HOT TUESDAYS

Laura Vandervoort

AH, WHAT COULD HAVE BEEN

When Bob Kane first came up with Batman it was not the character we all know and love. Here is a look at the Batman as envisioned by Kane:

NEWSWEEK

X-Men: First Class sequel will be ambitious (Source: IGN)


DC New 52 Crossover in Sept 2013 (Source: Bleeding Cool)


Haley joining Robocop cast (Source: Latino Review)


Jumanji reboot (Source: Empire Online)


The Dark Knight XXX trailer (Source: You Tube)


TDKR takings (Source: Newsarama)


Booster Gold TV update (Source: MTV)


Robin not in Red Robin's past (Source: Bleeding Cool)


The Hobbit trilogy? (Source: Latino Review)


Baruchel joins Robocop (Source: IGN)


Morrison leaving Action (Source: Comics Alliance)


Co-Director talks Cap sequel (Source: Spinoff @ CBR)


Dreamworks bought classic animation properties (Source: Robot 6 @ CBR)


Hathaway would like a Catwoman spin-off (Source: Digital Spy)


Catching Fire casting news (Source: Latino Review)

SUNDAY SOUNDTRACK

TRAILERS

HOT TUESDAYS

Sara Jean Underwood

Just some random cool stuff for a Sunday:

(Source: Deviant ART)

(Source: Firebox)

(Source: Olly Moss)

(Source: Dustin Nguyen @ Deviant ART)

(Source: Creative Review)

SUNDAY SOUNDTRACK

The teasers are finally here!

First off, these are teasers and there is very little to nothing revealed. However, what is revealed is that this looks distinctly different from the rest of Snyder's movies.

I cannot wait for these movies now that there is a Nolan shaped Bat hole in my life. Plus, it is Superman. The greatest superhero, well, ever!

They're very similar. Other than five seconds and the voiceover. I, personally, think the Jor-El voiceover sounds stronger.

I'd been reading all week that the Man of Steel trailer was attached to The Dark Knight Rises, so to say I was a little gutted that the IMAX viewing I went to didn't have the teaser would be an understatement (fortunately, the brilliance of TDKR more than made up for it).

Whilst there have been bootleg copies on You Tube I don't want to post them hear, mainly because of the quality. What I usually notice, though, is that the teaser trailer (or in this case trailers) are usually released online by the studio over the weekend of the release of the movie they are attached to. So stay tuned.

In the meantime, here is a screen shot (well, shots) from the trailer which show Superman in flight.

NEWSWEEK

Will Marc Webb be directing the Spider-Man sequel? (Source: Bleeding Cool)

Record breaking midnight gross for TDKR (Source: CBR)

Spielberg looking at Chris Hemsworth for Robopocalypse (Source: AICN)

New Skyfall pics (Source: Empire Online)

Chris Hemsworth will encounter Elves in Thor 2 (Source: I Review Too)

Dr Who Season 7 news (Source: SFX)

Sebastian Stan reportedly back for Captain America 2 (Source: Spinoff @ CBR)

Molly Quinn to be Supergirl in future DC Animated movie (Source: TV Guide)

Before Watchmen variant covers (Source: Robot 6 @ CBR)

Star Trek animated movie (Source: IGN)

Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson in talks to play Lobo (Source: Latino Review)

Hellboy 3? (Source: Perezhilton.com)

Poss Spoiler? Man of Steel info (Source: Bleeding Cool)

Nolans tip for a Dark Knight spin-off (Source: SFX)

Once Upon A Time Season 2 news (Source: Hero Complex @ LA Times)

Catching Fire casting news (Source: Latino Review)

Given the events of today, I do not feel it would be right to give my thoughts on The Dark Knight Rises.


My thoughts and prayers go to the families of all involved.

COUNTDOWN TO THE DARK KNIGHT RISES

THE DARK KNIGHT

Batman Begins had redefined the movie Batman, and in a good way. However, it hadn't set the box office alight (making about $20 million dollars less than Superman Returns in the USA). However, with strong DVD sales, excellent critical response and word of mouth, a sequel was commissioned. One would also hope that the executives also recognised the talent of Nolan, and the team he put together, when it came to green lighting a sequel.

One of the things that The Dark Knight does that seperates it from other Bat movies is it solves the costume problem. Whilst the costume of the comics would never translate to the big screen what we have had have been unweildy looking rubber suits (granted, at least we didn't get lumbered with an awful looking biker-superhero costume like Daredevil). Finally Batman is given a suit of armour that is functional.

Heath Ledger seemed a left field choice for the role of the Joker. However, here he is a force of nature. Chaos personified. Ledger is brilliant in the role, eclipsing Nicholson. It will be a long time before anyone will try and top this performance. The Joker steals the movie from Batman, though when the protagonist is introverted and his antagonist a extrovert it is hard not to steal the film. The scene where the Joker has his head out of the car window, Ledger looks so alive that it saddens the audience by his untimely death.

Maggie Gyllenhaal takes over the role of Rachel Dawes. And whilst she is marginally better than Holmes, the character still suffers from being slightly underwritten.

Bale, Caine, Freeman and Oldman are as good here as they were in the first movie. Eckhart is, pardon the pun, the heart of the movie and perfectly captures the journey of Dent from white knight to the revenge crazed, deformed Two-Face.

As much as Gordon looks like he has walked off the pages of Batman: Year One, Two-face looks like the living embodiment of a Tim Sale drawing. The use of CGI, very rare in this movie, instead of make-up gives us a more realistic look for Two-Face and completely eclipses the Batman Forever version. However, he is an underused villain that doesn't get the coverage he requires to be a credible threat.

Although it needs Batman Begins to exist in the first place, it does not feel like a sequel. Some of that is to do with the fact that Gotham feels more like an actual city in this movie than it did in Begins. However, some of the elements set up in the first movie seem to have been overlooked in this movie. This is both a flaw and a plus point. The movie also builds upon the idea of escalation mentioned by Gordon to Batman at the end of Begins

The influence of the comics is once again there for all of the fanboy's to see. Once again drawing from Loeb/Sale's Long Halloween as well as the 1970's era where Bruce and Alfred gave up Wayne Manor and moved into a penthouse in the city. The character of the Joker is informed by his first appearance way back when together with the brilliant Killing Joke by Moore and Bolland.

Once again Nolan's directorial brilliance is complimented by the genius that is Pfister. Both create a living, breathing Gotham City that you feel would not be out of place on the East Coast of America. Long may they continue working together.

One of the flaws of this movie, of which there are very little, is that there are too many moral quandries at the end of the movie, which could have been trimmed. Oh, and Batman's voice. It has been said on a number of occasions, it sounds awful. Whereas it was gruff in Begins, in this it is like Bale is garggling gravel. 

The Dark Knight is not a superhero movie. Spider-Man, Superman, Avengers and even Batman Begins are superhero movies. This is a crime thriller than just so happens to have a guy in a Bat costume and clown at its centre. It is well written with spectacular photography and direction, not treating the audience as idiots like a lot of blockbusters do.

Final Rating: 5/5

COUNTDOWN TO THE DARK KNIGHT RISES

BATMAN BEGINS

I had never been completely happy with Tim Burton's Batman movies, Batman Forever had the potential to be a good Batman movie but didn't quite make it and Batman & Robin left a horrible taste. Thank God for Batman: Mask of the Phantasm. But that wasn't enough, I wanted a live action Batman with the character I loved.

In the years between Batman & Robin and Batman Begins I followed the ups and downs of the development of the Batman franchise. I got excited with the prospect of Year One being adapted, though since reading what was planned I am glad no one got to see that particular film. For a while though it looked like Batman would follow Superman down that black hole and into the flames of Development Hell. Then along came Chris Nolan.

I admit, I was not up on Chris Nolan and his movies. Then I watched Memento and I was blown away. I started to become excited. Soon casting news came, followed by pictures and a trailer. I was excited, but a bit trepidatious as it seemed impossible to get the Batman I loved from the comics onto the big screen. At best, I thought, this was going to be a Batman I'd have to settle with.

Within 30 minutes of the film I was wrong. This was Batman.

The influence of Superman: The Movie is there, filtered through Nolan's brilliance. I love how, like Memento, Nolan plays with the narrative in the first hour following Bruce Wayne in the present together with the past, which shows us what sets Bruce on his journey. Nolan also taps into the horror genre with Batman becoming a bogey man that stalks his prey almost like Michael Myers, though his prey being criminals rather than comely young (well, film young) co-ed's.

The influence of comics such as Batman: Year One and Batman: the Long Halloween is there for all (fanboys) to see. Whether it be with names of certain characters or during some set pieces or with the character of Bruce Wayne/Batman himself.

Christian Bale, a fan favourite for the role for many years, excels as the totured Wayne and his journey from angry young man to dark knight is the centre piece of the film. It doesn't hurt that he is surrounded, in the most, by a wonderful supporting cast.

Morgan Freeman and Liam Neeson are no strangers to the roles that they play in the film, but that doesn't mean that they phone in their performance. Far from it, in fact. This is one of, in my opinion, Neeson's best movie performance in years. Cillian Murphy turns in a suitably creepy performance as a character who's role in the film seems slightly unfinished.

Rutger Hauer is... man, that fella is plain cool. Period.

Michael Caine, who I admit I was nervous about as I couldn't quite see him as Alfred, threatens to steal the show. Caine would have too had it not been for Oldman.

Gary Oldman as Jim Gordon is genius casting. He is one of the finest actors, well, ever. Oldman's Gordon seems to step off the pages of Batman: Year One and becomes the heart of the movie. An honest cop whose world, filled of corruption, takes a weird turn thanks to "some nut".

However, the movie is not without its flaws. Katies Holmes is the weak link, though her character is slightly underwritten (Rachel Dawes was tacked on at the request of the studio so that our hero could have a love interest) and Tom Wilkinson is miscast as Carmine Falcone. Also, the contrivance to get us to the climax of the film jars with the tone of the movie they were going for.

As good as Nolan is, and he is very good, it doesn't hurt that he is working with the best cinematographer in the business, Wally Pfister. The look of this movie is just stunning.

An excellent movie that finally brings the Dark Knight to screen in a way that he deserves. Stunning visuals matched with great cinematography and terrific casting. The bar was set for all the superhero movies that have followed and it was set very high.

Final Rating: 4.5/5

At SDCC on the weekend the Cartoon Network premiered a quality clip of their DC Nation "Batman of Shanghai" three part series which includes an anime-inspired Catwoman in 1930's China. 

The clip is below. Be warned, it is slightly shaky, but of a decent quality.

COUNTDOWN TO THE DARK KNIGHT RISES

HOT TUESDAYS

Anne Hathaway

Marion Cotillard

SDCC NEWSWEEK SPECIAL

It is the biggest event in the geek calender. One I will, one day, ensure I make it to. But, in the meantime, here is some of the stuff I have taken from the online footage of SDCC:-

Neil Gaiman to return to Sandman


New Iron Man 3 MK VIII armour a surprise unveiling at comic-con


Superman Panel


Community info


Dr Horribles sing along blog to air next year on the CW


DC All Access Panel


Marvel Studio's unveil the logo's for phase 2 of their movie releases


Arrow panel


Middle Earth comes to SDCC


Stephanie Brown out, Babs Gordon in!


Robot Chicken Panel


2012 Eisner award winners


Batman Panel


Plot thickens in new Skyfall trailer


DC New 52 Panel


Expendables return to hall H


Spider-Man Panel

Iron Man 3 Panel

Highlights of the Dr Who Panel


Coverage of the Man of Steel panel can be found here.

(Sources: CBR; Newsarama; IGN; Bleeding Cool; SFX)

COUNTDOWN TO THE DARK KNIGHT RISES

The reviews are starting to come in:-


Empire Online


IGN


Total Film


A mondo poster:-

My IMAX ticket is booked, and my new T for the movie is here:-

Only 4 days to go...

The Man of Steel has had it's comic-con panel, attended by Snyder and Cavill. 

Coverage can be found here, here and here. Whilst SDCC also had it owns teaser poster for the movie:-

Over on You Tube they have what is purported to be the music from the teaser shown at the panel. The music is originally from The Thin Red Line, much like the trailer for V for Vendetta used some of the score from Batman Begins.

The teaser is attached to The Dark Knight Rises (hopefully in all territories) and should be online from next weekend. I'll have it posted up as soon as I can.

I am now, not that I wasn't anyway, officially excited by this movie. June 2013 cannot come quick enough.

SUNDAY SOUNDTRACK

COUNTDOWN TO THE DARK KNIGHT RISES

This post is very much a wish fulfillment one.


Imagine if time/death/money was not a factor, who would be your perfect Batman cast? Using Batman: the Long Halloween as my basis, here would be mine:

Clint Eastwood as Bruce Wayne/Batman

Kurt Russell as Lt. Jim Gordon

Anthony Hopkins as Alfred Pennyworth

James Stewart as Harvey Dent/Two Face

 Eliza Dushku as Selina Kyle/Catwoman

Robin Williams as The Joker

Robert De Niro as Carmine "The Roman" Falcone

Ray Liotta as Sal "The Boss" Maroni

Rick Moranis as Edward Nygma/The Riddler

Raquel Welch as Pamela Isley/Poison Ivy

Peter Dinklage as Oswald Cobblepot/The Penguin

Jeff Goldblum as Jonathan Crane/The Scarecrow

Lou Ferrigno as Solomon Grundy

Henry Gibson as Jervis Tetch/The Mad Hatter

The first one sheet for The Worlds End has been posted online:

COUNTDOWN TO THE DARK KNIGHT RISES

A simply stunning poster for the movie from Jock.

NEWSWEEK

Snyder talks the Jokers return (Source: Newsarama)


Fantastic 4 and Daredevil reboot news (Source: Deadline)


Zachary Levi confirms he's playing Fandral in Thor 2 (Source: Spinoff @ CBR)


New Sandman by Neil Gaiman and JH Williams III (Source: Bleeding Cool)


Hans Zimmer talks Superman score (Source: Dannygraydon.com)


Man of Steel trailer rating and length (Source: Alberta film ratings)


Justice League movie info (Source: LA Times)


Chris Nolan won't produce Batman reboot or Justice League (Source: Spinoff @ CBR)


The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey appears to have been delayed in the UK at least (Source: Bleeding Cool)


Seymour Hoffman Catching Fire (Source: IGN)


Fassbender to star and produce Assassins Creed (Source: Latino Review)


Trek 2-villain revealed? (Source: Spinoff @ CBR)


Man of Steel to be in 2D IMAX (Source: AICN)


DC's October 2012 solicitations (Source: Newsarama)


The Wolverine casting news (Source: SFX)


Superman: Earth Two vol 2 preview (Source: CBR)


Some Marvel titles ending in October (Source: IGN)


New Ghostbusters 3 scripter (Source: Bleeding Cool)


Man of Steel SDCC details (Source: Legendary)


Nu-Robocop release date (Source: Empire Online)


Rocksteady developing Batman prequel game feat. Justice League (Source: Robot 6 @ CBR)

Here are two wonderful shorts from Robb Pratt:

Seriously, these are truly great. When it comes to marketing next years Man of Steel the WB should consider letting this guy do some shorts to be shown in the cinemas.

It's not out until the 07 September 2012 but thanks to SDCC there are some reviews for Dredd online. And below is a selection:

IGN review

Empire review

SFX review

CBR review


It would seem, from these reviews, that we have a solid movie that is head and shoulders (though that cannot be hard) than the Stallone version.