‘Spider-Man: Homecoming’ Review: Marvel & Spidey’s Best

Spider-Man has had a number triumphs and failures throughout his cinematic history. The first Spider-Man film was directed by Sam Raimi and charmed its way in to the hearts of critics as well as fans. Starring Toby McGuire, Willem Dafoe, James Franco and Kirsten Dunst, Spider-Man did well enough to launch two sequels. Spider-Man 2 was considered the best of the trilogy due to its spectacular train sequence and performances by McGuire and Alfred Molina’s Doctor Octopus. While Spider-Man 3 was considered the worst of the franchise, Sony tried to move forward with another movie which was set to include The Lizard, John Malcovich as the Vulture and Anne Hathaway as Felicia Hardy.

The studio went on to reboot the franchise after the project failed to take off and Spider-Man 3 was a cluttered mess, but The Amazing Spider-Man was a huge departure from the Sam Raimi trilogy. It features a young Peter Parker on the cusp of adulthood dealing with a lot of angst and the responsibility of being a superhero… and, well, dating his on again off again girlfriend Gwen Stacy. The film didn’t really gain any ground, but made a truck load of cash and was critically accepted so a sequel was given a green light.

In 2014, The Amazing Spider-Man 2 was released to the worst reviews a Spidey film has ever received. From there it seemed as if Sony had officially lost their spidey sense. They were planning on doing films featuring the Sinister Six, Black Cat, Venom and even Aunt Mae. That is until Marvel Studios President Kevin Feige sat down with Producer Amy Pascal and miraculously worked out a deal for Spider-Man to join the Marvel Cinematic Universe.

The wall-crawler was set to join Captain America, Black Panther and Iron Man in 2016’s Captain America: Civil War. There was a new star playing our favorite Web Slinger: Tom Holland. It was also the youngest version of Peter Parker to hit the big screen. To make a long story short, Holland nailed it and everyone became ripe with anticipation for his solo film. I recently got a chance to check out Spider-Man: Homecoming and I’ll give you guys my thoughts down below.

Spider-Man: Homecoming felt like a new beginning for the Spider-Man franchise. The John Hughes-vibe and the gut-busting humor absolutely nailed it for me. The film’s plot is very simple, but does a very good job in surprising you when you least expect it. The film properly builds upon the universe what Marvel has created, while building a niche for Spider-Man to handle. We meet Peter after he’s plucked out of obscurity, thrown into a Civil War between the Avengers and then dropped back home, something that is great because Homecoming basically plays as a continuation to Civil War and we get a peak inside of Peter’s life.

Tom Holland plays Peter Parker and Spider-Man like he was created by Stan Lee himself. His Spider-Man is a motor mouth that just won’t shut up. He’s smart, persistent and he just wants to do a good job as a hero. You get to see just what it would be like if a 15-year-old kid suddenly got super powers and Holland does an amazing job leading Homecoming. Robert Downey Jr. doesn’t have as big a role as the marketing would suggest, but his presence looms largely over the film. His performance as a father figure (or big brother) to Peter has really evolved since last summer’s Civil War. So, if you enjoyed that or just want to see very cool Iron Man moments, this is the film for you.

Michael Keaton comes into the movie and steals the show. Keaton plays Adrian Toomes so well that you almost forget that he was once Batman instead of the Vulture. His version of Toomes is a family man who’s just trying to survive, even if that means doing some really bad things. Keaton’s Vulture is best villain in the Marvel Cinematic Universe that isn’t Loki.

Meanwhile, Jacob Batalon’s really shines in his humorous role of Peter Parker’s best friend, Ned Leeds. The rest of the supporting cast is truly remarkable as each actor brings something special to the film. Laura Harrier’s Liz Allen is an interesting choice for a love interest and she really helps push the film forward while Zendaya’s Michelle is a very comical, introverted character who doesn’t give a damn, but you can tell is secretly crushing on Peter.

Overall thoughts: With its very diverse cast, great performances, humorous plot and a very strong antagonist, Spider-Man: Homecoming finds a way to make to make you laugh and have a really good time at the theater. Homecoming has become my personal favorite Spider-Man film and I’m very anxious to see it again. It finds a way to differentiate itself from previous Spider-Man films and somehow become the best Spider-Man film ever. Go watch it and take the kids. This is something that they need to see.

Rating: 9.5/10

Directed by: Jon Watts

Produced by: Kevin Feige, Amy Pascal

Screenplay by: Jonathan Goldstein & John Francis Daley and Jon Watts & Christopher Ford and Chris McKenna & Erik Sommers

Based on the Marvel Comic Book by: Stan Lee and Steve Ditko

Executive Producers: Louis D’Esposito, Victoria Alonso, Patricia Whitcher, Jeremy Latcham, Stan Lee

Cast: Tom Holland, Michael Keaton, Zendaya, Jon Favreau, Donald Glover, Tyne Daly with Marisa Tomei and Robert Downey Jr.

A young Peter Parker/Spider-Man (Tom Holland), who made his sensational debut in Captain America: Civil War, begins to navigate his newfound identity as the web-slinging super hero in Spider-Man: Homecoming. Thrilled by his experience with the Avengers, Peter returns home, where he lives with his Aunt May (Marisa Tomei), under the watchful eye of his new mentor Tony Stark (Robert Downey, Jr.). Peter tries to fall back into his normal daily routine – distracted by thoughts of proving himself to be more than just your friendly neighborhood Spider-Man – but when the Vulture (Michael Keaton) emerges as a new villain, everything that Peter holds most important will be threatened.

Spider-Man: Homecoming hits theaters on July 7, 2017.

7 Big Potential Changes For The Marvel Cinematic Universe After ‘Avengers 4’

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Marvel Studios President Kevin Feige has officially said he’s holding back on reveals about the Marvel Cinematic Universe until after Avengers 4. With Feige holding information close to the chest, it seems likely big changes are set to hit the MCU soon.

Now that the MCU is more than fifteen films strong, I expect new characters and dramatic team shakeups soon so fans stay invested. There are a lot of things I wish could happen to the MCU, but I’m only talking about things I consider a real possibility here. Yeah, I’d love for the X-Men and the Fantastic Four to join the MCU, but I don’t expect that anytime soon. At the moment, Captain America and Wolverine will never hit the trenches together, but just know that would be number 1 on my list if Fox and Disney had a better relationship.

Hit Next to learn about some of the changes I think are coming to the Marvel Cinematic Universe in the near future!

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The post ‘Spider-Man: Homecoming’ Review: Marvel & Spidey’s Best appeared first on Heroic Hollywood.

‘War For The Planet Of The Apes’ Review: A Wonderful Conclusion To The Trilogy

*Spoiler-Free Review*

Picking up a couple of years after the events of Dawn of the Planet of the Apes, Caesar (Andy Serkis) and his ape colony are now engaged in a full-on war with an army of ruthless humans, led by Woody Harrelson’s vicious Colonel. Locked in an epic battle to determine the planet’s future, Caesar must overcome his inner darkness when things look their bleakest to save his tribe and lead them to the promised land.

I am a massive fan of this franchise, going all the way back to the original five films in the series, which began with the original 1968 Planet of the Apes starring Charlton Heston (What? A Tim Burton remake? I have no idea what you’re talking about). Honestly, I would consider the Apes series one of my all-time favorite franchises, apart from Star Wars and the Marvel Cinematic Universe (and hopefully, one day, the DCEU). The last two films in this current iteration, Rise and Dawn, were far greater than an Apes fan like myself ever could have hoped for. They have become true favorites of mine, which is why War is a film that I’ve been looking forward to for a very long time.

If this movie succeeds at what it set out to do, this trio of films could secure its place in the same conversation as the original Star Wars trilogy, Lord of the Rings, the Captain America movies and Nolan’s Dark Knight films in the upper echelon of the greatest trilogies of all time. So, the question now is, is War for the Planet of the Apes good enough to cement that legacy? Read on to find out…

Also read: ‘War For The Planet Of The Apes’ Featurette Highlights Motion-Capture Performances

The first thing that immediately comes to mind when thinking about these films is the incredible visual effects work, which is always driven by phenomenal motion-capture performances, headed up by the mo-cap king himself, Andy Serkis. Serkis is consistently fantastic in these types of roles. I’ve loved him as Gollum, King Kong and even Supreme Leader Snoke, but I truly believe that he has deserved an Oscar for his portrayal as Caesar these past three films. It’s probably not gonna happen, but it totally should. The fact that he can get you to fall in love with this character as much as he has is a real testament to an absolutely brilliant and incredibly powerful performance.

As is well established by now, Caesar is a true leader, with his fellow apes’ best interest always at the forefront of his mind. He definitely stands his ground when he needs to, but what really makes him such a likable character is that he can also be merciful, and even compassionate, when it’s the right thing to do. Unlike the more vengeful Koba (Toby Kebbell), Ceasar’s goal has never been to just exterminate the human race, but to always seek a way to co-exist with them while ensuring the safety of his people. His beautifully-depicted history with James Franco’s character Will from the first film has dictated how he has dealt with humans up to this point, however, it’s all the more difficult to keep those values in mind considering what he and his fellow apes face this time around.

Caesar exhibits a real sense of brotherhood with the members of his tribe (“Apes together strong.”). This is especially apparent with his closest allies: Maurice the wise orangutan (beautifully brought to life once again by Karin Konoval), fellow chimp in arms Rocket (Terry Notary, the series’ brilliant ape movement choreographer and also a fellow King Kong veteran with Serkis, having played the role in Kong: Skull Island earlier this year) and the fierce gorilla Luca (Michael Adamthwaite, who adeptly took over the role from Scott Lang for this film). However, the real heart of Caesar’s journey this time around stems from his immense love for his family: his loving wife Cornelia (Judy Greer), their eldest son Blue Eyes (Max Lloyd-Jones), who now has grown fully into adulthood, and their youngest son Cornelius (Devyn Dalton), who is still just a small child.

As usual, the entire mo-cap cast is just terrific, with Serkis, Konoval and Notary, of course, being the clear stand-outs as the only performers to appear in all three of these films since Rise. As much as I love the premise and world of these movies, it’s their performances that really elevate these films to the next level.

Also read: ‘War For The Planet Of The Apes’ Clip Introduces Caesar To ‘Bad Ape’

One of the things that was apparent from the get-go with this film is that it is super dark, easily the darkest of the trilogy. It’s incredibly emotional throughout and sometimes it just seems as if it won’t let up, but as bleak as it can get at times, there’s always a glimmer of hope shining through. Also, as dark as it is, there’s still a surprising amount of humor sprinkled here and there, mostly thanks to Steve Zahn’s new character, Bad Ape, who we are introduced to along the journey (he’s the Dobby-looking ape seen in the trailers). He’s the kind of character that I could see some of the more critical viewers getting annoyed with, but I thought he was just fantastic. He’s a really funny and endearing new addition to the series. I couldn’t help but smile whenever he was on-screen, his performance just felt so genuine.

Another excellent new addition is a human child the apes call Nova (an obvious nod to the original Planet of the Apes). Amiah Miller, the young actress playing Nova, was great. There’s a real sweetness and innocence to her character, despite the darkness of the world around her. She really added some much needed humanity that the two previous films definitely had but this one otherwise lacked. It’s a tough role to pull off due to some of the specifics of the role that I won’t get into here, but I thought Miller really nailed what was required of her. She may very well have a real future in this business already lined up for her, but we might need to see her in a couple more roles to be sure.

Ultimately, these films are all about apes’ evolution to become the dominant species on Earth, with mankind mostly being responsible for its own downfall. While the previous films had tons of human bad guys to root against, Woody Harrelson’s Colonel was really the only human antagonist this time around that actually mattered in the slightest, aside from one other soldier (played by Gabriel Chavarria) who is threaded throughout the film, the rest are all pretty much nameless and faceless. Woody made for a really great villain with an actually surprising arc. Following his story throughout the film is like a roller coaster where one moment you loathe him, then the next you kinda understand where he’s coming from and might even feel a twinge of sympathy for him, but then it’s right back to “Hey, screw that guy!”

Also read: New ‘War For The Planet Of The Apes’ TV Spot Wants You To Pick A Side

The film is beautifully shot (once again by Dawn cinematographer Michael Seresin), incorporating some gorgeous new scenery and landscapes. It was quite refreshing getting to visit the types of terrain that we have yet to see in these films, from the apes’ new home in a waterfall-obscured enclave (always excellent set design for the ape dwellings in these films) to the snow-covered mountain woodlands where Caesar’s journey takes him. Visually-speaking, though, my favorite shots were of the apes riding horseback on a beach at dusk. That really harkens back to the end of the original ’68 film. Composer Michael Giacchino also returns to deliver a wonderful and engrossing score that works hand-in-hand with all of this stunning imagery.

Matt Reeves did a tremendous job helming this film. He’s a director that really knows how to tell an incredibly emotional story well and keep you invested the whole time, masterfully incoporating all of these things — the marvelous visuals, the music, the characterizations, the action, the pure emotion — to get the absolute most out of every single little aspect of that world. While I was already a big fan of Reeves’ hiring to direct The Batman, this film left me even more stoked now to see him take on the Dark Knight next.

Reeves also proves himself to be a fantastic writer, having co-written the film with Mark Bomback (also returning from Dawn). The pair expertly handled this latest chapter in apes’ rise to prominance. The film introduces some new (for this trilogy, at least) concepts and plotpoints that are natural stepping stones to eventually lead back to the world as it’s seen in the original ’68 POTA film. The film’s producers have already assured us that there will most likely be more movies in this franchise and I can’t wait to see this mythology continue on in future films until we eventually reach that familiar planet of apes.

Also read: Caesar Is Captured In New ‘War For The Planet Of The Apes’ Clip

While I feel this film was just about everything it needed to be, there were still a couple of things that irked me a tiny bit. It’s tough to really delve into most of them in a spoiler-free format like this, but I’ll just say that there are certain things that have been set up that never really get paid off in this film to the extent it seemed like they should have been. Some of those were even things that were set up in the previous films. I still loved the movie we got, but it would have been even better to see everything come full circle. I also think the title might be a little misleading (actually, the title of one of the earlier film’s in this storied franchise, had it not already been taken, would have been a bit more fitting).

Additionally, one major event happens towards the end of the film in which a character (a human) does something that didn’t really seem in line with how that character behaved throughout the entirety of the movie. That was a bit of a headscratcher for me. It left me wondering what the point of that was. Furthermore, I was a bit perplexed as to what the message of that moment was really meant to be. It was a big moment, but at the end of the day, it doesn’t really change the outcome of what needed to happen in the story, so it wasn’t quite disappointing enough to effect my overall enjoyment of the film. Sorry to be so vague on these points, but it’s really the only way to express my negatives without spoiling the film.

As a whole, War for the Planet of the Apes is a wonderful conclusion to this trilogy. Up until now, I have always had trouble determining which film I like better, Rise or Dawn. I just love both so much. Now, with War, there’s another contender. I’m not sure if this one will end up being my favorite when I look back on these films years from now, but War certainly deserves to stand side-by-side with the first two. In fact, this might even be my new all-time favorite trilogy, apart from Star Wars, of course. At the very least, its one of the strongest trilogies we’ve ever seen as a whole, with no real weak link between the three films. Whether you’re a diehard or casual Planet of the Apes fan, and especially if you’ve enjoyed the two previous installments, this is a film you absolutely cannot miss. It’s definitely worth checking out on the big screen.

Score: 9/10

War for the Planet of the Apes hits theaters Friday, July 14, 2017.

Top 10 Movie Trailers From This Summer That Will Fire You Up

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Every year, an avalanche of trailers, teasers, TV spots flood the Internet, trying to grab the attention of busy and overstimulated audiences. It’s gotten to the point where now, trailers are such a commodity, that the trailers themselves have teasers. There’s a reason: trailers, when they’re good, can be an artform all their own.

I love trailers, being the guy who is always rushing his friends and family to the theater early “so we don’t miss the previews.” Every summer, I make a YouTube playlist of my favorites that acts as my own personal radio station because frankly, sometimes, I vibe more to how the trailer is cut than the music in it or, in bad cases, the movies themselves when I finally catch them on-screen. It’s gotten to the point that I imagine and dream in a trailer format, with music setting the pace for a smash-cut of scenes that I want to write or just enjoy the fantasy of.

If you love a good trailer like I love a good trailer, this list is for you. Here’s what I consider the top 10 trailers for the summer 2017. Click Next to start!

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The post ‘War For The Planet Of The Apes’ Review: A Wonderful Conclusion To The Trilogy appeared first on Heroic Hollywood.

‘Baby Driver’ Review: A Hilarious, Full Throttle, Toe-Tappin’ Blast

*Spoiler-Free Review*

Baby (Ansel Elgort) is incredibly talented behind the wheel of a car, but he has simply fallen in with the wrong crowd. Having endured a terrible accident as a child that permanently damaged his hearing, he has to listen to music at all times to drown out the constant ringing in his ears while working as a getaway driver to pay off his debts and finally free himself from his obligations to a dangerous criminal (Kevin Spacey) so that he can hit the road with his new girlfriend (Lily James).

Any year in which there is an Edgar Wright film slated for release, that film automatically earns itself a spot in my top 10 most anticipated films of that year. Edgar Wright is, hands-down, my favorite director working today, going all the way back to his work on the British sitcom Spaced, and I have loved every film he has directed so far, Shaun of the Dead being one of my favorite movies of all time. While none of his films have been huge financial successes, all of them have been received exceptionally well critically (in fact, none of his directorial efforts have fallen below 80% on Rotten Tomatoes). For all of those reasons and more, I was very much looking forward to Baby Driver.

There’s nothing quite like a good Edgar Wright movie. So, has Wright done it once again or might Baby Driver be his first real swing and a miss? Read on to find out…

Also read: Edgar Wright Talks ‘Baby Driver’, The Music & Influences Behind The Film

When I first heard the synopsis for Baby Driver, I immediately recognized the potential a story like this has in the hands of an Edgar Wright. The tinitus angle (the ringing in the ears) is such a brilliant plotpoint and it’s used to great effect in this movie. We’ve seen a ton of getaway driver movies, but the musical aspect of the story is what really makes this film unique. Wright is such a brilliant writer and director, and for my money, no one blends sound and imagery together quite like he does, but Baby Driver takes that to a whole new level. The way Wright encorporates the action, the car chases, the shootouts, even the simple movement of characters, and choreographs it all seemlessly to the soundtrack is truly awe-inspiring. It all adds up to make the whole thing that much more impressive to behold.

Wright is such a detail-oriented director with even the subtlest of things, like a piece of graffiti on a wall in the background that corresponds to a lyric in a song. It’s the kind of film that makes you wanna turn right back around and watch it again to pick up on all of the little nuances. Baby Driver is also Wright’s most serious movie to date, which isn’t saying a whole lot considering his catalogue, but there’s still plenty of humor throughout. It’s actually a really funny movie, with the humor always deriving authentically from the characters first and foremost, which is important. I can’t think of a single joke in the movie that didn’t land with me or the audience I saw the film with as a whole.

As far as the acting goes, the film is perfectly cast across the board. I actually wasn’t familiar with Ansel Elgort’s work prior to this film, so he was the one big question mark for me. I knew Wright wouldn’t have cast him if he wasn’t the absolute perfect person to pull off this role, but the entire film really hinges on his performance, so I was thouroughly pleased to see just how insanely charming and likeable he was as Baby. He brought a real warmth and liveliness to the character which immediately endears himself to you. Even when he‘s stonewalling the other characters due to an inherent lack of social graces he is completely captivating.

The character has a rough past that is illuminated upon in the film, but one of the things I really loved about him is his incredibly touching relationship with his deaf, wheelchair-bound foster father Joseph (CJ Jones), who Baby now takes care of. Their bond tells you everything you need to know about who Baby is deep down. He’s got a big heart. I mean, as if you couldn’t already love Baby enough. He’s just such a wonderfully well-rounded character that you can’t not root for even if you tried.

Also read: Seven New ‘Baby Driver’ Character Posters Officially Released

Now, yes, Baby Driver is technically a crime movie, but at it’s emotional core, it’s really a love story. Edgar Wright is always great about disguising these types of human stories inside of a genre film (Shaun of the Dead was, in actuality, a rom-zom-com). That being said, the other big determining factor as to the success of this film is the relationship between Baby and Lily James’ character, a waitress named Debora whom he meets and immediately falls for. Honestly, it would be hard not to fall for her. Like Baby, she wins you over from the second she hits the screen. She and Baby have instant chemistry that is absolutely adorable and you immediately want things to work out for them. It would be so easy for this character to just be your average stereotypical love interest, but Wright has written the character so well and James just kills it in this film. You truly believe a girl like her would fall for a guy like him.

I also loved Kevin Spacey’s character, the criminal mastermind Doc. He can be pretty tough to read most of the time, but as each additional layer is peeled back you just become more and more fascinated with what this guy is really all about. Baby is his good luck charm, but as the story progresses, all of that changes, but what is even cooler is that everything continues to shift gears throughout the entire movie, and not only with Doc, but with most of the characters. It was so refreshing to not be able to see where this film is going 90% of the time. I was genuinely taken by surprise and even shocked at times by a lot of the big twists and reveals in the film, which is hardly ever the case these days, sadly.

Jon Hamm was the guy I was most looking forward to seeing in this film. I’m a big fan of his and he was outstanding as the exceedingly charming lowlife Buddy, who turned out to be the most surprising character in the entire film. Outside of Baby and Debora, I loved his character’s story the most. The gorgeous Eiza González was equally fantastic as Buddy’s partner-in-crime-and-life, Darling (these are all code names, by the way). Jamie Foxx’s appropriately named character Bats is perhaps the biggest scumbag of the bunch and Foxx pulls this off exceptionally well. He’s really funny in the film, but it’s his maniacal cold-blooded ruthlessness that really puts you on edge whenever he’s sharing the screen with the characters you care for. Lanny Joon and Flea (of the Red Hot Chili Peppers) also make for hilarious additions to the cast as members of this criminal enterprise.

I would be really hardpressed to point out very many negatives in the film, but if I had to really point one out, it would be that I really could have used more of Jon Bernthal’s character, Griff. It appears as if he is being set up as a key character at the beginning of the film, but then he quickly fades away and disappears from the story entirely, seemingly for no good reason, especially for an actor of his status at the moment. What’s even more peculiar is that Jamie Foxx’s character seems to step in to fullfill all of the things that it appeared Bernthal was being set up to do. It’s almost as if the actor simply wasn’t available anymore and they had to find a way to replace him, which, who knows, that very well could have been the case.

Also read: ‘Baby Driver’: New Featurette Showcases How Music Drives The Film

I do wanna also point out that the film was shot in Atlanta, and as someone who grew up in Atlanta and still lives there to this day, I was legitimately surprised by just how much the city really lent itself to the overall world of the film and the lives of the characters involved. They shoot stuff in Atlanta all the time (just about every Marvel film these days shoots here), but the films and TV shows themselves are hardly ever actually set there (except for The Walking Dead, of course, and obviously, Atlanta). I didn’t even realize Baby Driver was actually set in Atlanta until I saw the film, and even I was taken aback by that, but it actually made for the perfect setting to this story. There’s tons of things and places that Atlanta natives will instantly recognize, but it’s all stuff that will still work for the uninitiated and it’s all used perfectly to inform the audience on the characters themselves.

I will say, though, as an Atlanta native and a HUGE fan of Outkast, I’m utterly ashamed that I did not spot Big Boi, one-half of my all-time favorite rap group, who appears in a cameo in the film alongside fellow Atlanta native and rapper Killer Mike. I really could have used an Outkast song on the soundtrack though (come on, they did it on Atlanta). Big Boi is featured on one of the original songs on the soundtrack, though, so that’s pretty sweet.

Speaking of, let’s talk about the music, which is pretty much non-stop thoughout the entire movie. With an impressive 30 songs featured on the soundtrack, it’s an insanely eclectic assortment of tracks. The best part is that every song is actually part of the story, either playing in Baby’s headphones, or through stereos or jukeboxes. I loved how each song seems important to the moment at hand and each one feels like it actually means something to the lead character. Baby is a true music aficionado, it’s more than just a way to drown out the ringing in his ears. Plus, he’s a musician in his own right, making his own tracks using a really cool rig created for the film by Canadian DJ Kid Koala. This actually works its way into the story in a really interesting way, leading to one of the film’s more intense moments. I love Guardians of the Galaxy as much as the next guy, but Baby Driver truly has the best soundtrack of the year, a definite must-buy. Personal standout tracks for me include Beck’s “Debra,” “Radar Love” by Golden Earring, and, of course, Simon & Garfunkel’s “Baby Driver.” And, oh hell yeah, there’s some Queen in there too!

When all was said and done, I ended up freakin’ LOVING this movie! The music, the action, the characters, the drama, the humor, the romance, Baby Driver really has it all. This might even be my favorite Edgar Wright film since Shaun of the Dead. I already know it’s going to wind up in my top 10 films of the year (it’ll easily land right up at the top alongside Logan and Get Out, if not at number one). I truly can’t wait for this film to officially hit theaters so I can go right back out and see it again. If you’re an Edgar Wright fan like myself or just want to get swept away in a whirlwind of car chases, shootouts and hilarity, then you definitely wanna check this one out!

Score: 9.5/10

Baby Driver hits theaters Wednesday, June 28, 2017.

Top 10 Movie Trailers From This Summer That Will Fire You Up

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Every year, an avalanche of trailers, teasers, TV spots flood the Internet, trying to grab the attention of busy and overstimulated audiences. It’s gotten to the point where now, trailers are such a commodity, that the trailers themselves have teasers. There’s a reason: trailers, when they’re good, can be an artform all their own.

I love trailers, being the guy who is always rushing his friends and family to the theater early “so we don’t miss the previews.” Every summer, I make a YouTube playlist of my favorites that acts as my own personal radio station because frankly, sometimes, I vibe more to how the trailer is cut than the music in it or, in bad cases, the movies themselves when I finally catch them on-screen. It’s gotten to the point that I imagine and dream in a trailer format, with music setting the pace for a smash-cut of scenes that I want to write or just enjoy the fantasy of.

If you love a good trailer like I love a good trailer, this list is for you. Here’s what I consider the top 10 trailers for the summer 2017. Click Next to start!

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The post ‘Baby Driver’ Review: A Hilarious, Full Throttle, Toe-Tappin’ Blast appeared first on Heroic Hollywood.

‘Cars 3’ Review: “Life’s A Beach & Then You Drive”

Lightning McQueen is back in Cars 3, but a new generation of race-cars is hot on his tail and ready to disrupt everything he’s worked to achieve. In many ways, Cars 3 is Pixar’s Rocky IV. We see our hero badly beaten by an athlete who relies on technology instead of hard, dirty work forcing audiences to ask themselves if an old car can learn new tricks.

Cars 3 examines the pressures many older athletes feel as they reach a certain point in their careers. McQueen is bombarded with merchandise requests from his new sponsor Mr. Sterling, voiced by Nathan Fillion, and is constantly reminded that he isn’t as technologically capable as his new, young competitors. It’s a nice turn-around for a character that is used to being the best-of-the-best as he forces himself to keep up with all the change taking place around him.

Change, especially generational change, is one of Cars 3’s central themes. As Lightning and his contemporaries are slowly pushed out of the sport by the newer cars, the story looks backwards at some of the racers who laid the foundation for Lightning and the rookies. Audiences are given a little crash-course on the history of racing in a way that highlights the fact that things always change and evolve. Yesterday’s rookies are today’s seniors and that’s okay because each of them has new experiences to look forward to as they move forward.

In many ways, Cars 3 is as much about Cruz Ramirez as it is Lightning McQueen. Ramirez is a trainer at the update Rusteze with a life-long dream of being a racer herself. Comedian Cristela Alonzo does a wonderful job of bringing the kind-spirited Ramirez to the big-screen and she is a welcome addition to the Cars family. Ramirez is an inspiring character who comes to realize her full potential throughout the movie and finally believes in herself. While Ramirez is obviously a female car, the movie does a great job of making sure the gender aspect never feels like an important factor. Ramirez is an amazing driver and as a result of her skills and determination she is able to catapult herself to greatness. Expect Ramirez to be a big part of any upcoming sequels because she was easily the stand-out.

Part of the movie follows Lightning McQueen accepting his fate and transitioning into a new life phase that includes coaching Ramiez. It provides a nice parallel to Lightning’s experiences with Doc Hudson in the first film and is a nice opportunity to push Lightning in a new direction. Unfortunately, the themes of mentor-ship that are established throughout the film are essentially cast away in the last 45 seconds. Instead of settling into his new role, Lightning dons a fresh coat of blue paint (so Disney can sell limited edition blue Lightning McQueens) and decides to jump back into the racing game. All of the emotional growth that Lightning experiences is cast aside and he’s quickly pigeon-holed back into a familiar position. It’s a shame too because if the inevitable Cars 4 focused on Lightning learning how to be a coach instead of once again trying to relive his glory days, it would add a fresh perspective to a repetitive franchise.

The main “villain” of the movie, Stormy Jackson, voiced by Armie Hammer, was a simple character with an extremely one-dimensional personality. For a studio that puts so much emphasis on trying to make audiences empathize with every character- even the antagonists- Jackson is extremely unlikable. He’s beyond cocky and his disrespectful attitude towards McQueen and Ramirez persists until the end of the film. At least in other Pixar movies were given an explanation as to why the villains are bad, typically some form of abandonment, but Jakckson is just a dick because the script needed a rude villain.

As is expected from a Pixar film, Cars 3 has some incredible animation.  First time director Brian Fee, who started with Pixar story boarding on Cars, did a great job of taking the reign of the franchise from veteran director John Lasseter and guiding the story to new places. Each character is rendered beautifully and their eyes still creep me out. The lighting and color do a great job of shifting to match each new environment the characters find themselves in, ensuring no two locations or tracks look the same. I haven’t seen a new Pixar movie since Toy Story 3, but let me just say that Randy Newman’s score drew me right in and made me feel at home. Even though it’s been a few years since audiences last saw these characters, the score perfectly represents how each character is feeling at key moments throughout the film.

It’s hard for me to really rank this movie because I’m clearly not in the target demographic. The screening I saw was full of kids laughing and clapping along with the action, so if you have some younger family members you want to entertain for the afternoon, I definitely recommend taking them to see Cars 3 because they will love it. But if you’re just trying to catch a movie with some friends or on a date, I say you should wait until it’s on Netflix in a few months. It’s not the worst Pixar movie I’ve ever seen, but it’s no-where near the top of the list. It was also the Cars movie that featured Larry the Cable Guys’ Mater the least, so maybe that’s why I didn’t enjoy it? Regardless, I have one final piece of Mater wisdom for all you fine readers: Git-r-done, folks. Git-r-done.

7 Animated Marvel Movies That Should Be Made

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There are a lot of great Marvel stories that won’t get live-action adaptations. Now, DC dominates the animated movie side of things, but now that Marvel has Disney behind them they should start developing a few direct-to-video projects.

Sony is releasing an animated Spider-Man movie in 2018 featuring Miles Morales instead of Peter Parker, a smart way to introduce the fun character to a larger audience. Some stories just don’t need live-action adaptions, but that doesn’t mean they shouldn’t be turned into animated features. Modern 2D animation is looking better than ever, and I think the Mouse House need to invest a little bit of time into these endeavors.

So here are my top 7 Marvel stories that should be turned into animated movies. I know some of these characters might be owned by studios other than Disney, so Fox and Sony should be paying attention also. Are yours not on the list? Well, hit the comment section and shout them out. Hit Next to find out more!

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The post ‘Cars 3’ Review: “Life’s A Beach & Then You Drive” appeared first on Heroic Hollywood.

‘The Mummy’ Review: An Action-Packed & Surprisingly Scary Good Time

*Spoiler-Free Review*

When an ancient tomb is discovered beneath the desert, the mummified princess inside (Sofia Boutella) awakens to reclaim her destiny that was taken from her so long ago, but in order to complete her ritual, she will need to sacrifice a human life and she has her many-pupiled eyes set on one particularly unlucky adventurer (Tom Cruise).

With The Mummy, Universal begins their new shared cinematic universe, which they have dubbed the “Dark Universe,” featuring rebooted versions of all of their classic Universal Monsters. As a horror fan, I have long been looking forward to this movie and seeing how they plan on kickstarting this new series of films. So, does The Mummy do a good enough job of setting the table for the likes of Frankenstein, Dracula, The Creature from the Black Lagoon, The Wolf Man and more to come along and scare a whole new generation of movie-goers? Read on to find out…

Also read: New ‘The Mummy’ Promo Teases Fate Worse Than Death For Tom Cruise’s Hero

First and foremost, this is an action movie, and if there’s one thing we’ve come to expect from a Tom Cruise movie lately, it’s that there are going be a ton of great action sequences. This film did not let up in that department at all. It seemed as though not ten full minutes would go by without an intense, full-throttle action sequence taking place, and that made for a really fun movie-going experience. In recent years, Cruise has made a real effort to give movie-goers as big a bang for their buck as humanly possible, putting his body on the line to pull off insane and incredibly ambitious stunts, and the plane crash sequence early on in this film is no exception. However, in addition to some terrific action and adventure, as well as some great humor, I thought the horror elements also really worked. The Brendan Fraser Mummy movies didn’t really play this stuff up nearly enough for my liking, so I was pleased to see that horror is still very much a part of these films going forward. As a lifelong horror fan, it’s kind of hard to phase me anymore, but this film made me jump a couple times, so that’s always a plus for me.

As always, Cruise gives a solid performance as Nick Morton, a soldier turned treasure hunter who stumbles upon the find of a lifetime in the Iraqi desert. That being said, however, it sometimes doesn’t really feel like Cruise is playing a character anymore, rather than just being Tom Cruise. That’s not a bad thing, though, if you’re a fan of his. He can pull off these action hero roles in his sleep, but I kind of would have liked to have seen him bring a little something new or different to the actual performance, rather than just focusing all of his attention on things like his latest death-defying feat. I did like that he was a little bit of a jerk, but I could have used a little more than just that.

Annabelle Wallis was fantastic as Jenny Halsey, an expert tasked with retrieving the mummy’s sarcophagus. She really stood her ground opposite some top tier performers here. She had a fun chemistry with Cruise, but I do wish the character was written a little better. She’s a million times smarter than any of the men in the film, and I loved that, but I would have liked for her to have been a bit more proactive in certain scenes, especially in some of the later action-centric moments. I appreciated that they were harkening back to classic Raiders-like adventure stories, but nowadays, I like my damsels in a little less distress. That aside, with the way the character is tied into the overall story of this film: I would really like to see Wallis return for future films. I think she brings a lot to the table that the Dark Universe can definitely utilize.

I was surprised to see Jake Johnson (who I love on New Girl and in Jurassic World) in the film. Having avoided as many of the later trailers as I could (they just spoil too much these days), I didn’t even know he was in it. I thought he added a great dynamic to the film as the comedic third wheel between Nick and Jenny. I don’t want to spoil anything, but I also really enjoyed what they did with his character throughout the film. It was something that, even aside from my ignorance on Johnson’s involvement in the film, I had not anticipated going in. He was probably my favorite part. Just him as a character (and Johnson as an actor) made me forgive things that probably would have bugged me a lot more if I didn’t like the casting as much. Certain plot points with this character could have easily fallen flat in less capable hands.

Also read: ‘The Mummy’ Stills Offer A Look At The Ancient Evil & Action To Come

I thought it was a really cool idea to go with a female mummy for this iteration of a franchise that has been around since the 1930s. I’ve loved Sofia Boutella in both Kingsman: The Secret Service and Star Trek Beyond, but both of those roles were a bit limited in showing us what she can really do as an actress. I’ve been eager to see more from her, so I was really interested in seeing what she was going to do as the mummy, Princess Ahmet, in this film. I thought she did a wonderful job of bringing this incredibly powerful and super creepy monster to life. Boutella has such a great on-screen presence, especially for roles of this nature. I also thought the mummy’s design was awesome. She was everything that Enchantress should have been in Suicide Squad without all the gyrating.

There’s no denying that Courtney B. Vance (who won an Emmy last year for his portrayal of Johnnie Cochran in The People v. O.J. Simpson: American Crime Story) is a great actor, but I feel like he was mostly wasted here in his role as Colonel Greenway. It was pretty much your stereotypical Army Colonel that any physically or authoritatively imposing actor in the right age range could have pulled off, but I can’t really fault them for filling the role with talent. While he plays the part well, I just would have liked to have seen him do more.

Finally, I loved Russell Crowe’s take on Dr. Henry Jekyll. He struck just the right balance in his performance, as one would expect for such a storied character. Establishing someone like Crowe in this role sets up a lot of potential for the future of this franchise and his organization surely has a larger role to play. Now, I don’t consider this a spoiler, because it’s still too early to tell exactly how this Dark Universe will unfold, but one of the things that I found most interesting about Jekyll’s appearance here is that he can actually be used in two different ways: as Dr. Jekyll, he could essentially be the Nick Fury of this universe, enlisting heroes to take on all the monsters of the world, or as Mr. Hyde, he could be the one to bring all of the monsters together for one hell of a monster mash. Either way, I’m totally down for that!

Also read: ‘The Mummy’ Briefcase Reveals Dr. Jekyll’s Notes & Research

I thought the film was beautifully shot. Alex Kurtzman did an exceptional job directing in only his second big screen effort. This has a much larger scope than his first film, People Like Us, so I was impressed by his ability to helm a film on a comparable scale to some of the blockbusters he’s known for writing alongside his former partner Roberto Orci and I was relieved that it’s a lot better than some of those (see: the Transformers movies, Star Trek Into Darkness, or even **shudder** The Amazing Spider-Man 2). The CG is used really effectively, and for the most part, it looked pretty good. One of the things that really stood out to me was the set design. The tombs and underground sets were all phenomenal, and there was a creepy cobblestone alley that really evoked that classic Universal monster movie vibe for me. The best part, though, was Jekyll and company’s secret headquarters beneath the National History Museum referred to as “Prodigium.” This is an awesome location that makes for a perfect home base for all of the stories in this universe. There are also some pretty sweet Easter eggs for keen-eyed viewers.

Taking a moment to hit upon a few of my issues, some of the character motivations were left a bit uncertain. I could have used a tiny bit more explanation on a couple of plot points, especially in terms of the mummy’s plan, beyond just her goals of obtaining that thing that every single villain ever wants, “ultimate power.” I also could have used a tad more backstory for a couple characters. There were a couple of instances of some really uninspired dialogue. Certain one-liners or retorts maybe could have used a second pass. And this film definitely didn’t need to be in 3D. IMAX, sure, but the 3D was barely even worth it, aside from the incredible plane crash scene.

Overall, I really enjoyed The Mummy. I think that this was an excellent start to the “Dark Universe,” a name that might not stick with a possible lawsuit in Universal’s near future (wish I could say it’s not too late to change it, but they’re already pot-committed, with a massive Dark Universe logo at the start of the film). I do love a good monster movie, though, and I think this one checked just about every box I had for it going in. The action, adventure, humor, and horror all blended together perfectly. I’m really excited to see where the rest of this universe goes, but if the subsequent films are anywhere near as strong as this one, I’ll be one happy horror nerd.

Score: 8/10

The Mummy hits theaters Friday, June 9th, 2017.

Top 10 Movie Trailers From This Summer That Will Fire You Up

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Every year, an avalanche of trailers, teasers, TV spots flood the Internet, trying to grab the attention of busy and overstimulated audiences. It’s gotten to the point where now, trailers are such a commodity, that the trailers themselves have teasers. There’s a reason: trailers, when they’re good, can be an artform all their own.

I love trailers, being the guy who is always rushing his friends and family to the theater early “so we don’t miss the previews.” Every summer, I make a YouTube playlist of my favorites that acts as my own personal radio station because frankly, sometimes, I vibe more to how the trailer is cut than the music in it or, in bad cases, the movies themselves when I finally catch them on-screen. It’s gotten to the point that I imagine and dream in a trailer format, with music setting the pace for a smash-cut of scenes that I want to write or just enjoy the fantasy of.

If you love a good trailer like I love a good trailer, this list is for you. Here’s what I consider the top 10 trailers for the summer 2017. Click Next to start!

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The post ‘The Mummy’ Review: An Action-Packed & Surprisingly Scary Good Time appeared first on Heroic Hollywood.

’Gotham’: ‘Destiny Calling’/’Heavydirtysoul’ Review

Gotham opens up with right where we left off in last week’s episode as the virus bomb has been unleashed on Gotham City. At the station, we see the criminals breaking out of their cages and taking down cops, while Jim, who is still under the effects of the virus, is trying to get in control of himself before Bullock finds him. Jim assures Bullock that he is fine, but Bullock asks Jim for his gun. Jim hands Bullock the gun while asking him if he has seen Leslie who got away when the bomb went off. They go to see Bruce as he is in the interrogation room while Bullock wonders if that really is the real Bruce. Alfred assures them that it’s his Bruce and wants to try and get through to him. Lucius walks in and asks for the officers to come with him. He believes that Hugo Strange has been working on an antidote and Jim asks if Hugo is still at the station. Bullock breaks down the deal he made with Alfred who got answers out of Hugo. While Jim walks away, Lucius is concerned about him, but Bullock believes that Jim can fight the virus.

Elsewhere, Nygma is, somehow, finding the city being in chaos incredibly beautiful as he praises the work of the Court of Owls. Barbara suggests that they take this opportunity to take over the city, but Nygma only wants to kill the Penguin who is with Fish. Nygma tries to get Barbara to help him again, but she won’t agree to it that easily. Barbara suggests that if he helps her get the city, she will happily help him.

At the train station, Hugo is trying to get away, but gets stopped by Fish Mooney who needs him. Fish tells him that she needs more of the virus and persuades him to help her. Bullock gets a phone call by Leslie who wants to talk with Jim as she is checking up on him to see if the virus has managed to take him over completely. Leslie tries to mess with Jim’s head, suggesting that soon the virus will take him over and set him free. Jim tries to focus while Leslie keeps rambling on before hanging up, promising him they will see each other soon. Bullock alerts Jim that someone spotted Hugo as he decides to go and investigate, while giving Jim his gun back, hoping that he won’t go wild with it. They catch up with Hugo and are surprised to see Fish there. Bullock and Jim demand her to hand Hugo over as he is the only solution to stop the virus infection. Hugo and Fish both notice that Jim has taken the virus while she asks him how it feels. Fish refuses to hand Hugo over as Mr. Freeze ice both Bullock and Jim’s hands. As Mr. Freeze gets ready to fire again, the virus begins to take Jim over as he stops Freeze from icing them both by accidentally getting a wall of ice created between the two parties.

Jim and Bullock try to figure out a way to get out of the ice block as Jim starts punching it, with his super-strength. The more he punches it, the worse Jim gets by the virus as he gets them out. They drive back to the station, where one of the detectives starts to get taken over by the virus before killing one of the officers.

Elsewhere, Mr. Freeze and Firefly are keeping watch at Hugo as they are toying with him before Oswald shows up, amused with Hugo’s situation. Oswald admits that he is partnering up with Fish as he admires the vision she has for Gotham City. He asks Hugo where the antidote is, but the smirking professor refuses to answer. Oswald recaps the “treatment” he got from Hugo at Arkham Asylum and reveals that he brought that same machine with him. Oswald puts it on Hugo who starts freaking out and wants to give them the answer, but Oswald wants to torture him first.

Back at the station, Alfred is doing everything he can to get through to Bruce, but he is still furious about Alfred killing the Shaman. As Alfred attempts to get Bruce to snap out of it, Bruce warns that a bigger force is coming, more dangerous than the Court of Owls. While Alfred tries to get through to him, Bruce wants the butler to leave, but Alfred refuses. Alfred starts telling Bruce a story from when Bruce was young, back when he still had Thomas and Martha while explaining to Bruce that the Shaman didn’t really help Bruce in getting vengeance for his parents. They start to hear the commotion that is going on outside as Alfred leaves the room to see what’s going on where the infected detective is firing at his colleagues. Lucius manages to knock the detective out before Alfred rushes back to Bruce who has escaped.

Fish and her gang are on their way to retrieve the virus and the antidote as Hugo shows them the way. Hugo hands them over six blue tubes that consist of a concentrated antidote. They head back out and find two of Fish’s men knocked out before a group of mysterious assassins emerge in front of them. One of them asks Fish to hand over the antidote before Firefly and Mr. Freeze try to blast the assassins with fire and ice. As Bullock and Jim are on their way, the virus starts to get worse within Jim as he begins barking orders at Bullock. They arrive as Jim starts taking the assassins out, one by one. But Jim accidentally drives his sword into Fish. As Fish is falling down, the antidote tubes fall out of her hands and gets destroyed. Oswald runs over to catch Fish who asks him for one final wish: either make sure that Oswald makes the city his or to burn it down before she passes away. Oswald, filled with rage, accuses Jim for being the true monster before almost getting choked to death by Jim. Bullock knocks Jim out from the behind as GCPD officers show up to arrest Hugo who assures Bullock that he can make more of the antidote, but needs just one thing.

The Mad Hatter is being transported, but Butch and Tabitha show up to kill the driver before kidnapping Jervis. They bring Jervis over to Nygma and Barbara who believe that Tetch is the key to taking over Gotham City, as Nygma is convinced that without him, Hugo can’t make the antidote.

Elsewhere, Bruce is observing his infected city, while Lucius and Alfred are following him. Bruce continues to walk down the streets of the city as he is looking for “The Demon’s Head”. He eventually arrives in front of a door with a dragon on it, with the word “Yuyan”. Bruce goes in and finds a path down to some mysterious tunnels. Alfred and Lucius arrive just a few minutes after him as Alfred walks into look for him. Bruce is suddenly surrounded by a group of assassins that are dressed the same way as the ones that attacked Fish and her gang. One of them points Bruce towards the gate behind the assassins as Bruce walks in and finds a mysterious green pit. A man in a mantle warns him to not touch it as he knew that the Shaman sent him. This man knows what is going on as he informs Bruce that he is the Demon’s Head that Bruce is searching for before introducing himself as Ra’s Al Ghul.

Ra’s is curious on why Bruce has come to him as Bruce explains that the Shaman told him that Ra’s could help Bruce with his training. But Ra’s is not sure if Bruce is truly ready as Bruce tries to convince him that he really is. Ra’s is also not happy with Bruce failing to obey the Shaman’s final order, but Bruce explains that Alfred got him distracted from fulfilling it. However, Ra’s is willing to give Bruce another chance. Two assassins show up with Alfred as Ra’s explains to Bruce that Alfred is his past as he needs Bruce to embrace the future. Ra’s hands Bruce a sword and instructs him to kill the butler. Bruce takes the sword while Alfred tries to get through to Bruce as he tells him the promise he made Thomas and Martha, to always look after him. Alfred tells Bruce that he loves him so much that if Bruce needs to kill him in order to fulfil his destiny, he will make that sacrifice for him. Bruce screams and drives the sword through Alfred.

Bruce begins to snap out of the mind-control and realizes what he has done as Alfred falls down. Alfred dies while Ra’s is laughing at Bruce. Bruce tries to find the Demon’s Head who is hiding in the shadows before disappearing. Bruce looks at the mysterious green pool and decides to use some of its water on Alfred’s wounds. Alfred suddenly wakes up as he is alive before Bruce gets him out of there.

Back at the abandoned station, Jim gets a call from Leslie again who is getting ready to leave Gotham City and wants him to come with her. Leslie makes Jim promise her to be there before she hangs up. Bullock shows up to get Jim caught up as Jim suggests that they hand Oswald to Barbara in exchange for Jervis, realizing that Jim doesn’t have much time left.

Nygma gets contacted by Jim who tells him the proposal while Butch and Tabitha are scheming. Barbara shows up before they all realize that Nygma is gone and so is Jervis. She starts freaking out at Butch and Tabitha before storming out. Oswald is being escorted by Bullock and Jim as he tries to reason with them. They bring him to the agreed meeting spot where they find Nygma and Jervis waiting for them. As Jim tries to make the exchange, Jervis notices that Jim is infected before Barbara and her gang crash the party. Nygma tosses a grenade at them as a gun fight starts while Oswald escapes in the GCPD car. Jim, Bullock and Jervis try to shake off the Sirens as Jim gets them into a warehouse.

Jervis warns Jim that the next time he uses his abilities the virus will take over completely as Jim tries to fight it. Jim realizes that they only need Jervis’ blood as he cuts him and gets away with Bullock. They bring the jar of blood back to the station as Bullock sees that Jim is getting worse. As Jim starts punching a bunch of lockers, Bullock delivers the news that the antidote is ready. He brings him to the lab as Jim starts demanding that he needs the scientist to make two samples, one for him and one for Leslie. Bullock tries to calm Jim down, assuring that they will have time to make another sample while also catching up with Leslie. Jim doesn’t think there is enough time and locks Bullock inside the lab.

Jim goes to Leslie’s apartment and finds her waiting for him as she notices that he is still fighting the virus. He tries to inject Leslie with the cure, but she doesn’t want it and wants Jim to let the virus take over. Leslie kisses him while destroying the antidote at the same time. They head to the train station as they are attempting to leave, but Bullock catches up with them both. Leslie begs Jim to not let Bullock stop what they have. Bullock tries to get through to Jim who starts attacking him. Jim lets Bullock live and leaves to go join Leslie onboard the train. As Jim looks behind his badge, he sees that Bullock planted a sample of the antidote and uses it to cure her. Leslie passes out before Jim uses the cure on himself.

Elsewhere, Nygma wakes up in the backseat of Oswald’s car and wonders what Oswald is planning to do with him. As Oswald rambles on while driving, Nygma slowly gets out of his cuffs while mocking Oswald who stops the car. Oswald tries to shoot him, but Nygma get the upper hand and steals the gun from him. Nygma brings Oswald to the docks at the same place where he attempted to kill him the first time. Oswald starts acting weird though as he doesn’t believe that Nygma will kill him. Nygma tries to pull the trigger, but finds out that the gun was empty. Ivy emerges from the behind as Oswald explains to Nygma that after he got knocked out, he contacted his army of freaks. Oswald knows how Nygma works and he isn’t planning on letting him out of his sight anytime soon as Mr. Freeze ices Nygma.

Back at the Sirens Club, tension is high as Barbara tells the others that they will split up and re-group later as she storms off. Butch isn’t willing to wait anymore as he wants to take her out and Tabitha agrees to help him. Later on, Barbara confronts Butch as she knew that he and Tabitha were plotting behind her back this whole time. Butch tries to distract Barbara before she shoots him in the head. Tabitha goes to see Barbara and Butch at the safe house, but only finds a mysterious box waiting for her, containing Butch’s hand. Barbara shows up behind her and aims a gun at Tabitha who asks if Butch was dead. Barbara asks Tabitha if Butch was telling her the truth that Tabitha had nothing to do with betraying her. Tabitha starts fighting Barbara who distracts her fellow Siren with a kiss before trying to knock her out. As Barbara is about to shoot her, Tabitha uses her whip to knock down a lamp into a pile of water as Barbara gets electrocuted and falls down.

While this was all going on, Bruce got Alfred to the emergency room where the doctors noticed the mysteriously half-healed wound, asking Bruce how he was able to close it.  Later on, Selina finds a devastated Bruce and asks if Alfred will be OK, but Bruce begs her to leave. Bruce starts yelling at Selina who decides to give up and leave. Alfred gets out of surgery, but is still in a coma as Bruce breaks down into tears. The next morning, we hear on the news that the threat of the Tetch virus has ended while Alfred wakes up. Bruce apologizes to Alfred for hurting him while admitting that thanks to the Shaman, he doesn’t really know what kind of man he is anymore. Alfred comforts Bruce by explaining that he needs to find his true mask and to let it guide him.

Tabitha gets visited by Selina who finds out that Barbara isn’t coming back. Selina is tired of just being a survivor and wants to be something more than that, hoping that Tabitha can help her. Tabitha decides to take Selina under her wing as she looks at Tabitha’s whip. Selina picks it up and uses it to try and destroy a bottle, which she does with success. Jim returns to Leslie’s apartment as he is looking for her, but finds a letter from her. As Jim reads Leslie’s letter to him, we cut to Nygma being all iced up while Butch (whose birth name is revealed to be something else) is somehow alive. Leslie reveals in the letter that she is leaving the city, not being sure if Gotham City truly deserves saving. But Leslie believes that Jim can save it and in return, the city could even save him, hoping that will one day bring him back to her. Jim goes to see Bullock who learns from Jim that Leslie has left the city.

Later that day, during the evening, a family gets stopped by a mugger who gets taken down by a masked man. We find out that it was none other than Bruce. A lot happened in tonight’s two-hour season finale of Gotham that we want to break down and discuss. So hit the NEXT button below and let’s go through some of the highlights and important moments of the Gotham Season 3 finale: “Destiny Calling” and “Heavydirtysoul”.

#9: Introduction Of Ra’s Al Ghul

#8: Death Of Fish Mooney

#7: Was Harley Quinn Just Introduced?

#6: The Penguin Vs The Riddler

#5: Butch’s DC Comics Connection Revealed

#4: Tabitha Takes Selina Under Her Wing

#3: Stopping The Virus

#2: Leslie’s Decision

#1: The Dark Knight Is Coming

The post ’Gotham’: ‘Destiny Calling’/’Heavydirtysoul’ Review appeared first on Heroic Hollywood.

‘Wonder Woman’ Review: Delivers Big With Heart, Humor & Hope

*Spoiler Free Review*

Thanks to Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice, the world has already met Gal Gadot’s Wonder Woman, but before she was known by that name, she was simply Diana, Princess of the Amazons. Trained from a young age to be an elite warrior, Diana is pulled into man’s world when an American pilot, Steve Trevor (Chris Pine), crashes onto the shores of Themyscira. Upon hearing of “the war to end all wars” that is currently underway, Diana realizes that only she can do something about it and sets out with Trevor to save man’s world.

With Wonder Woman, we are now four films into Warner Bros.’s DC Extended Universe. Man of Steel was the first and probably the best reviewed, but it still earned middling reactions from fans and critics alike. Batman v Superman and Suicide Squad did not fare as well. So, the question now is, how does Wonder Woman stack up? Could it finally be the DCEU’s first across the board success? Read on to find out…

Also read: Patty Jenkins Highlights Importance Of Telling Wonder Woman’s Origin Story

Let’s start with the setting. Now, I’m sure there might be some who aren’t really into the idea of this film being set during World War I. This decision has earned a lot of comparisons to Marvel’s Captain America: The First Avenger, which is fair, there’s a lot here that’s comparable to that film, but this character was born out of war and personally, I thought this was the perfect setting for Diana’s origin story. Sure, the character wasn’t created until the ’40s, and they could have set this film in World War II and gotten even more Cap comparisons, but I felt setting it in WWI was about more than just distancing this film from Steve Rogers’s first mission. This was the first war of its kind, on this kind of scale. The threat that this war poses to humanity is the perfect thing to draw the always compassionate Diana out of Themyscira and into man’s world. Just like how WWII was the perfect time and place for the birth of Cap, there’s no better way to announce this character to the rest of the world than when she first steps onto the battlefield here. Just as our world was changed by WWI, so is this world as she climbs the ladder to trek across no man’s land. Story wise, I thought this film was everything a Wonder Woman origin story should be.

Now, getting to one of the biggest questions leading into this film: how is Gal Gadot’s performance as Wonder Woman? I liked what I saw of the character in Batman v Superman, but I needed to see more to make my informed decision. While I liked Gadot a lot in this movie, it shouldn’t come as a shock to anyone if I said she’s not the best actress in the world. She certainly wasn’t horrible, in fact, I thought she was actually quite good at times, but there were a couple of brief moments in which I felt she was unable to elicit the raw emotions that said moment required (one particularly glaring moment, early on in the film, springs to mind). It’s unfortunate, though, because it really is just a couple of moments where her performance wasn’t up to snuff. Despite this, though, I still thought she made for a pretty great Wonder Woman overall. Gadot just has such a terrific presence on screen and she was especially convincing in all of the action scenes, which was the most important part for me, so I can forgive those one or two moments.

I hate to say this because I loved him in this film, but there might have been a little too much of Chris Pine’s Steve Trevor (it is supposed to be Wonder Woman’s movie after all). I can forgive that, though, because he was terrific, especially seeing as how the main reason for this was to help carry the film where Gadot’s performance could not. I thought he and Gadot had excellent chemistry together, lighting up the screen in both sweet moments and humorous ones. He really brought the best out of her in their shared moments.

Also read: Connie Nielsen Imagines What A Wonder Woman-Hippolyta Reunion Would Look Like

Back on Themyscira, the standouts there were definitely Connie Nielsen as Diana’s mother Queen Hippolyta and her sister, Diana’s aunt, General Antiope, as played by Robin Wright. They are Diana’s two closest relationships and they both have different, but equally important approaches for raising this young woman. I appreciated how the rest of the Amazonians all adopted Gal Gadot’s accent. She’s the character that has to go out there and continue on in this franchise, so by doing this they were essentially saying this is what this version of Wonder Woman is supposed to sound like. Also, while I’m on the opening of the movie, I would be remiss not to point out Lilly Aspell’s fantastic performance. She was just adorable as young Diana, immediately conditioning you to love this character.

I definitely could have used more of Etta Candy, Trevor’s secretary portrayed by Lucy Davis, in the film. She was terrific but a bit underused. She’s so much fun while she’s involved in the story, but at a certain point in the movie, she disappears almost completely. Almost coinciding with her exit, we’re introduced to Trevor’s team, made up of Saïd Taghmaoui as Sameer, Ewen Bremner as Charlie and Eugene Brave Rock as the Chief. These guys added some additional fun to the mission at hand and helped make up a bit for the lack of Etta Candy. Danny Huston and Elena Anaya both made for excellently twisted villains as General Erich Ludendorff and Doctor Maru, aka Doctor Poison, respectively. I also liked David Thewlis’ performance in his role as Sir Patrick Morgan. He added an interesting dynamic to the film’s proceedings. There were a couple nitpicky things that I would have done differently with him, but it’s hard to go into that without spoiling anything.

One of the more surprising aspects of the film for me was just how much humor there is in it. This film does not suffer from the same old gloom and doom approach that the DCEU films have adopted up until this point. Upping the comedy quota doesn’t always fix that problem, but in the case of this film, the comedy really worked. Most of the humor stemmed from the typical sort of misunderstandings of Diana experiencing life in this new world and that stuff worked like gangbusters for me. One of my favorite moments was between Diana and a street vendor, a moment I immediately recognized as it was ripped straight from the pages of the comics.

It addition to the humor, what really helps this film stand apart tonally from the prior films is the overall hopeful outlook that our lead character personifies here. Batman’s never been the guy to offer up a sunnier outlook on life, and while that’s usually Superman’s department, the Man of Steel that we’ve seen in the movie universe has yet to get with that program. I’m so happy that we finally have a superhero in this universe that can show us that hope is more than just a symbol on Superman’s costume. Wonder Woman truly is a hero for the people and I absolutely loved how they depicted that in this film. Wonder Woman, as a character, has a lot of heart and this movie does as well.

Also read: ‘Wonder Woman’ Director Patty Jenkins Shares Idea For Potential Sequel

As a whole, I thought Patty Jenkins did a tremendous job helming this film, which was no easy task. The true sign of a great actor’s director is when they can find a way to highlight their performers’ strengths while concealing their weaknesses and I thought that Jenkins almost always managed to make this work with Gadot. The fact that this is only Jenkins’ second feature film (after 2003’s Monster, where she directed Charlize Theron to an Oscar win 14 years ago) just makes what she pulled off here even more impressive. This movie has a large scope and the visuals were fantastic. I also thought she absolutely crushed the action sequences. The CGI is spotty in a few places, but mostly in very minor instances, not in the big fight scenes and never when it came to Wonder Woman whipping that golden lasso around. That stuff looked awesome!

This film certainly has a couple of negatives, but nothing that really hindered my enjoyment of it. Even including the aforementioned CGI and performance blunders, I felt that there were only a handful of missteps in the entire film. One, in particular, that really bugged me came during a big scene in which I felt that Diana really became Wonder Woman. It’s supposed to be a big impactful moment, but the timing of it all takes so long to play out that it almost felt comical and not in a good way. But again, it’s just in tiny moments. As a whole, this movie rocks!

So, back to my original question, what does this film mean for the DCEU? Personally, I think it means great things. As a comic reader, I’m more of a DC guy than a Marvel fan. When it comes to the films, however, I’ve been a bit disappointed with what we’ve gotten so far. I liked parts of Suicide Squad even though altogether it was a sloppy mess, and I enjoyed both Batman v Superman and Man of Steel for the most part, though, I had a few big problems with each film. I’m happy to report that I had way fewer negatives with Wonder Woman. This is now my favorite DCEU movie.

All said and done, I feel like this film is the DCEU’s first real win for me, a win they so desperately needed, and I couldn’t be happier that it was with a character as important as Wonder Woman. Frankly, it’s insane that it’s taken so long for this character to get the big screen treatment. I’m really hoping this film is the turning point for the DCEU. I hope that they can build upon this foundation and take the good will this film has earned them and continue pushing forward into a new era for the DCEU. For the first time since last year, I’m really hopeful for the future of this franchise. I’ve been cautiously optimistic as of late, but after seeing this film, I can’t wait for Justice League, but more importantly, I can’t wait to see Wonder Woman kick some more butts!

Score: 8.5/10

Wonder Woman hits theaters June 2, 2017.

The post ‘Wonder Woman’ Review: Delivers Big With Heart, Humor & Hope appeared first on Heroic Hollywood.