‘Bright’ Review: David Ayer Takes Netflix To ‘Suicide Squad’ Levels Of Bad

Netflix has been churning out TV shows and movies for a while now, but Bright is their first full-throttle blockbuster. Directed by Suicide Squad’s David Ayer. from a script by Max Landis, Bright is a fantasy-infused cop drama set in a racially charged world. Los Angeles is co-populated by humans and magical creatures in a multi-tiered society that sees elves living luxuriously while orcs work in the streets and form gangs for protection. An interesting world with strong potential, the film is ultimately let down by a lackluster story and head-smacking dialogue like “I think we might be in a prophecy.”

At the center of everything is police officer Daryl Ward (Smith) and his partner, the first-ever orc policeman, Nick Jakoby, as they try to stop a magical wand from getting in the wrong hands. Played by Joel Edgerton, Jakoby is an interesting character as he has to deal with being despised by other orcs and feared by humans as he struggles to do the right thing. Put on the squad as part of the orcish diversity program, his position with the LAPD is a symbol to the world that times are changing. Not everyone is happy about this though and plots sprout up around the force to try to get him removed. Even his own partner doesn’t trust him at the beginning of the film, but that doesn’t stop Jakoby from constantly trying to be the best cop he can. Despite his best intentions, everyone still looks down on him and his orcish blood due to a inter-species war that took place over 2000 years ago.

Luckily Will Smith is still extremely charismatic because the chemistry between him and Edgerton holds the film together. The confident and experienced Ward is balanced by Jakoby, a bumbling rookie who says things like “they don’t teach that in the academy” when he surprises himself. From a personality perspective, the two of them couldn’t be more different, and Smith even complains that his partner somehow has the ability to make a shootout feel awkward. Their relationship evolves throughout the movie form a begrudging partnership towards mutual respect as they watch each other’s backs on this action-packed night. Charisma aside, Smith turns in a luke-warm performance that feels like he is cruising on auto-pilot instead of giving it his all. He’s entertaining in the film, but it’s because he relies on his no-nonsense Will Smith shtick rather than bring anything new to the character.

What holds Bright back the most is the fact that the world is far more interesting than the story. Throughout the film, there are allusions to an ancient conflict between all the species and a so-called Dark Lord (hello, Harry Potter), but nothing in the present day is nearly as interesting. Magical creatures live alongside humans and there’s even a special unit of federal agents who hunt down magical artifacts and people who can control magic, brights, but the movie never feels engaging; it just happens. The film starts with a cool but sloppily shot montage of graffiti across town that displays how society is divided and who is prejudiced against who, an idea that is far more interesting than defending a weapon from the wrong hands.  There’s even one shot of the city that shows a dragon flying above the skyline, but they’re never directly referenced or brought into the story. If dragons exist near Los Angeles, there’s probably an interesting history of domestication or conflict between dragons and humans that is far-more intriguing than what Landis focuses on.

Also read: Netflix Orders ‘Bright’ Sequel Ahead Of Release

Like a lot of blockbusters, Bright is held together by a MacGuffin, but unlike mother boxes or infinity stones, this one is kind of interesting and fits within the larger context of the movie’s world. Magic wands can give certain people magical powers, but for anyone who isn’t a bright they will blow up immediately upon touching it. The ability to grant wishes and fix every aspect of one’s life isn’t something that just appeals to the bad guys though as we see various groups go a little stir crazy over the wand. Like the ring of power from Lord of the Rings, everyone selfishly sees what it can do for themselves instead of recognizing how dangerous it is. This blind desire results in everyone from elves to cholo gangsters tearing up the city on their single-minded mission to find the wand and harness its power.

From a technical standpoint, the film looks fine. The lighting is good and the pyrotechnics were impressive, but the cinematography and directing is boring. Despite the action-packed premise, the camera stays relatively motionless throughout the film and makes everything seem still. While this works for some of the standard conversation scenes, the fights feel muffled in comparison to films with larger budgets (Bright was made for “just” $90 million). Editing was also a big problem for the film and it took away from the impact of the various fight scenes. Instead of giving the audience enough time to truly perceive what’s happening on screen, the film constantly cuts back and forth, resulting in a jarring feeling that pushes the action towards incomprehensible territory.

In a world of never-ending franchises, it feels good to watch a movie that is a stand-alone film based on an original idea. With that said, it’s a good thing this movie will be on Netflix because it would likely bomb in theaters. Bright didn’t have to worry about earning a PG-13 score from the MPAA to appeal to wider audiences, which allowed Ayer to include more visceral violence and rough language to give this fantasy story a sense of gritty realism the general audience might not have appreciated. There are certainly things for people to enjoy here, and I expect it to quickly generate a fan-following, but it could have been so much more.

More than anything else, Bright just makes me excited to see Kenneth Branagh’s take on Artemis Fowl because humans and magical creatures sharing a modern world is a great story device. Bright has heart, humor, some decent action, and a fun cameo from the Joe Rogan podcast. So, if you have an open night, turn off The Great British Bake Off and boot up Bright, because you have literally nothing to lose.

Final Score: 5/10

20 Marvel Movies That Could Be Made After Disney’s Fox Acquisition

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So the impossible has happened: Fox and Disney have recently agreed to a major deal, one which means that — aside from a few limitations with the Hulk and Spider-Man, who have their rights wrapped up with Universal Pictures and Sony Pictures — every major Marvel property will soon be able to appear in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. While the plans for the remainder of Phase 3 likely won’t change that much, barring possible post-credits scenes showing major cameos being added on short notice, this development certainly gives Marvel an embarrassment of riches to work with for future film adaptations.

Since Marvel Studios had previously claimed that they have an outline for the next 20 movies they’ll make without the X-Men, the Fantastic Four, or any of their associated characters, I thought it would be best to similarly go all-out and suggest 20 more for the heck of it.

Here are, in no particular order, 20 movies that Marvel should think about making with a complete MCU at their fingertips. Click Next to get started!

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The post ‘Bright’ Review: David Ayer Takes Netflix To ‘Suicide Squad’ Levels Of Bad appeared first on Heroic Hollywood.

‘Shazam!’ Adds ‘The Walking Dead’ Actor Cooper Andrews

Deadline reports Cooper Andrews (The Walking Dead) has joined the cast of DC’s upcoming film Shazam!

Andrews is set to play the foster parent at the group home where Billy Batson resides.

More to come…

Source: Deadline

The Biggest Comic Book Movies Of 2017, Ranked From Worst To Best

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2017 was quite the year for movies. Not only are the award shows stacked with some spectacular dramas to choose from, but us pop-culture nerds had quite the year too. Everyone from Wonder Woman to Thor had their own movie this year, and most of them were pretty good. At the end of the day though, not all movies are made equal, and some turned out infinitely better than others.

All of these stories have something in common, though: a focus on a group of heroes who are willing to do anything and sacrifice themselves for the greater good. The movies vary on how heroic the protagonists are and what kind of threat they have to fight, but they all do a good job at pushing their heroes and making them think outside the box to save the day.

Remember, this ranking is just one person’s opinion. If your favorite movie of the year is at the bottom of the list that doesn’t mean you have a bad taste in movies, it just means we don’t agree and I’d love to hear what you think in the comments after wards!

Hit Next to see how we ranked the biggest comic book movies of 2017!

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‘Star Wars: The Last Jedi’ Non-Spoiler Review: An Ambitious & Dangerous Step Forward In The Sequel Trilogy

Star Wars: The Last Jedi, the eighth episode of the Skywalker Saga from writer-director Rian Johnson, can be boiled down to one simple word: dangerous.

While Star Wars: The Force Awakens was a brilliant return to form that restored the franchise’s vitality after the ultimately disappointing prequel trilogy, fans were no doubt frustrated with Lucasfilm and J.J. Abrams for what many felt was Disney playing it safe. But from the moment The Last Jedi begins until the credits roll, the film is as fresh as it is relentlessly unpredictable and jam-packed with jaw-dropping surprises that will leave you both shocked and speechless. The Last Jedi is one of the biggest, most ambitious films in the franchise yet that rivals The Empire Strikes Back for the top spot in the Skywalker Saga. Johnson delivers what is both a big-budget blockbuster and an arthouse film simultaneously, something he manages to do through expert direction and his unique, finesse for impeccable dialogue.

The new heroes of Star Wars  — Rey, Finn, and Poe Dameron played by Daisy Ridley, John Boyega, and Oscar Isaac respectively — as well as the villainous Kylo Ren (Adam Driver), the imposing Captain Phasma (Gwendoline Christie), and the menacing Supreme Leader Snoke (Andy Serkis) all return. Ridley continues to shine as a charismatic and captivating force that commands the screen, while Boyega continues to represent Star Wars fanboys with his infectious enthusiasm as the First Order Stormtrooper-turned-defector who is now, in fact, a big deal within the Resistance. Isaac — who didn’t get to explore much depth with his character in Episode VII — is given an expanded and much more interesting role this time around as the Resistance’s top pilot is forced to discover solutions to problems that require more than just blowing something up.

In addition, The Last Jedi introduces a new hero to the sequel trilogy — Rose Tico, played by newcomer Kelly Marie Tran. Tran is a natural that instantly fits into the Star Wars universe as she provides both heart and levity to scenes with Boyega. Much of her screentime is shared with Boyega as Rose and Finn go on an adventure together in their own separate storyline.

On the villain’s side, Driver is given much more depth in The Last Jedi. Kylo Ren begins to grow here, becoming increasingly more unpredictable and difficult to read over the course of the film. It’s impossible to get deep into Kylo Ren’s storyline without spoiling anything but much in the way that The Force Awakens introduced new aspects of the force through Kylo, The Last Jedi does as well. As far as Supreme Leader Snoke goes, the character is finally featured beyond just a hologram with a powerful, and fearsome performance from Serkis that is much less Caesar from Planet of the Apes and much more Emperor Palpatine. Even some of Serkis’ lines echo lines from the Emperor. Fans hoping for more of Phasma might be disappointed, however, but her character is at least used much more effectively in The Last Jedi.

The film also features Laura Dern and Benicio del Toro in supporting roles as Vice Admiral Holdo of the Resistance, and DJ, a slicer (hacker) residing in the opulent Casino city Canto Bight on the planet Cantonica. The performances here don’t always work as Dern’s delivery of dialogue sometimes feels slightly off or out of place, and del Toro’s character speaks in a way that is somewhat distracting, but the two are ultimately complex and interesting additions that serve to teach our main characters important lessons that provide necessary growth to them. DJ also provides an entry point for the franchise to explore war itself in an interesting way that we haven’t seen before.

In her final performance, the late Carrie Fisher carries a heavy sadness after the loss of Han Solo (Harrison Ford) at the hands of her son, Ben. Fisher manages to inhabit and embody the character of Leia once again, something she came up a bit short on in The Force Awakens where she felt more like Fisher herself than she did Leia. Ultimately her performance in this film is greatly satisfying as Leia is given some of her best and most powerful moments in the franchise.

After returning as Luke Skywalker for the first time in thirty-two years for an extremely brief appearance without any dialogue in The Force Awakens, Mark Hamill finally gets his chance to shine this time around. Hamill’s performance in The Last Jedi is stellar as Luke is given a complex storyline which shows that behind the hero and the legend of Luke Skywalker, the Jedi Master is still a flawed man, capable of making serious mistakes that could have grave consequences. Based on new canon novels, we can gather that Luke has been in exile on the island of Ahch-To for quite a few years and he’s grown quite comfortable there. Luke’s storyline is nearly impossible to review without getting into spoilers but if you’re a fan of the original trilogy’s hero, you won’t be disappointed as The Last Jedi features some incredibly satisfying and shocking moments with Luke that serve to make him an even more interesting character.

For much of the film, The Last Jedi has you uneasy and on edge over the sheer unpredictable nature of the narrative, but at a certain point, Johnson pulls out the rug on the Star Wars universe. It’s liberating, terrifying, and beautiful all at the same time as it opens the doors to countless possibilities for both Episode IX and the future of the franchise to come.

Score: 10/10

Star Wars: The Last Jedi hits theaters this Friday, December 15.

‘Star Wars’: What Has Luke Skywalker Been Up To All This Time?

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Going into Star Wars: The Force Awakens, everyone knew that Luke Skywalker was an important character in the movie. Everyone also knew that Luke was going to be in the movie. The biggest questions were just how much he was going to be in it and what role does he play? By the end of The Force Awakens, those questions were answered. The only problem was now there were more questions being asked about him afterwards.

Little is known about Luke after the events of Star Wars: Episode VI – Return of the Jedi. There is a thirty year time period that has yet to explained. The mystery surrounding Luke has established him as a sort of mythic character. Everyone knows about him but at the same time, knows nothing about him. Only a few details here and there are known about what he did after the Battle of Endor. These are the things that we known he has done.

Here’s what Luke Skywalker has been up to all this time. Click Next to get started!

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The post ‘Star Wars: The Last Jedi’ Non-Spoiler Review: An Ambitious & Dangerous Step Forward In The Sequel Trilogy appeared first on Heroic Hollywood.

Review: ‘Jumanji: Welcome To The Jungle’ Is An Unnecessary Sequel Held Together By A Charismatic Cast

Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle, a sequel that is more like a soft-reboot of the 1996 Robin Williams classic, opens with a teenager asking himself “who plays board games anymore?” As times change, old fads must evolve to stay popular with the new generation, and board games are no exception. This sequel takes that idea literally, as Jumanji transforms itself at the beginning of the movie into an old-school video game cartridge ready to terrorize a new generation of unsuspecting players.

The new Jumanji feels like a modern-day retelling of The Breakfast Club. A jock, a gamer, a party girl and an edgy, shy girl all end up in detention together and are forced to spend time cleaning out the school’s basement, but they stumble into a little more than they expected when they find an old video game laying in the dust. Once all of them get sucked into Jumanji, courtesy of some incredibly cheesy CGI, they are put into the bodies of the different players they chose in the game. Nerdy and insecure Spencer becomes Dr. Smolder Bravestone (Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson), bashful Martha is transformed into butt-kicking Ruby Roundhouse (Karen Gillan), football star Fridge is turned into Moose Finbar (Kevin Hart), the team’s resident zoologist and backpack guy, while Bethany, who cares more about her phone and looks than anything else, is turned into a middle-aged cartographer (Jack Black). As Bethany eloquently puts it, “change your status to stuck in a video game” because these kids aren’t going anywhere until they break Jumanji’s curse and beat the game.

Directed by Jake Kasdan, director of Bad Teacher and Sex Tape, Jumanji is an adventure-filled movie that sacrifices the emotional intimacy of the original for a never-ending stream of action and body-swapping jokes. Tonal shifts between adrenaline-infused fights and absurd comedic beats involving cake, culminating in a fun, light-hearted holiday treat. It’s not a bad movie, it just doesn’t leave audiences with the same sense of wonder or empathy towards the main characters that the original did. There were scary animals and threats in the first film, but it never went over the top like this one does. Ultimately, the two Jumanji movies are made for entirely different purposes and have few similarities. While the original was made to be a heart-warming story about family and friendship, the new one is a movie made to showcase how much badass The Rock is.

Also read: Dwayne Johnson Discusses Reason Behind Splitting Up ‘Shazam’ & ‘Black Adam’

Structurally, the movie is made to feel like a video game. There’s a pretty large amount of exposition sprinkled throughout the movie, but it’s given to the audience in a clever way. Just like video games have non-playable characters who repeat a few phrases and give the main characters certain pieces of information, the movie has characters sprinkled throughout who only react to certain prompts and say the same phrase repeatedly. Jumanji even gets away with using a flashback by having one of the character’s call it a cut-scene. Where the video game structure starts to feel like a hindrance is with the inclusion of a big bad guy, in this case, Bobby Cannavale’s one-dimensional and obsessive villain. The fact that these kids might die at any moment due to a hippopotamus or stampede of rhinos is exciting enough, so the movie didn’t need a central villain with a team of Mad Max-inspired thugs. At one point, Hart’s Finbar asks himself, “what is this game?” and with the mish-mash of different genre tropes, I found myself thinking the same thing. Everyone even has three lives in the game, so the extreme caution and wits that the characters needed to survive in the original aren’t as essential this time around.

The movie’s strength is easily its central cast. Johnson may get top billing, but Black and Hart steal the show here. Everyone in the cast, including Gillan, best known for her roles in Doctor Who and Guardians of the Galaxy, gets a moment to shine. The chemistry between everyone is fantastic and they all have opportunities to interact with one another in ways that push each character outside of their comfort zone.

Comedy is where the movie shines brightest, and all of it comes from the actor’s performances. Watching Hart complain his way through the jungle and Black flirt with both The Rock and Nick Jonas is not a bad way to spend an hour and forty-four minutes. There aren’t many long-form gags, but the fun, Apatow-esque riffing back and forth between the cast makes up for the relatively comedic writing.

In an era dominated by unnecessary reboots (I’m looking at you The Mummy), it’s too bad that a classic like Jumanji had to be thrown into the mix.  Sure, the film passed the five laugh test, but it was also held back by a paper-thin plot that doesn’t do the original justice. With five screenwriters, the final result is a jumbled film packed with Sony product placement and extremely cheesy dialogue. As a family-friendly comedy, this movie definitely works and now I can die happy that I’ve heard Jack Black enthusiastically scream “YASS QUEEN.” But really, part of me just wants to label it Boomanji and be done with it.

Final Score: 6/10

5 Superhero Projects You Should Be Excited About In 2018

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Some people may complain about superhero fatigue, but for fans of the genre, 2018 looks like it will be an amazing year. Not only will hit shows like Marvel’s Daredevil and Arrow continue, but there are a lot of new projects coming for superhero fans. Ranging from games to movies, Marvel and DC have been hard at work turning their comic book characters into multimedia icons.

This list doesn’t even include things like New Mutants and The Runaways, two superhero projects coming in 2018. There are so many amazing things coming out of the comic book world, with new projects seemingly announced every day, so this is just a quick rundown of the five things that excite my inner fanboy.

Hit Next to learn more about five exciting superhero projects coming in 2018! 

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Mark Hamill Reminisces About ‘Star Wars’ Sibling Carrie Fisher

Just a few weeks away from the release of Star Wars: The Last Jedi, Luke Skywalker himself Mark Hamill is taking time to remember his on-screen sister, Carrie Fisher.

In an interview on The Ellen Show, Hamill discussed how much he misses his co-star and how he chooses to remember her:

“She’s like an irreplaceable member of the family, but the whole world feels that way. We are all sort of mourning her. I always think of her in the present tense. I don’t think of her in the past. Any time you were with her it was just fun.”

Also read: ‘Star Wars’: Empire Unveils New Rey & Kylo Ren Covers

The two starred in the original Star Wars trilogy spanning from 1977 to 1983 and reprised their respective roles decades later in 2015’s Star Wars: The Force Awakens. Hamill expresses that even off-screen, the two shared a very special bond:

“Carrie used to drive me crazy. We were more like siblings than I thought, because we would have these huge fights. We wouldn’t see each other for months or even years, and then you would see each other and remind yourself how much fun it was to be together.

Not only could she make me laugh, but I could make her laugh. That was our goal.”

Carrie Fisher passed away on December 27, 2016 at the age of 60. Star Wars: The Last Jedi is the late actress’ final performance.

Written and directed by Rian Johnson, Star Wars: The Last Jedi stars Daisy Ridley, John Boyega, Mark Hamill, Carrie Fisher, Adam Driver, Oscar Isaac, Lupita Nyong’o, Domhnall Gleeson, Anthony Daniels, Gwendoline Christie, Andy Serkis, Laura Dern, Kelly Marie Tran and Benicio del Toro.

Star Wars: The Last Jedi will be released in theaters on December 15, 2017.

Source: Hollywood Reporter

5 Ways ‘The Last Jedi’ Links To Greater ‘Star Wars’ Canon

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Star Wars: The Last Jedi is right around the corner. The film is the next chapter in the ongoing Skywalker saga. It’s also unique in the Star Wars films as it is the first one to be an immediate sequel to its predecessor. But that does not mean there won’t be plenty of Easter eggs for fans of the greater Star Wars canon to pick up on and enjoy.

One of the biggest criticisms about the previous Star Wars canon, now dubbed Legends, is that ancillary material never connected. Since Disney has taken over and the establishment of the Star Wars Story Group, that has all changed. The modus operandi has been to have everything connect but not in an intrusive way– one that feels more natural to reward the more hardcore fans as well as to intrigue new fans.

Here are 5 ways The Last Jedi links to greater Star Wars canon. Click Next to get started!

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The post Mark Hamill Reminisces About ‘Star Wars’ Sibling Carrie Fisher appeared first on Heroic Hollywood.

‘Doomsday Clock’ #1 Review: The Watchmen Return

Last year, DC announced that they were giving their comic books a makeover with DC Rebirth. In DC Rebirth, Wally West, a.k.a, Kid Flash, fought his way out of the Speed Force to reunite with his mentor and current Flash, Barry Allen, only to find out that an unknown force has been messing with their reality. Wally tried to escape the Speed Force multiple times before finding success with Barry, once by going to the greatest detective in the world for help. The centrifugal energy Wally used to talk to Batman also spit out an important item all the while merging the DC and The Watchmen universes. Batman finds the Comedian’s smiley face button on the the floor of his cave leading him and The Flash on a mission to find who it belonged to. At the end of the book it was revealed to us that Dr. Manhattan was the architect of the reality change that plagued all of our favorite heroes.

While Batman and The Flash had their main storylines to worry about, they were still investigating the button. When Batman gets a lead he sets up a meeting with The Flash. That gets interrupted by none other than Eoabard Thawne who beats the living hell out of Batman and then dies before Barry reaches the Batcave. This leads the Dark Knight and the Scarlet Speedster on a time-traveling mission where they uncover that reality is unraveling. At the end of the book, Thawne finds Dr. Manhattan in the same place he was during Rebirth, adding more depth to this mystery.

It was announced in May that the third part to the mystery would be titled “Doomsday Clock,” have 12 issues and hit stores in November. Doomsday Clock would officially introduce other Watchmen characters to DC Comics lore. I’ve read the first issue and it perfectly acts as a sequel to Alan Moore’s Watchmen miniseries while intertwining the universes.

Doomsday Clock begins with a journal entry from Rorschach. It seems like not much time has passed since Watchmen. The world is on the brink of nuclear destruction and Rorschach is in the middle of a prison break. His boss, Ozymandias, hires the escapees to help find God/Dr. Manhattan and Ozymandias reveals he doesn’t have much longer to live as he suffers from cancer. It is also heavily implied that this is not the same Rorschach we know and love. As you remember, Walter Kovacs kind of died at the end of Watchmen. The comic pans to a sleeping Clark Kent who is having a nightmare about the death of his parents. He gets comforted by Lois and the comic ends perfectly combining the Watchmen and DC Universe.

Doomsday Clock is Geoff John’s return to comics after DC Rebirth and he comes back swinging. He encapsulated the feel and energy of Watchmen so perfectly you would think it was Alan Moore penning the book. The mystery of what exactly Dr. Manhattan has planned continues to get interesting and you haven’t the slightest idea what they’ll do next. The way Johns writes the characters feels right and Gary Frank’s artwork makes the book feel whole. Merging the Watchmen and DC Universes was the smartest idea that DC has come up with in a long time. It makes everything feel fresh. When you hit the final page you just want more.

Score: 9.5/10

“Doomsday Clock will feature twelve issues releasing over a year-long period beginning on November 22, 2017. The story will include many DC characters but has particular focus on Superman and Doctor Manhattan. Johns felt like there was interesting story to be told in Rebirth with Doctor Manhattan.”

Doomsday Clock #1 is available at comic retailers starting today!

5 Potential Marvel TV Shows To Rival HBO’s ‘Watchmen’

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With news breaking that Damon Lindelof, the co-creator of both Lost and The Leftovers, is in talks to develop a Watchmen show for HBO, Marvel needs a new TV hit. Don’t get me wrong, I know Agents of Shield still has a huge following, but I stopped watching the Netflix shows during the second season of Daredevil. And FX’s Legion was just… okay for me. It’s not that I don’t love Luke Cage and Jessica Jones, but it’s not fair to put lower-tier characters like them in competition with a juggernaut like Watchmen.

HBO was clearly taking notes when Netflix started releasing their shows, so this seems like a great moment for Marvel to take some notes on their competition. If DC is going to churn out a Watchmen series, then Marvel needs to dig deep into their libraries to find stories worthy of being brought to the silver screen.

So hit Next to find out about five properties Marvel should consider adapting if they want to match HBO’s Watchmen.

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Review: ‘Justice League’ Is A Really Fun Time At The Movies

The road leading up to Justice League has been a pretty bumpy one. From the start of DC’s Extended Universe, they’ve been hit with a barrage of polarizing reactions, bad reviews, and bad press. Man of Steel led the charge being the highest rated film in the DCEU, but even that got mixed reviews. Then came Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice and the majority of reviews for that were pretty bad. Followed by Suicide Squad which was basically a poorly edited mess. DC’s negative stigma finally changed with this summers Wonder Woman. Wonder Woman was met with praise due to its masterful direction, story, and cast. Now DC Films looks to keep its positive momentum going with Justice League.

Justice League has had a pretty bad wrap from the get-go. People hated it going in due to disliking previous films and Zack Snyder. There were rumors flying around that the film would be canceled after Batman v Superman failing on a critical level until Jason Momoa squashed that with an Instagram post indicating filming had begun. Zack Snyder brought the first look to San Diego Comic-Con 2016 and the crowd went nuts. When the film finished filming in fall of 2016 everyone believed it was smooth sailing until tragedy struck. The director left due to the loss of his daughter and personally brought Joss Whedon in as a replacement. Whedon would go on to do a few pickup shots to compliment Snyder’s film and fans took that as a hopeful sign the film could be better. Now that I have seen Justice League, I can officially tell you with full authority that the film is amazingly fun and epic.

WARNING POSSIBLE SPOILERS AHEAD

Justice League is a film that satisfies every expectation I had. I had a problem with the villain, but Steppenwolf is a forgettable villain from the comics and I expected him to be just as forgettable in the film. The film is cut pretty tight to fit a 2-hour time frame and you can tell they cut important story bits which makes the plot less coherent than it could be if they included an extra 30 minutes. On the positive side, If they make an extended cut we’ll have a ton of extra DC goodness to look forward to. The CGI is pretty bad in most of the action sequences, but if you sit back and ignore the flaws you’ll have an amazing time at the theater.

Ben Affleck returns for his third go-round as Bruce Wayne/Batman and he’s sporting some comedic chops and older man angst throughout Justice League. Affleck’s Batman is drastically different than the one shown in Batman v Superman. Superman’s death has changed his life. He seems hopeful and ready to save the world again by banding together a team of unlikely allies. The Batman action scenes looked like they were ripped straight out of the comics. While there were no scenes as good as the warehouse scene from BvS, there is one scene in the beginning of Justice League that involves Batman fighting a bad guy on a roof like it was drawn by Jim Lee. Batman’s relationship with Wonder Woman gets complicated in a will they or won’t they way in Justice League, so much so that Alfred points it out, but Affleck and Gadot make it work. Justice League shows that Affleck is more comfortable in the role and I am really looking forward to seeing him in Matt Reeves’ The Batman.

Gal Gadot returns as Wonder Woman and its as if she never left. Wonder Woman is struggling with her own legacy and Bruce is trying to push her into leading the team. Her fights with Steppenwolf are definitely the best action pieces in the film. Jason Momoa’s Arthur Curry/Aquaman lives up to the Badass hype. The scenes where he’s in Atlantis were incredible. The tension between he and Mera raises my excitement for his solo film and exploring Aquaman’s Lore on the big screen. His chemistry with the league is a bit comical, especially with Batman. There’s a hilarious scene involving the lasso of truth that will make DC fans go into a fit of laughter.

Ezra Miller makes his debut as Barry Allen/The Flash and he brings a sense of naivety to the team. Miller’s portrayal of Barry Allen is a lot different then fans are used to. He’s not a CSI, he’s a lot younger than normal, a totally rookie at being The Flash and that’s what makes him so much fun to watch. I look forward to his solo film the most. Ray Fisher’s portrayal of Cyborg reminds me so much of the Teen Titans animated series. I wanted to save the best for last. Superman is in the movie and it finally feels like he’s Superman. Henry Cavill flys in and brings so much charm to the character that was never there before. Superman has a new lease on life and you feel it in Cavill’s portrayal. His lines and energy will make you feel like you’re watching Superman: The Animated Series. He’s easily my favorite part of Justice League and he especially shines when he faces Steppenwolf.

Steppenwolf has to be one of the weakest villains in the DCEU. There was bad CGI during the final battle. His motivations were laughable and his plan was atrocious. It almost felt as if you didn’t need the full team to defeat him. His army of Parademons were like the flying monkeys in the Wizard of Oz. They don’t really do much but are there for a fear factor and do a horrible job at that. The supporting cast was great for what little screen time they were given. Alfred with his back up as the man behind the computer and snarky comments. Martha Kent and Lois Lane are there to remind you that Superman is in fact in the movie. Joe Morton’s Cylas Stone is there to remind you that you have a better father than Cyborg and also to become a damsel in distress. J.K. Simmons kills it as Commissioner Gordon. All the Batman pieces in the film get me amped for the solo film. Connie Neilsen returns as Hippolyta and brings the Amazons with her for this insane battle with Steppenwolf. Amber Heard didn’t have much screen time as Mera, but the little scene we got with her and Momoa’s Aquaman really makes me want to see more.

Overall thoughts

Justice League is the DC team-up you’ve been waiting for. I had so much fun from beginning to end. The expansion of DC mythology will make fans go nuts. Superman’s return will make you really happy. Justice League does have its flaws, but the fun negated most of that for me. The cast was amazing. Favorite characters were Flash and Aquaman. The final post-credits scene will make you scream!

SCORE: 7.5/10

“Fueled by his restored faith in humanity and inspired by Superman’s selfless act, Bruce Wayne enlists the help of his newfound ally, Diana Prince, to face an even greater enemy. Together, Batman and Wonder Woman work quickly to find and recruit a team of metahumans to stand against this newly awakened threat. But despite the formation of this unprecedented league of heroes—Batman, Wonder Woman, Aquaman, Cyborg and The Flash—it may already be too late to save the planet from an assault of catastrophic proportions.”

Justice League hits theaters November 17, 2017.

After ‘Justice League,’ What’s Next For Its Six Members?

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Justice League is right around the corner and is a cornerstone film in the growing cinematic universe featuring the DC Comics heroes. While the DC Trinity (Batman, Superman and Wonder Woman) have already been featured in films before, the other half of the team will be receiving their own films post Justice League.

This burgeoning universe is still relatively new and there are tons of directions that have either been confirmed, speculated or just up in the air, so it’s the perfect time to look at possible scenarios where each member of the Justice League can go.

Here’s what’s next for the six heroes featured in Justice League! Click Next to get started.

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The post Review: ‘Justice League’ Is A Really Fun Time At The Movies appeared first on Heroic Hollywood.

Review: ‘The Punisher’ Is Marvel’s Best Netflix Show Yet

After a few bad films, Frank Castle and The Punisher came back with a vengeance for the second season of Marvel’s Daredevil on Netflix. Jon Bernthal was cast as the Skull wearing, gun-toting anti-hero back in 2015 and he was so much of a stand out on Daredevil that Netflix decided to give The Punisher his own 13-part series. We’ve seen the first few episodes of the series and can tell you right now that it’s incredible and perhaps even Marvel and Netflix’s best effort to date.

The second season of Marvel’s Daredevil was pretty dark due to its inclusion of The Punisher and his spin-off isn’t any different. The grit, grime and killing has intensified to peak Punisher levels. This is obviously the darkest Marvel show that Netflix has done so far and this was the best possible route that the people behind the series could have gone with. The Punisher takes some real world elements like the shows before it, but also handles things like PTSD in the military brilliantly.

Like every Marvel/Netflix series before it, The Punisher has assembled a tremendous cast of talented actors. Jon Bernthal picks up where he left off in Marvel’s Daredevil and expertly brings all of the rage and sadness of Frank Castle back while being at the forefront of his own series. Ebon Moss-Bachrach’s Micro is a tech wiz who enlists Castle’s help to get back to his family all the while developing a love/hate relationship with the Punisher. The standout of the series is Amber Rose Revah, who plays Agent Madani. She’s on the hunt for The Punisher and completely dominates the screen every scene she’s in.

It’s almost impossible not to compare the villains of each of the Marvel/Netflix shows, with the likes of Vincent D’Onofrio’s Kingpin, David Tennant’s Kilgrave and the ingeniously-calculated villains of The Punisher. What Ben Barnes and Paul Shulze bring to the series are two intense, fun, calculated but also complicated in a way villains. That is the main thing that sets The Punisher apart from Marvel’s previous Netflix shows. The two characters have a very complex relationship and they both have a tricky past with Frank Castle. Without going into specifics, I’ll say that The Punisher has the best written villains of any Marvel show.

Deborah Ann Woll’s Karen Page returns as Frank Castle’s confidant in this series. While she doesn’t have much screentime, Woll brings the same emotion she did in the second season of Marvel’s Daredevil. The scenes she shares with Frank are reminiscent of the ones between her and Matt and I am totally looking forward to seeing her return in Daredevil season 3.

As a fan of The Punisher, I feel like the series delivers on every level. The Punisher is not a superhero and I feel like the producers totally understand that and that’s what makes the series so incredible. The show is about a man who lost his family and is struggling to cope with that and to also do right by them by killing the people responsible for their deaths. The way the show portrays the people who come home from the Military and have PTSD felt real. The show touches on a lot of other dark topics that we deal with in the real world every day, making things really intense.

If I only had one word to describe The Punisher it would be masterful. Not just the character of Frank Castle, but the show itself with all of its characters and the story. There are a lot of gory action pieces because let’s face it, when you are dealing with a broken man who kills for a living, you are in for a lot of blood. The tone of the series may seem kinda off when compared to the rest of the Marvel Cinematic Universe, but it’s definitely able to stand on its own. Then again, The Punisher definitely matches this big world that Marvel Studios has built.

The Punisher didn’t really do well on the big screen, but his Netflix series is definitely something you won’t want to miss. After only seeing the first few episodes, I am definitely hyped to see what comes next.

Score: 9/10

Marvel’s The Punisher hits Netflix on November 17th!

7 Punisher Stories You Need To Read Before Marvel’s Netflix Series

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Now that the Punisher trailer has hit the general audience, it’s time for fans to read up on the character before it’s too late. Even though the Punisher has had two movies already, the upcoming Netflix series looks like it will be the definitive adaptation of the character. His morals may be too dark for some people, but at the end of the day, Frank Castle is a hero through-and-through. Whether you want to put him in jail or let him keep working, there’s no denying that he has taken down deadly criminals who put innocent lives in danger.

The Punisher has been a part of the Marvel Universe since 1974 and he has quite a few amazing stories to choose from. Sometimes he’s left alone in his own corner of the Marvel Universe, and sometimes he’s a fully integrated member of the Avengers. No matter where he is or who he is interacting with, the Punisher always means business.

Hit Next to learn more about seven essential Punisher stories you need to read before his 13-part Marvel series arrives on Netflix!

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The post Review: ‘The Punisher’ Is Marvel’s Best Netflix Show Yet appeared first on Heroic Hollywood.