Month: February 2015

BREAKING: Spider-Man is in the MCU

screenrant.com

Confirmed. It has been confirmed. Calm down, Jeffrey. Calm down. … ARE YOU KIDDING ME THIS IS AWESOME.

Okay, let’s process what just happened. Today – on February 9th in the US, February 10th in Europe – Marvel Studios has released the following information: “Sony is bringing Marvel into the amazing world of Spider-Man.” This means that everyone’s favorite webhead ‘will appear in a Marvel film from Marvel’s Cinematic Universe’, and thereafter be featured in a Sony Pictures film on the 28th of July 2017 – which will be co-produced by nerd-king Kevin Feige – and mark the beginning of ‘a new creative direction for the web slinger’.

Disney and Sony announce that Kevin Feige will team-up with Amy Pascal to bring forth ‘the next chapter’ for Spider-Man. There are couple of notes that one should not read too hastily – Sony will ‘continue to finance, distribute, own and have final creative control of the Spider-Man films’; it seems we’ll get a new Spider-Man – but they do mention Peter Parker.

Miles Morales isn’t likely then, but, regardless, I think Marvel and Sony just won over nerds and geeks across the globe – now that Sony listens to Marvel, we have the opportunity to get the Marvel Cinematic Universe we deserve.

What does this mean for Andrew Garfield, though, is he gone for sure? It seems so.

We must note that the release dates for some other phase 3 films are changed due to this – but I think I speak for every Marvel geek when I say – that I’m just glad Spidey’s home.

I’m Jeffrey Rex

Source: Marvel Entertainment

REVIEW: Better Call Saul – “Uno”

Better Call Saul - Reviewed

The following is a review of the first episode of AMC’s Better Call Saul, which premiered in Europe on Netflix this morning. Don’t expect a complete recap of the episode.

I’ve seen a lot of spin-offs over the years. Some work – Stargate Atlantis, Frasier – some just don’t – Joey, Stargate Universe. It’s all about keeping the feel of a franchise, without overtly copy-pasting – and making something great out of characters that might’ve once been little more than stock characters. In this – the first ever Better Call Saul-episode – we are treated to a very interesting take on the greatest attorney from one of TV’s best ever shows.

I think we all feared the worst, when it came to Better Call Saul. Sure, Gilligan would still be involved, but nothing’s safe when it comes to spin-offs. Thankfully, AMC, Vince Gilligan, and Peter Gould have given us an interesting new show – one including nostalgia, but, as it turns out, also including substance.

Just like Breaking Bad, this show is absolutely gorgeus. It’s a treat to watch, and I commend the people working behind the camera. Now, I don’t think I ever doubted the writing team – I had expectations – but my main worry was that the show was centered on a character that they could fail to make interesting or poignant.

The opening five-or-so minutes give us everything we need to set off – it’s believable. We’re given an idea of what happened to Saul Goodman after the events of Breaking Bad. We need to believe that this is the guy from the best ever AMC show, and I do believe that will be the biggest challenge for this show – but if you watched the remainder of the episode, then you’re left with a good taste in your mouth.

Bob Odenkirk’s character is as hilarious as always, but we see a different side of him when he has to deal with his brother – and the people involved in his real life. This is very promising, and if this episode is anything to go by – we’re in for a very interesting and peculiar ride.

I enjoyed the parts where he had to guide the skaters, and I thought the court room scene was hilarious – in spite of its macabre nature. The feel is still present, Goodman is at his best – and the show looks amazing.

During the episode, and in particular at the very end of it, we are treated to a lot of familiar faces – and the cliffhanger of the episode left me wanting more. The first episode did its job. I still have my trepidations, but I am hopeful – and this episode was very promising.

A-

I’m Jeffrey Rex

Marvelous Monday #4 – What If Spider-Man Had Returned to Marvel in 2010?

I'm Jeffrey Rex' Marvelous Monday #4 (What If)

For the uninitiated: This is a new weekly feature on the blog wherein I, I’m Jeffrey Rex, discuss all things Marvel.

On this, the fourth ‘installment’ of I’m Jeffrey Rex’ Marvelous Monday, I’ve decided to give you the very first ‘What if’-post. The entire setup of a ‘what if’-post is different, for while regular casting-speculation posts might talk about what could happen, the ‘what if’ posts are much more fact based – at least that’s my intention.

The very first ‘What if’-discussion centers around the epilogue of the Sam Raimi-era of Spider-Man. Let’s look at the bare facts here. Sam Raimi’s first Spider-Man film premiered in 2002, its leads where Tobey Maguire, as the titular hero, James Franco, as Harry Osborn, Kirsten Dunst, as Mary Jane Watson, and Willem Dafoe, as the one-off villain Norman Osborn. Two years later, the beloved sequel premiered – with the same basic cast – and another one-off villain – this time Alfred Molina playing Dr. Otto Octavius. Three years thereafter, the third film in the franchise premiered. The movie wasn’t a success – critics criticized its many subplots, and many villains, who, all, were underdeveloped and underused.

This was to be just a slight bump in the road, Sony clearly wasn’t done with the franchise – and, seemingly, not done with the leads and Raimi. Years went by as Sony and the fans were left wanting more – waiting – waiting – losing patience. There was talk of Vulture or Carnage appearing – but time and time again rumors were shot down. Raimi was unable to find a suitable script for his story, and, eventually, Sony and Raimi went their seperate ways in 2010.

Now we all know that Sony would treat this as yet another bump in the road, march on and make more films – though with new actors. Andrew Garfield was cast as the titular hero in the rebooted franchise, and in 2012 Sony had released their first film in the Marc Webb-era. But what if the disappointing scripts, the departure of Raimi – and bad reviews had scared Sony into selling the film-rights back to Marvel Studios?

Continue reading “Marvelous Monday #4 – What If Spider-Man Had Returned to Marvel in 2010?” →

REVIEW: Life Is Strange – Episode 1

Logo owned by Square Enix for Life is Strange.

There will be no review grade/score for single episodes.

On the 30th of January Square Enix released the very first episode of Dontnod Entertainment‘s Life is Strange. Very much like the classic Telltale-style of game, this is an interactive, episodic, story-heavy game. The game is about Max Caulfield a female student at Blackwell Academy – whereat she studies photography. Max is a very shy girl, and as the game progresses you are thrown into very clear-cut choices – be heroic, friendly – or be a bully, be nosy. In that respect, the choices seem like those in the inFAMOUS games by Sucker Punch, and thus I don’t think it has that punch that Telltale has – at least not yet.

Again, unlike Telltale-games, the dialogue isn’t very strong – and at times it didn’t feel very natural. Also, I would’ve liked a more experienced Voice Actor as the main character – but then again, everyone starts somewhere. The first episode introduces you to the rewind-mechanic – meaning that you can reverse time. When handled well, this can be fun to do – and I thought it was in the opening episode.

The story is cute – with many inside references – and there are a lot of plotpoints to work out in the episodes to come. The game has a lot of stock characters – the shy girl, the mean girls, the spoiled brat, the jocks, the (to us) not-so-secret admirer, and hipster characters.

The story is really entertaining when you interact with Chloe, an old friend that’s changed a lot since you last saw her. Her family is troubled, and she’s gotten herself into a lot of trouble. An interesting subplot in this game is the disapperance of Rachel Amber – I have some ideas – but we’ll have to see about that. One thing’s for certain, Chloe is in need of help.

As I mentioned, the dialogue isn’t very good – and I’d add that there are some cringeworthy moments. It has a lot of potential though, and I am excited to see what comes next. The art-style has its ups and downs, and it is extremely annoying to constantly have problems with lips not synced with the voiceacting. It runs much smoother than Telltale games, but with that having been said – background characters aren’t that detailed. I do prefer the art-style of Telltale – but the level of quality is much higher here.

I am excited about the future of this game. As a pilot it works really well, the story is interesting – if you snoop around you’ll get some ideas – and it ends with everyone having an idea of what’s to come.

I’m Jeffrey Rex

 

Marvel’s Daredevil (2015-) Teaser Trailer Review

Today Marvel and Netflix released the second video from the new Netflix series ‘Marvel’s Daredevil‘. The first one was, of course, just a logo – and some Hell’s Kitchen sound. The second teaser trailer has been released, and it has given us much more to go on. The trailer should be available above. Continue reading “Marvel’s Daredevil (2015-) Teaser Trailer Review” →

Marvelous Monday #3 – Who Is Marvel’s James Bond?

I'm Jeffrey Rex' Marvelous Monday #3

For the uninitiated: This is a new weekly feature on the blog wherein I, I’m Jeffrey Rex, discuss all things Marvel.

On this, the third ‘installment’ of I’m Jeffrey Rex’ Marvelous Monday, I’ve decided to take a look at the characters in the current Marvel Cinematic Universe – and see if any of the characters can go the James Bond-route, and if any character could switch both actor AND character without losing comic book logic.

This discussion is based on the fact that Kevin Feige was asked, by Badass Digest, about the possibility of making Tony Stark into a superhero James Bond. Here’s Feige’s response:

“I think Bond is a good example. Let’s put it this way: I hope Downey makes a lot of movies for us as Stark. If and when he doesn’t, and I’m still here making these movies, we don’t take him to Afghanistan and have him wounded again. I think we James Bond it.” – Kevin Feige.

Now, Robert Downey Jr. won’t be making Iron Man-movies until the end of time – sadly – but, thankfully, he’s still here. I fear what a Downey-less MCU means to the survival of the Superhero genre. It’s not that Marvel hasn’t survived a switch in actor (Norton -> Ruffalo), but this would be a much bigger change. Not only was The Incredible Hulk not much of a success, but the Downey-led films are the most successful for Marvel.


The Hemsworth films aren’t making enough money for Marvel to let Downey go – sooner rather than later the Marvel Cinematic Universe will be much different. Which, obviously, is why they’re adding all these new characters in Phase 3.

I don’t consider the Tony Stark as James Bond-idea to be viable for Marvel, seeing as you’d have to get an actor at the same level of talent – or his stock would plummet. I’m not saying that you kill the character when Downey leaves, but maybe it’s time for Stark to leave his suit at home, and lead a new generation of Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.. Give Downey a Samuel L. Jackson-like workload.

Similarly, you could just have Stark be the leader of the Avengers – the brains of the operation – and have him appear in a handful of scenes in every Avengers film, and every other solo-film.

 

There are, however, two characters that can easily survive a new actor or actress. A simple answer would be Thor. Recently Marvel Comics made Thor Odinson unworthy, and gave Mjolnir to a female Asgardian. I would love to see this happen one day, when Hemsworth needs a break. But there’s a much easier answer to the conundrum.

The real answer is, of course, Captain America. To my knowledge 9 different characters have been Captain America – the symbol – the leader. Our current Cap, Steve Rogers, is of course the most recognizable – but the MCU can already give Chris Evans a break. They already have two future Captain America-characters in the MCU SPOILERS Bucky Barnes & Sam Wilson.

Some people even recognize Agent 007 as a symbol, a codename, more than a single person – so yeah, to me there is only one James Bond in the Marvel Universe, and his rank is ‘Captain’.

Stay Marvelous!

– I’m Jeffrey Rex.