Doomsday Clock #3 Review: DC’s Watchmen Sequel Keeps Delivering the Goods

People may have been understandably worried when DC first announced Doomsday Clock, a sequel to Watchmen that bridges the story with the DC Universe, but as the series reaches the quarter mark, things are going strong. In issue three, writer Geoff Johns and artist Gary Frank continue to build a crazy, world-sprawling story that preserves the intent of the original series while adding a modern twist to its themes of paranoia and conflict.

Issue number two saw the core Watchmen group crossover to the DC Universe and finally bring characters like Lex Luthor and Batman into the mix and issue three spends a lot more time focusing on these interactions. Despite the differences between all of the characters, Doomsday Clock never feels like a jumble of two worlds, it feels like an organic combination of the distinct settings. The characters from both worlds have their own problems and conflicts to manage, making it hard for readers to align themselves with one group over the other because everyone has understandable motivations.

This series is a clear commentary on what it means to be a hero in the modern world. Taking place a year ahead of the current DC Rebirth timeline, the story depicts a world where people are no longer accepting or tolerant of the metahumans’ presence and seniors fondly look back at figures like Teddy Roosevelt and Joe DiMaggio who did good without powers. The so called”Supermen Theory,” supported by the fact that the U.S.A. has 97% of the world’s metahumans, claims that the American government spurred about the development of both superheroes and super villains, causing citizens to panic and other governments to try their own experiments. Not even Batman, an individual the world knows has no powers, is spared from the anti-hero sentiment bubbling up on the ground.

Also read: ‘Wonder Woman’ Fans React To Oscar Nomination Snubs

None of the panic would be as palpable without Frank lending his incredible artistic talents to the project. Not only does he masterfully use the nine-panel grid that Watchmen methodically utilized, but he has an eye for detail and facial expression that is unmatched in the comic industry. So much of the characters personalities come through how they move and take in things around them, and Frank has the ability to turn even the smallest action into an opportunity to explore what makes these individuals tick.

This book is much more than just a fresh look at Watchmen’s characters, it’s a true sequel. Replacing the Tales of the Black Freighter comic from inside Watchmen are the Carver Coleman detective movies that weave throughout the issue and symbolically move the story forward. One of the most interesting parts of Doomsday Clock is the inclusion of new Watchmen characters Marionette and Mime. The villainous couple have appeared in every issue, but they are given a lot more room to grow here and their story line is set to lead into some interesting, clown-filled places very soon.

If you’re only going to read one comic series this year, make it Doomsday Clock because both Johns and Frank are pulling out all the stops and turning in some of the best work of their careers.  Just like the original Watchmen, Doomsday Clock is a slow-burning look at why we value superheroes, and if they deserve the blind admiration they so often get. It’s clear that this book is more than just a cash grab or way to keep the Watchmen characters in the public eye. Johns is crafting a dark, engaging story packed full of obscure DC history that has a lot to say about how the world perceives heroes.

Final Score: 9/10

The 7 Coolest Things Batman Keeps In The Batcave

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Batman is more than just a man with a crazy costume; he’s a man with a crazy costume and a Batcave. Hidden underneath Wayne Manor is a series of caves that stretch across the entire city. If there was no cave, Bruce would have never seen a bat as a young child and been stricken with fear. No cave = no bat = no Batman. So, the cave is pretty essential here, folks.

Over his 75 year history, Batman’s acquired quite the collection of trophies to put on display. Unfortunately, Bruce doesn’t keep any of these mementos on the mantle in Wayne Manor, so he has to shove everything into the Batcave. Sorry Adam West, but the Batpoles are so 1960.

Hit Next to learn more about the seven coolest things in the Batcave!

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‘Gideon Falls’ Review: Horror Comic From ‘Old Man Logan’ Team Delivers The Goods

Jeff Lemire and Andrea Sorrentino, the creative duo behind hit runs on Green Arrow and Old Man Logan, are back with Gideon Falls, a new horror series from Image Comics. This is an advanced, spoiler free review, so don’t worry if you want to go into the book clean!

Lemire is in top form as he introduces the Twin Peaks-esque small town of Gideon Falls and two residents. Norton, a man who thinks he’s on a quest to stop an unknown evil, is a recent mental patient who isn’t taken seriously by people around him. Father Fred, on the other hand, is a recent transplant in town after the former pastor died. Their narratives are separate at the moment, but the characters are on a similar path of discovery as they try to learn more about the strange truth of the town. The lack of  an omniscient narrator guiding things forward allows for each scene to unfold on its own as Lemire’s sharp dialogue slowly unveils a darkness hidden underneath the calm town.

Sparse backgrounds coupled with extremely expressive faces, the art in Gideon Falls focuses on the emotional impact of each image instead of cramming too many things into a panel. Sorrentino’s scratchy, descriptive pencils are beautiful, but it’s his interesting layouts that grab and hold the reader’s attention. Like a horror director, Sorrentino carefully frames each page to dwell on small moments and distort the reader’s perception. Even if nothing “exciting” is happening on the page, he knows how to insert natural tension into each scene to keep that uncomfortable, horror feeling throughout.  

Also read: Oscar-Winning Writer John Ridley To Pen Miniseries Re-Examining DC Comics History

Dave Stewart, who also colors Lemire’s Black Hammer for Dark Horse, lends his beautiful sensibilities to the project. Blended colors and consistent use of gray gives Gideon Falls a confusing dream-like quality that matches the main character’s mindset. Similarly, the sharp and specific use of red in key moments hints at larger themes for the series as the forces of evil mysteriously make their presence known. Equally important to the book’s creepy feel is Steve Wands’ lettering. The way he maps out the page perfectly guides the reader’s eyes across the next one without getting in the way of Sorrentino or Stewart’s beautiful work.

Thanks to a believable, creepy setting and interesting characters, the first issue of Gideon Falls does a great job establishing this world. There are big mysteries afoot, and knowing Lemire’s work readers can expect a complex, deeply personal story complimented by some detailed, gorgeous artwork.

Gideon Falls #1 hits comic shops on March 7th, so go check it out!

Final Score: 8.5/10

10 Best Marvel & DC Comics of 2017

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The 2017 box office was dominated by movies based on comics like Wonder Woman, Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 and Logan. Awards season is right around the corner and last year’s movies will be be competing for Oscars and Golden Globes soon enough. But, the amazing comic books from last year won’t formally be recognized until July when the Eisner Awards take place at San Diego Comic-Con.

There were some amazing books released this past year, by both large and small publishers, but the big two released a solid lineup of great comics. With DC Rebirth continuing to go strong and Marvel seguing over to Legacy after last year’s disappointing Secret Empire event, the comic book landscape seems to be moving in the right direction. If 2017 was this good for comics, 2018 is only going to be better as new writers and artists start getting their hands on everyone’s favorite characters.

Hit Next to learn more about the 10 best comics published by Marvel and DC in 2017. 

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Dave Filoni Teases ‘Star Wars: Rebels’ Finale With Behind-The-Scenes Image

While mostly everyone is currently wondering where the trailer is for Solo: A Star Wars Story, there’s another Star Wars trailer that should also be dropping very soon as well. Currently in it’s fourth and final season, the second half of the animated Star Wars Rebels has yet to reveal a return date or a final trailer but that should be incoming shortly. While we patiently stay on target and wait for those to hit, executive producer Dave Filoni took to Twitter today to reveal a behind-the-scenes image of composer Kevin Kiner and orchestra working on the music for the series final episode.

The final music for #StarWarsRebels. Thank you, Kevin Kiner.#FollowTheWhiteLothcat http://pic.twitter.com/LvLoATexJf

— Dave Filoni (@dave_filoni) January 6, 2018

Also read: ‘Star Wars: The Last Jedi’ Blu-Ray Reportedly Hitting Shelves In March

This season of Rebels has been nothing short of stellar and while I’m sad to see the series go, I’m also very excited at the same time to see the final half of the season has in store. Where will the crew of the Ghost end up when it’s all said and done? Is Ahsoka Tano still alive? Will there be a Rogue One tie-in or will the series end before those events? Hopefully the series returns soon because I can’t wait to find out. Are you excited for Rebels to return? Let us know your thoughts in the comments section below.

Source: Twitter

‘Star Wars’: 5 Theories For ‘Episode IX’

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Star Wars: Episode IX is now less than two years away from being released. Now that The Last Jedi, the second part of Disney and Lucasfilm’s new Star Wars trilogy, is past us, people have immediately begun speculating onto what the closing chapter will be about.

If there was one thing that The Last Jedi had going for it, it was that it set up a lot. All of the characters were in very different places that they were in at the start of the movie. By the end, there were numerous possibilities for Episode IX to go.

Here are some of the things that could happen in Star Wars: Episode IX!

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‘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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‘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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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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