Let’s face it, Captain America: Civil War is just kicking Batman v. Superman’s ass when it comes to marketing itself.
A few criticisms of the BvS development and marketing include (1) They are cramming too many characters into one movie and (2) They seem to have told us the entire story in their trailers. Civil War is also cramming a lot of heroes into one film, at least 12 actually, but we are more than pumped about it because we’ve gotten to know these characters onscreen for a decade’s worth of canon. BvS is attempting to pull it all off in a one film.
Joining the mix, which we’ve been anticipating for months, is the new Peter Parker played by Tom Holland (Wolf Hall, In the Heart of the Sea). From what we see in Spider-Man’s Marvel Cinematic Universe debut, he seems to be aligned with #TeamStark. If I heard it right, Tony refers to Spidey as “Underoos” (ha, because he’s a kid. Do kids still wear those?). Spider-Man will be web-slinging into theaters with his own MCU reboot July 7th, 2017.
There are also a number of cool and conflicting things going on in the trailer.
Bucky seemingly taking out James Rhoades/War Machine.
Black Widow giving Stark the business.
Bucky vs. Black Panther – and bullets raining from a chopper.
Scarlett Witch putting Vision in a mystical submission hold.
CROSSBONES!
Ant-Man getting a lift from Hawkeye’s arrows.
It’s a good bit of fun.
Want to talk more about the Captain America: Civil War? Lets do so on Facebook or Twitter.
One of the biggest cliches regarding Hollywood and film is that “original material is dead”. To the people who feel that way, I would recommend going to their nearest theater and checking out Room and Bridge of Spies. We do seem to receive news on a daily basis of an upcoming reboot or sequel to a classic that’s either been long overdue or way too late.
Some of these projects are exciting and give us something to look forward to. Others just make you shake your head and ask…”Why?”
A remake to a film or franchise can be refreshing. Most of us are Shawshanked (naturally forced to sit and watch the rest of the way through, no matter the time) whenever Ocean’s Eleven comes on TV, the George Clooney version and not the 1960 Frank Sinatra one. Did you see the Footloose remake though? Neither did I.
There are a number of reboots and sequels coming to theaters in the next year or so. Many of the original titles are decades old. I’ll here to separate what’s worth the hype and what’s not.
Yes!
(Movies To Look Forward To)
Zoolander 2 (2016)
Although the original was released 15 years before this sequel hits theaters, it still works because the two stars NEVER AGE. Seriously, whatever moisturizer these guys are using makes 15 years look like 5.
…and they’re killing off Bieber, so at least the movie has that going for it. Just avoid anything the Anchorman did. Seriously.
Star Wars: The Force Awakens (2015)
Aside from jerks who lack imagination, everyone is looking forward to this film and rightfully so. The build up and marketing for Episode VII has been remarkably. While it’s been over 30 years since Han Solo was unfrozen from carbonite on the screen, chills ran down my spine hearing him say “…we’re home”, alongside a Chewbacca roar.
Returning to a set that isn’t so dependent on CGI and green screen like Episodes I-III has audiences excited. It’s also fun for both new and old generations of fans to see new characters on new adventures with old ones.
Spider-Man (2017)
I, like many, was left with a really bad taste in my mouth after Spider-Man 3. It bothered me so much that I didn’t even see the Andrew Garfield version until I happened upon it on FX like a month ago…and I still didn’t feel like I missed out.
Now that Spider-Man is home in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, my spidey senses are tingling again (yeah, I said it). We’ll get our first look at the reboot edition in the highly anticipated Captain America: Civil Waras he chooses a side between Steve Rogers and Tony Stark. This means we won’t have to go through ANOTHER origin radioactive spider bite story when Peter Parker gets his solo film in 2017. We also know he’ll be in high school played by an actor who is actually in the appropriate age-range, Tom Holland. Tobey Maguire and Garfield were both in their very late twenties when they played high school Peter Parker.
It will be fun to see how the new Spider-Man fits into the Marvel/Avengers story going forward and who he will face off with. Hopefully NOT the Green Goblin for a 3rd time.
Ghostbusters (2016)
I really don’t get why the idea of this film is so controversial. It’s an expansion of the Ghostbusters universe and features a female dominant cast with Kristen Wiig, Melissa McCarthy and current SNL cast members Kate McKinnon and Leslie Jones. Bridesmaids director/Freaks and Geeks writer Paul Feig is teaming up with Parks and Recreation for what’s meant to be a series of new Ghostbusters films that Bill Murray, Dan Aykroyd and Ernie Hudson have not only signed off on, but plan to appear in as well.
Also, Chris Hemsworth is their receptionist, so…there’s that.
NOPE!
(Movies Nobody Asked For)
Momento
AMBI Pictures, run by Andrea Iervolino and Monika Bacardi, announced this week that they will be financing a remake of Christopher Nolan’s breakout film, Momento. In the statement breaking the news, Bacardi said:
“Memento is a masterpiece that leaves audiences guessing not just throughout the film, but long after as well, which is a testament to its daring approach.”
Then leave the damn thing alone! Better yet, just rerelease it theaters because it only made $25 million initially and was regarded as a modern classic right after. You can’t tell me though that anyone was asking for a new take or reimagining of this story.
Point Break (2015)
I’m convinced there is an evil group of film backers who want to remake Patrick Swayze’s whole filmography and in the worst ways possible. This is Exhibit A.
I understand there are different “extreme sports” being portrayed (snowboarding instead of surfing), but you could simply call the movie something else and change the character names to make it more appealing…Ya know, like The Fast and the Furious or something like that.
Here’s the original 1991 trailer.
“Fear causes hesitation, and hesitation will cause your worst fears to come true…”, like a remake to this movie with worse actors.
Road House
This is Exhibit B in the case for a Swayze movie conspiracy…
All we know about this movie is that Ronda Rousey has been casted to play Swayze’s character. A columnist for GQ, Jack Moore (who LOVES this idea), says this should work because “Ronda Rousey could end up being the new Patrick Swayze!”
…
Okay, I’m back from throwing up.
I’m not an MMA fan so I don’t share the adoration for Rousey as many people do. I also didn’t see The Entourage movie and don’t feel like I’m missing out. I have seen the other films she’s appeared in and don’t really want to again. I know that she’s the one thing that UFC has to promote itself and that she wants to join WWE. And like I said regarding the new Point Break, you can make the “Rousey as a bouncer” movie and not call it ‘Road House’. Rousey herself doesn’t sound all that confident about doing the film after telling reporters, “The worst thing that’s going to happen is, is that I’ll really suck and just disgrace the name of Swayze and ‘Road House,’ and everyone will hate me.”
+1 for self awareness.
Top Gun 2
I need this photo to have Maverick giving a thumbs down.
The original is almost 30 years old. Yeah, Tom Cruise is in fantastic shape and still kicking ass in the Mission Impossible franchise and Jack Reacher, but you’re not going to bring either Goose or Tony Scott back to get me excited for this sequel. There’s also a lot of confusion as to whether Cruise will even accept the offer to play Maverick again…Val Kilmer’s already editing his Facebook statuses about it, so it will probably go straight to DVD or VOD.
Independence Day: Resurgence (2016)
Will Smith isn’t signed up for this film so neither am I. Seriously, you could air it on SyFy after the next Sharknado and it will get as much hype as it would going to theaters.
(Sidenote: Not included is the long rumored Space Jam 2. Personally, I don’t mind if kids today get to see one featuring LeBron James because many of them weren’t even born while Michael Jordan was playing basketball. Just let that sink in…)
Any other reboots and sequels that interest you or make you sick? Let me know on Facebook or Twitter.
In the last palindrome year you’ll see until 2112…
The Winter Olympics were held in Salt Lake City, Utah
NASA discovered water ice deposits on the planet Mars.
The Sims became the all-time best selling computer game.
Joe Strummer of the Clash passed away at the age of 50.
And here’s what happened in Movies, Music and Sports…
Movies
Comedy
National Lampoon’s Van Wilder, Austin Powers: Goldmember, Punch Drunk Love, About a Boy, Mr. Deeds, My Big Fat Greek Wedding, Friday After Next, Sweet Home Alabama, 40 Days and 40 Nights, The New Guy, Barbershop, Adaptation, Two Weeks Notice, Kung Pow! Enter the Fist, I Spy, Undercover Brother, Showtime, Bubba Ho-Tep, Slackers, AND…
Jackass: The Movie
Action/Thriller
Spider-Man, Minority Report, The Transporter, 007: Die Another Day, Panic Room, Red Dragon, Signs, Murder By Numbers, Blade II, The Sum of All Fears, Phone Booth, K-19 The Widowmaker, Equilibrium, Swimfan, Star Trek Nemesis, 28 Days Later, Insomnia, One Hour Photo, XXX, Resident Evil, Changing Lanes, Reign of Fire, The Ring, Enough, Bad Company, Collateral Damage, AND…
The Bourne Identity
Drama
Catch Me If You Can, Gangs of New York, 8 Mile, The Pianist, City of God, The Hours, 25th Hour, Secretary, About Schmidt, We Were Soldiers, Frida, Chicago, Antwone Fisher, Far From Heaven, The Magdalene Sisters, A Walk To Remember, Road to Perdition, Unfaithful, Amen, Bloody Sunday, The Count of Monte Cristo, AND…
John Q
The 75th Academy Awards
Best Actor
Nicolas Cage, Adaptation
Michael Caine, The Quiet American
Daniel Day-Lewis, Gangs of New York
Jack Nicholson, About Schmidt
Adrien Brody, The Pianist – Winner
(Adrien Brody won his only nomination, and kissed Halle Berry in the process)
Best Supporting Actor
John C. Reilly, Gangs of New York
Christopher Walken, Catch Me If You Can
Ed Harris, The Hours
Paul Newman, Road to Perdition
Chris Cooper, Adaptation – Winner
(This was Chris Cooper’s only Oscar nomination)
Best Actress
Salma Hayek, Frida
Diane Lane, Unfaithful
Julianne Moore, Far From Heaven
Renee Zellweger, Chicago
Nicole Kidman, The Hours – Winner
(Nicole Kidman won once out of 3 Oscar nominations, also for Moulin Rouge and Rabbit Hole)
Best Supporting Actress
Kathy Bates, About Schmidt
Julianne Moore, The Hours
Queen Latifah, Chicago
Meryl Streep, Adaptation
Catherine Zeta-Jones, Chicago – Winner
(Like Brody and Cooper, this was Catherine Zeta-Jones’s only nomination and win)
Music
Rock Albums
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Hip Hop Albums
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Pop Albums
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Billboard Year-End Top 25 Songs
“How You Remind Me” – Nickelback
“Foolish” – Ashanti
“Hot in Herre” – Nelly
“Dilemma” – Nelly featuring Kelly Rowland
“Wherever You Will Go” – The Calling
“A Thousand Miles” – Vanessa Carlton
“In the End” – Linkin Park
“What’s Luv” – Fat Joe featuring Ashanti
“U Got It Bad” – Usher
“Blurry” – Puddle of Mudd
“Complicated” – Avril Lavigne
“Always on Time” – Ja Rule featuring Ashanti
“Ain’t It Funny” – Jennifer Lopez featuring Ja Rule
“The Middle” – Jimmy Eat World
“I Need a Girl (Part One)” – P. Diddy featuring Usher and Loon
“U Don’t Have to Call” –
“Family Affair” – Mary J. Blige
“I Need A Girl (Part Two) – P. Diddy featuring Ginuwine and Loon
“Gansta Lovin” – Eve featuring Alicia Keys
“My Sacrifice” – Creed
“Without Me” – Eminem
“Hero” – Enrique Iglesias
“All You Wanted” – Michelle Branch
“Get the Party Started” – Pink
“Hero” – Chad Kroeger featuring Josey Scott
Sports
Baseball
League Leaders
Offensive
Average: Barry Bonds (SF) – .370
Hits: Alfonso Soriano (NYY) – 209
Home Runs: Alex Rodriguez (TEX) – 57
RBI: Alex Rodriguez (TEX) – 142
OPS: Barry Bonds (SF) – 1.381
Stolen Bases: Luis Castillo (FLA) – 48
Pitching
Wins: Randy Johnson (AZ) – 24
ERA: Pedro Martinez (BOS) – 2.26
Strikeouts: Randy Johnson (AZ) – 334
Complete Games: Randy Johnson (AZ) & Bartolo Colon (CLE/MON)
Shutouts: AJ Burnett (FLA) – 5
Saves: John Smoltz (ATL) – 55
MVP
AL – Miguel Tejada (OAK)
NL – Barry Bonds (SF)
CY Young
AL – Barry Zito (OAK)
NL – Randy Johnson (AZ)
Rookie of the Year
AL – Eric Hinske (TOR)
NL – Jason Jennings (COL)
World Series
Anaheim Angels over San Francisco Giants (4-3)
Basketball
NCAA
Final Four
(1) Maryland, (1) Kansas, (2) Oklahoma, and (5) Indiana
National Championship
(1) Maryland over (5) Indiana 64-52
NBA
League Leaders
Points Per Game: Allen Iverson (PHI) – 31.4
Rebounds Per Game: Ben Wallace (DET) – 13.0
Assists Per Game: Andre Miller (CLE) – 10.9
All-NBA Team
Kobe Bryant (LAL)
Tim Duncan (SA)
Jason Kidd (NJ)
Tracy McGrady (ORL)
Shaquille O’Neal (LAL)
MVP – Tim Duncan (SA)
Rookie of the Year – Pau Gasol (MEM)
NBA Finals
Los Angeles Lakers sweep New Jersey Nets (4-0)
Football
NCAA
Heisman Trophy – Carson Palmer, USC
National Championship
(1) Ohio State over (2) Miami 31-24 in the Fiesta Bowl