundane world and capturing the icy energy of the hardworking singers. It's a pulsating, hard and fast song with an excellent hook and yet a somber mood. It's also a nice way of letting us understand the mood of the film, which can be as warm as it can be cold in equal turns.

"Do You Want To Build A Snowman?"

Arguably the second most famous song in Frozen, to be clear, "Do You Want To Build A Snowman?" is, nevertheless, a sweet-hearted, instantly catchy and heart-tugging tune. It's filled with childhood whimsy, copious bouts of heart and an underlying melancholy at the dysfunction that can often arise between siblings. A literal hot-and-cold relationship, as it were.

Performed by Agatha Lee Monn & Katie Lopez, along with Kristen Bell, "Do You Want To Build A Snowman?" is intentionally simple, relying on its warm innocence and cold sadness, mixed lovingly by its compassionate singers, to sell the emotional crux of the song. Particularly since it serves as one of our introductory tracks, it knows that it is important to keep the song straightforward and character-focused, along us — the viewer and the listener — to understand the broken dynamic between these distant sisters, and one sister's sincere, earnest effort to reconnect with her cold-shouldered sibling.

It's a song both loving and lovely, capturing the vulnerability and inner desires of our young characters with gentle and resonating impact. It's not quite a powerhouse the way "Let It Go" is, but "Do You Want To Build A Snowman?" does have a lot of emotional impact. No matter how many times you hear it, it always packs a punch.

"In Summer"

A jazzy, frothy and appropriate warm upbeat diddy that's given a great deal of character and personality by singer and performer Josh Gad, "In Summer" is a cute and humorous ode to the impending summertime sung by a clueless Olaf. As we all know, Olaf the Scene-Stealing Snowman believes the warm summer season will bring bright and sunny days for him, unaware of what happens to snow when the temperature peaks. As a result, the song finds Olaf singing sweet praises to the hot season that will eventually bring his demise, falsely thinking the future will be more joyful.

Therefore, "In Summer" mirrors the snowman's ironically warm demeanor. It captures the misguided belief of the singing supporting character that sunny days are ahead, in more ways than one, and that it won't be long before a permanent smile will be placed on his carrot-nosed snow-based face. Obviously, everyone else — including the other characters in the scene — know that Olaf is delusional, to say the least. But the rousing and passionate song is great at capturing Olaf's aloof mindset and helping us to understand his misguided belief that the beaming sun will bring peace and happiness.

"Fixer Upper"

With its upbeat tempo, high energy and charming array of characters, it's surprising that "Fixer Upper" isn't a bigger hit. The song, which plays prominently in the middle of the movie, can sort of feel a bit out of place in the scheme of the story. It kinda comes out of nowhere, and it's sung through a variety of characters who were only introduced a brief moment before. Nevertheless, in terms of sheer entertainment, it's hard to beat.

Featuring the voice talents of Maia Wilson, along with the prominent cast and several other talented musicians, "Fixer Upper" is a spontaneous and silly number compared to the rest of the film. With its assortment of bathroom gags and different off-beat comic touches, it can feel a little jarring compared to the tone of the rest of the film. Nevertheless, what's fun is fun. And this song has a great heart and a ton of energy to boot. And much like the title would suggest, it comes into the film just when it could use a pep in its story.

Of course, if you own the Frozen soundtrack, there is a good chance that you have already heard these songs several times before, in a continual loop. While "Let It Go" is still — and will remain — the most famous song on the soundtrack, and the one that will forever continue to get the most plays, the rest of the soundtrack shouldn't be disparaged in the process.

Therefore, the next time you, or your kids, decides to put on the Frozen soundtrack, it might be best to try one of these popular (and less-than-popular) songs instead. And remember, there is a whole new batch of Frozen songs in the future when Frozen 2 storms its way into theaters on November 22nd.

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Why Chris Hemsworth Wants Thor To Have More Scenes With Black Panther

Why Chris Hemsworth Wants Thor To Have More Scenes With Black Panther

As fans gear up for Avengers: Endgame in a couple weeks, they can expect more fun match-ups between the Avengers, Guardians of the Galaxy, and more recently introduced MCU characters. Throughout Chris Hemsworth’s time as Thor, over eight years, he’s had tons of memorable moments playing off other characters in the universe. But if he had to choose one to work alongside with, it would be the King of Wakanda:

I'd say Black Panther Chadwick Boseman. I don't think Thor and him have hung out before and I think they'd get along. I think they'd have some fun. Maybe it would be fun for us to go and do something completely different. He's just a great guy, and very kind, and a lot of fun to work with. We'd do something different, yeah.

Marvel, are you listening? Because we need this to happen! The God of Thunder and T’Challa teaming up is a great choice from Hemsworth, from his an interview with MTV, and we hope they’ll get to share the screen in the MCU at some point. When Chadwick Boseman’s Black Panther was introduced during Captain America: Civil War, Thor was notably absent. In Infinity War, Thor spent much of his time with Rocket and Peter Dinklage’s Eitri before wreaking havoc in the Wakanda battle, though he didn’t have much (if any) screen time alongside Black Panther.

We have no idea whether Thor and Black Panther will be sharing scenes in Endgame because T’Challa was one of the dusted Avengers. When asked about his return to the MCU, Chadwick Boseman recently went viral with his blunt "I’m dead" responses. However, the character is set to return in Black Panther 2, coming up in Phase Four, so there may be more opportunities for the two characters to interact… that is, if Thor makes it out of Endgame alive.

Since the film is the culmination of the MCU thus far, fans are bracing themselves for some potentially sad goodbyes – most looking to the original six Avengers. Chris Hemsworth seems game to keep going with the MCU, recently even stating his interest in doing a Disney+ series with Thor's Australian roommate Darryl, his co-star for a few funny Marvel shorts.

Per an Endgame scene from the trailers that has Thor interacting with Brie Larson’s Captain Marvel, some fans have speculated the two heroes may have a romantic storyline together. The first MCU leading lady was purposefully not given a love interest in Captain Marvel to best serve her individual storyline. Instead, fan art started to emerge of Carol and Tessa Thompson’s Valkyrie.

There’s tons of possibilities as far as the MCU is concerned, and with Chris Hemsworth’s sharp humor and fun Thor character, we hope he stays on for more MCU films and gets some moments with T’Challa someday. Who knows? Maybe he’ll have a scene with him in Endgame when it hits theaters on April 26.

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Marvel Comics Won't Kill Off Characters For Shock Value (Anymore), Chief Says

Marvel Comics Won't Kill Off Characters For Shock Value (Anymore), Chief Says

In the Marvel movies, death has not always been permanent. Before he really died in Avengers: Infinity War, Loki had faked his death twice by that point, and now, thanks to time travel shenanigans, he might not even be dead anymore. However, the fickle life and death of superheroes isn't just a movie thing. It originates from the comics, which often kill superheroes for publicity and bring them back down the road. Marvel Comics Editor in Chief C.B. Cebulski hopes to change all of that.

I don't want death to be used to boost sales or to use as a shock value so people go 'Oh my God, Johnny Storm is dead!' or 'Wolverine is dead!' knowing that they're going to be coming back. If we choose to do it now, we're going to add a little more weight and permanence to the situation.

In an appearance at a Swedish conference (via ComicBook), C.B. Cebulski said that Marvel was moving on from the shock value approach to character death. If someone dies in the comics now, it will have more weight and will likely be permanent. Whether this means no more major characters will die is unclear.

Both Marvel and DC are known for killing off major characters, only to resurrect them some time later. It's just the standard of the trade, but it's likely long past the point where it has any real effect on the readers. After all, why get sad Wolverine died when you know he's going to come back in a year or two? Marvel clearly understands this, and is looking to change the trend.

You know, death is a part of comic book universes, particularly a part of the Marvel Universe. Every character has been killed off and come back at some time or the other. We always say there are two characters that will never come back and that's Gwen Stacy and Uncle Ben. We even said back in the day that Bucky would never come back and now we have the Winter Soldier.

However, just because death was less than permanent before doesn't mean that Marvel didn't treat the decision seriously. Cebulski also went into detail on how Marvel comes to the decision to kill a character.

But the process of killing off a character is not an easy one, and a lot of people think death is something that we don't take seriously in the Marvel Universe but it really is. There's a lot of debates that happen because if a writer suggests that we should kill a character, it always has to be story driven first. It can't just be for shock value and normally it's a discussion that we have between first the writer and the editor and then the writer and the editorial team, so the process of killing off a character really is a group decision, and it's made always with the best story in mind.

Comic book characters having been coming back to life ever since the infamous "Death and Return of Superman," so I'm curious why Marvel is only now trying to alter its approach to death. The movies heavily influence the comics, so I wonder if the reaction to the most likely permanent deaths of Iron Man and Black Widow in Avengers: Endgame had any sway in the decision.

We'll find out soon enough if Marvel Comics will keep to its word here. In the meantime, keep track of all the big movies coming to theaters with our 2019 movie release guide.

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Why Spider-Man Into The Spider-Verse's Filmmakers Thought Doc Ock Was Going To Be A Problem

Why Spider-Man Into The Spider-Verse's Filmmakers Thought Doc Ock Was Going To Be A Problem

Superheroes movies are frequently accused of having a villain problem when they try to cram too many popular bad guys into a single film. Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse basically gave this entire concept the finger by filling it with numerous different baddies. The film handled them all with a very deft hand, but the filmmakers admit there was at least one they were a bit concerned about. Into the Spider-Verse director Peter Ramsey says that there was a concern during production that the film's version of Doctor Octopus might have a problem coming across as a substantial villain. According to Ramsey...

For the longest time one of our concerns about that character was, is she only going to be goofy and quirky, are we ever going to be able to make her a formidable enough presence in the movie to really seem like a bad guy that you were actually going to be concerned about.

When we first meet Olivia Ocatvius in Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse, quirky is a good word to describe her. She's a pretty stereotypical version of a scientist who works better with math than with people. She spouts a lot of jargon very quickly and when she first sees Spider-Man, she appears to come across more like a star struck fan than a super villain.

Of course, that's all something of an act, as it turns out Olivia Octavius is actually this dimension's version of the well known Spider-Man villain Doctor Octopus. When we discover this, she undergoes something of a personality transformation from science geek to vicious killer.

While several other classic Spider-man villains make appearances throughout Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse, Olivia Octavius is one of the bigger ones, so making her believable as a formidable opponent for not just one, but several Spider-Men, was important to the film. Peter Ramsey credits voice actress Katherine Hahn in one of the extras attached to the Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse Blu-ray, saying she made all fears that the character would not work disappear...

When Katherine Hahn got on the mic man, all that stuff instantly went away.

It's understandable how making the balance work with Olivia Octavius is a potential problem. On the one hand, you want her to look like she's just a normal scientist; it's what makes the reveal that she's actually one of the villains work. At the same time, if you make her look too campy, then the audience won't buy her as a menacing threat later.

As with pretty much every element of Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse, it works. The film was one of the best of the year because every single element, from character to set design works together flawlessly. The character's quirkiness doesn't go away when Doc Ock comes out, rather, we see that it was just part of a larger personality.

With sequels and spinoffs to Into the Spider-Verse planned, we certainly have to wonder if we'll see Olivia Octavius again. She's certainly a powerful enough villain to anchor a movie rather than simply play henchman to Kingpin.

Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse is available now in Digital HD and on Blu-ray.

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Spider-Man: Into The Spider-Verse’s Honest Trailer Delves Into Multiverse Shenanigans

Spider-Man: Into The Spider-Verse’s Honest Trailer Delves Into Multiverse Shenanigans

It’s becoming increasingly harder nowadays for superhero movies to distinguish themselves as unique offerings, but Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse had no issues doing that last year. From its clever story to its cool animation style, Into the Spider-Verse cemented itself as one of the most critically-acclaimed movies of 2018 and collected numerous accolades, including a Golden Globe and Academy Award. Now that the movie has arrived on home media, the Honest Trailers folks have targeted it next and had some multiversal fun in the process.

Those familiar with the Honest Trailers videos from Screen Junkies will recognize the baritone voice of their regular narrator, the Epic Voice Guy, kicking things off on the Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse trailer. However, because this movie has been so well-received and there’s not as much to nitpick about it, he decides to push some random buttons in his recording booth to pass the time, which leads to Honest Trailers narrators from other dimensions to join him.: Epic Geek Girl, Epic Dungeon Master, Epic Telenovela Woman and Australian Voice Guy. This video could be alternatively called Honest Trailers: Into the Voice-Verse.

As pointed out by the narrators, while the premise Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse might not have sounded like great when it was first announced, it turned out to be an enjoyable story, from watching Miles Morales’ having to learn the ropes of being a superhero in addition to dealing with all his personal life issues, to seeing him interact with so many colorful allies and enemies. It’s a wonder that Into the Spider-Verse managed to effectively balance so much material, but the end result was not just it being a critical and commercial success, but also kicking off a new franchise. Though I think we can all agree that these movies should steer clear of adapting "The Clone Saga." That convoluted storyline that doesn’t need the big screen treatment.

As of right now, two Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse follow-ups are officially on the docket: a sequel which will explore Miles Morales’ and Gwen Stacy’s romantic relationship, and a spinoff which will see Spider-Gwen teaming up with other female Spider-heroes, like Jessica, Drew, a.k.a. the original Spider-Woman, and Cindy Moon, a.k.a. Silk. However, that’s just the tip of the proverbial iceberg, as Sony already has seven-eight years worth of plans for this Spider-franchise, which includes jumping to television. Whether or not this Honest Trailers quintet will reunite to comment on these future projects remains to be seen.

You can watch Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse on Blu-ray, DVD and Digital HD now. Stay tuned to CinemaBlend for more updates on this franchise, and don’t forget to look through our 2019 release schedule to plan your trips to the theater this year accordingly.

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No, DC Didn’t Push Back On James Gunn’s Brightburn

No, DC Didn’t Push Back On James Gunn’s Brightburn

It's no secret that the superhero genre is dominating the film industry. And with so many shared universes bringing comic book adaptations to theaters, there is some fear about superhero fatigue, where the genre will become too saturated and overstuffed to truly resonate with audiences.

In order to combat this concern, filmmakers have started to put their own spin on comic book movies, breaking new ground for the genre in the process. That's certainly the case with the James Gunn produced Brightburn, which is a horror-infused take on Superman's origin story. But given the similarities between Brightburn's powers and Superman's, did DC ever push back on the project? According to Gunn himself, not even a little. As he put it:

Well no, because there’s a lot of similar stories that have been told in comic books over the years, from all sorts of different comic book publishers And I have a pretty good relationship with DC.

While Brightburn's protgonist Bradon Beyer shares the same abilities as DC's Man of Steel, it doesn't look like the comic book behemoth had any problem with James Gunn's upcoming horror/superhero movie. Clark Kent is the only hero in the history of media, plus Gunn has a working relationship with DC Studios.

James Gunn's comments to CinePop make a great deal of sense, especially considering his upcoming collaboration with DC for The Suicide Squad. Following his (temporary) firing from the Guardians of the Galaxy franchise, Gunn put his creative energy into bringing Brightburn to life. He also picked up a gig to write and direct The Suicide Squad, which may or may not be a reboot from David Ayer's previous film.

Related: James Gunn Had A Really Good Time Writing The Suicide Squad

DC must have known about Brightburn ahead of bringing on James Gunn to direct the villain-centric blockbuster. So if there was any issue with the upcoming genre-bending film, the studio had the chance to make their intentions known. But that didn't happen, allowing Gunn to bring a new type of superhero movie to theaters.

Another point James Gunn made in his above comments is just how many comic book character are really out there. So while Brightburn's main character will have similar powers to Superman's, the pop culture lexicon includes plenty of fictional characters who can fly, shoot lasers out of their eyes, and utilize super strength. Brightburn isn't actually about Clark Kent, after all.

Still, the similarities between Brightburn and Superman's origin story helped the buzz and anticipation for the new movie. Now that Brightburn is finally in theaters, we'll see how well this strategy worked in the box office.

Brightburn hits theaters today. Be sure to check out our 2019 release list to plan your next trip to the movies.

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Really, Chucky? Child's Play Celebrated 4/20 In A Wacky Way

Really, Chucky? Child's Play Celebrated 4/20 In A Wacky Way

Earlier this week, fans got a new trailer for the upcoming Child’s Play, with the infamous Chucky recently announced to be played by none other than Mark Hamill. So it’s safe to say the anticipation for the horror remake is high. So high, in fact, that the murderous doll has taken to Twitter to celebrate 4/20 with a weed-themed fashion statement and puff of smoke. Check it out:

Yep… they went there. As the holiday’s hashtag trends on Twitter for the day, fans have come across this advertisement referencing Chucky’s 420-friendly past -- with reactions emitting a whole lot of “yikes” toward Child Play’s marketing strategy.

User @ImperialMince noted the franchise may be trying a bit too hard to relate to the young'uns. Take a look:

Amidst all the reactions showing their cringey feelings toward the posting, @xVeHeMeNcEx took it back to 1998’s Bride of Chucky, when Chucky smokes a joint. The image of an embroidered marijuana plant on his overalls with a “bud” pun to go with the “he’s your best friend” tagline for the film seemed a bit too spot on. Check it out:

Is the advertisement a tease for Chucky blazing it in the upcoming Child’s Play? The film will reportedly be receiving an R-rating, and with Mark Hamill on board to frolic around as the mischievous doll, who knows what kind of antics are coming our way in the new flick.

The reboot has an altogether different spin on the origin of Chucky, so it is interesting the marketing for it includes a little nod to its past films. If anything, the post may be seeking to mix in a bit of nostalgia for the boldness of Bride of Chucky back in the day, and also get fans intrigued for what we may see this time.

Instead of Chucky being the spirit of a serial killer, this time around he will be an A.I. toy designed to sync up into other smart home tech in the house of a mother (Aubrey Plaza) and son (Gabriel Bateman) who have just moved to a new town. So far, we’ve seen a bit of Chucky using his iconic chef’s knife to wreak havoc on the neighbor, along with Christmas lights in one scene in the newest trailer.

However, the teasers have shown little of Chucky’s actual performance, except for the line “goodnight Andy” at the end. Mark Hamill reportedly went above and beyond to voice the character, as he marathoned all the films, took notes, and crafted a few voices on his first day in the recording booth. We can’t wait to see what is in store for us in Child’s Play when it comes to theaters on June 21, although that cringey 420 ad looks to be swaying fans in the other direction today.

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Armie Hammer Reveals His Most Exhausting Moment Of Filming Hotel Mumbai

Armie Hammer Reveals His Most Exhausting Moment Of Filming Hotel Mumbai

Making movies can be a pretty tiresome task, especially if an actor is on a film as seriously intense as Hotel Mumbai. However, when it came to Armie Hammer's role in the film, exhausting is maybe an understatement, as one particular segment had him literally tied-up in production.

In fact, during a particular moment filming Hotel Mumbai -- and minor spoilers -- Hammer's character finds himself tied up as a hostage to the gunmen who overran the Taj Hotel on November 26, 2008. Bound with several other captives, including his onscreen wife played by Nazanin Boniadi, the scene comes at a crucial point during the film's standoff between the terrorists and the various law enforcement agents surrounding the building. With the pressure on to claim any one who's rich and American as collateral, Armie Hammer's character is undoubtedly a high priority target, and his safety from that point becomes one of the burning questions the audience is left to ponder until the end.

It's a powerful scene, but one that left him in a predicament for some time. He told CinemaBlend:

I spent about five days tied up, on the floor, for about 12 hours a day. Which was no fun. Everything just hurt, my hips hurt, my shoulders hurt. That was probably the hardest thing for me.

Armie Hammer revealed this fact during his chat with CinemaBlend at the recent Hotel Mumbai press day. And I can confirm the sequence in question looked just as grueling to watch as it was to film.

So naturally, having your arms and legs tied in such a fashion that you look believably captured on camera is going to do a number on you. On the other end of the camera, there was an equally exhausting task being undertaken: filming between two different locations that had to create a seamless whole.

Hotel Mumbai did use the actual exterior and lobby of the Taj Hotel in Mumbai for the film's titular setting. However, for the various interiors and other locations shown in the film, co-writer/director Anthony Maras used studios in Australia to complete the film's shooting locations. During that same press day, Maras detailed to us how using these two locations presented some interesting working scenarios:

In terms of sort of filming this film, every day was a challenge. We had huge logistical efforts of trying to recreate one of the grandest hotels in the world; and we had to do it between Australia and India. You know, you had Armie Hammer running out of a restaurant in Australia and into a lobby in India, and somehow we had to make that work. It’s a testament to our team on a logistical level, but far more difficult than that or far more poignant than that shall I say, is the challenge of having to do justice to the stories of the survivors and those who didn’t make it. And that was really at the forefront our entire time. The film is a plea for peace, and it’s an honest attempt to try and portray both the horror and the humanity of what went on inside the walls of the Taj Hotel.

You can see both Anthony Maras and Armie Hammer discussing their parts of the Hotel Mumbai process, in the below video, taken from that same press day:

Overall, the greatest obstacle for Hotel Mumbai was, as Anthony Maras said, the one that challenges many films based on a true story: honoring the tragedy and its victims, while also making it a seamless, entertaining, and informative experience. The dedication on both fronts shows strong in the film itself, making for a movie experience that should leave the audience thinking when they're walking out of the theater. Let's just hope all involved are nice and rested after capturing these harrowing events on film.

Hotel Mumbai opens in limited release this weekend, with a wide release taking place on March 29th.

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Shazam! Producer Promises DC Movies Can Still Be Dark

Shazam! Producer Promises DC Movies Can Still Be Dark

The DC live-action universe has had a rocky life in theaters, full of very high highs and disastrous lows. Luckily for Warner Bros., things seem to be on the upswing after the poor critical and box office performance of Justice League. DC is still surfing on the high of Aquaman's success, and anticipation is at a fever pitch for David F. Sandberg's upcoming blockbuster Shazam!

Shazam! will hit theaters in a matter of days, bringing the dual-personal title character into live-action for the first time. The movie's tone is in stark juxtaposition to Zack Snyder's bleak dramas that started the universe. But according to Shazam! producer Peter Safran, that doesn't mean that the DCEU won't have dark and gritty installments. As he tells it:

I think that DC has the same idea we do now, which is every movie that they make should have the right tone for that particular character. Shazam is such a fun character. He is all about wish fulfillment. He is fun and funny, and that is the tone that you should have for the film. Aquaman has got a tone, fantastical element. Shazam! is fun and funny. Wonder Woman’s got her thing. I think they realize each tone has to be specific for each movie.

Rather than trying to make one uniform movie, it looks like the DC universe will continue giving more power to the directors. As such, a dark movie will happen as soon as the story and characters call for it.

Peter Safran's comments IGN are sure to be a relief to DC fans who enjoy all the darkness its stories have to offer. While Shazam! is light hearted, there's been tragic stories for many of the characters on the page. Especially Batman, whose origin in based in trauma and childhood loss. The Dark Knight and others simply need to be dark, and have a ton unlike the two most recent releases.

In the same interview from Shazam!'s red carpet, Peter Safrin directly addressed Batman and Todd Phillips' Joker, which is expected to be a dark drama focused on a mentally ill villain. Safrin expanded his thoughts, saying:

Listen, there are certain characters like Batman, like the Joker, that dark tone is perfect for them. It’s what you really want to see.

So while Billy Batson and Freddy may have their childhood games in Shazam!, we shouldn't expect the entire DC Universe to go family friendly. There are projects coming down the pipeline which should have their share of dark material, so the studio is going to have to flip between vastly different projects. In addition to Joker and The Batman, Birds of Prey (And The Fantabulous Emancipation Of One Harley Quinn) should utilize a mixture of drama and comedy. There's also Wonder Woman 1984 to look forward to, although that Patty Jenkins has up her sleeve for the sequel is anyone's guess.

Shazam! will bring something unique to not only the DC universe, but the superhero genre as a whole. Still functioning as an origin story, the blockbuster will follow 14 year-old Billy Batson as he's given amazing powers from a magical wizard. By saying the word "Shazam", Billy transforms into an adult sized superhero, capable of flight, super strength, and electricity manipulation. But since Billy doesn't know much about superheroes, his foster brother Freddy will step in to guide him toward his destiny.

This marks the first time that a modern superhero focus on the perspective of kids. In cinematic universes, there are tons of us regular folks who are living in a superheroic world. Children have a specific experience; for instance, Billy's friend Freddy is a superfan. Freddy has been following the events of movies like Batman v Superman and Justice League, so he'll be able to help Billy become Shazam.

Shazam! look it's going to be a super fun big screen adventure, and it's early reception has been positive. But moviegoers are still going to want dark and gritty installments later in the DC universe. Aquaman might have focused on family drama and a Game of Thrones-esque struggle for underwater power, but James Wan's blockbuster wasn't especially dark.

Darker subject material and tone will no doubt accompany Todd Phillips' Joker, which isn't going to be connected to the rest of the DC universe. Phillips will give the iconic Batman villain an origin story, and explain how a clown became Gotham's biggest threat. Starring Joaquin Phoenix, the project is expected to be decidedly darker than the most recent installments in the shared universe.

On the same page, Matt Reeves' The Batman should have some darkness to it. Gotham's Protector is usually surrounded by loss and murder, and the developing blockbuster will reportedly include a few members of Batman's rogue gallery. The project will follow a younger version of Bruce Wayne, and focus on Batman's top notch detective skills. This is a new approach to the character onscreen, so let's also hope there's the proper amount of darkness in the movie.

Birds of Prey (And The Fantabulous Emancipation of One Harley Quinn) should be an interesting movie, as it'll walk the line between serious mob drama and quirky action romp. Cathy Yan's upcoming blockbuster will once again focus on the denizens of Gotham City, including the villainous Black Mask and Bat-family member Huntress. The movie is also a spinoff for Margot Robbie's Harley Quinn, who debuted in Suicide Squad. Harley's inclusion obviously means there will be plenty of comedic beats in Birds of Prey, but the characters that make up the ensemble have tragic and violent pasts. Plus, Black Mask is known as a ruthless mob boss in Gotham.

There will be plenty of room for darkness in the future of the DC live-action universe in the future. For now, fans can celebrate that the studio seems to have finally found its footing, and is producing a variety of exciting projects. And with Shazam! flying into theaters in just days, we may have another DC success story on our hands. And that's in no small part due to its unique tone.

Shazam! will arrive in theaters on April 5th. In the meantime, check out our 2019 release list to plan your next trip to the movies.

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Mark Hamill Defends Unexpectedly Controversial Star Wars Reunion Photo

Mark Hamill Defends Unexpectedly Controversial Star Wars Reunion Photo

Star Wars' Mark Hamill has not been quiet about wishing the new trilogy ending the Skywalker Saga included a reunion for his Luke Skywalker, Harrison Ford's Han Solo, and Carrie Fisher's Princess/General Leia Organa. So it wasn't exactly surprising or controversial when he tweeted a fan-made image doctoring a shot from the first Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker trailer, adding Han, Leia, and Luke next to Billy Dee Williams as Lando Calrissian. Hamill tagged that reunion photo with #MissedOpportunities:

However, the first comment under his tweet had this message:

You know this image comes from one of the alt-right portion of the fan base, right? Bad look sir.

Mark Hamill returned to Twitter to share a new version of the reunion photo, this time adding his Joker. He explained and defended his original post, but lightened the mood with some of his trademark dad humor in honor of Avengers: Endgame weekend:

Billy Dee Williams appreciated the Luke/Leia/Han/Lando reunion photo, and replied to Mark Hamill's tweet with his own light humor:

You should be used to getting everyone’s knickers in a twist……part of your charm man!

Most of Mark Hamill's replies have been supportive, with fans saying there was no need for him to have to defend himself. They understood he was just re-expressing his sadness at the "missed opportunities" of the final trilogy never having a full OG reunion. However, some commenters argued the source of what you retweet does matter -- especially if you are as influential as Mark Hamill -- since it may come across as support for the account that made it. Many other famous names, especially political figures, have been called out for such things in the past.

Mark Hamill wasn't trying to endorse anything other than more wishful thinking for What Could Have Been. He's been on that track for a while, even if the Disney suits would probably rather he drop it. What if this is all a long con and Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker does give us some kind of Luke/Leia/Han reunion after all? Based on his many posts on the subject, it doesn't seem like that's the case, but you never know.

Mark Hamill even revealed he pitched an idea to director J.J. Abrams for Episode VII: The Force Awakens, bringing Luke Skywalker back into the story a little bit earlier in the film so he could reunite with Leia and they could all be there for Han Solo's goodbye. Now the character of Han is gone, and Carrie Fisher is gone in real life. Leia is still returning through previously unused footage, but the original trilogy reunion ship seems to have sailed.

At least we have Lando back in the mix for Episode IX, and the trailer showed him having a blast back in the pilot's seat. Of course, we can't forget Chewbacca -- even if this fan image didn't add him to the reunion. Chewie didn't get Leia's hug in The Force Awakens and he didn't get a place in this reunion photo. The Wookiee deserves better.

Star Wars: Episode IX - The Rise of Skywalker opens in theaters December 20. Here's what we know so far about the end of the saga.

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Fantastic Beasts 3: Warner Bros. Reportedly Worried About Johnny Depp Backlash

Fantastic Beasts 3: Warner Bros. Reportedly Worried About Johnny Depp Backlash

Warner Bros. is currently preparing for Fantastic Beasts 3, the third of five planned movies in Harry Potter author J.K. Rowling's series. Johnny Depp has a lead role as dark wizard Gellert Grindelwald. But now executives are reportedly worried about backlash as the legal battle between Depp and ex-wife Amber Heard rages on.

You may recall Johnny Depp's $50 million defamation suit against Amber Heard, alleging her abuse allegations against him were part of an elaborate hoax to advance her career; he also claimed her op-ed cost him his job with the Pirates of the Caribbean franchise.

Amber Heard just responded to Johnny Depp's lawsuit by detailing some graphic allegations against him, via The Post, claiming he became "the Monster" when drunk or medicated, and kicked and choked her, and then often wouldn't remember his violent behavior. She shared text messages said to be from him and his assistant acknowledging and apologizing for Depp's alleged behavior.

Johnny Depp’s lawyer, Adam Waldman, claimed again that Amber Heard's allegations were a hoax, and said they were currently interviewing other women who had come forward claiming they were victims of violence and other abuse by Heard.

But the continued play of abuse allegations in headlines has reportedly concerned some Warner Bros. execs, at least according to sources who spoke to The Post.

Executives at Warner Bros. are wondering how to deal with the backlash of the Depp matter on the Harry Potter franchise. High-level female execs at the studio are extremely worried about working with Depp and the message it sends to the public, especially after the recent sordid departure of CEO Kevin Tsujihara. [...] This is yet another blow to the morale of female employees at the studio. If Warner Bros. continues to stick by Depp, it would reveal a lot about the values the company holds.

CEO Kevin Tsujihara recently exited Warner Bros. after a sexual misconduct casting couch scandal.

J.K. Rowling backed Johnny Depp when concerns were previously voiced about including him in the Fantastic Beasts franchise. She wrote on her website in December 2017 that Harry Potter fans had "legitimate concerns" but "[b]ased on our understanding of the circumstances, the filmmakers and I are not only comfortable sticking with our original casting, but genuinely happy to have Johnny playing a major character in the movies."

Now, this source claims not everyone is happy that J.K. Rowling made such a public statement:

Many at Warner Bros. wish that Rowling hadn’t come out so strongly behind Depp, because having made her opinion so public boxes them into a corner.

Warner Bros. reps didn't respond to The Post's requests for comment, so all we have to go on is the word of these unnamed sources -- who do seem to be in Amber Heard's corner -- plus Johnny Depp's attorney -- who is clearly in Depp's corner.

Whatever the truth of this short-lived but apparently never-ending marriage, it's still not over yet. Johnny Depp's lawyer has issued subpoenas to Amber Heard, "her hoax assisting friends, Elon Musk and other witnesses" to explain the evidence they plan to show on their end.

Fantastic Beasts 3 was meant to start filming this summer, but production was delayed to fall 2019 to give the film more prep time. According to Dan Fogler (Jacob) the third movie is going to be "gigantic" and "bigger than the first two combined," including travel to Brazil.

The last we heard about Fantastic Beasts 3 was last month from the now ousted Kevin Tsujihara, who acknowledged that the second film -- Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindelwald -- didn’t perform as well as Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them, "but I think we know what we need to do to get the third film hopefully even better than the first one. And J.K. Rowling is really working hard now on that third script, and we’re going to get it right."

Here's everything we know about Fantastic Beasts 3 up to this point. J.K. Rowling is the screenwriter of the entire series, and she said she has a plan for five movies, leading up to the big duel between Albus Dumbledore (Jude Law) and Gellert Grindelwald (Johnny Depp).

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The 8 Best Nicolas Cage Movies, And The 4 Worst

The 8 Best Nicolas Cage Movies, And The 4 Worst

Nicolas Cage is often maligned by movie fans for some of the more… interesting choices he has made in roles, as well as his incredibly meme-able facial expressions when he’s getting really nuts. Nevertheless, he has had a remarkable career.

Nicolas Cage’s career has now spanned almost four decades and the diversity of his roles is amazing. He has been in classic cult films, huge box office blockbusters, deeply personal indie films and everything else in between. He can play the hero or the villain, and his talents have won him multiple awards and earned him a star on the Hollywood Walk Of Fame.

On the flip side, he’s also been nominated for multiple Golden Raspberries and has been the butt of endless jokes on the internet for his less-than-stellar performances. It makes everyone wonder what his decision-making process is, sometimes. Nicolas Cage has come a long way from his bit part in Fast Times At Ridgemont High. With all this in mind, let's over over the eight best Nicolas Cage movies and four of his worst.

The 8 Best Nicolas Cage Movies

Raising Arizona (1987)

Raising Arizona, the hilarious and quirky second film from the Coen Brothers, brings together a whole lot of talent at the very beginnings of their careers: Holly Hunter, Frances McDomand, John Goodman and, of course, Nicolas Cage. In a way, it set the template for all the Coen Brothers comedies, as it’s filled with wacky characters and a loose plot that is almost irrelevant.

Nicolas Cage’s deadpan performance as the petty criminal turned kidnapper turned “father,” “Hi” is perfect. Hi’s tired and life-weary demeanor is the perfect foil for his intense and upbeat wife, Ed, played by Holly Hunter. Raising Arizona has become a classic and was a big reason Nicolas Cage’s career took off.

Moonstruck (1987)

Released the same year as Raising Arizona, Moonstruck was another breakout performance for Nicolas Cage and it immediately showed his rage as an actor. Nicolas Cage’s performance as the down on his luck baker in Brooklyn is a completely different kind of character than Hi in Raising Arizona.

Moonstruck was also a huge critical and commercial success, and while Nicolas Cage’s excellent performance wasn’t recognized with any award nominations, two of his co-stars won Oscars, Cher and Olympia Dukakis.

Leaving Las Vegas (1995)

Leaving Las Vegas is by far the biggest critical success of Nicolas Cage’s career. His Oscar-winning performance as a down-and-out alcoholic who moves to Las Vegas to drink himself to death is unbelievably sad and difficult to watch because Cage’s performance is so believable and well done.

His co-star, Elizabeth Shue, also puts in an incredible performance as a prostitute who forms a relationship with the sad drunk. Together they make the perfect, tragic couple with a devastating ending that in a way is kind of beautiful that they found in each other even under the unspeakably horrible situations both were in.

Honeymoon In Vegas (1992)

Honeymoon In Vegas somehow slips under the radar a lot when people talk about Nicolas Cage movies, and that is too bad, but it’s a great movie and Cage’s performance is hilarious. Cage plays a detective with commitment issues who reluctantly decides to marry his girlfriend, played by Sarah Jessica Parker, in a quickie Vegas marriage.

Cage’s character gets in debt to a wise guy/professional gambler, played brilliantly by James Caan, and promises Caan's character he can spend the weekend with his fiancée before they get married. The rest of the movie is filled with hilarious hijinks, as Cage chases Caan and Parker from Vegas to Hawaii and back to Vegas before culminating in a sky dive above The Strip with a bunch of Elvis impersonators. Brilliant!

Kick-Ass (2010)

The last decade hasn’t been the strongest of Nicolas Cage’s career but it started strong with Kick-Ass, the really well done spoof of superhero movies feature Cage as “Big Daddy” the "real-life" Batman-like superhero raising his daughter and seeking revenge on his rival, a mob boss that set him up to take the fall as a drug dealer and serve a nickel in prison.

Kick-Ass is an incredibly fun movie where the good guys win in the end and the violence is completely over the top. It’s like a perfect combination of a Marvel movie, Kingsman and a John Wick movie.

Gone In 60 Seconds (2000)

Gone in 60 Seconds is another one of those awesome Nicolas Cage action movies filled with amazing car chases and a first-rate cast. The dialogue, like the others, is trite and frankly meaningless, but that doesn’t matter. Because if you like awesome cars and awesome car chases, it really doesn’t get any better.

Cage plays a retired car thief pulled out of retirement for one last, huge heist: an attempt to steal 50 cars in just 24 hours with his crew. The crew includes Robert Duvall, Vinnie Jones, Giovanni Ribisi and Angelina Jolie, but the biggest star of the film is “Eleanor,” a pristine 1967 Ford Shelby GT500, maybe the coolest car ever built. Seriously, Gone In Sixty Seconds is worth watching for the car alone.

Con Air (1997)

Who doesn’t love Con Air? The plot is asinine and the script is trite and silly, but the action sequences are amazing and the acting performances, including Nicolas Cage’s, are awesome! It’s big budget, summer blockbuster Hollywood at its very best.

There is no way to come across it on a rainy Saturday afternoon on TV and NOT watch the whole thing. The all-star cast, led by Cage, John Cusack, John Malkovich, Ving Rhames, Steve Bescemi and Danny Trejo, all put in amazing performance. That alone make it the best kind of watchable movie.

The Rock (1996)

The first movie starring Nicolas Cage after his Oscar-winning performance in Leaving Las Vegas was something, uh, completely different. The Rock is cheesy, awesome Nic Cage at his best. The lines are so silly – “Cut the chitchat, A-HOLE!” – but he delivers them with such pizazz that it makes them eminently quotable. By the way, that is the actual quote from the movie, not the censored TV version.

Like Con Air, this movie takes the art of the summer blockbuster to its highest level. It has a ridiculous plot, a great car chase, big explosions, a script full of “did he really say that” quotes and huge stars, like Cage, Sean Connery, Ed Harris and a supporting cast of legendary characters. It is so wonderfully whacky and awesome.

The 4 Worst Nicolas Cage Movies

Ghost Rider (2007)

With enough plot holes to drive a motorcycle through, Ghost Rider is the kind of movie you really want to like, even in a cynical, campy way, but just can’t. Nicolas Cage’s performance isn’t terrible; it’s actually good, but the movie is just so… stupid and disappointing. For a guy like Nic Cage, who always wants to play superheroes, it must smart that the film doesn't work.

Maybe expectations were too high for the big screen adaptation of a very cool comic, because the story shouldn’t be this bad, it has very solid source material, yet, it sadly is.

Amos & Andrew (1993)

A stupid premise and a trite attempt to be relevant with a critical commentary on race in America, the Nicolas Cage/Samuel L. Jackson flick is a disaster. It’s easy to see where the minds behind the movie were trying to go with it, but it fails in most ways. The action is lacking and the attempted comedy just isn’t funny, despite decent performances by the lead actors.

In the long list of forgettable Nicolas Cage movies, this might be the most forgettable. There is just nothing about this movie that should make anyone want to watch it. It was a bomb with the critics and it tanked at the box office. It’s not hilariously bad, like some other Nic Cage performances, and that makes Amos & Andrew worse than some those to watch.

Left Behind (2014)

Left Behind is just bad in every way. It’s not that’s it’s a Christian movie that wouldn’t appeal to more secular audience – though it is – it’s because it’s just plain bad. There is no other way around it. It’s one of the movies in this decade that Nicolas Cage has starred in that really makes you scratch your head and wonder why.

The plot is loosely based on the gazillion-selling Christian novel about the people left behind to face God’s judgement after His believers disappear and join him in heaven. Right up until the completely ridiculous and simple-minded ending, it’s bad. In fact, it’s hard to find anything positive to say about it, even Cage’s performance feels phoned in.

Wicker Man (2006)

Wicker Man should have been great. A remake of a great low budget horro movie of the same name, with a lot of talent involved, including the great playwright Neil LaBute, who wrote and directed it and starring Academy Award winners like Nicolas Cage and Ellen Burstyn, the movie just fails.

It’s not suspenseful and worst of all, the torture scene at the end, which should be terrifying, is actually hilarious. Like a bad B-movie in the worst kind of way. On the plus side, it is responsible for some of the best memes of all time and that is really the best thing that can be said about it.

There are a lot of other movies that could appear on this list, underrated movies like Family Man, forgotten great movies like Peggy Sue Got Married, or blockbusters like Face/Off. With almost 100 credits to his name, Nicolas Cage is prolific and inconsistent but almost never boring.

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Marvel’s Shang-Chi Movie Just Took A Big Step Forward

Marvel’s Shang-Chi Movie Just Took A Big Step Forward

The Marvel Cinematic Universe is ready to continue make history following the thunderous response to its more inclusive titles, Black Panther and Captain Marvel. The studio has just hired Asian-American director Destin Daniel Cretton to helm a film for martial-arts hero Shang-Chi, the first superhero movie lead by an Asian protagonist.

While Marvel’s official future slate hasn't been announced to the public yet in order to focus on the events of Avengers: Endgame and Spider-Man: Far From Home first, the comic series inspired by martial artist Bruce Lee’s pop culture prominence in Enter the Dragon will soon be adapted to the cinematic universe.

The project is certainly starting to shape up as Destin Daniel Cretton is now attached as director, in addition to Chinese-American writer Dave Callaham writing the screenplay, via Deadline. Up next, Marvel will also enlist a primarily Asian cast to the movie as well.

Ironically enough, Destin Daniel Cretton has spent much of his directing career teaming up with Captain Marvel actress Brie Larson in Short Term 12, Glass Castle and for his upcoming drama Just Mercy, which will will have her playing opposite Black Panther’s Michael B. Jordan. Maybe Larson played a part in Marvel’s decision to enlist Cretton for the project. It's food for thought.

Shang-Chi was first announced back in December, when reports said Marvel Studios was fast-tracking the movie with script writer Dave Callaham, who created the Expendables franchise and story for 2014’s Godzilla reboot. The writer also co-wrote the Wonder Woman 1984 script and has signed on to the Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse sequel.

The hero debuted in Marvel Comics in 1973, at a time when martial arts films were at an all-time popularity high. Shang-Chi grows up and is educated in the confines of a compound in China, where he intensely trains in the ways of martial arts to an expert level. His father allows him to go into the outside world under his orders, but Shang-Chi eventually finds out that his father is a centuries-old villain whose various identities include Fu Manchu and The Devil's Doctor. The father and son become sworn enemies.

Following the achievement of Black Panther, the highest-earning movie of 2018, Marvel’s first Best Picture contender and winner of three Academy Awards, the studio has placed a new focus on diversity in the upcoming films. Kevin Feige teased that Black Panther is just the beginning. The recent release of the first female-fronted flick Captain Marvel is another step in that direction and Shang-Chi follows this mission.

This news certainly puts the Shang-Chi movie in the running to be part of Marvel’s Phase Four slate, along with the Black Widow solo film, Black Panther 2, The Eternals, Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 and Doctor Strange 2. Until then, you can read up on the comic book character with our Shang-Chi guide.

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