First Look At "Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Men Tell No Tales" Revealed

Yo-ho, yo-ho, a pirates' life for me.

In this very first look at "Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Men Tell No Tales", which is coming to theaters next summer, we see our new villain, Captain Salazar (played by Javier Bardem), who is looking for the worst pirate that we've ever heard of [but we have heard of him]. The famed Captain Jack Sparrow is no where to be seen in this first teaser but it is clear the "Dead Men Tell No Tales" looks and feels much like "The Curse of the Black Pearl", with its dark atmosphere and ghostly images rather than the flashy insanity of "On Stranger Tides".

Watch the trailer here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1xo3af_6_Jk

What did you think of our first look at "Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Men Tell No Tales"?

Drink up me hearties yoho!

Director Curtis Hanson Dies At 71

And another one goes...

Reports just came in that "L.A. Confidential" director Curtis Hanson has passed away at the age of 71 at his Hollywood Hills home. He's been retired for quite a while now but he gave us films like "8 Mile" (winning Eminem an Oscar), "Wonder Boys", "The River Wild" and, of course, the one we all know and love: "L.A. Confidential", which is one of my all-time favorite movies. Although not a household name, Hanson's filmography is filled with impressive and very underrated work. His legacy will continue to live on as "L.A. Confidential" will forever remain in the National Film Registry of the United States Library of Congress for being "culturally, historically, or aesthetically significant".

May you rest in peace, Curtis Hanson.

Zack Snyder Reveals New Batsuit from "Justice League"

Homestretch.

Today, Zack Snyder tweeted out this image of Ben Affleck in an all-new tactical Batsuit that will be featured in "Justice League" next year. This new design looks to be a beautiful combination of the Nite Owll II costume (the goggles and the shape of the cowl) from Zack Snyder's own "Watchmen" along with tactical suits featured in the "Batman Arkham" video games. The context in which Batman uses this suit for is still unknown but, just by looking at this beautiful picture, we can say that this is one greatly designed suit.

What do you think of this new Batsuit?

Star Trek: 50th Anniversary

"Space: the final frontier. These are the voyages of the Starship Enterprise. Its continuing mission: to explore strange new worlds, to seek out new life and new civilizations, to boldly go where no one has gone before."

50 years ago on this day, "Star Trek" debuted on televisions nationwide and would eventually become a cultural phenomenon. "Star Trek", without a doubt, is the definitive science fiction franchise with its plethora of memorable and beloved characters, now iconic actors, a great theme song and cheesy yet classic 1960's special effects. Gene Roddenberry along with the great cast he assembled (including William Shatner, the late Leonard Nimoy, George Takei) have created something truly special. Something that will last forever. Something that will continue forever.

Today, let us celebrate 50 years of "Star Trek". Live long and prosper.

Gene Wilder Dies At 83

"Come with me and you'll be in a world of pure imagination." The words that defined the childhoods of so many around the world.

Sadly, the man that cemented those words into our heads is no longer with us. Comedy legend Gene Wilder has passed away at age 83. Yet another icon that the year 2016 took away from us. For anyone who wants to write comedy or be a comedian, Gene Wilder was someone truly special. From "The Producers", "Blazing Saddles", "Young Frankenstein" and "Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory", it's impossible to rival this man's achievements as a comedic legend. To a lot of us, he will forever be the definitive Willy Wonka and many will also remember him for manically screaming "Give my creation life!" as Dr. Frederick Frankenstein in Mel Brook's "Young Frankenstein".

Not many people will accomplish such great feats as this man did.

It's hard to see you go, Gene. May you rest in peace.

BREAKING: Ben Affleck Teases Deathstroke

Slade is coming...

Earlier today, Ben Affleck, who has now wrapped "Justice League", teased all of us comic book fans by showing a short glimpse of Deathstroke in what we can assume to be test footage for the upcoming Batman solo film. With "Justice League" complete and moving into the editing process, it's safe to say that the famed DC rival to Batman will not be showing up in the film. However, with Ben Affleck's Batman film approaching, it may be interesting to speculate whether or not Deathstroke will be the primary antagonist in the now untitled Batman film.

What do you think of Deathstroke's reveal?

New "La La Land" Trailer Drops Online

The director of "Whiplash", Damien Chazelle, returns with another musically lead film, "La La Land", that looks to be one of the most beautiful and innocently charming films of the year. Emma Stone's soothing voice is reminiscent of the singers of the early 20th century and gracefully carries this new trailer. Emma Stone and Ryan Gosling once again play a romantic duo for the 3rd time and it looks like their on screen chemistry is everlasting. Definitely one of the most highly anticipated dramas of the year.

Watch the trailer here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DBUXcNTjviI

Kenny Baker Dies At 81

Another icon of film gone.

The man who brought R2-D2 to life, Kenny Baker, passed away earlier today, just 11 days before his birthday, at the age of 81 after battling a long time illness. He played the beloved characters for the 6 original films by George Lucas and is as important to us "Star Wars" fans as any of the main cast members like Mark Hamill or Harrison Ford. He may not have been a household name but for lovers of movies and to all the "Star Wars" fans across the galaxy, he was someone you had to know. We will all miss you, Kenny.

Thank you for you accomplishments. Thank you for R2-D2. May you rest in peace and may the Force be with you and your family.

New "Rogue One: A Star Wars Story" Trailer Released

Lord Vador is coming...

During the Olympic coverage today, Lucasfilm just revealed the brand new trailer for "Rogue One: A Star Wars Story" that truly is spellbinding. The dark war film like tone mixed with its ragtag team of characters makes this entry in the prestigious franchise unique. And the payoff at the end just made it all worth while. Seeing Darth Vader briefly again in a new "Star Wars" movie is like a dream come true. Overall, "Rogue One: A Star Wars Story" is shaping up to be a serious, intense and dramatic film that is truly worthy of the "Star Wars" name. May the Force be with us.

Watch the trailer here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=frdj1zb9sMY

Aquaman Solo-Movie Villain Revealed

The King of Atlantis is facing his arch nemesis...

The Wrap has just reported that the main villain for the upcoming Aquaman solo film, directed by James Wan, will be Black Manta, one of the titular character's greatest foes. With the upcoming film, that will hit theaters on July 27, 2018, we still have no idea which of the Black Manta origins they will use for their version of the story. In the classic version, Black Manta has grown with the hatred of Aquaman while in the New 52 timeline, Aquaman accidentally caused the death of Black Manta's father, which results in their famous rivalry.

Either way, it has been confirmed that Black Manta will be the primary villain in "Aquaman"?

Are you excited for the solo Aquaman film? Was Black Manta a good choice?

"Ocean's Eleven" Female-Lead Remake Cast Members Revealed

Move over, Danny Ocean, the ladies are taking charge this time around.

In the style of this year's "Ghostbusters" remake, the 2001 heist film "Ocean's Eleven" is getting a new treatment with an all-female cast, which has finally been revealed. The cast of characters will include Sandra Bullock, Cate Blanchett, Anne Hathaway, Rihanna, Helena Bonham Carter, Mindy Kaling and Awkwafina. The ensemble cast is just one away from its title "Ocean's 8" with the film still casting its lead actresses. No release date or production date is set for the film but it should be coming to theaters in the next 2 - 3 years.

Are you excited for "Ocean's 8"? Is this the cast you wanted to see?

"Suicide Squad" Breaks August Box Office Records

It's good to be bad... especially at the box office.

DC Extended Universe's latest film, "Suicide Squad, while not winning over the critics, has won over audiences. Grossing $135.1 million in its opening weekend, "Suicide Squad" has broken for all-time record for biggest August opening, beating out "Guardians of the Galaxy", which grossed $94.3 million in its opening weekend.

While "Suicide Squad" is doing great in its opening weekend, will the film survive the negative reviews from film critics in the long run? Will the criticisms effect the film? Only time will tell.

REVIEW: "Suicide Squad"

Worst heroes ever. Following up a film as divisive as "Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice" is no easy task. The [relatively] new DC Extended Universe has been off to a rocky start as the greatest gladiator match in the history of the world was loved by some but shunned by many. Trying to regain their reputation and appeal to the masses, "Suicide Squad" entered the scene with its creative and brightly colored marketing that seemed to showcase that the DC Extended Universe can be as fun and exciting as the moviegoing audience wants it to be. With a large ensemble cast and a director who is known for intense action sequences, "Suicide Squad" was looking to be an even bigger hit than "Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice", which grossed $872.7 million worldwide by the end of its theatrical run. But with early negative reviews from critics, is "Suicide Squad" another film that the mainstream audience will not enjoy?

"Suicide Squad" stars an ensemble cast, which includes Will Smith, Jared Leto, Margot Robbie, Joel Kinnaman, Viola Davis, Jai Courtney, Jay Hernandez, Adewale Akinnuoye-Agbaje, Ike Barinholtz, Scott Eastwood and Cara Delevingne, and is directed by David Ayer. Picking up soon after "Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice", government operative Amanda Waller (played by Viola Davis) creates a team of "the most dangerous people on the planet" in order to deal with any future threats from other metahumans, naming the group Task Force X. When an evil enemy threatens the safety of the planet, Waller sends out Task Force X to complete a suicide mission in exchange for reduced sentences and the possibility of freedom. While "Suicide Squad" began with a strong and hyper-stylized first act, the film begins to dwindle down an insane rabbit hole, for better or worse, leading to an overall disappointing, but not bad, film. Director David Ayer's style and direction is what hooks us into the film but the choppy editing, stale action sequences and a story that's equally as uneven as the characters in the film is what prevents "Suicide Squad" from being spectacular.

The thing that makes "Suicide Squad" work as a film is its incredible cast of characters. Seeing the chemistry between these "Suicide Squad" members is worth the price of admission and worth sitting through a messily put together film. It is clear from the get-go that the actors portraying these charming and, for the most part, likable characters have grown accustomed to each other and have a real connection off set, which clearly shows on screen.

To the surprise of some, Will Smith delivers one of his most memorable [and fun] performances in years with Deadshot, a man who kills people for a living but still maintains a moral center. As the team's reluctant leader, he, for the most part, leads the team through peril and mayhem, trying to save the world from an evil entity. Although straying away from his comic book counterpart, Smith made the character of Floyd Lawton his own and brought a sense of humanity to a film that is entirely made up of lunatics, scumbags and a half man, half crocodile monstrosity. Still managing to be an action hero, Smith effortlessly carries this cast of characters without dominating over the other cast members with his endless charm and charisma.

When it was announced that Margot Robbie was cast as Harley Quinn in "Suicide Squad", the fans went wild, and for good reason. This, without a doubt, is the most distinguished and most memorable performance of the entire film. Robbie owns every second of her screen time with her immense beauty and out-of-left-field remarks that have become the trademarks of Harley Quinn's character. While being crazy, Robbie, along with writer/director David Ayer, was able to bring out a side of Harley that we haven't seen before, which does give the film some merit. Although wearing a different outfit than we are used to seeing her in, Margot Robbie definitively is Harley Quinn and fleshes out her character beautifully on screen in "Suicide Squad". This is one of the best and most accurate portrayals of a comic book character we have ever seen [although her inception was in "Batman: The Animated Series" and not the comics].

Moments after the first official look at the new Joker was revealed online, the Internet exploded with comments of both love and hate for the new look. Covered in tattoos and sporting a grill, this new interpretation of the beloved comic book villain was very divisive to say the least. New reports of Jared Leto staying in character and creeping out the other cast members added to the Internet's curiosity with this new version of the Joker and interest only kept building and building after each promotional material was released. And thankfully, Jared Leto gives the character his all and gives us a Joker we truly have never seen before. While being manically insane, the Joker's actions in "Suicide Squad" may be seen as too logical for the crazy Clown Price of Gotham but was an interesting departure from the other characterizations of the iconic villain. Being more of a criminal underworld mobster rather than an anarchy-loving psychopath that he was in "The Dark Knight", Leto was able to stretch his acting muscles and fully embodied himself in David Ayer's Joker. Stylish, unpredictable, intelligent and, most important, out of his mind, the Joker continues to be one of the greatest comic book villains ever and Jared Leto honors the character greatly.

However, with that being said, the film does not utilize the Joker's character enough to merit such an appearance. Only appearing in a few scenes that adds subtext but not much to propel the story forward, the Joker's character, in the end, was sadly unnecessary. Making him the overall villain of the film or a wild card that the Suicide Squad have to deal with would have made for a compelling villain. Jared Leto as the Joker is fantastic but his purpose in the story of "Suicide Squad" is rather lackluster.

While the Joker wasn't the villainous presence that we thought we'd see, Amanda Waller, brilliantly portrayed by Oscar-nominee Viola Davis, was the most menacing presence in a film inhabited by a killer clown, an expert marksman, a man-eating crocodile behemoth, a man who can summon fire and an ancient witch. Conniving, ruthless and remorseless, Waller proved to be one of the most dangerous and most threatening comic book villains we have ever seen [although not a traditional villain]. Always commanding every scene she is in with power and authority, Davis makes herself an important member of this huge ensemble cast and is one of the highlights of the film. Her devious nature and her get-it-done attitude is what fans expect when seeing a live-action version of the Amanda Waller from the comics.

As field operative working under Waller, Rick Flagg, played by Joel Kinnaman, is the official leader of Task Force X and gives the crew of misfits their impossible suicide mission. For a character that could have been less charming or less interesting than the other colorful characters in the Suicide Squad, Kinnaman manages to hold his own against the likes of Will Smith, Margot Robbie and Viola Davis. Being central to the film's narrative, Flagg is another beacon of humanity in an otherwise insane group of character who are looking out for themselves rather than helping those around them. Without being lost in the shuffle of cast members, Kinnaman stands tall and mighty as the authoritative and strong Rick Flagg.

One of the biggest surprise performances in "Suicide Squad" came from Jai Courtney, who portrayed Captain Boomerang in the film. It seems that when Courtney is given the right material to work with and a director who knows how to work with his actors, he is able to give a good performance. In films like "A Good Day To Die Hard", "Divergent" and "Terminator: Genisys", Courtney has always been a stoic uninteresting leading man that offered nothing special and nothing memorable. However, Jai Courtney has surprised all of us with his performance as the grimy, quick witted Captain Boomerang who offers much of the film's comic relief. Annoying [but not in a bad way], slimy, scheming and pink unicorn obsessing, Captain Boomerang and Jai Courtney's performance were one of the few surprises the film threw at the audience with full force and we, without flinching, caught it.

Besides some of the main Suicide Squad members, the one that surprisingly gets the most backstory and context is El Diablo. Without revealing too much of his past, El Diablo began as a Los Angeles gang member and was soon imprisoned in Belle Reve Penitentiary after surrendering to the police. It was a genuine surprise to see how much time was devoted to El Diablo's character and his eventual character arc in "Suicide Squad". Jay Hernandez, who portrays El Diablo, managed to remain cool and calm in some scenes while exploding with rage and energy in others, making him one of the most likable and sympathetic characters in the entire film. In a narrative that is propelled by violence and "bad guys", El Diablo at times seems to stand alone, not wanting to bring himself any lower than where he already is. A surprising character with a surprising amount of heart and context. El Diablo may become a fan favorite for those who've watched "Suicide Squad".

Another famed Batman villain makes his film debut in "Suicide Squad" as Adewale Akinnuoye-Agbaje brings Killer Croc to life on the big screen. Having a condition that covers him in reptilian skin, Killer Croc's role in Task Force X is being the tank of the group; a heavy hitting badass who can take on almost anyone in a physical confrontation. Akinnuoye-Agbaje manages to bring a great sense of physicality to the role that was both imposing and threatening. Although his design does not resemble his comic book counterpart, Killer Croc was a much needed addition to the Suicide Squad and a character that has left a strong impact in the eyes of the audience.

Wielding a sword and speaking primarily in Japanese, Karen Fukuhara appears on the big screen in her debut role at Katana, a samurai who carries a magical sword that traps the souls of her victims and acts as Rick Flagg's bodyguard. While her Japanese pronunciation could use some work, she proved to be a strong presence on screen. However, besides a brief mention of her backstory, she is not given enough to work with to make her a memorable or even worthwhile character. The film, sadly, would have worked with or without Katana being a member of Task Force X. Without any clear motivation or substance [again, aside from a brief description of context], Fukuhara unfortunately was not able to spread her wings and become a memorable part of the squad. Remaining a background character for the majority of the picture, her threatening appearance is all Katana had to offer in "Suicide Squad", which grievously does not amount to much.

Staying outside of Task Force X, Enchantress, played by English fashion model Cara Delevingne, awakens after thousands of years and posses the body of archaeologist Dr. June Moone. Once becoming the ancient spirit, she ceases to be Dr. Moone and completely loses herself to the Enchantress, which poses a dangerous threat to the Suicide Squad. While most of her lines are dubbed over and/or spoken in another language, Delevingne becomes the character Enchantress through her physicality and facial expressions. Twisting and contorting her body in strange, almost dance-like, movements, Delevingne proves to be a rather curious villain, which is why it is sad to say that she not as compelling of a character as the film wants her to be. Enchantress, while having a unique design and interestingly brought to the silver screen, added virtually nothing to increase our interest in the film's narrative. That is not to say that Delevingne's performance had something to do with it. It is simply the writing and placement of her character that seems rather lackluster. Without spoiling her purpose in the plot of "Suicide Squad", it is unfortunate to say that Delevingne, like some of the other actors in the film, was not able to shine as brightly as they should have due to a a few misguided creative choices made by the director and/or studio.

The one character in "Suicide Squad" that is given the least amount of screen time, backstory and care is Slipknot, played by Adam Beach. With an already large ensemble cast, the sole purpose of adding Slipknot into the roaster of the characters is rather simple [once you see the film]. Besides his one purpose, there is nothing interesting, memorable or even likable about Slipknot's character that is sadly worth mentioning and remembering.

This band of misfit character, again, is what drives this film forward and makes it extremely enjoyable to watch. It is clear that director David Ayer understands how to direct his actors and how to execute genuine chemistry in his films (i.e. "End of Watch", "Fury"). Watching these characters bounce off one another is the strongest aspects of Ayer's vision of "Suicide Squad" and is something we haven't seen from the DC Extended Universe. There is a particular scene where the entire squad are all having drinks in a bar and talking to one another, which is easily one of the best scenes in the entire film simply because Ayer allows this excellent cast of actors to just be their characters and give us time to breathe through this non-stop action rollercoaster ride. The casting along with Ayer's directions to the cast members shines the brightest and is the most respectable aspect of "Suicide Squad".

In films like "End of Watch" and "Fury", it is clear that David Ayer understands how to create a great sense of style and how to construct a dramatic action scene. The opening first act of "Suicide Squad" is nothing but style and it sucks us into this crazy world of equally crazy characters. With each member of Task Force X getting their own title cards and name tags creates an almost animated environment, which oddly works for a film of this caliber. The silly, gimmicky, cartoonish setting Ayer creates in the first 30-or-so minutes of "Suicide Squad" is what we were promised from the promotional marketing and made us genuinely excited for this strangely put together film. However, as mentioned before, as the film enters its second act and takes its cast of characters through the fictional streets of Midway City, Ayer's trademark intense action scenes take hold but don't deliver a powerful enough punch as they did in "End of Watch" and "Fury".

While conceptually interesting and shot beautifully by Roman Vasyanov, the action sequences are edited with non-stop cuts and confusing angle changes. While fast-paced editing worked efficiently in films like "The Bourne Trilogy", "Suicide Squad" comes across as lazily scrapped together and unimaginatively constructed. It also seems that the studio took a first look at the footage and decided it was too intense for a PG-13 rating and took a note from "The Expendables 3" by cutting the film down to make it fit the necessary criteria to get more people into the seats. At times montaging through flashbacks and backstories, the editors seem to have lost themselves in the hours of extra footage David Ayer shot for the film that never made it into the final cut. It is clear that many scenes that we saw in the promotional material never made it into the film and could have possibly made "Suicide Squad" better than it was. While Ayer once again manages to bring us intense and dramatic action set pieces, the film's editing washes away all sense of energy, excitement and drama to a point where these incredible action scenes look and feel mundane and commonplace.

While this may detract others from liking the film's style, Ayer's use of music in "Suicide Squad" was one of the aspects that I enjoyed the most. In the first act, every character is introduced with a different song, which makes the film feel very exciting and refreshing. Many have already pointed figures and said that "Suicide Squad" is simply copying off of the success of Marvel's "Guardians of the Galaxy", however the film's musical taste and use of music is very different from how the filmmakers of "Guardians of the Galaxy" utilized their 1980's rock/pop soundtrack.

After adoring "Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice" and loving every single one of the promotional materials Warner Bros. Pictures and DC Comics have released of "Suicide Squad", it is difficult and disheartening to say that the film was a little lackluster. While not a bad movie per say, it still could have done many things to make it great. I still believe that David Ayer was an excellent choice to direct "Suicide Squad" and I give him credit for creating a film that is so unapologetically his own style and his own vision. Gathering a cast of amazing actors to portray Task Force X, the film, whether you like it or not, will stand out amongst the other comic book films that we have gotten in the past few years as a weird, messy, uneven yet extremely entertaining flick. While no masterpiece and by no means a failure, "Suicide Squad" falls short of its promise but still delivers us a fun, energetic and strange 2 hours of entertainment that is definitely worth the price of admission. I'm giving "Suicide Squad" a generous 7 out of 10, simply because of David Ayer's relentless style and energy along with its incredibly charming cast.

See it in theaters today in 2D, 3D and IMAX 3D.

Buy tickets now: http://www.fandango.com/suicidesquad_179885/movietimes

"Not Killing Off Harrison [Ford] At The End" Of "Indiana Jones 5" Says Spielberg

Looks like Indy gets to live on forever... For now.

When talking about the upcoming Indiana Jones film [currently in pre-production] in an interview with The Hollywood Reporter, director Steven Spielberg has confirmed that he will not be killing off the iconic character at the end of the 5th film, implying that the character could perhaps live on to future sequels if Harrison Ford is willing to come back. The film is slated for a July 2019 release date and will be a continuation of the beloved series.

Are you excited for "Indiana Jones 5"? Are you glad he isn't going to be killed off at the end?

Helen Mirren To Star In "Fast and Furious 8"

The Dame has arrived.

For quite some time, Oscar winner Helen Mirren has enthusiastically expressed interest in joining the "Fast and Furious" franchise, which is now starting production of the 8th film in the series. Well, it now seems like her wish came true as she confirms that she will appear in "Fast and Furious 8". Of course, her character, whether it be a hero or a villain, is still unknown but seeing this franchise gather high caliber actors is always a good sign.

Are you excited to see Helen Mirren in the upcoming "Fast and Furious" film?

"Pete's Dragon" Releases New Trailer

A modern day "The Iron Giant"?

Disney's tackling another live-action adaptation, "Pete's Dragon" is based off of the 1977 film of the same name, which is based on a short story written by S.S. Field and Seton I. Miller. This new remake is directed by David Lowery and stars Bryce Dallas Howard, Oakes Fegley, Wes Bentley, Karl Urban, Oona Laurence and Robert Redford. This new official trailer for the film gives a very Spielberg-ian feel of whimsy and wonder along with pretty visuals and a stellar cast. Will this be a hit with critics and audiences when it comes out on August 12, 2016? We'll have to wait and see.

Watch the trailer here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fPOamb6d_20

"Raiders of the Lost Ark" 35th Anniversary

35 years ago, one of our greatest movie heroes was born...

Well folks, get ready to run away from giant boulders and passionately hate snakes because our favorite archaeologist, Indiana Jones, debuted on the silver screen 35 years ago on this very day. Steven Spielberg's "Raiders of the Lost Ark", the first film in the Indiana Jones franchise, was released nationwide on June 12, 1981. Once in theaters, the film was a smash hit with critics and audiences and is hailed as one of the greatest action adventure films of all-time. Harrison Ford dons the fedora and whip as he effortlessly became one of the most memorable characters ever put on screen.

A big thank you is in order to Steven Spielberg and George Lucas for creating such a great character. Let us celebrate 35 years of Indiana Jones and embark on a grand adventure! 

"Injustice 2" Game Announcement Trailer Released

Every battle defines you.

The #1 fighting game of 2013, "Injustice: Gods Among Us", is now getting a sequel in 2016 with this brand new teaser image and new announcement trailer. The trailer shows Superman, Batman, The Flash, Aquaman and Supergirl go head-to-head in an all-out brawl with no one pulling their punches. With high-tech battle armor and all new weapons, this next installment in the series could shape up to be something amazing. The comic series that ran alongside the game is very divisive amongst the DC fans with some calling it a great comic using the lore to its advantage while others call it a disastrous and messy plotline. Either way, the sequel to "Injustice: Gods Among Us" is coming and it looks epic.

Watch the trailer here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GRwNlsUR7-o

John Boyega Joins "Pacific Rim 2" Cast As Lead

It's time to cancel the apocalypse... again.

As the sequel to 2013's nerd fan favorite "Pacific Rim" moves forward in production, John Bodega of "Star Wars: The Force Awakens" has been cast as the film's main lead. Nothing about the film's plot or characters are known yet but the film will be directed by "Daredevil" showrunner Steven S. DeKnight with original director Guillermo del Toro staying on as producer.

"Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice" Ultimate Cut Trailer Released

God vs. Man. 

Warner Bros. Pictures has just revealed to us the first official trailer for the uncut version (Ultimate Edition) of the critically dividing "Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice" and already we can tell that this was the version Zack Snyder wanted to bring to theaters. It seems a lot of the unexplained plot lines in the first act are addressed here, like what happens in Africa. Perhaps this was the version that would have gotten more positive reviews from critics.

Watch the trailer here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8AO19XY2rqc

Will you be buying the Ultimate Cut of "Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice"?

REVIEW: "Alice Through the Looking Glass"

Director Tim Burton is one strange individual, isn't he? Definitely one of the most quirky directors of our time, Burton is known for mixing strange visuals and memorable characters into very imaginative and visionary films such as "Beetlejuice", "Edward Scissorhands" and "The Nightmare Before Christmas" (which he didn't direct but created the story and the characters in the film). But sadly, whenever he decides to remake a classic film or story, things start to go array. Even the director himself didn't like his own interpretation of the "Planet of the Apes". And with films like "Dark Shadows" and "Charlie and the Chocolate Factory", it seems that remakes or reimaginings are not his forte. However, in 2010, his remake of "Alice in Wonderland", that garnered mixed reviews from both critics and audiences, grossed over $1 billion worldwide. Clearly, there was enough going on in the film that made people flood the theaters to see it on the big screen. But what would be a match made in heaven ended up being everything that the original Lewis Carroll "Alice in Wonderland" stories aren't. And now, 6 years later, Burton returns as producer in the "long awaited" sequel, "Alice Through the Looking Glass". Will the sequel improve on the original and give us more of the "Alice in Wonderland" feel?

"Alice Through the Looking Glass" stars "Johnny Depp, Anne Hathaway, Mia Wasikowska, Rhys Ifans, Helena Bonham Carter and Sacha Baron Cohen, and is directed by James Bobin. The film also features the voices of Alan Rickman (in his final film), Stephen Fry, Michael Sheen and Timothy Spall. 3 years after the events of 2010's "Alice in Wonderland", Alice Kingsleigh (played by Mia Wasikowska) has been sailing across the seas and returns to London from a trip to China. Upon returning, she follows Absolem, the blue caterpillar now turned butterfly (voiced by Alan Rickman), through a magic mirror and returns to the world of Wonderland. Soon after arriving back into the fantasy world, she discovers that the Mad Hatter is not fine and well. In order to save her friend, she meets the physical embodiment of Time (played by Sacha Baron Cohen) and steals and device that will allow her to travel through the history of Wonderland. For a film that is set in this magical world, "Alice Through the Looking Glass" sure does suck out the awe and wonder out of its imaginative setting. The film sadly is contrived, messy, uninteresting and, worst of all, lacking in creativity.

Mia Wasikowska returns to the role of Alice Kingsleigh that made her an international star and is, once again, not given anything interesting to say or do. Seeing Wasikowska in other films like "Jane Eyre" and "The Double", it is clear that, when given the right material, she excels greatly. Here in "Alice Through the Looking Glass", she is a bland and hollow reflection of who Alice was in the books. Wasikowska's age doesn't help this plotline either. The decision of making Alice returning to Wonderland as a teenager was charming and fun the first time in Tim Burton's film, however the sequel thats place 3 years later and she is a fully grown woman. The idea of an adult acting so childish, like saying she likes to think of impossible things before breakfast, ceases to be charming and becomes blindly naive. While this is in no way Wasikowska's fault, the filmmakers behind the film should have made the film sooner and not have set it an entire 3 years after the events of the first. Overall, Wasikowska is better in other films so to see her give a good performance, turn off "Alice Through the Looking Glass" and search iMDB to find her other works.

Last year, many film critics have pointed out that Johnny Depp's portrayal of Whitey Bulger in the superb gangster film "Black Mass" was an Oscar caliber performance and one of the most engrossing roles in Depp's career. Many audience members were tired of his long string of kooky characters like Barnabas Collins in "Dark Shadows, Tonto in "The Lone Ranger", Charlie Mortdecai in "Mortdecai" and, of course, the Mad Hatter himself in the 2010 "Alice in Wonderland". And now, in all his paleness, Depp returns as the insane hatter and is somehow even worse. While I found his performance tolerable in the first film, it seems that the direction Depp was given in the sequel was to be more insane and more over-the-top. The film also tries to give the character of the Hatter some backstory, which was a huge mistake on part of the filmmakers as it felt like an insult to the original source material. Hollywood's obsession with origin stories plague this film as we meet younger version of the Mad Hatter and his family throughout the film. While this bad performance, which could be his worst, may not be entirely Depp's fault, the decision to show every important aspect of the Hatter's past was entirely the director and screenwriter's fault.

As the White Queen, Anne Hathaway reprises her role from the 2010 film and, like Depp, is even more like a cartoon rather than a real performance. While the White Queen in the first "Alice in Wonderland" film was humorously over-the-top, this portrayal of the character might as well been from a Saturday morning cartoon. Much like the Mad Hatter, the film also focuses on the Queen's past, which turns out to be very uninteresting and bland. Showing us the split between the White and the Red Queen was entirely unnecessary as it reveals to us something that should have been left a mystery to us. Giving these characters more "motivations" do not make them more charming or endearing to the audience. Like Depp, Hathaway's unconvincing caricature of the White Queen was most likely due to horrible direction and not her own volition.

Helena Bonham Carter, what have they done to you? Much like Depp and Hathaway, this ear numbingly bad performance is, once again, most likely to Carter's fault. It seems that director James Bobin, who helmed the two most recent Muppets movies, just wanted to turn the entire cast into cartoon character. While Carter's portrayal of the always screaming and always angry Red Queen was somewhat true to the character [although they do confuse Red Queen with Queen of Hearts in the film], in "Alice Through the Looking Glass" she is annoying, tiresome and just plain loud. Once again, like Depp and Hathaway, a large portion of the film is dedicated to the relationship between the Red and the White Queen, which felt watching a tedious soup opera. Probably one of the performances in the film, second to Depp, Carter is here to collect another million dollar paycheck from Disney as she goes through every scene she is in screaming at the top of her lungs.

The only character that somehow survived the horrible direction James Bobin has given the entire returning cast was Time, played by Sacha Baron Cohen. Because his backstory and origin are never explained in the film, it makes the character of Time fit in the illogical world of "Alice in Wonderland" novels, although Time is not a character in the book series. Cohen's wit and charm transcends the horrible material and direction he was given and with an admittedly cool design, he was the only one in "Alice Through the Looking Glass" that was truly worth watching. As the main antagonist in the film, his motivations are clear and his actions are surprisingly more justified than Alice's. Explaining that her actions will destroy the course of history and stop time itself, Time must go after her and get back the device she stole. It's very unfortunate when the filmmakers behind the film even makes the protagonist unlikable to the point where the main "villain" seems more right than wrong.

As many film fans will know, "Alice Through the Looking Glass" was Alan Rickman's final film as he voiced the character of Absolem before his untimely death on January 16th, 2016. While he only has a few lines in the entire film, hearing his voice for one last time was rather tragic and sad. As the beautiful blue butterfly flew away off screen, it was though as if we were saying goodbye to the legendary actor.

With Tim Burton working on the film as producer, it was director James Bobin and screenwriter Linda Wolverton, who wrote the predecessor, that crafted this film and it truly is a jumbled mess of ideas. While the first film did not feel like the Lewis Carroll novels, at least it had one contained narrative of Alice sleighing the evil Jabberwocky. Here, there are so many twists and turns in to the film's plot that makes it very annoying to have to sit through the entire 113-minute, which felt like an eternity. The film's narrative is never smooth as stops from one place in time to another as we jump back and forth between the younger versions of the Mad Hatter, the White Queen and the Red Queen. Although Tim Burton's "Alice in Wonderland" is not a perfect film, seeing "Alice Through the Looking Glass" would make audiences members appreciate Burton's skill as a storyteller. While lacking in quality, Burton's "Alice in Wonderland" at least felt like a true experience through a fantasy world of his imagination. "Alice Through the Looking Glass" on the other hand often feels like an uneven ride at Disney World.

The cinematographer on 2010's "Alice in Wonderland", Dariusz Wolski, returns behind the camera in "Alice Through the Looking Glass" and manages to create a surreal experience full of vibrant colors and beautiful imagery. While the CGI throughout the film is very noticeable and, at times, very unimpressive, the costumes and sets along with the cinematography does look very beautiful in IMAX 3D. With that being said, without Tim Burton's insane vision, the designs of some of the landscapes, buildings and rooms are very uninspired when comparing it to the first film. Without the quirky and strange wonder that Burton brings to all of his films, this sequels feels mostly flat in imagination, ingenuity and inspiration.

The common trend this film has is the word "unnecessary". It has unnecessary backstory to some of the most beloved characters in literature. It has unnecessarily bad, cartoonish performance. And the existence of this sequel is entirely unnecessary as most critics and audiences didn't like Tim Burton's "Alice in Wonderland" [although it did gross over $1 billion so making the film was entirely a cash grab]. Even the score by Danny Elfman this time around was less inspired. Although Sacha Baron Cohen as Time was entertaining, the rest of the cast sleep [or scream] their way through the entire picture, never fully grabbing us emotionally. With uninspired visuals, lackluster performances, pretty but empty sets, a humdrum score and bad direction/writing, this is not a sequel that should have been made. Sorry to say that this is not a film I'll be recommending as I give "Alice Through the Looking Glass" a 5 out of 10. If you're going to see one film this weekend, you should go watch the X-Men fight Apocalypse because this one is not worth your time.

See it in theaters today in 2D, 3D and IMAX 3D.

Buy tickets now: http://www.fandango.com/alicethroughthelookingglass_185806/movietimes

REVIEW: "X-Men: Apocalypse" (SPOILER FREE)

The 16-year-long "X-Men" franchise has reached its 9th film and thankfully we, as the audience, aren't tired of seeing these various mutants and their powers on screen. 2014's "X-Men: Days of Future Past" grossed $748 million worldwide while this year's "Deadpool", which is also part of the film series and considered canon, became the highest grossing R-rated film of all-time, making $763.1 million internationally. Clearly, there is still love and appreciation for these beloved comic book characters and director Bryan Singer returns to helm his 4th film in the series. After directing the first two "X-Men" films and "X-Men: Days of Future Past", it is very apparent that Singer has a great understanding of what makes these characters engrossing and powerful. 

"X-Men: Apocalypse" stars an ensemble cast, which include James McAvoy, Michael Fassbender, Jennifer Lawrence, Oscar Isaac, Nicholas Hoult, Rose Byrne, Tye Sheridan, Sophie Turner, Olivia Munn, Evan Peters and Lucas Till, and is directed by Bryan Singer. The film opens in Ancient Egypt where the world's first mutant, En Sabah Nur, is born after going through an ancient ritual that preserves his immortality. Centuries later, Apocalypse returns to the 1980's and it is up to the X-Men, a group of mutants created by Professor Charles Xavier, to face the godly being and save the world. Although the bar was set pretty high after "X-Men: Days of Future Past", thankfully Bryan Singer has delivered us a powerful, moving, artistic, fun and exciting X-Men film that is full of marvelous performances and flashy action set pieces. The returning cast continue to shine in their respective roles, as do the newcomers.

Oscar Isaac, who has become one of the most sought out actors in Hollywood, plays the god-like Apocalypse that posed a great threat to the world of men. Out of the many villains in the X-Men film series, Oscar Isaac as Apocalypse might be the best one, aside from Sir Ian McKellen as Magneto. Menacing, imposing and sinister, Apocalypse drives the film with his other worldly aura. While destroying the world isn't a new or original idea, not once did it feel contrived or tiresome in "X-Men: Apocalypse". Believing for centuries that the world would be ruled by powerful beings, Apocalypse felt betrayed by the inhabitants of Earth and is motivated by his rage against the human race who he views as weak. Again, while not a new idea, it at least is delivered to us in a way that doesn't feel phony or overdone. Isaac plays one of the best villains of the year and elevates the film's presence with his grand performance.

From "X-Men: First Class", we've seen James McAvoy breathe new life into the iconic telekinetic mutant that Patrick Stewart played in the original films and it seems that now, more than ever, McAvoy has become the Professor X we've known and loved. As the mentor to all the students at his mutant academy, his strength is not with his powers but is in the connection he has with his students and his connection with mankind. Once again, McAvoy brings something very new and different to the role that hasn't been seen before and now that he is facing a god, he is met with new challenges he must overcome, creating great drama. His friendship and battle between Erik Lehnsherr (a.k.a Magneto) is still one of the most important aspects of these X-Men films and Singer is able to beautifully realize their friendship as something that cannot be broken. McAvoy has become the professor in so many different ways and it would be hard to imagine anyone else, besides Stewart, playing the role.

Michael Fassbender as the young Magneto has always been one of the highlights of this new X-Men timeline and in this film, he continues to be one of the most heartbreaking and harrowing characters in this long lasting franchise. In "X-Men: Apocalypse", the tragedy of Erik Lehnsherr is not forgotten as a certain moment involving him in a forest is easily one of the most emotionally gripping scenes in the entire franchise. Driven by anger and guilt, his motivations are never muffled or unclear. We as the audience are able to easily feel sympathetic to Erik Lehnsherr, even when he does the most horrible things imaginable. The inclusion of his struggles and failures in "X-Men: Apocalypse" gave the film a very operatic feel, almost like watching a Greek myth or a Shakespearian tragedy come to life. This is something that is sorely missing in many superhero films, especially in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. Although many of Lehnsherr's scenes in the first act of the film are not large or grand in scale, Singer manages to make you feel every emotion in these small little moment. This sense of rawness and power is something that was present throughout "Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice". The flood of pure, unfiltered, real emotion was handled beautifully, which ultimately made the film feel more passionate. As one of the great villains of the comic book world, Fassbender never fails the character and is one of the most crucial and down right inspiring aspects of the film.

Although originally a villain in the original "X-Men" trilogy, Oscar-winner Jennifer Lawrence returns as Mystique, who [once again] takes on the role of a hero, leading the X-Men into battle. Because Lawrence's popularity has increased since she first appeared in "X-Men: First Class", the filmmakers have made her involvement in the subsequent films more and more vital to the plot, which, if done right, could be an interesting twist on the already established character. However, it is apparent in the film that Lawrence is incredibly miscast as the role, making her performance in "X-Men: Apocalypse" seem tiresome and uninteresting. This young version of Mystique seems to lose her [no pun intended] mystique as she yells and commands the young X-Men to fight. Lawrence's Mystique is almost like an unconvincing shadow of  Rebecca Romijn's portrayal of the character.

Reprising her role from "X-Men: First Class", Rose Byrne returns as Moira MacTaggert and meets Xavier in the film as a completely stranger. Not remembering who the professor is, she appears as a blank slate and eventually helps the X-Men learn more about the mysterious being known as En Sabah Nur. Explaining much of the film's exposition, but without boring us with the details, Moira MacTaggert sees the world of mutants as we would if we saw these films for the first time: with a sense of awe and wonder. Although not a prominent figure in the film as a whole, is was a delight to see Byrne return to the franchise after "X-Men: First Class".

Appearing in both "X-Men: First Class" and "X-Men: Days of Future Past", Nicholas Hoult once again returns as the blue furred mutant, Beast, and acts as Xavier's close partner in running his school. While not incredibly important or vital to the film's plot, Hoult provides the film with a certain degree of youth and wisdom as he assists the professor in bringing the X-Men together. A good fighter and a good teacher, the blue Beast has become a more important member to the team than most audience members have expected.

Ever since "X-Men: First Class" was announced, fans were wondering if we were ever going to see a young Scott Summers in the new timeline. Although we've seen his older brother, Alex Summers, in both "X-Men: First Class" and "X-Men: Days of Future Past", the future head of the X-Men has no been mentioned once in these new prequel-sequels. Finally, Tye Sheridan brings Cyclops back to the 80's and absolutely nails the part. While not the leader we know from the X-Men comics, we can definitely see the possible transition from student to leader after seeing him in more films. Capturing the essence of who Cyclops is in the comics, Sheridan will soon be a fan favorite as the young X-Men leader. Will we see Sheridan lead the X-Men in the future? Only time will tell.

One of the few surviving Starks in "Game of Thrones", Sansa Stark, appears in the film as the powerful telepath Jean Grey, who will later become the all powerful Phoenix. Sophie Turner gives us one of the film's stand out performances as her grace, charm and beauty added something very special to "X-Men: Apocalypse". Encompassing everything that Jean Grey is in the comics and in the original trilogy, Turner has effortlessly slipped under the skin of the character, which is no easy task considering she had to follow up the gorgeous Famke Janssen. Although her American accent may slip once or twice, it never distract from everything she does that brought new life into her role. If a sequel to "X-Men: Apocalypse" is greenlit, it would be very disappointing to not see Turner return as Jean Grey.

The opening scene of "X2: X-Men United", involving Nightcrawler attacking the White House, will go down in history as one of the most impressive and well constructed action sequences in a superhero film. Now, in "X-Men: Apocalypse", Kodi Smit-McPhee plays the blue German teleporter and grants the film with much needed humor and energy. Following Alan Cumming's shoes isn't an easy task to undertake, but Smit-McPhee was able to pull through and put his own stamp on the character. Easily likable and fun to watch on screen, Smit-McPhee could be the first actor to play Nightcrawler again if he is asked to return in a sequel.

Making her film debut in "X-Men: Apocalypse", Psylocke leaps off the comic book pages onto the silver creen, portrayed by the beautiful Olivia Munn who is absolutely stunning as the dynamic mutant. While not given many lines, she still managed to become one of the most memorable and most powerful henchmen in any comic book film to date. Her beauty is almost as dangerous as her purple energy staff that can take the form of a whip or a sword. Is there a future for her character in the X-Men franchise? Hopefully. Would love to see Munn return as Psylocke once again as she was electrifying on screen in "X-Men: Apocalypse".

As one of the X-Men's most iconic members, it is odd to see Storm work for the villain throughout the majority of the film. As the young Ororo Munroe, Alexandra Shipp felt more like the comic book character than Halle Berry ever was in the original trilogy. With her African accent and dominating presence, this newcomer commanded the screen and became the powerful mutant that I remember reading from the comics. Along with Sophie Turner as Jean Grey, Shipp was another actor that gave one of the film's stand out performances. Hopefully, if they continue making more X-Men films with this cast, Shipp will be called back into action as Storm.

Another founding member of the X-Men joins the bad side in "X-Men: Apocalypse" as Angel (or Archangel), played by Ben Hardy, is given metallic wings to fight off the members of the X-Men. As a cage fighter in the beginning of the film, seeing Angel's dark heart delve into darker places as Apocalypse meets him, gives the character a lot more weight without giving him much to say. As a threatening henchmen of Apocalypse, Hardy's film debut is something that many young actors can only dream of.

Those of you who have seen the final trailer for "X-Men: Apocalypse" will know that Hugh Jackman returns as Wolverine in the film and, without spoiling anything, it is beyond amazing. Some fans have complained over the years that Jackman's portrayal of the iconic character has been tame in comparison to his comic book counterpart, but those fans will eat this scene up as Weapon X is fully unleashed.

For the 4th time, Bryan Singer brings to us what feels like the X-Men comics brought to life on the big screen. Clearly the man knows the characters like the back of his hand and beautifully realizes them as fully fleshed out characters. Without having the luxury of having their own solo films like the Marvel Cinematic Universe does, Singer is able to establish an entire ensemble cast without leaving anyone out of the loop. Every mutant has a moment to shine and everyone has their own personal story arc they must complete. But aside from great character moments, the film is also filled with amazing visuals (done by Newton Thomas Sigel, who has worked with Singer many times before), a powerful score (done by John Ottman and Michael Louis Hill) and imaginative sequences that would have not worked if Singer was not in the director's chair. As the director of a superhero film that can be filled with so many colorful characters, it is the director's duty to use the endless amount of imagination these comic book stories have to their advantage. Without wasting any opportunities, Singer managed to craft an evenly balanced film that contained exhilarating action scenes, gripping drama, fun characters moments and beautiful artistic imagery.

With a god as the main antagonist, it is expected that various cities around the world would be destroyed and the X-Men would have to fight their way through the demolished ruins of what once were urban landscapes. Not disappointing, Apocalypse doesn't pull any punches as humanity is brought to the brink of annihilation. Debris flying all around and laser beams shooting out from all directions, it is a wild ride watching "X-Men: Apocalypse" on the big screen. From Cyclops red beams to Storm's lighting bolts to Psylocke's purple energy staff, Singer was able to take advantage of all the amazing and fantastical things comic book characters can do in this film. While seeing cities destroyed isn't anything new or exciting anymore because of directors like Roland Emmerich or Michael Bay, Singer uses this destruction with purpose, making it far more captivating to witness. The imagery, the harshness of the action scenes and the heart pounding score, this third act battle sequence is what the airport fight scene in "Captain America: Civil War" should have been.

As mentioned before, the one element about "X-Men: Apocalypse" that seemed very out of place was the mediocre performance Jennifer Lawrence gives as Mystique. Incredibly miscast in the role, her character is expanded due to the actress' fame and not for any logical story purposes. While I understand that she is a catalyst for some of these young X-Men members because of the events of "X-Men: Days of Future Past", it still feels very unbalanced when you know that she was one of the main villains alongside Magneto in the original trilogy.

Apart from Jennifer Lawrence's performance in the film, "X-Men: Apocalypse" soars high and mighty with wonderful visuals, creative action sequences, heart wrenching performances, smooth and exhilarating cinematography and an amazing score. The 47% the film currently has on Rotten Tomatoes almost seems like a bad dream Jean Grey would have. From the jaw dropping Quicksilver sequences to Wolverine's rampage to Xavier's mental battle against Apocalypse, the film grabs you from the beginning to end with endless amounts of fun and heart. Surprised to see that "X-Men: Apocalypse" handled character interactions, battle sequences and emotions better than "Captain America: Civil War" has. If the X-Men franchise is to continue with this cast, keep Bryan Singer at the helm for he will not fail this series. The most fun I had at the theater (besides "Deadpool", another X-Men film), "X-Men: Apocalypse" deserves a 9 out of 10.

Go see it in theaters on 2D, 3D and in Dolby Atmos today!

Buy tickets now: http://www.fandango.com/xmen:apocalypse_175470/movietimes