So, if the 'Guardians' trailer wasn't enough for y'all yesterday I have some more Marvellous news to report today. The cast of the reboot of 'Fantastic Four' has been announced. And whilst I'm not massively shocked by the announcement (two of the actors have been speculated for their roles for months), I'm still not quite sure what this new take on the comic-book franchise will deliver Anyway moving swiftly on - your new 'Fantastic Four' are: Miles Teller, Kate Mara, Jamie Bell, and Michael B. Jordan
The actors will be playing Mr. Fantastic, Invisible Woman, The Thing, and The Human Torch respectively.
Whilst 'Fantastic Four' remains the property of 20th Century Fox, Marvel fans around the world will undoubtedly be overjoyed to see one of their most beloved franchises back up and running. As far as reboots go, the studio actually hasn't waited that long to take the heroic foursome in another direction. The original was only released nine years ago, and its sequel followed in 2007. Yet, whilst I enjoyed these movies they weren't perhaps up to the standard we came to expect from Marvel. After Bryan Singer's 'X-Men' in 2000, and Sam Raimi's 'Spider-Man' two years later, people were expecting 'Fantastic Four' to blaze a trail in 2005 and launch more of Marvel's heroes into mainstream cinematic success. But, the movie sort of fizzled out. It almost seemed like a 'backward step', and it didn't really capitalise on its massive potential. Don't get me wrong I enjoyed the original, perhaps 'The Rise of the Silver Surfer' was a bit of a 'cock-up', but these movies were still entertaining. I also thought it was a well formed cast (Ioan Gruffudd, Jessica Alba, Michael Chiklis and Chris Evans), all complementing each other and adapting to their roles well. One could even argue that there's no huge need for a remake, so relatively soon after the first effort dropped. But who am I to argue with a major Hollywood studio, they know what's best right? Let's hope so! The movie is scheduled for release in Summer 2015, and will apparently look at 'The Ultimate Fantastic Four' comic-book story-line, where the characters are much younger. So looks like we're in for another origin story! The cast have a huge weight on their shoulders in trying to show 'The Fantastic Four' can compete at the box office with the likes of 'The Avengers' and 'Spider-Man' but I have no doubts they're relishing the challenge, and I'm both excited, and a little skeptical, about what they'll bring to the table. Kate Mara will surely dazzle us as Sue Storm. Miles Teller and Michael B. Jordan have already shown their on-screen chemistry in rom-com 'That Awkward Moment' with Zac Efron. And Jamie Bell looks to put his 'Billy Elliott' days behind him once and for all, by clobbering the bad guys as 'The Thing'. Here's your Four! Will they be 'Fantastic'? This blogger is gonna go out on a limb and say yes. But remember heroes are nothing without a villain. And whilst the foursome have squared off against an abundance of baddies in the comics, SURELY Dr. Doom is going to be the main foe, pulling the strings in this movie! Let's just pray it's not another "evil cloud" anyway, ahem, 'Rise of the Silver Surfer', ahem!
OK, so all quiet on the western front today. Nothing much to share. But, wait! What's this? Marvel have finally released the first trailer for their latest superhero franchise, 'Guardians of the Galaxy', due for release this summer? Check it out below!
James Gunn
Whilst it doesn't give too much away, it sure is exciting to see "the Guardians" line up together for the first time. In terms of plot, director James Gunn has kept relatively schtum but we know it involves Star-Lord (Christ Pratt) being pursued throughout space by the evil Ronan (played by Lee Pace). It's speculated that it has something to do with the 'orb-like object' Starlord was caught stealing in the first scene of the trailer. All our questions will be answered on August 1st however when the movie is released in the UK. Personally, I can't wait. Everyone thought 'The Avengers' was as big as things could get for a superhero movie - yet 'Guardians' has assembled another stellar cast and is taking all the action, destruction and "badassery" to space. Without getting too excited this movie literally has enormous potential, and the trailer has teased everyone enough to make that summer release date seem even more excruciating.
It sets up the movie nicely though: it shows us the undeniable charisma of Chris Pratt in the leading role, the incredible effects that have brought Groot (Vin Diesel) and Rocket Racoon (Bradley Cooper) to life, makes Drax the Destroyer (Dave Bautista, who has come a long way since his WWE 'heyday') look truly menacing, and hints at a possible love story arc between Star-Lord and Gomora (played by Zoe Saldana, in her third sci-fi franchise after 'Star Trek' and 'Avatar'). The fact that Gomora has also been explained as being Thanos' daughter (whom we met in the post-credits scene of 'The Avengers') also set the internet alight as to how this movie will merge with the rest of the Marvel universe; and if there is a chance we'll see an ultimate showdown or ultimate team up with The Avengers in the not too distant future. Fan-boys mouths around the world water at such an amazing prospect.
Thanos - What role will he play in 'Guardians'?
Like 'The Avengers' the movie also seems to have its foot firmly in the door of comedy. A very witty script quickly becomes clear just by the trailer alone. Whether it be Star-Lord trying to explain himself to his captors (Pratt, doing what he does best), or the officer referring to "the Guardians" as 'a bunch of a**holes' it seems that as much as this move is going to dazzle us visually, and keep us on the edge of our seats in suspense, it's also going to have us chuckling away in the cinema - which is a "win-win" in my book!
Also looking good in the trailer are John C. Reilly and Djimon Hounsou, and we are yet to see the roles played by Glenn Close, Karen Gillan, Benicio Del Toro and Michael Rooker come to life on the screen. So hold on to your hats because from now until August 1st it's gonna be one heck of a journey hopefully culminating in Marvel's biggest epic yet! THIS COULD BE HUGE!
So it's Saturday night - it's pouring with rain, you haven't made any plans, and you've got work early in the morning - What do you do? You seek one of the best cures to the halt the 'cabin fever' that quickly consumes you; you stick on a comedy movie and chill out with your family.
By picking 'The World's End', the climactic third act in director Edgar Wright's fabled 'Cornetto Trilogy', I would have put money on the trend continue and uncontrollable laughter filling our household. 'Shaun of the Dead' was fantastic, 'Hot Fuzz' was even better (in my opinion), surely with the third movie Wright along with series mainstays Simon Pegg and Nick Frost were going to up the ante. Sadly, no.
Edgar Wright
Maybe I was disappointed simply because I had built up such high expectation. With the first two installments Wright had a winning formula - a great scripts, and a wonderful British cast to deliver its sharp wit creating non-stop hilarity. For me 'Hot Fuzz' was a non-stop riot of side-splitting laughter, and that's trying to avoid using hyperbole. Comedy zigged and zagged for the whole 2 hours between Pegg and Frost, and its success caused Wright's directorial star to continues its rise up the cinematic ladder.
I thought where 'Hot Fuzz' left off, 'The World's End' would pick up the baton - Unfortunately I was wrong. Without sounding too harsh, it may just be me, the humour almost seemed to evaporate completely. I still can't quite put my finger on why, but often the movie even seemed dull to me. Admittedly it did make me laugh, but very sporadically, and never really in a 'laugh out loud' sense. At places I even found I was forcing myself to laugh, perhaps subconsciously trying to justify my purchase of the DVD for £14.99.
Yes, the cast is still brilliant. Pegg and Frost are fantastic, and their strong friendship off the screen is easily transformed into powerful comedic chemistry. I also appreciated Martin Freeman and Paddy Considine being raised to more effectual roles, but the movie did not do their comedic potential justice. Rosamund Pike and Eddie Marsan were also introduced as 'newcomers' to the trilogy but made no real impact and almost seemed to become bit-part players in a needlessly complicated story.
A good point about this movie is that is shows Wright's ability as a director, ability that will only grow in the coming years. What it lacks in laughs it somewhat makes up for in set-pieces, visual effects and fight-scene choreography. What's even more commendable is that Wright directed this picture on an estimated $28m budget, which is no mean feat! Something this movie has got me excited about is the Marvel studios' 'Ant-Man' due for release in 2015, with Wright in the director's chair. Obviously, Marvel are not an organisation known for doing things by halves and will undoubtedly give Wright a budget in excess of $100m, which is a truly mouth-watering prospect for comic-book fans across the globe!
Reading this review back maybe I will give 'The World's End' another look over, perhaps I've been too hasty. It is humorous, there are an abundance of cleverly orchestrated action sequences that are easy on the eye; and I just can't help but love its delightful cast. Nonetheless, when 'The World's End' could have rounded off 'The Cornetto Trilogy' with a legacy cementing swansong, it concludes on a bit of a bum note. If I've annoyed you with this review, or you're having a bad day anyway, here's Jonah Hill and Leonardo DiCaprio continuing their blossoming romance to cheer you up!
