Action Comics #1000 Review: A Touching Superman Tribute Features Bendis’ DC Debut

There are few characters in fiction as enduring, iconic, and inspiring as Superman. Since his introduction to popular culture back in 1938, the character has seen countless different costumes, creative teams, love interests, villains, and friends. Still, Superman remains relevant. He continues to be the symbol of “truth, justice, and the American way.” Sure, that’s a corny and maybe even outdated adage. Maybe Superman is a little corny and outdated too, but that’s okay. That’s what we need him to be. The character has endured so long because we will always hope a perfect hero like him will save us. This sentiment seems to be the unifying message of the stories featured in Action Comics #1000.

Each story attempts to pay tribute to Superman from a unique perspective. Some are more successful than others, but there certainly isn’t a “bad” story among them. They each manage to hone in on specific aspects of the character and his history. This results in some satisfying but inconsequential tales. Of course, the major draw to this issue will be the teaser for The Man of Steel, Brian Michael Bendis’ upcoming six-part event.

Also read: Ava DuVernay Welcomes ‘Birds Of Prey’ Director To DC Films

The Man of Steel will be Bendis’s debut at DC comics. The tease we get here is very enticing. Superman will be facing a very real threat that is backed by Bendis’s humorous and harrowing writing. His voice is the breath of fresh air that the character needs. That effect is only amplified when coupled with Jim Lee’s artwork. Being a teaser, this certainly raises more questions than it answers. It will, however, give Superman fans plenty to look forward to.

There are more standouts to be found in this issue. DC held nothing back, allowing its top writers to take a crack at the character. Scott Snyder, Geoff Johns, and Dan Jurgens all offer touching and insightful looks at Superman, his relationships, and his legacy. However, the stand-out here may just be Never-Ending Battle. Written by Peter J. Tomasi, this simple look back at major events in the character’s history will make you nostalgic even if you’ve never read a single Superman story. This is largely due to Patrick Gleason’s beautiful artwork. It is one of the few stories in the collection that manages to honor Superman without beating you over the head with a moral. It’s a refreshing and appropriate look back.

Also read: If ‘Gotham’ Is Renewed, Then Season 5 Will Reboot The Status Quo

Not all the stories here are quite so impactful. They are, however, a lot of fun. Even The Game, which sees Superman sit down with Lex Luthor for a quick game of chess, brings some levity to a relationship that has been all-too dour in recent memory. Though the depictions of the characters in this story are shallow, writers Paul Levitz and Neal Adams certainly know how to show the readers a good time.

Even if you’re not a huge Superman fan, this issue is definitely worth picking up. In a way, it not only celebrates The Man of Steel, but superheroes and comics in general. There’s no better way to celebrate Superman’s birthday.

Final Score: 9/10

10 Characters Who Should Appear In The ‘Nightwing’ Movie

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So Michael Cera’s appearance as Dick Grayson in The LEGO Batman Movie wasn’t enough for all you Nightwing fans, huh? Well, Warner Bros. is listening and has decided to give Heroic Hollywood’s number one sidekick his own movie. The LEGO Batman Movie helmer Chris McKay has been named the director of a Nightwing movie no one saw coming. Nightwing’s place in the DC Extended Universe is up in the air. How long ago did he quit being Robin? Are he and Batman speaking right now? Why wasn’t he mentioned in Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice?

While the movie will likely answer all those questions, I expect it will also serve as an introduction to a different corner of the Batman universe. Batman might be in it for a scene or two, but the movie will need a supporting cast to help Nightwing appear as the kickass, sociable character he is. Bruce Wayne has got the brooding down, but former circus performer Dick Grayson knows how to have fun in a way his mentor doesn’t.

Hit Next to find out which ten characters should appear in the Nightwing movie.

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Deathstroke #30 Review: The Batman Provokes The Terminator

After his appearance in the post-credits scene for Justice League, we have all been dying to see Deathstroke go head-to-head with Batman on-screen. Sadly, production on Matt Reeves’s The Batman has been pretty quiet, and the rumor is that Deathstroke is no longer planned for the solo-film. Luckily, Christopher Priest’s Deathstroke series is here to give us a taste of what we’ve been wanting to see.

Deathstroke #30 is the first entry of the six-part story arc that will see The Terminator square off against The Dark Knight. So, much of this issue carries the burden of setting up the conflict between the two. The setup does feel a bit rushed; we find Batman working very quickly to piece together a mystery that should have a much more emotional impact than we can see here. It’s a Deathstroke-centric series, but for the majority of the issue, he’s not the focus. Sadly, the characterization of Batman winds up being this story’s greatest weakness.

Also read: ‘Batman Ninja’ Premieres At WonderCon 2018 To Glowing Reviews

The central conflict is the discovery that Batman may not actually be Damian Wayne’s biological father. A DNA test seems to confirm that Deathstroke is, in fact, the current Robin’s father, and Batman is determined to find out for certain. However, Bruce’s feelings on the matter are still unclear. This is a particularly dour take on the character, but here he seems to be missing a sense of outrage or insecurity. Damian and Bruce’s relationship has developed into a very strong emotional bond over the years. When Bruce makes the discovery, his reaction doesn’t reflect that. It should also be noted that Damian himself is nowhere to be found in this issue, which is frustrating but understandable considering the page restraints, and much of this complaint is forgotten by the end of the issue.

The final panels of this book will absolutely get you pumped for the next five installments. Carlo Pagulayan’s art in these last few pages perfectly builds tension between Batman and Deathstroke. He does a great job emoting the characters to the point where you can get a clear sense of tone as your reading dialogue. Pagulayan’s interpretation of Greg Capullo’s Batman costume looks absolutely gorgeous on the page. Similarly, his Deathstroke is a colorful and timeless rendition that pops next to Batman.

Also read: Jesse Eisenberg Wants To Play Lex Luthor Again In ‘Man Of Steel’ Sequel

While this introduction is uneven, it’s still a good read. However, going forward this series will need to capitalize on all this setup in a big way. Now that the heavy lifting has been done, this story arc will have the chance to expand its emotional focus. We need to see Batman dealing with this blow to his relationship with Damian and how this affects Deathstroke. It’s also important to focus on the character of Damian and his dynamic with his two potential fathers. The opening, which features a very interesting exchange between Alfred Pennyworth and William Wintergreen is a fun addition that will hopefully be explored further as the series progresses. The seeds have been planted, but while it’s an enjoyable read, what follows will need to be more narratively focused and character-driven.

Final Score: 7/10

7 Great Deathstroke Stories That Could Inspire The Movie

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Now that fans know Deathstroke will be getting his own movie directed by The Raid’s Gareth Evans, it’s time for everyone to brush up on their Slade Wilson knowledge. Deathstroke is DC’s deadliest assassin and one of the smartest tacticians in the world, as well as the oldest foe of the Teen Titans. He’s even taken on the whole Bat-family single-handedly and escaped, proving just how tough of a fighter he is.

The movie will likely depict him as an anti-hero of sorts, a relatively new status for the character. Throughout most of his history Deathstroke has always been more of a self-interested fighter than a righteous man, but recently he’s developed a conscious and a desire to help people in DC Rebirth. He was even one of the main villains in the Batman: Arkham Origins game, proving that audiences are ready for more Slade Wilson.

Hit Next to learn about seven great Deathstroke stories that could inspire the movie!

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‘Ready Player One’ Review: A Nostalgia-Fueled Thrill Ride

In the bleak not too distant future of Ready Player One, the people of Earth have retreated into the virtual reality world of the Oasis where they can do whatever they want to do and be whoever they want to be. When James Halliday (Mark Rylance), the creator of the Oasis, passes away, he reveals to the world that he has left behind an Easter Egg hidden somewhere inside the virtual world. Whoever finds the Egg is rewarded his vast fortune, as well as control over the Oasis itself. The hunt is on!

Ernest Cline’s bestselling novel Ready Player One has become one of my favorites in recent years, so much so that I was thrilled to learn a couple of years back that the legendary Steven Spielberg would be returning to the type of massive blockbuster that the director made his name on with the feature film version. So, has Spielberg done it once again or do we have another Kingdom of the Crystal Skull situation on our hands? Read on to find out…

Also read: Steven Spielberg Hopes ‘Ready Player One’ Makes Audiences Feel Good

As is the case with the book, the thing about Ready Player One that jumps out straight away is the heavy dose of ’80s pop culture nostalgia. Never before has there been a film so jam-packed with just about conceivable pop culture icon that one can squeeze into a two-and-a-half-hour film. Everywhere you look in this film, there are cameos and references to scope out: the DeLorean from Back to the Future, the Iron Giant, the T-Rex from Jurassic Park, King Kong, Batman, Freddy Krueger, Chucky, the Spartans from Halo, characters from Overwatch and so many, many more. Honestly, it can become a bit overwhelming if you allow it to, but what I found the best course of action to be was to just enjoy the journey on the first watch and reserve the Easter Egg-hunting for subsequent re-watches. I cannot wait to own this film so that I can scour through it frame by frame to see who else I can spot.

Nostalgia aside, though, there is still plenty more to love in Ready Player One. A very important aspect to the film’s charm is its cast, led by Tye Sheridan as Wade Watts, a.k.a. Parzival. Sheridan makes for a great protagonist, but his greatest strengths mostly only come into play inside the Oasis, which granted, is where most of the film takes place. Going into the film, I was a bit concerned that with most of the film taking place in a VR world, the CG would get a bit overwhelming, but I was relieved to discover that this was not an issue. The visuals were outstanding and the performance-capture technology helped in allowing Sheridan and the rest of the cast to bring their characters to life in a fully-realized way.

Continuing on with the cast, I loved Olivia Cooke (a young actress who I have become quite the fan of since first seeing her on Bates Motel) as Art3mis. She plays her part perfectly, as do the other actors playing her and Parzival’s fellow “Gunters” (Egg Hunters), including Lena Waithe, Win Morisaki and Philip Zhao. As always, Ben Mendelsohn plays a believable villain as Nolan Sorrento, the sinister head of operations for IOI (Innovative Online Industries), the evil corporation that wants to take control of the Oasis, as they see a profit to be made that Halliday simply left lying on the table. I am also a massive fan of Simon Pegg, so I loved seeing him in the film as Ogden Morrow, Halliday’s former business partner. And finally, there’s Halliday himself. At first, I wasn’t quite sure how to feel about Mark Rylance’s peculiar performance as the game designer, but as the film went on, the character’s quirky charm really grew on me.

Also read: ‘Ready Player One’ Targeting $42M Opening Weekend

When comparing a film adaptation to its source material, more often than not, a film can never quite manage to live up to the novel, and in the case of Ready Player One, an incredibly dense novel at that. As such a big fan of the book, there were a couple of moments, both big and small, that didn’t quite have the same weight as they did in the novel, and while I found one or two of these instances a bit disappointing, overall, I thought the story itself worked just fine. Alongside screenwriter Zak Penn (The Avengers, The Incredible Hulk), novelist Ernest Cline did a great job of adapting his own work to the screen in a way that condensed the book’s incredibly intricate plot into a more concise feature-length runtime (even if the two-hour-and-twenty-minute runtime was a bit lengthy). I felt like the writers made sure to encorporate just the right things from the book that would feel amiss if left out, and any added elements that didn’t originate in the book felt right at home in the film. The book and film are two completely different beasts, but I am happy to report that I walked away thoroughly enjoying both. To me, the film is like a really great cover song.

Simply put, Ready Player One was an absolute blast for a geek like me. It’s just so much fun. It may not be Spielberg’s best (which is quite the feat in and of itself), but it is easily the director’s most entertaining film in years. It’s nice to know the man still has something like this in him after all these years.

Score: 8.5/10

10 Characters Batman Has Surprisingly Beaten

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Everyone knows Batman is a sharp fighter, but at the end of the day he is human. Even the most impressive human has their limits, but the Caped Crusader seems to always find a way to come out on top. Whether he is fighting with the Justice League or alone, Bruce Wayne knows how to think on his toes and succeed in any situation.

He may normally fight villains, but Batman has taken down a fair share of heroes over the years as well. The Justice League may be full of mighty heroes, but it’s the Caped Crusader who is the most dangerous individual on the team.

Hit Next to learn more about 10 characters Batman has surprisingly defeated.

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Doomsday Clock #4 Review: A Watchman Needs A Minuteman

Four issues in and this series continues to be mind-boggling. For all intents and purposes, this comic should not work. The very concept, a sequel to Watchmen that is not written by Alan Moore and crosses over with the DC Universe should feel almost sacrilegious to read. However, Doomsday Clock continues to be an impressive and fitting follow up to Watchmen as well as an addition to DC canon that feels both natural and vital.

Picking up right where we left off in the third issue, we see our mysterious new Rorschach trying to adjust to life as a prisoner after being tricked into Arkham by Batman. While this issue does little to move the plot forward, we’re offered some details on what happened to the Watchmen universe after the events of the graphic novel. Perhaps more importantly, we get to know Rorschach. If you weren’t on board with the character before, you will be after reading this.

What’s truly amazing about Geoff Johns’s writing in this series is his ability to immerse you in not one, but two separate universes. To an extent, this has always been a strength of his. Every word that Johns writes, every bit of dialogue that his characters speak, oozes decades of history. You can feel the weight of the continuity — that many stories crumble beneath — melt away as he weaves in deep-cut references. A perfect example is his use of Mothman in this issue.

Also read: ‘Doomsday Clock #7’ Variant Cover Features Rorschach Fighting The Joker

In the original Watchmen story, Mothman is a pretty forgettable character. Even in this issue, we don’t necessarily need to know more about him to understand the story. However, Johns does something very clever here in tying him to the origin of this new Rorschach. To say that you will sympathize with Rorschach and Mothman is a massive understatement. The origin story is truly tragic but not in the same way of the original Rorschach. The new character, who has taken up this mantle, was birthed out of the events of the original series. Thanks to Gary Frank’s art, you will be affected by this story in the same way.

The rendering of eyes in this issue is absolutely vital to the storytelling. Frank knows how to tug at heartstrings with his art like Johns does in his writing. You can feel the pain and fear behind the characters’ eyes, just as you would if you were talking to a person in real life. The emotional depth that the art brings not only conveys the status of the characters but the status of the Watchmen universe in general. As Johns meticulously lets this epic unfold into a map and sprawl in all directions, Frank’s art serves as a compass. It entices you to push forward. It brings you comfort in knowing that, although this world is new and scary, what you love about these two universes is still here for you to take solace in.

If you haven’t started reading it yet, Doomsday Clock is more than worth checking out. So far, this story is every bit as poignant and relevant as the original series. This issue’s inability to move the plot forward can be frustrating. However, if you are patient with it and get to know its characters, it will reward you with a story that you never knew you always wanted.

Final Score: 9/10

The 7 Best Comic Books Of DC’s Geoff Johns

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DC superstar Geoff Johns is reasserting himself back into the comic book world in a big way with Doomsday Clock. Characters from Watchmen have been bleeding into the DC Universe since the beginning of DC Rebirth, and Johns, no stranger to writing universe threatening tales, has finally kicked that story into high-gear.

Johns has also been working at DC Films, but he got his start in the comic book world. He has been my favorite comic book writer since I started reading comics as a kid and his skill has only expanded since then. As his name has grown, Johns has been able to take more and more risks as he utilizes his signature, emotion-filled storytelling techniques on everyone from Aquaman to Superman.

Hit Next to learn about the seven best comic books of Johns! 

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‘Pacific Rim Uprising’ Review: “A (Mostly) Drift Compatible Sequel”

If you’re going into Pacific Rim Uprising expecting it to feel like a Guillermo Del Toro directed sequel to the 2013 film, there’s a chance that you’re going to be disappointed. While this is very much a sequel to that film, it is also very much a Steven DeKnight directed sequel to that film which is both a good and bad thing at times. Set ten years after the end of the Kaiju War, the film focuses on Jake Pentecost (John Boyega) who is making a living selling stolen tech. This lifestyle leads him to cross paths with newcomer Amara (Cailee Spaeny) just in time for a new threat making its way to the surface.

Beyond that though, it’s hard to talk about the plot of the film without getting into spoiler territory. When I tell you that the story for this one is weird, that might be a bit of an understatement. The film gets really weird at times which also results in it being a bit overly complicated. The plot of Pacific Rim Uprising isn’t quite as straightforward as the first film and due to how quickly the DeKnight directed sequel moves, some of these weirder elements don’t fully work. I’m not exaggerating when I say that it’s a fast-moving film which sometimes doesn’t fully allow for the breathing room that might be needed at times.

Also read: ‘Pacific Rim Uprising’ May Dethrone 6th Box Office Weekend Of ‘Black Panther’

While I might have some complaints about the film’s plot and pace, there are two things it has going for it that make it worth the price of admission: Jaeger on Kaiju action and Boyega. DeKnight delivers some great action sequences that are on the level of Del Toro’s and look amazing on the big screen. As soon as I started to think about any of the minor issues I had with the film, there was an action sequence that I got lost in and reminded me of what I loved about the last film and why none of that is actually important.

Also read: Steven Spielberg Reveals The ‘Star Wars’ Easter Eggs In ‘Ready Player One’

When it comes to the new characters, outside of Boyega and Spaeny’s characters, they’re mostly forgettable. Luckily though, DeKnight scored an incredibly fun and charming lead in Boyega, who is a vast improvement when compared to Charlie Hunnam’s bland character from the first film. Look, no matter how much you might have enjoyed that first film, we both know it’s true. Moving on. Boyega is so charming and funny in Uprising, that he carries the movie by himself. Besides wanting to see more robots punching monsters, you’re likely going to want a sequel to this film just to get more of his Jake Penetecost. And maybe Charlie Day’s character Dr. Geiszler, who returns from the first film in a much weirder way that I’m not going to dive into because of spoiler reasons. There’s some weird and wild stuff involving his character and Foreigner songs that you just need to experience for yourself.

Also read: ‘Deadpool 2’ Test Scores Outdid The Original Film

Pacific Rim Uprising is a fun action-packed sequel that features more of what fans of the first film will likely want. While I might have some minor complaints when it comes to plot and pacing, when I actually sat down and started writing about the film, I realized that none of those really mattered. This film knows exactly what it is and delivers on that. It doesn’t try to be something that it isn’t or doesn’t need to be. Often times we get so worried about a film either being great or bad. Sometimes a film simply being fine is just fine. Pacific Rim Uprising is like a solid burger from a place that you went to once before on a Friday night. It hits the spot and might even make you want to visit this place again in the future.

Final score: 7/10

John Boyega (Star Wars: The Force Awakens) stars as the rebellious Jake Pentecost, a once-promising Jaeger pilot whose legendary father gave his life to secure humanity’s victory against the monstrous “Kaiju.” Jake has since abandoned his training only to become caught up in a criminal underworld. But when an even more unstoppable threat is unleashed to tear through our cities and bring the world to its knees, he is given one last chance to live up to his father’s legacy by his estranged sister, Mako Mori (Rinko Kikuchi)—who is leading a brave new generation of pilots that have grown up in the shadow of war. As they seek justice for the fallen, their only hope is to unite together in a global uprising against the forces of extinction.

Jake is joined by gifted rival pilot Lambert (The Fate of the Furious’ Scott Eastwood) and 15-year-old Jaeger hacker Amara (newcomer Cailee Spaeny), as the heroes of the PPDC become the only family he has left. Rising up to become the most powerful defense force to ever walk the earth, they will set course for a spectacular all-new adventure on a towering scale.”

Directed by Steven S. DeKnight, Pacific Rim Uprising stars John Boyega, Rinko Kikuchi, Charlie Day, Burn Gorman, Scott Eastwood, Cailee Spaeny, Jing Tian, Adria Arjona and Nick E. Tarabay.

Pacific Rim Uprising hits theaters this Friday.

Empire Unveils New ‘Avengers: Infinity War’ Covers

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Empire Magazine has unveiled six new Avengers: Infinity War covers featuring Earth’s Mightiest Heroes and the Mad Titan, Thanos.

Avengers: Infinity War will unite the heroes of the Marvel Cinematic Universe and now Empire has assembled a number of our favorite characters on six new covers for their May issue. Divided across the six covers are Iron Man, Captain America, Black Widow, Shuri, Doctor Strange, Drax the Destroyer, Scarlett Witch, Okoye, Black Panther, the Winter Soldier, Nebula, War Machine, Thor, The Vision, Mantis, Rocket Raccoon, Groot, Hulk, Spider-Man, Falcon, Gamora, Star-Lord, and Thanos.

You can check out the first cover below and click “next” to continue the gallery!

The May issue includes interviews with Chris Evans, Tom Holland, Robert Downey Jr., and Chris Pratt.

The Avengers: Infinity War issue of Empire will be available on March 22, 2018.

An unprecedented cinematic journey ten years in the making and spanning the entire Marvel Cinematic Universe, Marvel Studios’ “Avengers: Infinity War” brings to the screen the ultimate, deadliest showdown of all time. The Avengers and their Super Hero allies must be willing to sacrifice all in an attempt to defeat the powerful Thanos before his blitz of devastation and ruin puts an end to the universe.

Directed by Joe and Anthony Russo, Robert Downey Jr., Chris Hemsworth, Mark Ruffalo, Chris Evans, Scarlett Johansson, Benedict Cumberbatch, Don Cheadle, Tom Holland, Chadwick Boseman, Paul Bettany, Elizabeth Olsen, Anthony Mackie, Sebastian Stan, Tom Hiddleston, Idris Elba, Peter Dinklage, Benedict Wong, Pom Klementieff, Karen Gillan, Dave Bautista, Zoe Saldana, Vin Diesel, Bradley Cooper, Gwyneth Paltrow, Benicio del Toro, Josh Brolin, and Chris Pratt.

Avengers: Infinity War will be released in theaters on April 27, 2018.

Source: Empire

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‘Tomb Raider’ Review: Lara Croft Discovers Another Mediocre Film Adaptation

In the wake of the franchise’s successful video game reboot in 2013, Tomb Raider is back on the big screen with a retelling of Lara Croft’s origin story. Directed by Roar Uthaug, the film is very much so Batman Begins for Lara Croft as it follows her on an adventure that ultimately transforms her into the tomb raider she’s meant to be. Alicia Vikander does a good job in the central role as Lara Croft, but the movie feels too messy and bogged down by sloppy visuals to be considered a success. Certain visual cues seem ripped right out of the games and the action sequences aren’t too bad, but overall this movie walks the line of mediocrity instead of creating something long-term fans can be truly happy about.

Instead of introducing audiences to an experienced Tomb Raider like the Angelina Jolie series did, this film initially follows Lara Croft before her days as an explorer. Unwilling to tap into the Croft fortune because she believes her father is alive, despite what everyone around her is saying, Lara works as a bike courier to make due. This version of the character is extremely hip and is motivated by an understandable motivation of wanting to make her own way in the world. As the story progresses, she sets off on a grand adventure, but her motivation always remains deeply personal as she thinks she can rescue her father. Throughout the course of the movie, Lara essentially transforms from an adolescent into a confident adult as she squares off against the evil Trinity corporation as they search for the tomb of Princess Himiko, an ancient empress who supposedly could kill anything just by touching it.

Vikander in the starring role is the best thing this movie has going for it. After winning the Best Supporting Actress Oscar in 2016 for her role in The Danish Girl, it was only a matter of time before she joined a big franchise and she chose the perfect one to display just how tough she is. To make the movie feel more like a video game, Uthaug put Lara in every scene to make sure it felt like the audience was experiencing everything from her perspective, and she does a great job showing her emotion every moment she’s on screen. Lara is put through the gauntlet in this film, and Vikander slowly shows the wear-and-tear throughout the movie. At moments her performance is a little hammy, but that’s just her trying her best with a mediocre script.

Also read: Director Roar Uthaug Talks Working With Alicia Vikander & Building Α New ‘Tomb Raider’

Tomb Raider is full of cool stunts but held back by sloppy visuals. There are a lot of practical effects throughout the movie, but most of the big sequences are muffled by too many cuts and too much camera motion to completely understand what’s going on. It’s clear that cinematographer George Richmond, who did last year’s Kingsmen: The Golden Circle, wanted to recreate a lot of the shots from the new game series, but they don’t translate well to film. Heavy reliance on green screen and slow-motion turn moments that looked awesome in the games into shots that look sloppy and underwhelming compared to other CGI movies currently playing in theaters. Fortunately, a lot of the fight scenes are done practically and Vikander is shown taking people down to the ground and wielding her pick axe. Since she’s new to the adventure lifestyle, audiences can see how these fights impact her emotionally and how her skills develop throughout the movie in an enjoyable way.

For the most part, Vikander’s strong performance isn’t matched by anyone in the supporting cast. The ensemble is pretty weak and all of the supporting characters have incredibly one-dimensional motivations that don’t hold up. Walton Goggins, who’s known for his role in Justified and two Quentin Tarantino films, plays a minion of the Trinity Corporation and just wants to finish his mission and return home to his daughters. While that looks nice on paper, he’s actively working towards the possible death of every living being on the planet, so it’s pretty unlikely that he actually cares about his family at all. Equally awkward and one-dimensional is Dominic West’s performance as Lara’s father Sir Richard Croft. Initially, the character comes across as endearing, but as the film progresses it becomes too easy to look down on the character as foolish or selfish. West is fine in the role, but he seems more comfortable as a stiff aristocrat and doesn’t carry the rough island persona as convincingly. Lastly, there’s Lu Ren, Lara’s companion who joins her on her mission because his father is also missing. While he is a good friend to Lara and has compelling motivations, actor Daniel Wu turns in such a ham-fisted performance that it’s hard to take the drunken hero seriously even when he sobers up and takes action.

Also read: ‘Tomb Raider’: Alicia Vikander On What Attracted Her To The Role Of Lara Croft

Production designer Gary Freeman is no stranger to the Tomb Raider world. Since his time working on Lara Croft: Tomb Raider as an assistant art director in 2001, Freeman has gone on to work on everything from Children of Men to Maleficent. His long career is put on full display here as every setting gives off unique vibes and looks visually compelling. Alongside the prop department, Freeman does a great job at giving each location a lively feeling that seems ripped right out of a cut-scene. A lot of Tomb Raider is understandably gray since large portions of the movie take place in caves or tombs, but whenever Lara is out in the jungles or biking through the city the movie gives off beautiful bouts of color.

Unfortunately, everyone who’s been waiting for a great video game adaptation will have to wait a bit longer. A lot of this movie is ripped right out of the recent video game reboot from 2013, but it doesn’t have the same sense of heart and struggle that made the game shine. Tomb Raider hits the basic requirements to be called a decent origin story. It’s just a pretty lackluster film overall. Sloppy visuals and unnecessary amounts of exposition take away from a movie that does a good job setting up Lara Croft as an interesting character. Alicia Vikander is a good choice as the titular tomb raider, and hopefully, if there is a sequel, she will turn in another solid performance as Lara Croft continues to cement her place in this new world.

Final Score: 5/10

5 Superheroes That Deserve Their Own Video Game Universe

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World building and universe building are not new. These writing techniques have been around for centuries, long before we even started writing our stories down. I always considered Beowulf to be the precursor to superheroes and comics. However, due to the overwhelming success of the Marvel Cinematic Universe and the CW DC Universe (or Arrowverse), it seems that the universal world building that has been in comics for three-quarters of a century has finally become a major storytelling point in both the film and TV worlds of superheroes.

Between Rocksteady’s Arkham Trilogy (Batman: Arkham Origins was developed by WB Games Montreal), Telltale Games’ Guardians of the Galaxy, Insomniac Games establishing that their Spider-Man game will be the anchor point for a new Spider-Man universe, and the announcement from earlier this year of a multi-year, multi-game deal between Marvel and developer/publisher Square Enix it seems like the video games will be the next place where sprawling superhero stories will be told.

Hit Next to learn about 5 superheroes that deserve their own video game universe!

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‘Justice League’ 4K Ultra HD Blu-Ray Review: The League Comes Home

Warner Bros. Home Entertainment has finally released the DC Extended Universe film Justice League on Digital HD, DVD, Blu-ray, 3D Blu-ray and 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray. Unfortunately for fans wishing to see the elusive Zack Snyder cut on this release, look the other way because that is completely absent. But if you are excited to see how the film looks and sounds in your home theater system as well as the selection of special features, perhaps this new release should be added to your Blu-ray collection.

Picture Quality

Similar to the immaculate transfers on Man of Steel, Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice, Suicide Squad and Wonder Woman, the picture quality on the 4K Ultra-HD release of Justice League is top-notch. The contrast in colors through the numerous set pieces including the film’s climax are demo-worthy. Given that the film was shot with a 1:85:1 aspect ratio, the film fills the entire screen, further immersing viewers into the world of DC Comics in the comfort of their own couch.

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