‘Arrow’: ‘Invasion!’ Review

Arrow picked up right where we left them off in last night’s episode of The Flash after the Dominators kidnapped Oliver, Thea, Sara, Ray and Diggle and placed them in a dream reality that we got to follow in tonight’s episode. We open up with Oliver living the life he always wanted to have as he is engaged to Laurel Lance, both his parents are alive and well, but something is a bit off.

John Diggle is in this reality the Green Arrow who is still working together with Felicity Smoak and Ray Palmer is engaged to her. As they begin to discover that something is off with this reality, back in the real world, Barry, Kara and the rest of the team try to locate their missing team members. While Oliver and his friends manage to wake up and escape the Dominators’ ship, they start to learn more about their mystery weapon.

Not only was “Invasion!” a big episode in the crossover, but this also marked as the 100^th episode of the series. Given how packed “Invasion!” was, we have a lot to breakdown so hit the next button below and let’s go through some of the highlights and important moments of the Arrow Season 5 episode: “Invasion!”

#5: The Dream Reality

#4: Return Of Multiple Arrow Villains

#3: Oliver & Laurel Together

#2: Honoring Past Characters

#1: The 100^th Episode As A Whole

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’Agents Of S.H.I.E.L.D.’: ‘Deals With Our Devils’ Review

Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. ended on a big cliffhanger several weeks ago and after a long hiatus, the show finally returned this week and picked up right where it left off. After Eli’s action which caused Coulson, Fitz and Robbie to disappear, the team tries to figure out what happened to their allies. Meanwhile, Eli is testing out his new and dangerous abilities.

Daisy refuses to accept that the three men are gone, after all the crazy missions and situations that S.H.I.E.L.D. has dealt with in the past. We discover that Coulson, Fitz and Robbie have all been pulled into some sort of mysterious shadow dimension and while they can see their friends, neither three of them can be seen by the team.

It gets worse though as Robbie’s Ghost Rider takes over one of the agents on the other side: Mack. However, Robbie isn’t willing to go down without a fight as he tries to reason with the Ghost Rider and makes a new deal with him. Thanks to the help from Radcliffe and AIDA (who downloads information from the Darkhold), she manages to bring them back from the dimension through a gateway.

Meanwhile, Simmons has been taken to a secret location by Director Mace who wants her to study a mysterious Inhuman that has been in active Terrigenesis for a couple of months now. She manages to help the individual open a crack in the cocoon, but before she can learn his identity, Mace’s men pull her out of there.

A lot went down in tonight’s episode, so there is a lot to discuss about. With all of that said, hit the NEXT button below and let’s go through some of tonight’s biggest highlights and important moments in the Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. Season 4 episode: “Deals With Our Devils”

#5: The Aftermath

#4: Mack’s Temporary Ghost Rider Role

#3: Robbie’s New Deal With The Devil

#2: AIDA’s New Changes

#1: Mystery Inhuman Awakens

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‘The Flash’: ‘Invasion!’ Review

The Flash fans have been waiting for the ultimate crossover and this week the wait finally ended as the “Invasion!” event started in Central City tonight. The episode opens up with Team Flash discussing how to handle the situation with Wally’s new speed. As a satellite is picking up a meteor coming towards Central City, Barry runs over to investigate, but discovers that it’s something completely different: it’s a spaceship.

As Barry tries to get closer to it, the ship opens up and a swarm of creatures emerges out of it. Barry gets in touch with Lyla Diggle who reveals to Team Flash that these aliens are known as the Dominators and have been following these creatures since the 50’s. Barry realizes that he will need major backup and therefore summons both Team Arrow and Legends. In addition, he and Cisco goes over to Earth-38 to recruit Kara Zor-El a.k.a. Supergirl.

While the team gets to know Kara better, Jax and Stein have a conversation with Barry and Oliver who both hear the full message from Future Barry. In the message, we learn about Future Barry’s warning where he explains that he caused Flashpoint and that no one should trust anyone, including Barry. While Barry planned to reveal it to everyone after the Dominators threat was taken care of, Cisco unfortunately discovers it and calls Barry out on it.

As Barry is forced to tell everyone about Flashpoint and the changes that have occurred, including Diggle no longer having a daughter, this causes a split-up in the team. Oliver however backs Barry up and tells him that if Oliver had been in the same position as Barry, he would have done the same thing. Several of the heroes encounter a group of Dominators who brain-washes them and have them fight Barry and Oliver.

While Barry manages to kill the signal that has the heroes under the Dominators’ control, by tricking Supergirl to fly right into the devices, however the Dominators have a backup plan. They kidnap Ray, Thea, Sara, Diggle, and Oliver, before the episode cuts to “To Be Continued On Arrow”. There is so much we want to discuss in tonight’s episode and there is a lot to breakdown. So hit the NEXT button below and let’s go through some of the important moments and highlights of The Flash season three episode: “Invasion!”

#5: Enter The Dominators

#4: Supergirl Meets The Arrowverse

#3: All The [Flashpoint] Cards On The Table

#2: Green Arrow & The Flash Vs CW Heroes

#1: Setup For Arrow’s 100^th Episode

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’Supergirl’: ‘Medusa’ Review

Supergirl had double duties this week as not only was it time for Kara Zor-El’s second winter finale, but also setting up the 4-show crossover with The Flash, Arrow and Legends of Tomorrow this week.  It’s Thanksgiving over in National City as Mama Danvers is visiting, Mon-El getting to experience his first Thanksgiving. Meanwhile Winn, Alex and James are arguing how and when Kara will get to find out who Guardian actually is.

Dinner gets interrupted by a multidimensional breach from Earth-1 and keeps popping up a few times throughout the hour. Kara reaches out to Lena Luthor to find out if she knows what her mother is up to, with Project Cadmus. Lena reaches out to her mother and their backstory is heavily explored as it explains their current relationship.

However, Cadmus is already causing trouble as Cyborg Superman attacks the Alien Club and gets Mon-El infected by a dangerous gas which is revealed to be Project Medusa which can kill any alien.  J’onn’s condition is also getting worse with the White Martian blood beginning to take over and he accidentally exposes his secret to Kara. On the subject of secrets, Alex comes out to her mother about her sexuality and Eliza shows her enormous support.

As Supergirl try to reason with Lena, the Luthor daughter makes it clear that she stands by her mother’s side. With the Luthors getting ready to expose Medusa to all of National City, J’onn and Kara show up and confront them and Cyborg Superman. While the virus is unleashed, it is revealed that Lena switched out the isotopes so that the one that went out instead healed all aliens, including J’onn. While Lillian is stopped, new threats are teased.

Kara returns to her apartment, only to find Barry Allen and his friend Cisco Ramon from Earth-1 popping up through a breach, as they need her help on their Earth. With so much happening in this incredibly packed episode, there’s a lot that we want to break down and discuss. So let’s go through the top 5 highlights and important moments of the Supergirl Season 2 episode: “Medusa”

#5: Mon-El Admits His Feelings For Kara

#4: Project Medusa

#3: Alex Comes Out To Mama Danvers

#2: Lena Luthor Chooses Her Side

#1: The 4-Show Crossover Begins

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’Gotham’: ‘Beware the Green-Eyed Monster’ Review

Gotham picked up right where the show left off last week as James Gordon and Mario Falcone declare war at each other after Gordon discovers that Mario has been infected and is getting ready to marry Leslie. However, Mario knows how to play Gordon as he makes Jim look like the crazy one and he succeeds in marrying Leslie after all. However, Gordon doesn’t give up and the episode concludes with one shocking ending.

Selina, Bruce and Alfred continue to their hunt to take down the Court of Owls in one way or another, but during their break-in, they get caught by Talon. A showdown between him and the trio take place and as Alfred is almost about to be stabbed, a mysterious new ally emerges and saves the day. But the mystery hero ain’t so mystery as they share a past with Selina.

Nygma gets a visit by Barbara who is set to break up the bromance between him and Penguin as she reveals to Nygma that Isabella was killed by Penguin. While he refuses to believe and the reasons for it, he eventually comes to grip with the reality and decides to resign from the office and team-up with the Sirens, swearing he will destroy Oswald.

As usual, a lot happened in this week’s episode of Gotham that we want to break-down and discuss. So hit the NEXT button below and let’s go through the top 5 highlights and important moments of the Gotham Season 3 episode: “Beware the Green-Eyed Monster”

#5: Bruce, Selina & Alfred Vs Talon

#4: Selina Gets A Surprise From The Past

#3: Riddler Declares War On Penguin

#2: War Between Gordon & Mario

#1: The Ending

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‘Westworld’ Season Finale “The Bicameral Mind” Trailer Lays Out Last Puzzle Pieces

Westworld is about to close its doors – for the time being.

The 90-minute season finale, titled “The Bicameral Mind,” is next on the docket for HBO’s newest hit, concluding the 10-episode debut of the robots-run-amok drama. Check out the trailer below!

The show is going out guns-blazing, literally, as fan theory after fan theory gets a bullseye. A gaming show about gaming, Westworld has inspired no end of tin-foil conspiracies. It’s a testament to a strength of the show: how intentional it is and thought out, for a show that deliberately trips up reality and memory, sometimes at the same time. Despite some derision aimed at the rabid guessing game, I much rather plot twists that are sleuth-able than ass-pulls that render drama inert or a story incoherent. Westworld in particular is a show built and about games and puzzles so it makes sense it’s such a focal point.

Tonight’s “The Well-Tempered Clavier,” review here, continued to hit predictions right on the money (check out how many with our theory list here), revealing (SPOILER!) that Bernard is indeed a host version of Ford’s former partner Arnold and that Dolores killed him during a mysterious town massacre 30 years previous, all while Ford has dug up and recreated said town for a present-day narrative that is at the center of the trailer for “The Bicameral Mind.”

 

“The Bicameral Mind” airs next Sunday, Dec. 4 at 9 p.m. on HBO. Check out all our previous episode reviews below. Westworld was renewed for season 2, which will premiere in late 2017 or early 2018.

1. “The Original” 
2. “Chestnut”
3. “The Stray”
4. “Dissonance Theory”
5. “Contrapasso”
6. “The Adversary”
7. “Trompe L’Oeil” 
8. “Trace Decay”
9. “The Well-Tempered Clavier”

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‘Westworld’ 1.09 “The Well-Tempered Clavier” Review

Layer by layer, “The Well-Tempered Clavier,” the ninth episode of Westworld‘s first season, was engrossing, with urgency and stakes that earlier hours were missing. The hour highlighted what is best about the show – its intent, the intersection of memory, reality, and identity – while also calling attention to its occasionally weak dialogue and sometimes idiotic character turns. Thankfully, it’s easier to forgive the dumber narrative decisions when performers of this caliber are giving  some real emotional heft to this metaphorical sci-fi yarn.

The episode, helmed by Michelle MacLaren (famous for helming seminal episodes of Breaking Bad and Game of Thrones and was briefly attached to direct next summer’s Wonder Woman), is the first with a script without a writing credit of either co-showrunner Jonathan Nolan or Lisa Joy. It’s named after a collection music composed by Johann Sebastian Bach, a clavier simply being a fancy word for keyboard instruments.

Click Next to begin or select which part of the review you wish to start with.

1. Bernard’s session with Ford
2. Maeve’s rebellion begins
3. The Man in Black goes to meet Wyatt
4. William crosses a black line
5. Dolores finishes the Maze
6. Stubbs is as stupid as Elsie

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2016 Superhero Films Ranked From Worst To Best

2016 was an extremely interesting year for Superhero films. It was the first year of the beginning of the DCEU, Marvel had their annual two films, and Fox released two films from their X-Men Universe. There was a lot of interesting releases and a lot of controversy, but this year has marked a new age in the recent trend of shared universes.  It’s been a big year not only for us as a site, but also for all of you who get to see all of our favorite heroes come to the big screen in big and exciting ways. With the year winding down it’s a good time to look back at the films that came out this year and see which one stands at the top. While I enjoyed almost all of them there were films I found to be better than others. So without further ado onto the list!

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‘The Flash’: ‘Killer Frost’ Review

The Flash ended on a big cliffhanger last week as Savitar, the God of Speed, made his debut and confronted Barry as he and the team was trying to take down Doctor Alchemy. The episode picks up right where they left off as Barry and Savitar have a speedster fight, but Savitar, being the God he is, almost ends Barry.

Caitlin is forced to get out there and help Barry stop Savitar temporarily before he escapes. While Caitlin may have helped Barry, her mother’s warning is once upon reminded as the ice within her begins to take her over. As things begin to get colder and messier for her, she tries to seek Alchemy down and get him to take her powers away before it’s too late.

But because her cold side is in control, she begins to cross lines, including against her friends. At one point, she gets Julian hurt after kidnapping him and forcing him to help her find Alchemy or Savitar. As Caitlin begin to go all Killer Frost on everyone, she reveals to the team what their lives were like before Barry caused Flashpoint, which causes friction between Cisco and Barry.

Team Flash tries to figure out what the situation with Wally is as he is still inside the cocoon after he touched the Philosopher Stone last week. Eventually, Joe decides to take care of the situation as he forces the cocoon to open and the result is surprising. Barry tries to get Julian to not give Caitlin up as he stresses that she needs help. He agrees to keep the secret, but on one extreme condition.

With the big focus that both Savitar and Doctor Alchemy had in this episode, “Killer Frost” concludes with one major post-credit scene as it answers several questions and brings up new ones. Given everything that happened in tonight’s episode, there is a lot we want to break down and discuss. So hit the NEXT button below and let’s go through some of the important moments and highlights of The Flash season three episode: “Killer Frost”

#5: Wally West Becomes A Speedster

#4: Winter Arrives As Killer Frost Rises

#3: Flashpoint Consequences

#2: Barry Makes A Major Sacrifice

#1: Doctor Alchemy & Savitar Ending

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’Supergirl’: ‘The Darkest Place’ Review

Supergirl dealt with secrets and reveals to a big extent this week after Mon-El got kidnapped by Lillian Luthor and Project Cadmus in the previous episode. As Kara discovers that Mon-El has been taken by Cadmus, she goes to rescue him only to become a captive herself.

Lillian, who hates both her and Superman for what her son, Lex, had to go through, begins to torture Mon-El and threatens to kill him if Supergirl doesn’t collaborate. She forces Kara to use her super-heat-vision so that she becomes human temporarily and proceeds to steal Kara’s blood for mysterious reasons.

J’onn begins to feel weird after being saved by M’gann who, despite not wanting to, had to go through a transfusion to save him. As the team discovers that his cells are turning into those of a White Martian, J’onn realizes that M’Gann has been lying this whole time and that she is in fact a White Martian.

After making his debut as National City’s new vigilante Guardian, James (and Winn) listens to harsh reactions by their friends. However it gets worse as someone tries to pose as Guardian and ruin his reputation. To clear his name, James eventually discovers who the copycat is and goes after him.

The episode concludes with Cyborg Superman invading the Fortress of Solitude thanks to Kara’s blood and demands to learn everything about a certain project. With so much happening in this incredibly packed episode, there’s a lot that we want to break down and discuss. So let’s go through the top 5 highlights and important moments of the Supergirl Season 2 episode: “The Darkest Place”

#5: Team Supergirl Reacts To Guardian

#4: J’onn Discover M’gann’s Secret

#3: Hank Henshaw Lives – Enter Cyborg Superman

#2: Alex & Maggie Deal With Last Week’s Events

#1: Lillian Luthor’s Bigger Plan Revealed

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’Gotham’: ‘Time Bomb’ Review

Gotham is turning up the heat in their ongoing season as people begin to declare war between each other in this week’s episode of the Batman prequel series. As Nygma has been trying to avenge Isabella’s death, we discover that he has kidnapped Butch and Tabitha. Through hours of torture, when things get really crazy, as Butch tries to save Tabitha, it becomes very clear to Nygma that he had nothing to do with Isabella’s death.

Meanwhile, Barbara is trying to locate her friends on her own and as she discovers that Nygma has them captive, she learns about Penguin’s secret that he is in love with Nygma. But not only that, she also puts two and two together that Penguin killed Nygma’s beloved Isabella. As she rescues Butch and Tabitha from Nygma, she decides at the hospital while Tabitha is getting help, to reveal to Butch that she is going to put the Penguin and Nygma against each other.

Bruce, Selina and Ivy are staying safe at the Wayne Manor after the events of last week’s episode, with the mysterious key in their possession that is revealed to be a Court of Owls key. When the criminal gang kidnaps Ivy and demands the key in exchange, Bruce and their leader Volk discover that they are both aiming to take down the Court. Bruce also questions Selina why she isn’t willing to acknowledge their relationship for what it is at this point.

Mario Falcone isn’t having the best day either as he becomes the target of the Court, but during an encounter with them, he begins to show his more violent colors. Towards the end of the episode, it’s revealed that he has also been infected by the Tetch virus after seeing Leslie leaving Gordon’s place before heading to the rehearsal dinner.

As usual, a lot happened in this week’s episode of Gotham that we want to break-down and discuss. So hit the NEXT button below and let’s go through the top 5 highlights and important moments of the Gotham Season 3 episode: “Time Bomb”

#5: Trouble In Paradise For Bruce & Selina

#4: New Answers To The Court Of Owls

#3: Nygma’s Torture Fest With Butch & Tabitha

#2: The Glory That Is Barbara Kean

#1: Mario Falcone Reveals His New Color

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‘Westworld’ 1.08 “Trace Decay” Review

With only two episodes left, Westworld is closing with some real momentum. It was on display in full in tonight’s eighth episode “Trace Decay,” which admirably dealt with the twist at the end of last week’s episode “Trompe L’Oeil,” making the big William=MiB fan theory either obvious or the grandest red herring ever, and furthering Maeve’s nascent robot rebellion. We also got more Man in Black backstory, after the self-styled supervillain was absent for an episode.

Click Next to begin or select which part of the review you wish to start with.

1. Ford’s session with Bernard
2. Post-murder breakdown
3. Dolores and William’s mutual journey of self-discovery
4. Maeve’s escape plan deepens
5. Teddy interrogates the Man in Black

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Eddie Redmayne Calls ‘Fantastic Beasts’ Sequels “A Dream”

J.K. Rowling’s Wizardly World, which originally started with the Harry Potter franchise, continues this weekend with the highly anticipated release of Fantastic Beasts And Where To Find Them. The film is one of five movies currently planned by Warner Bros, all of which, are to be directed by David Yates. The latest movie stars Academy Award winning actor Eddie Redmayne as the lead character, Newt Scamander, a wizard who brings his magical beasts to New York City in the 1920s, only for them to run amuck throughout the growing town.

Redmayne is joined by Colin Farrell, Justice League‘s Ezra Miller, Dan Fogler and Katherine Waterston, who will next be seen in Alien: Covenant. In a new interview with the Oscar winner, Redmayne discussed the sheer size of a franchise like Harry Potter, and where the sequels will likely go:

“As an actor, if it’s your dream to tell stories, getting to tell stories within the imagination of one of the greatest storytellers in the world is all you can hope for, really. Long may that continue.”

Originally, the franchise was only meant to be three films long, however, when Rowling looked at the films as a whole, she and Yates felt two additional films would bring the series full circle. When asked why Redmayne signed on for the other two movies, the actor kept it short and simple:

“I love[d] who she’d written.”

Redmayne then revealed an awesome story about how he landed the gig of a lifetime:

“It came to me in a wonderfully top-secret way. I got a call, saying David Yates wanted to meet me about an unknown project. We met in a pub called Blacks, which is in Soho in London. As I went to this place, it was pouring rain, and downstairs in the basement, there was a fire and David. The whole thing had a Diagon Alley vibe to it. He started telling me this story that J.K. Rowling was writing, and he talked about Newt and the case. I had taken a suitcase that I had. As he talked more about the case, I gently pushed my case back. I had this embarrassment that I looked like one of those actors that turned up dressed for the part.”

When asked if Redmayne went back and watched the Harry Potter films the actor responded:

“I didn’t. They are always on. I did watch moments, like the wand stuff. There is a sense that every actor is like, “One day, I’ll get my wand moment.” I got my wand moment, and I got stage fright. I got awkward. I didn’t know what to do with it. In the end, I watched Dan Radcliffe, Ralph Fiennes, and Emma Watson. I definitely stole, and thieved.”

What do you guys think? I actually just got home from seeing the movie, and, as someone who was not too fond of the original Harry Potter films, Fantastic Beasts won me over. The movie is a huge blast. You can check out the full interview over at Variety, in which the actor also discusses some components of the audition process involving other actors.

Fantastic Beasts And Where To Find Them is in theatres now.

Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them is an all-new adventure returning us to the wizarding world created by J.K. Rowling. Academy Award winner Eddie Redmayne (The Theory of Everything) stars in the central role of wizarding world magizoologist Newt Scamander, under the direction of David Yates, who helmed the last four Harry Potter blockbusters. Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them opens in 1926 as Newt Scamander has just completed a global excursion to find and document an extraordinary array of magical creatures. Arriving in New York for a brief stopover, he might have come and gone without incident…were it not for a No-Maj (American for Muggle) named Jacob, a misplaced magical case, and the escape of some of Newt’s fantastic beasts, which could spell trouble for both the wizarding and No-Maj worlds.

Source: Variety (Via Comicbook.com)

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‘Legends Of Tomorrow’: ‘Outlaw Country’ Review

Legends of Tomorrow has at this point discovered that an evil speedster is now their newest enemy that they have to deal with. As the team tries to figure out how to deal with this new foe, this week’s episode of the show takes them back to the Old Western for another Aberration.

As they arrive, they discover their old ally Jonah Hex being in a bit of trouble and they save him before he finds out that Rip Hunter is currently missing. The baddie that they have to deal with this time in the Old Western is Quentin Tumbull who is trying to take over the West.

Nate is beginning to stepping outside of his comfort zone as he takes on the role of hero, but during an encounter with Tumbell, he is shot by a Dwarf Star bullet that is revealed to be one thing that can go through Nate’s steel-skin. Nate begins to doubt whether he should be a hero, but Ray steps in with several encouraging words.

Meanwhile, Stein is beginning to see flashes of a mysterious woman that he has never seen before, but yet has some connection to. Jax and Stein together figure out that due to him interacting with the Stein in the past. As they realize that, Stein begins to fear that maybe his history with Clarissa may have been erased from his timeline in 2016.

With everything that went down in the episode, there is a lot that we want to discuss and breakdown. So hit the next button below and let’s breakdown the top moments and highlights from the Legends of Tomorrow Season 2 episode: “Outlaw Country”

#5: Nate’s Weakness Revealed

#4: Return To Wild Western

#3: Stein Begins To Feel Changes

#2: The Return Of Jonah Hex

#1: Setup For The Crossover

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‘Suicide Squad – Extended Cut’ Review: What’s New?

First things first: the Extended Cut is not to Suicide Squad as the Ultimate Edition is to Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice. Whereas the latter uses an extra half-hour to reshape and clarify its plot and characters to their original intent, the former merely embellishes what is already there. The Ultimate Edition is, by director Zack Snyder’s admission, his preferred cut of the film. David Ayer on the other hand professes that the theatrical cut of Squad, despite all the production drama and cut or altered scenes, is his.

The new footage in the Extended Cut revolves mostly around the Squad and their relationships, whether it is the Deadshot/Flag bro dynamic, the Joker/Harley toxic romance or Killer Croc with everyone. Much of it amounts to extra quips, gags, and character moments in between the bombast of the action scenes. More than anything, they feel like a taste of “what could have been” with this divisive film if it had been a more coherent, focused story.

Without further adieu, whether you’re a Squad lover or just a glutton for punishment, here’s a list of what’s new in the Extended Cut. Click Next to scroll through gallery.

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‘Arrow’: ‘Vigilante’ Review

Arrow has been crowded with vigilantes more than ever this season, as Oliver Queen a.k.a. the Green Arrow has recruited new members like Rag Man, Wild Dog, Artemis, along with Mr. Terrific. But in Star City, there is no limits to how many vigilantes there can as this week’s episode marked the introduction of one of Arrow’s most brutal vigilantes.

Team Arrow begins to discover that someone is cleaning up the streets of criminals, but in a more violent way than the team is operating with. He is simply known as Vigilante who clashes with Green Arrow because of their different methods of protecting the city.

In the Russian flashbacks, Oliver is being kept hostage by Konstantin Kovar who is insisting that the Bratva are actually corrupt. But Oliver isn’t giving in to his words as he tries to challenge the Russian baddie.

Quentin confesses to Thea about his alcoholic problems and his blackouts, along with the mysterious throwing star as well as that he woke up covered in blood. The two realizes that Prometheus is trying to paint Quentin as the new evil archer, which leads Quentin to resign as deputy mayor.

While Vigilante gets away, the episode ends on a huge Prometheus moment as we discover that one of Oliver’s allies has betrayed the team. Given how packed “Vigilante” was, we have a lot to breakdown so hit the next button below and let’s go through some of the highlights and important moments of the Arrow Season 5 episode: “Vigilante”

#5: Oliver’s Bonding With Susan Williams

#4: Konstantin Vs Oliver In Russian Flashbacks

#3: Quentin Deals With His Problems

#2: Enter Star City’s New Vigilante

#1: Team Arrow 2.0. Has A Traitor

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‘The Flash’: ‘Shade’ Review

The Flash has focused a lot this season so far on Wally West trying to get his speed and become a speeding hero. In this week’s episode, “Shade”, Wally begins to having dream of his time as Kid Flash in the Flashpoint Universe.

As he suffers from the effects, Barry finally decides to tell Wally and the whole gang what happened to Kid Flash in the other timeline. With Wally finding out what happened, Joe tries to convince him to not pursue trying to get his speed, until eventually accepting his son’s wish and trying to help out. However, Alchemy is trying to reach Wally mentally and tempting him with his former life.

Caitlin reveals to Cisco that she has ice powers and admits her fear that she is turning into Killer Frost, the way her Earth-2 counterpart became a villain. She asks him to vibe her future and see if things go bad, which it does as Cisco sees him, as Vibe fighting Killer Frost. Cisco decides to reveal to the team her secret as secrets just hurt the team.

As the team decides to go after Alchemy and stop him once and for all, things go really south as Alchemy is one step ahead. The Doctor reveals another ally of his as the episode ends on more than one big cliffhanger.

Given everything that happened in tonight’s episode, there is a lot we want to break down and discuss. So hit the NEXT button below and let’s go through some of the important moments and highlights of The Flash season three episode: “Shade”

#5: Flash Villain Shade Introduced

#4: Caitlin Reveals Her Secret

#3: Wally Hunts For Speed

#2: H.R. [Really] Tries To Help

#1: Cliffhangers & Debut Of A New Villain

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‘Fantastic Beasts’ Review: Welcome Back

It’s been five years since our last big screen adventure in J.K. Rowling’s Wizarding World, and when you look back, the Harry Potter movie series as a whole was a great cinematic achievement. Over the course of eight movies, audiences from around the world got invested into the exciting universe that Rowling created in her popular books that helped shape the pop culture zeitgeist of this generation. And for a while, it seemed as if the book was closed on more magical adventures in this world.

Thankfully, audiences will triumphantly return to the Wizarding World once Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them opens in theaters this week. Set 70 years before Harry was born, we follow Hogwarts alum Newt Scamander (Eddie Redmayne), a self-proclaimed magizoologist who visits New York with a magical briefcase that happens to contain many magical creatures. Newt only intended to stay for a few hours, but when his briefcase lets these titular beasts free, it’s up to Newt and his new companions Tina Goldstein (Katherine Waterston), Jacob Kowalski (Dan Fogler), and Queenie Goldstein (Alison Sudol) to play Wizarding Pokemon throughout New York.

This film is a much different experience for Harry Potter fans, because with the original films, we were already familiar with these characters thanks to the books, so we had a pretty good idea of what we were going to see on the big screen. This time around, we are meeting these newly established characters truly for the first time. Fantastic Beasts is Rowling’s first screenplay, and for a first-time screenwriter, she manages to make all of these new characters charming and memorable in their own way.

Newt Scamander is a much different protagonist compared to the boy who lived. Newt wasn’t the most sociable type, and had quite a connection to magical creatures that he could never find with his fellow humans. Redmayne slides into Rowling’s world perfectly, and he adds such an unconventional charm to Newt that we don’t see often in films of this scale. It helps that he is accompanied by a terrific ensemble that help elevate this adventure. Newt’s new friends are all fun to be around, especially Jacob, a No-Maj (American term for Muggle) who provides much of the endearing comic relief.

Beyond our main heroes, we also meet new characters such  Percival Graves (Colin Farrell), a high-ranking Auror, Mary Lou Barebone (Samantha Morton), a No-Maj activist against witches and wizards that reaches near-Dolores Umbridge levels of disgust, and Credence Barebone (Ezra Miller), Mary Lou’s adopted son that may have a few secrets of his own.

Much of the pure entertainment value of Fantastic Beasts is found when the main quartet goes on the run to find these creatures before it’s too late. While some creature designs stand out more than others, the creativity and imagination truly shines. In particular, Newt’s runaway Niffler and trustworthy Bowtruckle have some of the more memorable moments from the film.

Fantastic Beasts has its faults, which can be attributed to the development of some of the supporting characters. The film could’ve used more development on the Barebone family, because whenever they appeared onscreen (especially Miller’s Credence), I wanted to learn more about their history. Also, with four more films on deck for this spin-off series, one can’t help but feel some of the set-up that this film creates for the upcoming adventures.

Thankfully, while the film does open the door for the upcoming sequels, it still satisfies on entertainment value and as a standalone story. Director David Yates and Rowling accomplished their goal in introducing a new era and set of characters within the Wizarding World. Once the film ended, I felt excited for what new adventures are in store with these newly established characters.

Rating: 8.5/10

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’Gotham’: ‘The Executioner’ Review

Gotham has slowly, but safely been taking Captain Nathaniel Barnes down an incredibly dark path that in this week’s episode came to a head as the infection within Barnes has completely taken over.

After discovering that Barnes was up to no good in last week’s episode, Gordon takes it upon himself to investigate and keep an eye on Barnes. But things go really south when Barnes is one step ahead of Gordon and puts him in a hot situation as the two GCPD officers end up in a stand-off.

While Gordon is dealing with Barnes, the grown-up Ivy reveals herself to Selina at last that she has transformed as Selina tries to process the new development. However, Ivy has already gotten herself in new troubles and it’s up to Selina and Bruce to help her out.

After the tragic death of Isabella, a grieving Nygma tries to get to the bottom of how she died. Penguin however is trying to cover up that he had something to do with Isabella’s death as he fears that his love will abandon if, should Nygma learn the truth.

As usual, a lot happened in this week’s episode of Gotham that we want to break-down and discuss. So hit the NEXT button below and let’s go through the top 5 highlights and important moments of the Gotham Season 3 episode: “The Executioner”

#5: Nygma Deals With Isabella’s Death

#4: Ivy & Selina Reunited Once Again

#3: Bruce & Selina Gets Ivy Out Of Trouble

#2: Gordon Vs Captain Barnes

#1: Fall Of Captain Barnes

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‘Moana’ Review: Disney Sets Sail For Fun

Disney’s latest film Moana is one that I’ve been looking forward to for a while. It’s Disney’s first animated musical since their smash hit  Frozen back in 2013. The film explores Polynesian culture and creates a brand new hero in the young, Moana. With a year filled with several Disney films that have each proven to be worthy in their own right how does Moana stand among that list? The answer is very high!

The plot of the film revolves around Moana ( Auli’i Cravalho). The young daughter and future chief of the people that live on the island of Motunui must find the powerful shapeshifter and demigod, Maui (Dwayne Johnson) to restore the heart of Tehiti to save the world. This quest is filled with obstacles including convincing the incredibly stubborn Maui. They must work together regardless of their differences to make right what was wrong and bring order back to the world.

The plot of this story reflects the hero’s journey, but instead of focusing on Maui as the hero it puts Moana squarely in that position which is a great change. The story is very simplistic, but that works really well for this film. It follows a fairly straightforward narrative, while making enough unique twists and changes that it is able to balance a classic Disney tone while still maintaining a fresh feeling.  In this way it manages to make it feel like a very distinctly Disney film while straying away enough from the norms that it becomes instantly memorable and unique. The implementation of the Polynesian themes is done extremely well. It’s a celebration of the culture and shows the great spirit of the people.

The cast also give outstanding performances voicing the characters. Dwayne Johnson steals the show portraying the stubborn and self-absorbed, Maui. He brings a sense of charm that keeps the character likable consistently throughout the film. He is the perfect choice for the role as well as Auli’i Cravalho, who brings Moana to life. Her portrayal of Moana is one of sincerity, heart, and strength. This was her first role and her talent shines through in spades. In addition to these two Jemaine Clement makes an appearance and he is also noteworthy as Tamatoa.

Seeing as this is a musical it is safe to say that there is always a question as to whether or not the music would be good and to no surprise the music is not only good. It’s great. The music was produced by the team of Lin-Manuel Miranda, Mark Mancina, and Opetaia Foa’i. They worked together to create a blend of Disney quality musical as well as Polynesian sounding music. This combination is reminiscent of what was done on The Lion King, which Mark Mancina also worked on.  The lyrics written by Lin-Manuel are all excellent and reflect the musical/hip-hop quality that he brought to the stage in the hit musicals In the Heights and most recently Hamilton. The songs are catchy and are a lot of fun. I’m certain that after hearing the music the soundtrack is going to sell extremely well.

Final Thoughts

The film is a classic example of Disney done right. It took several years to produce and it really does show. It carries the Polynesian culture respectively without being heavy handed with their approach. The characters are memorable, the story is simple but fun, and the music is excellent. There isn’t much I could say that I found to be wrong with the film other than one or two instances of implementation of modern jokes that don’t quite land. Regardless the film is beautifully animated and it’s definitely up there as not only one of the best Disney films of the year, but also one of the best films of the year period. I highly recommend it if you are a fan of Disney.

Final Score

8.9/10

So what do you think of my review? Let us know in the comments!

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‘Westworld’ 1.07 “Trompe L’Oeil” Review: Let’s Discuss That Big Reveal!

We knew a show about the nature of reality would make us question and theorize about a few things. Westworld played a big card from that hand this week. Now would be as good a time as any to say if you haven’t watched the latest episode “Trompe L’Oeil,” full spoilers ahead!

Click Next to scroll through the gallery or click which part of the review you’d like to start with below.

1. Bernard is who we thought he was
2. Charlotte and the Board test Ford
3. William embraces his new reality
4. Maeve is 50 percent more intense, 100 percent more awesome

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Ray Fisher Shares ‘Justice League’ And ‘Stranger Things’ Tease

It’s impossible to deny that the recent Netflix hit, ‘Stranger Things‘ took the world by storm. It captured the nostalgia of classic 80’s adventure, horror and coming of age films. One of the show’s breakout stars, Millie Bobby Brown completely stole the show with her mind-bending superpowers. But would she fit in with a team of other powered individuals… say, the ‘Justice League‘? A recent photo posted by Ray Fisher (A.K.A. Cyborg) over on his Instagram page showed the two sharing a ride at Rhode Island Comic-Con this weekend. Obviously, this isn’t a hint of a crossover event or anything similar. But this might be the start of Millie Bobby Brown’s relationship with DC Comics.

A photo posted by Ray Fisher (@rehsifyar) on Nov 13, 2016 at 12:00pm PST

“On our way to crash @gal_gadot ‘s Q&A Panel with @milliebobby_brown! Justice League/Stranger Things crossover??? Parademons and Demogorgons don’t stand a chance! #BORGLIFE #StrangerThings #JusticeLeague #RICC”

We’ve only seen a small glimpse of what the young actress can do, and it’s only a matter of time before she gets snapped up by a Studio for a comic book movie.

‘Justice League‘ comes to theaters on November 16, 2017, whilst ‘Stranger Things‘ Season 2 will appear in 2017.

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‘Arrival’ Review: A Mesmerizing Film That Will Stick With You Beyond The Theater

A lot of films either try to impress you with being smart or clever, or they try to reel you in by appealing to emotional connections and attachments audiences develop with characters or concepts. Good films tend to do both, and the really great ones can devastate or elate you (sometimes both at the same time) while simultaneously confronting you with questions that actually make you stop a second and consider their implications. Maybe questions about relationships, about the human condition as it currently stands or has stood, about scientific progressions and what they could mean. Questions about the things we do and why we do them. Arrival is a great film because it manages to pull off what few films can: it invokes an equal amount of thought and emotion from it’s audience in an earnest way and with a certain magnitude.

Arrival tells the story of linguist Louise Banks, who gets called upon by the U.S. government for assistance when twelve unidentified flying objects suddenly appear in random locations throughout the world. It is clear these are alien spacecrafts, and Banks spearheads efforts to start an understandable dialogue with these visitors, along with pragmatic scientist Ian Donnelly. Things escalate in interesting ways, invoking themes similar to films like Contact and Interstellar, but it’s originality ultimately sees the film make it’s own significant mark in the genre rather than hovering in the shadows of it’s celebrated predecessors.

Screenwriter Eric Heisserer opts for protagonists who try to solve a problem through communication and logical acumen rather than heading in with overly defensive and aggressive attitudes, which brings a sort of reassuring assessment of ourselves to the story, in terms of that being what we would, hopefully, actually do in such a situation. To say the film has some unique and surprising plot developments in it’s story isn’t spoiling anything, but to say much else would be to rob you of the experience, so I won’t.

The film comes by way of current rockstar director Denis Villeneuve, who has been solidifying his reputation as one of cinema’s most exciting filmmakers in recent years. He made one of the best films of 2015 in the institutionally introspective crime-drama Sicario, and has Blade Runner 2049 coming up next. Amy Adams is the focal point in the movie as linguistics expert Dr. Louise Banks, and Jeremy Renner takes on the supporting role of theoretical scientist Ian Donnelly.

The film lives and breaths through Adams’ performance, and she really is stunning in what is one of, if not the, best performance of her career. Jeremy Renner delivers yet another typically impressive presence, never trying to overstep his role but accentuating Adams perfectly. Also, the quality brought to smaller roles like those of Forest Whitaker’s Colonel Weber and Michael Stuhlbarg’s Agent Halpern should also be praised for rounding out an outstanding ensemble act.

Led by rising star in the industry Bradford Young, whose work you might have seen in 2014’s A Most Violent Year, the cinematography is a sight to behold. Whether it’s the impending atmospheric dread of slow-moving cloud clusters over the stillness of vast landscapes occupied by a 15,000 foot hovering aircraft, or blurry tree branches swaying in the wind during memories of lost loved ones, his work here is special. It is easy to see why he was Villeneuve’s first choice after Roger Deakins was unable to jump on board due to scheduling conflicts. Jóhann Jóhannsson’s score is also an integral component to the success of this film, adding weight, emotion, and depth throughout scenes, and even dazzlingly utilizing absolute silence in key moments to help convey the particular auras that Villeneuve is trying to communicate.

Both technically and in it’s soul Arrival comes together masterfully, and it starts with Heisserer’s script. As mentioned before, the film succeeds on so many levels because it balances bright storytelling with it’s appeal to our collective cores as human beings. Much will be said about the cerebral qualities of the film, about how it’s a movie for the thinking man and how its refreshingly mature for a Hollywood studio film with actual movie stars. All of this is true, and is certainly impressive and appreciated, yet what makes it truly exceptional is the emotional grip the film keeps you in throughout it’s running time. You care about these characters because they have real decisions to make and real questions to answer that go beyond serving as connective tissue to tie up plot points. And I’m not just talking about the human characters, either.

Are tragedy and suffering to be avoided at all costs, or are they inseparably tied to the moments of beauty and happiness we experience? Is it worth avoiding one if it robs us of the other? Is it accurate to judge the quality of a life by the sum of its parts? Will it ever be possible to come together as a species and put our collective efforts together for the greater good, or is it just in our nature to do otherwise? These are only a few of the perhaps heady themes Arrival introduces, and like most good works of art, you are mostly left to decide for yourself. Not that these are particularly new ideas or questions, but when they can be addressed in such a tasteful and impactful manner, well, it’s a treat. This is a beautiful film in every sense of the word. It is a tremendous testament to what movies can be when they hit on all cylinders and transcend entertainment to become cornerstones of thought, ideas and conversation. It’s one of the best films of the year. I’m still wrestling over whether it’s Arrival or The Lobster for my number one spot thus far, but who cares. The bottom line: go watch Arrival. You will be wowed. You will be excited. You might be a little sad at times, but you will also feel ultimately optimistic in our ability to improve ourselves, to preserve and learn. And, especially in times like these, it feels like these sentiments are needed.

 

 

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‘Legends Of Tomorrow’: ‘Compromised’ Review

Legends of Tomorrow continue their mission to protect time and space as the legends travel to 1987 as they discover that Damian Darhk is working with the President, which means that Darhk is up to no good. However, it gets complicated as Sara tries to kill him again for murdering her big sister, Laurel Lance, in 2016.

Nate and Amaya begin to bond throughout the mission as Nate wants to learn more about the Justice Society of America, but Amaya isn’t sharing much. When they try to go and find the JSA in 1987, Amaya is stunned when she discovers that the academy is no more and an older version of Obsidian emerges to tell her what happened.

Since Ray lost his Atom suit a few weeks ago, Mick has been trying to help Ray find new purpose within him, by trying to make Ray his new Captain Cold since Snart’s death in Season 1. However, the duo comes to realize that Ray may not have what it takes to go dark as Snart, when in fact the answer has been in front of Ray this whole time.

Eobard Thawne pushes Darhk to finally partner up with him as he has big plans in motion for our heroes. With everything that happened in tonight’s episode, we have a lot to discuss. So hit the next button below and let’s breakdown the top moments and highlights from the Legends of Tomorrow Season 2 episode: “Compromised”

#5: Ray Tries To Find “His Dark Side”

#4: Nate & Vixen Begin To Bond

#3: Justice Society Returns, With A Twist

#2: Sara Messes With Damien’s Head

#1: The Legion Of Doom Rises

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