The Jungle Book Trailer Released

The live action version of Disney's The Jungle Book directed by John Favreau released their first trailer today. This version stars the voice talents of Scarlett Johansson, Bill Murray, Idris Elba, Lupita Nyongo, Giancarlo Esposito, Ben Kingsley, and Christopher Walken.  

From the trailer, it would appear that Favreau is taking a darker and more eerie  tone compared to the cheery musical we know and love. The animation is beautifully integrated with our real life Mowgli, Neel Sethi, but there are aspects that seem unrealistic. For example, Kaa, voiced by Johansson, is extraordinarily large which destroys the seemingly realistic landscape. 

The Jungle Book is currently slated to hit theaters April 15th, 2016. 

American Horror Story: Hotel - Trailer

Yesterday American Horror Story released a trailer for their upcoming season  entitled: American Horror Story: Hotel starring Lady Gaga.

This trailer is the first from this season that features our new cast members Matt Bomer, and Cheyenne Jackson along with AHS staples like Sarah Paulson, Evan Peters, Chloe Sevigny, Angela Bassett, Kathy Bates, Finn Wittrock and Denis O'Hare.

From the looks of this trailer,  it would appear that this season will finally return to the 'horror story' the first two season of AHS brought to the table. 

 “American Horror Story: Hotel” premieres Oct. 7 on FX

Orange is the New Black Season 3 Trailer Released

Orange is the New Black Season 3  Premieres June 12th. All episodes will  be streaming on Netflix.

Ryan Reynolds on Deadpool being rated PG-13

Yesterday in true April Fools fashion the above video was posted on behalf of Marvel's Deadpool. It is a must see. Enjoy!

Pixels Trailer Released

The trailer really speaks for itself. Pixels is set to be released July 24th 2015. The movie is directed by Chris Columbus, and stars Adam Sandler, Jane Krakowski, Peter Dicklage and Josh Gad.

Legend of Korra Book Four: Balance Blu-ray Release

After 10 years, 2 avatars, and a slew of exciting characters the incredible franchise that started with a young air bender named Aang, is coming to an end. Korra beat Amon, she connected the human and spirit world, and stopped  The Red Lotus from ending the line of the Avatar. Book 4 is her most turbulent journey yet.

Book 4: Balance is the perfect ending to this epic series. Zaheer's poison took a toll on Korra both physically and mentally. She is haunted by the image of herself in the Avatar state while she was under the control of the poison. The season begins 3 years later, on the day Team Avatar, Korra, Asami, Bolin and Mako, are meant to finally reunite. When her father arrives without her however, they discover Korra has been missing for months. She has begun a journey of self realization. She meets an old friend of Aang's who helps her extract the final remnants of the poison just in time to face Kuvira, the metal bender who after the fall of the earth queen is conquering the Earth Kingdom.

The original series, Avatar: The Last Airbender, has the most vibrant group of memorable characters and Korra follows suit. The dynamic of this Team Avatar is reminiscent of the original crew. Bolin is the funny guy who is always has your back in a fight and a joke ready for a tough day. Asami who although she is not a bender, is a technological genius who can hold her own in a fight against any bender. Mako the cool under pressure muscle with impeccable instincts, except with women. They are just the start. Book Four beautifully ties up story lines of characters that appear throughout the series. For example, Asami's father Hiroshi returns. Before Book 4, we last saw Hiroshi being arrested for supporting Amon, now he helps Asami engineer a weapon to level the playing field during the final battle.

There are hours of bonus features. They include commentaries on each episode by the creators, actors, producers and animators. They open your eyes to the complexities of creating a master piece like The Legend of Korra. There are moments they cherish, that perhaps the audience missed watching the series for the first time, or visual cues they may have glossed over. Next they include a recording of the last ever New York Comic Con Panel. Each of actor explain what a personal and profound effect the series has had on their lives. It a comprehensive look at the making of this incredible journey.

For Avatar fans this Blu-ray release is a must have.

Rude Dude: The Steve Rude Story Review

We all know Batman, Superman, Spiderman and The Hulk but not everyone knows the sheer amount of effort that goes into creating and maintaining these iconic characters. Generally the distinct difference between someone who knows comics and someone who love Superheroes is the appreciation for the people who actually draw and create these memorable characters.

In comics, especially in recent years, comic may have up to three artists on each issue. There are pencillers, who is the first step. They draw every panel to the writers description in pencil, or drafting leads before handing their work over to the inker, or inks. Also known as 'the embellisher,' inks is responsible for refining the previously outlined panels and giving them depth. The last step is to add color which give you the vibrant comic panels readers have come to love.

Steve Rude has done is all, best known as a penciller, he has tackled iconic characters like Superman and Batman while also creating his own character in his most well known comic Nexus. Rude Dude is a comprehensive overview of the life and career to date of this incredible artist. They interview co-workers, family members, friends, bosses and other artists that have interacted with Rude throughout his comic book career into his transition to fine art.

With traditional fine arts training under his belt Rude's attention to detail is extraordinary in that it is as close to perfection as it gets! There is a story where the writer of a comic set a scene in a specific room and Rude walked in the room, which was an office, and sat and just drew it. He didn't make an appointment or anything. Unfortunately this need for perfection made him miss several deadlines and get fired from big publishing companies like Marvel, which puts a unique perspective on the inner working of the comic book industry. Artist are under a lot of pressure to get issues out on schedule which often forces them to hastily throw together panels.

The film itself is eye opening to both the world of a comic book artist and the struggles of someone who suffers from bipolar disorder. The director doesn't mask Rude's abrasive demeanor or excuse his behavior. There are colleagues that will state he was not the easiest person to work with but a the end of the day he always produced a unique and in-depth product that goes above and beyond the writer's expectations.

Rude Dude: The Steve Rude Story will be released on October 7th 2014 available at Amazon.com.

Top 5 Joker Performances

Recently due to the new Fox show Gotham, a television show about the origins of Batman villains, and the upcoming release of DC movies through 2020 it's only a matter of time before they bring back Batman's greatest nemesis. So in honor of those brave talented performers who have mastered this maniacal and mischievous  madman, here is my list of the top 5 portrayals of The Joker.

5. Richard Epcar

Best known for the 2013 Video Game Injustice Epcar's Joker is Ruthless and unforgiving. His high pitch laughing reverberates though out the levels as he pummels and beats you with knives, or anything he can get his hands on while never losing the jovial sense of fun that is a trademark of this callous clown.

4. Jack Nicholson

Who could the forget the permanent smile plastered on Nicholson's face after he is transformed from Jack Napier to  the psychotic Joker? His actions are erratic and destructive as he terrorizes Gotham with his  "Smilex" chemical. He also truly  emotes the madness with through his bulging eyes. The reason he is not higher on this list is because there is more playful characterization rather then the bone chilling  danger portrayed but other actors.

3. Troy Baker

Most recently Troy Baker voiced the Joker in Batman: Assault on Arkham, an animated feature derived from the Suicide Squad plot line. His Joker has an immensely broad depth to him. While part of it is written in to script, Baker find his own way to justify the Joker beyond pure insanity or a destructive nature. For example, Harley Quinn comes to Arkham and when he sees her he immediately begins taunting and berating her, standard joker behavior. When he finds out she has got a new man you can see/hear the anguish and surprise. Baker also has a distinct way of making the joker truly sound like a dangerous killer while maintaining the clown like sense of fun. Last who could forget his performance of The Killing Joke monologue and New York Comic Con last year?

2. Heath Ledger

There is only one performance in the history of  the Joker that is as creative as that of Heath Ledger in The Dark Knight. He found a way to take the personality we know and love and meld it into  this lord of ingenious chaos with no real goals or end game other than to destroy the Batman, even if that means Gotham goes up in flames as a direct result. He also creates a voice that is plainly inspired by those who came before him but unique to his manic , bipolar Joker. He has absolutely no empathy and would turn on his mother if given the opportunity. He did such an amazing job DC is taking as long as possible to introduce a new live action Joker because honestly who could top Ledger?

1. Mark Hamill

If you haven't seen the original Batman: The Animated Series stop reading this get Amazon Prime and start! Mark Hammill is the originator of the Joker we love today down to the iconic Joker laugh. It is his work in other shows like Justice League and Birds of Prey; and video games like Arkham Asylum and Batman: Vengence;  that have inspired all the Jokers who came after him. The sense of fun and frivolity that exudes from his chosen voice is as close to perfection as anyone has ever gotten and maybe ever will. Joker fans have come accustom to the iconic Joker laugh that will endure as along as he continues to terrorize Batman and the citizens of Gotham. For that Batman fans everywhere are grateful!

Red Band Society Review

At first the premise of Red Band Society seems bleak. A comedy set in the children's wing of a hospital could be limiting and hospital comedies are few and far between. Fox has adapted Red Band Society from a successful Catalan TV show Polseres Vermelles, that has been running since 2011.  So Fox is putting their faith in executive producer Steven Spielberg and directors like Alfonso Gomez-Rejon (American Horror Story) and Jason Ensler (Hart of Dixie) to make the american adaption a success.

The story revolves around 6 teens who are suffering from various severe illnesses that have made them semi-permanent residents of the pediatric wing of the Ocean Park Hospital in Los Angeles. The story is narrated by Charlie, a young boy who is currently in a persistent coma. He tells the audience "Yeah, this is me, talking to you. In a coma. Deal with it." This candid, nonchalant and ingenious statement is an illustration of the tone of this eccentric, warm hearted show. Leo Roth, played by Charlie Rowe (Pirate Radio), is a long time resident who has positioned himself as the 'leader' of the group . He knows the hospitals secrets and along with his partner in crime Dash, played by Astro (Earth to Echo, A Walk Among the Tombstones), he loves to break rules like any normal teenager. Other quirky characters include Emma, played by Ciara Bravo, a sardonic and extremely intelligent hip girl suffering from an eating disorder, Kara, played by Zoe Levin, the dictator like cheerleader who is used to getting whatever she want, and new comer Jordi, played by Nolan Sotillo, who has traveled to Los Angeles to convince Dr Jack McAndrew to perform the surgery on his leg, refusing to take no for an answer.

The ringleader of this adolescent circus is  Nurse Jackson, played by Academy Award Winner Octavia Spencer. Best know for her award winning performance in The Help, Spencer is applauded for her blunt, no nonsense humor which is exactly the kind of caretaker Nurse Jackson is. A veteran at Ocean Park she has the know how to ensure the best care for her patients and the heart to nourish and tend to each and every patient, no matter how obnoxious.

The plot and relationships that are developed in Red Band Society could have easily been set in any high school in Los Angeles. The fact that they are set in a hospital wing instead truly makes this new comedy a distinctly original series. The cast of relatively fresh faces creates a frivolous, intelligent clique audiences will love to be a part of!

Red Band Society premieres Wednesday September 17th at 9pm only on Fox.

The Fault in Our Stars Review

Although my mom is a survivor of breast cancer, I was away at sleep away camp though her worst cycles of chemo so I have a slightly warped view of her struggles. In the last couple years I dove into several novels, plays and movies involving cancer patients and survivors trying to get an idea of what she went through. A standout for me from the moment I picked it up is The Fault in Our Stars by John Green. The movie was released this past June and screenwriters Scott Neustadter and Michael H. Weber stayed extremely close to the novel’s plot line as well as overall tone.

Set in Indianapolis The Fault in Our Stars is both a heart warming and wrenching story about a sardonic, quick witted teenager names Hazel Grace Lancaster, played by Shailene Woodley (Divergent, The Secret Life of the American Teenager). Hazel has been suffering from terminal thyroid cancer that has metastasized to her lungs. Her mother fears she is becoming depressed and urges her to go to support group. Although reluctant to contribute to the group at first, a statement made by Augustus Waters, played by Ansel Elgort (Divergent, Carrie), who is in remission from a cancerous bone tumor that cost him part of his leg. He says his fear is oblivion, peeks her interest. Hazel's response perfectly illustrates that she has come to terms with the fact that death especially at this stage of her cancer in inevitable. Intrigued by her eloquent response Augustus, known to his friends as Gus begins to fall in love.

Unlike other films featuring characters on the brink of death, The Fault in Our Stars isn’t looking for pity. John Green wanted to show that these young teens are exactly that young teens. The perfect delineation is the cut scenes of Hazel continually looking at her iPhone willing there to be a text message from Augustus the day after they met. A ritual every single girl can relate to. These teens are extremely fun, strong and diverse. Augustus, for the most part, no matter the diagnoses is an upbeat hilarious guy who strives to affect the people around him in a positive way. His friend Isaac, played effortlessly by Nat Wolff (Stuck in Love, The Naked Brothers Band), even after losing  both his eyes to cancer is quick to follow up with a sardonic joke.

The love story between Hazel Grace and Augustus is a timeless tale of fate coming in and screwing everything up. The distinct animated characters however make this film a tear-jerking love story that will endure for years to come!

Get the tissues ready! The Fault in Our Stars come to Blu Ray/DVD/Digital Download on Tuesday September 16th.

TNT looking to make Dick Grayson (Robin) Series

Looks like TNT is jumping on the Super Hero train. With the success of shows like Arrow and the development of shows like Gotham and Constatine it was only a matter of time before the sidekicks of DC got their chance to take on the small screen. DC previously announced that there is a Super Girl pilot in the mix but for Batman fans nothing is more exciting then the possibility of finally seeing a Dick Grayson in live action.

Arguable the greatest Robin of all time Dick Grayson was born into a circus family. Their specialty was the trapeze and their act was called the Flying Graysons. After refusing to pay Tony Zucco, a ruthless Gotham gangster known for following through on his threats, Grayson's parents are both killed in a freak accident in the middle of their performance. Left without family Dick Grayson is eventually adopted by Bruce Wayne who sympathizes with his need to find justice for the death of his parents. Eventually Dick Grayson becomes the first of many Robins, serving as Batman's number 1 sidekick.

The pilot being developed for TNT will focus on Grayson's life after Robin and his journey in both becoming Nightwing and his struggle to define himself as a solo Superhero. Akiva Goldsman, known for I Am Legend and A Beautiful Mind,  and Marc Haimes, are working on the script as well as co-producing the project. While the pilot will center around Grayson, it will also be derived from the Teen Titans story line. They are hoping to include other sidekicks like Donna Troy (Wonder Girl), Wally West (Kid Flash),  Roy Harper (Speedy) and Garth (Aqualad). There will be no cross over of plot lines or actors from the current CW series.

Looks like DC is going full speed ahead with television projects. Only time will tell if they become as successful as their current installments.





By Milly