The Last Knight shatters the core myths of the Transformers franchise, and redefines what it means to be a hero. Humans and Transformers are at war, Optimus Prime is gone. The key to saving our future lies buried in the secrets of the past, in the hidden history of Transformers on Earth. Saving our world falls upon the shoulders of an unlikely alliance: Cade Yeager (Mark Wahlberg); Bumblebee; an English Lord (Sir Anthony Hopkins); and an Oxford Professor (Laura Haddock).
There comes a moment in everyone’s life when we are called upon to make a difference. In Transformers: The Last Knight, the hunted will become heroes. Heroes will become villains. Only one world will survive: theirs, or ours.
TRANSFORMERS: THE LAST KNIGHT opens in theaters June 23.
Directed by: Michael Bay
Starring: Mark Wahlberg, Josh Duhamel, Anthony Hopkins, Laura Haddock, Jerrod Carmichael, Isabela Moner and Santiago Cabrera
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An ambitious young executive is sent to retrieve his company’s CEO from an idyllic but mysterious “wellness center” at a remote location in the Swiss Alps. He soon suspects that the spa’s miraculous treatments are not what they seem. When he begins to unravel its terrifying secrets, his sanity is tested, as he finds himself diagnosed with the same curious illness that keeps all the guests here longing for the cure. From Gore Verbinski, the visionary director of THE RING, comes the new psychological thriller, A CURE FOR WELLNESS.
Suspense Thriller
Release: February 17, 2017
Director: Gore Verbinski
Screenplay by: Justin Haythe; Story by Justin Haythe & Gore Verbinski
Producers: Arnon Milchan, p.g.a.; Gore Verbinski, p.g.a; David Crockett, p.g.a.
Cast: Dane DeHaan, Jason Isaacs, Mia Goth
In the near future, a weary Logan cares for an ailing Professor X in a hide out on the Mexican border. But Logan’s attempts to hide from the world and his legacy are up-ended when a young mutant arrives, being pursued by dark forces.
Action-Adventure
Release: March 3, 2017
Directed by: James Mangold
Screenplay by: Michael Green and Scott Frank & James Mangold; Story by: David James Kelly and James Mangold
Produced by: Hutch Parker, p.g.a., Simon Kinberg, p.g.a., Lauren Shuler Donner
Cast: Hugh Jackman, Patrick Stewart, Richard E. Grant, Boyd Holbrook, Stephen Merchant, Introducing Dafne Keen
“BAYWATCH” follows devoted lifeguard Mitch Buchannon (Dwayne Johnson) as he butts heads with a brash new recruit (Zac Efron). Together, they uncover a local criminal plot that threatens the future of the Bay.
As The LEGO Batman Movie opens, we’re shown nothing but a black screen, and we hear Will Arnett’s Batman say, “Black. All great movies start with black.” A bold meta statement, but one that ultimately rings true for the new Warner Animation Group film, a spin-off of their 2014 film, The LEGO Movie. While Chris Pratt’s Emmett and Elizabeth Banks’ Wyldstyle were the stars of the first film, Will Arnett’s Batman became the film’s breakout hit. So it was only natural that the next film in the Lego film series (A phrase that still seems so odd to say out loud), would be one that focused on Gotham’s Dark Knight, but with that zany LEGO twist.
Spin-offs are always a gamble, especially when you’re taking a character who worked so well within an ensemble, and you put him front and center. Typically, the character quickly loses the charm they originally had, because there’s such a delicate balance within the ensemble, and that balance no longer applies. Thankfully, The LEGO Batman movie avoids almost all those pitfalls by building Batman into a brand new ensemble. While Will Arnett’s Batman is front and center, he’s now surrounded by a supporting cast that includes Ralph Fiennes as loyal butler Alfred, Rosario Dawson as Barbara Gordon, and Michael Cera as the perfectly cast Dick Grayson, also better known as Robin the Boy Wonder. As many recall, Batman was a largely over the top character throughout The LEGO Movie, and it would be almost impossible to reel that in without taking away what people liked about the character. By grounding the character with this supporting cast, it leaves Batman to continue to be the heavy metal loving, one line spewing, cocky, and ultimately ridiculous character we grew to love before.
The film is chock full of the meta and self aware humor of the first film, while also being an incredibly wonderful love letter to the Batman character, and his entire history. Be it the comics, the Adam West series, or the countless film adaptations, including the often ignored film serials of the 1940s; The LEGO Batman Movie gently ribs The Caped Crusader’s long history with a wink and smile, embracing the character’s highest highs, as well as his lowest lows. (Also, kudos to the filmmakers for finally letting Billy Dee Williams get his chance to be Two Face, a great nod to the Tim Burton films!) As the film opens, The Joker hijacks a plane full of deadly explosives that just happens to be flying right over Gotham City, a fact that’s quickly mocked to death. When The Joker enters, introducing himself to the plane’s captain, asking him if he’s scared, to which the captain humorously replies no. The Joker, dumbfounded, asks him why not, and the captain tells him it’s because Batman always beats him, like that time with the two ships, a nod to Christopher Nolan’s The Dark Knight. It’s a hilarious exchange, and is just the tip of the iceberg of the film’s overall brilliant script, but it’s that humor that makes the movie so fun and fresh. In a lot of ways, this meta humor is a great reminder of many of the best spoof films, a genre that has sadly all but disappeared, but is seeing a nice return thanks to the film’s producers Phil Lord and Chris Miller, and the film’s director, Chris McKay.
Much like The LEGO Movie before it, The LEGO Batman Movie manages to balance the film’s absurdity and humor with a huge heart, making it something special and touching. The story throughout the film really follows Batman as he finds himself grappling with not having a family, and how he doesn’t have any close relationships. In a rather clever exchange with The Joker near the beginning of the film, Batman tells him that they’re not exclusive enemies, that The Joker really means nothing to him, and that their feud isn’t anything special. This breaks The Joker’s heart, setting him on a path to try and convince Batman that he’s truly Batman’s greatest villain, and that they really do share a special bond. It’s a hilarious scene, but really manages to drive home the fact that Batman really isn’t close to anyone, and ultimately he has no real relationships in his life, not even with his longtime butler, Alfred. While that seems like a rather dramatic angle for the film to take, it’s a perfectly fitting angle to take with the character, and one that has been seen many times before. But the reason it works here is because with how over the top LEGO Batman is, to have him become a real character that does have feelings, really makes you care about the character more. For all his overcompensation, heavy metal music, and insane antics, really all he wants is a family, something he’s been missing his entire life.
This storyline plays great with Michael Cera’s wide eyed take on Dick Grayson, who is an orphan himself. Dick wants nothing more than to be adopted by a family, and looks up to Bruce Wayne, who he considers the greatest orphan of all time. Through a series of events at James Gordon’s retirement party, Bruce unwittingly adopts the boy who will be Robin, and now has to learn to be a parent, something he has no idea how to do. All the while, Barbara Gordon has become the new Police Commissioner of Gotham, picking up her father’s mantle. She wants the GCPD to work alongside Batman, and get rid of the rift raft in the city, something Batman is hugely against. Both Barbara’s storyline, as well as Dick’s, create a great story that forces Batman to face the truth that he’s tired of being alone, and that he can’t continue to live his life the way he has. This joke is played in full when Bruce, after spending a night out fighting crime, gets home and finds himself sitting alone in his home theater watching the Tom Cruise film, Jerry Maguire. He’s so lonely, he spends time watching movies about relationships, just to know what relationships are like, without really realizing how badly he needs to be in one. The script so brilliantly plays up the theme of family without hitting you upside the head to make a point, and it feels like a natural part of the story, instead of something tacked on to make you feel something.
Visually, The LEGO Batman is absolutely beautiful, and really has a lot of fun with the world full of these amazing bricks. The element that makes these movies so cool is how it can play with the bricks in so many different ways, really feeling like a giant play set. Every explosion looks like it’s made of bricks, and any time a gun is shot, it looks like a slim piece of LEGO, with those behind the guns hilariously saying, “pew pew pew,” as they fire. It’s just so much fun watching how visually inventive the filmmakers got bringing the film to life, really making it feel like a world built of LEGO, that you just want to play with and be a part of. The film really captures the spirit and feel of what it’s like to be someone who played with these growing up, and makes your imagination run wild with the possibilities of where they could go next in this world. With LEGO, the opportunities are endless, something this movie proves, and it’ll make audiences clamor for more.
The LEGO Batman Movie is a charming, funny, family adventure film that’s made for not just kids, but adults as well. The filmmakers have managed to make something that kids will love, but parents can too. With a brilliantly meta script, that lovingly embraces the entire Batman mythology from comics to film, it’s impossible not to grin ear to ear throughout. Will Arnett once again brings his goofy, crazy, and ultimately lovable version of Batman to life, with an excellent supporting cast in Michael Cera, who steals much of the film as Robin, as well as Rosario Dawson, and Ralph Fiennes. The LEGO Batman Movie is an incredibly imaginative film that takes the promise of the LEGO world, and shows just how much farther we can take it. This is a worthy successor to The LEGO Movie in every way, and it’ll be great to see where the series goes next. This is the ultimate Batman film in just about every way, and here’s hoping this isn’t the last time we see the character.
The Main Street Electrical Parade, one of the most popular of all Disney parades, has returned to Disneyland Park with all the lights, sounds, music and fun that have made it a beloved icon. With nightly parades scheduled through Sunday, June 18, guests will have a limited time to enjoy the parade’s encore performance.
The dazzling and colorful after-dark parade premiered in Disneyland in 1972 and has been seen at Disney Parks around the world. Although its last Disneyland Park performance was in November 1996, and at Disney California Adventure Park in 2010, it has continued to shine brightly in the memories of millions of guests.
Here are some fun facts about the Main Street Electrical Parade:
600,000 lights sparkle in the parade’s nighttime journey from Small World Mall in Fantasyland to Town Square on Main Street, U.S.A. (approximate number).
22 floats illuminate the parade route at Disneyland, nearly doubling the number of floats from the parade’s debut (12) in 1972.
7 films are represented in the parade: “Alice in Wonderland,” “Cinderella,” “Peter Pan,” “Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs,” “Pinocchio,” “Dumbo” and “Pete’s Dragon.”
27 beloved Disney characters perform throughout the show including Goofy, Mickey Mouse, Cinderella, Captain Hook and Tinker Bell.
80 parade performers (estimated number per night) bring the magic to light including 10 To Honor America patriots, 16 royal court dancers and the Seven Dwarfs.
35 dazzling, lighted costumes are worn by the parade performers.
8 jittering insect floats spin and dance for guests during the “Alice in Wonderland” sequence.
At 18 1/2 feet high, the Clock Tower in the “Cinderella” sequence of the parade, is the tallest float.
At 118 feet long, the To Honor America float is the longest float in the parade. It was added in 1979 after the success of the bicentennial tribute parade “America on Parade.”
At 5,600 pounds, the massive Elliot float, added in 1977 for the release of “Pete’s Dragon,” measures 16 feet tall, 10 feet wide and 38 feet long.
2 composers, Jean-Jacques Perrey and Gershon Kingsley, wrote the iconic synthesizer piece known as “Baroque Hoedown” in 1967, and the song was adapted for the Main Street Electrical Parade in 1972, interwoven with classic Disney themes to create the now iconic parade soundtrack.
6 different colors of light bulbs flash throughout the parade, in amber, blue, green, chartreuse, red and pink.
150,000 glowing amber lights are used in the production, the most of any color.
80 highly skilled cast members were involved in the creation of Main Street Electrical Parade, including 20 designers and 60 craftspeople.
5 Disney Parks have presented versions of the Main Street Electrical Parade including Disneyland, Walt Disney World Magic Kingdom Park, Disney California Adventure Park, Tokyo Disneyland and Disneyland Paris.
Historical Facts:
Nearly 3,600 performances entertained guests at Disneyland from June 17, 1972 to Nov. 25, 1996.
900 miles is the approximate distance traveled by the Main Street Electrical parade during its original run at Disneyland, nearly the distance from Anaheim, Calif., to Seattle, Wash.
In 2005, Main Street Electrical Parade creator and former director of entertainment Robert Jani was inducted as a Disney Legend.
June 17, 1972, marked the debut of the Main Street Electrical Parade, and it returns for its encore performance 45 years later – Jan. 20-June 18, 2017.
500,000 hand-tinted white miniature bulbs twinkled each night in the early versions of the parade.
500 miles of wiring were used to light the floats during early years of the parade, enough to travel to the top of the Matterhorn and back nearly 9,000 times.
Approximately 75 million guests viewed the Main Street Electrical Parade during its original run at Disneyland.
Director Derek Cianfrance’s The Light Between Oceans, based on the novel M. L. Stedman, comes to blu-ray courtesy of of Walt Disney Pictures. The film, starring Micael Fassbender, Rachel Weisz, and Alicia Vikander, is a melancholy, sweeping, and often times beautiful film, that follows a couple who can’t have children, only to have a baby swiftly entering their lives. The couple learns to love and care for the baby, but when the child’s mother shows up in their lives, it quickly causes upheaval in everyone’s lives.
The Light Between Oceans follows Tom Sherbourne, played by Michael Fassbender, a World War One veteran who returns home to Australia after the war, looking for peace and solace after what he’s been through. Working in an isolated lighthouse, Tom eventually falls in love with a young woman named Isabel, played by Alicia Vikander. One night, a boat washes up at the lighthouse, with a dead body and a small child on board. Tom and Isabel decide to take the baby in and raise it on their own, bringing a new light to their life. But the light could potentially be put out when the child’s real mother shows up in their life, threatening to take their new found happiness away from them.
The film really is quite engaging for the first two acts, but once it gets to its third act, it quickly starts to unravel, and it gets too sentimental and sappy, bringing the film to a grinding halt. But even for the film’s issues, it’s worth a watch for Michael Fassbender’s and Alicia Vikander’s incredibly emotional and real performances. Fassbender is one of the best actors currently working in Hollywood, and he brings Tom’s broken nature, but that hope for love and life so amazingly to life. It’s hard to take your eyes off him when he’s on the screen. Vikander as well really owns the screen, with a really moving performance, and she plays brilliantly off Fassbender. The two share such great chemistry, it’s hard not to be enthralled by them, and really pull for them to come through in all this.
Dereke Cianfrance’s film is strikingly beautiful, with amazing cinematography by Adam Arkapaw. The film, which was filmed in Australia and New Zealand, is a true treat, and the blu-ray really brings the film spectacularly to life. The transfer is gorgeous, really bringing the way Arkapaw shot the move to life. The island that Fassbender’s Tom Sherbourne lives on is ripe to filmed, and this blu-ray makes the locale pop with natural beauty. Though, there are a few instances of noise in the film that pop up from time to time, it’s not enough that it detracts from the film’s overall transfer. This is an incredibly beautiful looking film, and for that alone, it’s worth a pick up.
The film also boasts an excellent 7.1 lossless audio track that really brings the film’s score and dialogue to life in an absolutely great way. Though the film isn’t a big action film that is going to push your speaker system to it’s limits, it does make the film sound crisp, and brings the theater experience home in style. The use of nature throughout the film, with the gusty wind that surrounds the island, and the waves from the ocean, really do make great use of the speakers, and it surrounds you, encapsulates you, and makes you feel like you’re right there with the characters in the film. It’s really a fantastic sounding disc, and one that really is one that’s a standout for its subtly, not just being in your face with the sound.
It’s too bad the disc doesn’t have too much in the way of special features. While it has a decent making of featurette, it’s nothing too special. Clocking in at just over fifteen minutes, it explores how they brought the film to life, from its themes, its shooting locations, the casting and chemistry between them, and more. But for such a short run time, it doesn’t feel fleshed out at all. It’s too much information in too short a time, making it feel too rushed. On the other hand, Derek Cianfrance’s commentary, with Film Studies Professor Phil Soloman, is engaging, and very thoughtful. You get a much better feel for the way the film was put together, and it’s more what the making of featurette should be. It’s easily worth a listen for any fan of the film. The final featurette, Lighthouse Keeper, is a quick five minute bit that is about finding the right lighthouse to film in. Much like the making of, it’s far too short, and feels rushed, but it is an interesting watch even for its short time frame.
The Light Between Oceans is a mostly engaging film with wonderful performances in its leads Michael Fassbender and Alicia Vikander, who really sell the film, even if it never comes together fully. The blu-ray release comes with a stunning transfer, and a great sound mix, but barely adequate special features that really don’t add to much. Still, the film is more than worth a look for the performances, and its stunning cinematography by Adam Arkapaw. For that alone, the disc gets a solid recommendation.
17 Miracle The company of MATILDA THE MUSICAL Credit 2016 Joan Marcus
As most any child can attest, Roald Dahl was a master storyteller. He dares children to imagine the darkest of worlds, populated by what a child could only see as the worst that humanity had to offer. But he made these worlds palatable by populating them with the smartest and brightest of children. Whether it was Charlie from Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, James from James and the Giant Peach, or Matilda from the story of the same name, these were remarkable children that counteracted the darkness of these worlds by serving as a beacon for children to follow into the darkness.
His stories were complex and profound. They were epics for the young. And now one of his most endearing characters, Matilda, has made her way to the stage, currently performing at the Segerstrom Center for the Arts in Costa Mesa.
While not one of his most famous stories, Matilda bears all of the hallmarks of the best of his work. Matilda herself is a genius, forced to live in misery with a family that resents her. Her mother sees her as an obstacle in the way of her dance ambitions, and her father is disgusted by the fact that she wasn’t a son. Tortured throughout her childhood, she finds escape through books, eventually creating her own stories as a way of escaping from her own story. Finding herself at Crunchem Hall Primary School, the dichotomy of light and dark are presented once again through the seemingly perfect teacher, Miss Honey, and the horrible excuse of a headmistress, Miss Trunchbull (brilliantly played by Dan Chameroy). One of the great pleasures of this production is the rivalry between Miss Trunchbull and all of the students.
I would have always imagined that a story such as this could never be pulled off on the stage. There are just too many fantastical elements for it too work. Yet somehow, they have pulled it off in spectacular fashion. This is in no small part to the phenomenal performances across the board. With a cast composed primarily of children, I was floored at the fierce dedication they all brought to their roles. The role of Matilda herself would appear to be particularly challenging, with almost non-stop verbal ruminations and wordplay. As the character is supposed to be a genius, the young child playing the role (there are 3 total actresses playing the role throughout the show’s run) has a lot of weight to carry on her shoulders, and it is pulled off in amazing fashion. Compounding the difficulty, Matilda is a musical, and a fantastic one at that.
The songs in this production are far more memorable than I was expecting, and almost all filled with extremely clever wordplay. The dance choreography is extremely creative, all in service of the story and conveying a great deal simply through motion. I must also commend the entire technical crew for keeping up with the incredibly fast paced demands a show such as this must require. The special effects are extremely impressive, and while they never overshadow the story they are servicing, they are always a joy to behold.
Pretty much everything about this production works, from the whimsical set design to the on-the-nose costuming. If I have one small complaint, it’s that some of the dialogue in the music can be hard to understand. The cast utilizes over-the-top British accents, and many of the musical numbers feature multiple people singing at once, often overlapping each other with various pieces of dialogue. There were times where I just found myself enjoying the theatrics of the experience, but not entirely understanding what was being said.
However, that’s a small complaint compared to the numerous joys that this show has to offer. It really is like seeing Dahl’s story come to life before your eyes, and while the dark undertones are never shied away from, I would definitely recommend this as a production for the entire family. Matilda is being performed now through January 29.
On Thursday, January 19, 2017, director D.J. Caruso and the cast of his new film, xXx: Return of Xander Cage, the third film in the extreme spy series. Vin Diesel, Deepika Padukone, Donnie Yen, Ruby Rose, Tony Jaa, and many others sat down to give us an inside look at the production of the film, why Vin decided to return to the series, and why now was the perfect time to return to the xXx franchise.
Vin Diesel returned to the franchise after so many years away for himself, saying that he wanted to play a character where he could laugh and smile again.
He felt that it was important to use the film to introduce the world to a much more global cast, while also showing how much fun people could have making the films.
Vin had met Deepika Padukone during a screen test for Furious 7, and when D.J. Caruso saw that screen test, he decided then they had to have her in the film.
After working with Tony Jaa on Furious 7, who Vin has dubbed his good luck charm, he knew the moment he was added to the cast of The Return of Xander Cage that the film would be a hit for them.
Nina Dobrev surprised everyone in the production when she auditioned for the role of Becky. They were so used to seeing her in serious roles, they didn’t expect her to be able to pull off the comedic relief as well as she did. She joked she only got it because Victoria Justice wasn’t available.
Xander’s relationship with Adele, played by Ruby Rose, was built to be a bromance from the beginning, instead of a romance.
They wanted to make sure that all the women were represented as smart, strong women, and they all had different personalities. No one was supposed to be the same, and that was a talk they had early on in production.
The characters Adele, played by Ruby Rose, and Serena, played by Deepika Padukone, were written to be frenemies, but they had a hard time playing that dynamic because they got along so well. They couldn’t wait to film the scene where they come together and fight, and being stronger together, so they could finally have fun on film together, not just behind the scenes.
Donnie Yen said he came to work every day just to have fun, and that every day for him was like a carnival. He continued to say that Vin was such a warm guy, as well as producer, and he loved being a part of the film.
Deepika and Ruby trained for weeks with their action stunt team to get the choreography of the fight sequences down, and make it look believable.
Nina Dobrev on the other hand had no training for her small action sequence, and it was actually made up on the day of the shoot. Nina begged D.J. to give her an action scene in the film, because she said her friends would make fun of her relentlessly if she was in an action film with Vin Diesel, only to sit in the corner and cry without ever getting in on the action.
Xander’s fighting style was a mix of martial arts and motor bike skills, called MXPX, which they created specifically for his character.
Michael Bisping was someone Vin wanted to have in the film, and said he brought such a great power to the set every time he was there. They said he never took a day off really, because any time he was off, he’d have to keep on his UFC training.
Vin wanted to use this movie to show global harmony in a lot of ways. He doesn’t want to look at people by where they’re from, but who they are, and their culture.
Donnie is similar to Vin, where he pushes himself to be the best he could be. Vin knows he’s a perfectionist, and that it causes problems on some of his films, but he shared a kinship with Donnie over that likeminded bond. They both pushed each other to be the very best they could be.
D.J. Caruso said that working with Vin was great, because he was a creative producer, and they never worried about how many shots they had left or how much time they had left, they just wanted to get the best product possible together.
Nina said even though her dad was a computer programmer, she wasn’t able to bring any of that to her role, because she never actually learned to fix things on her own when it came to computers, she always had her dad fix it for her. So as much as she wished she could bring more from her past from it, this pushed her to want to learn more after.
The return of Darius Stone, played by Ice Cube, was something that had been decided early on in the film’s production, but the size of his role always remained in question. It wasn’t until they got to the third act that they realized it was the perfect place to insert his return in the series. They wanted him to steal that scene, and really standout and bring the specific flavor his character had in State of the Union into his appearance here.
They have ideas for the fourth film in the series, should this one do well with audiences, and D.J. Caruso said that he has his eye on a story that is loosely based on one of his favorite Walter Hill films from the 1970s, but he wouldn’t say which.
Caruso would love to film sequences of the next film in IMAX, a format he started to fall in love with, when he started working on the film’s transfer for the IMAX screens. He thinks that the series could lend itself well to using that technology.
xXx: Return of Xander Cage, starring Vin Diesel, Deepika Padukone, Donnie Yen, Ruby Rose, and directed by D.J. Caruso, opens in theaters January 20, 2017.
It’s been fifteen years since we’ve seen Vin Diesel in the role of Xander Cage, the character he played in Rob Cohen’s extreme spy thriller, xXx. Much like the The Fast and the Furious franchise before it, Vin Diesel decided to pursue other films, leaving the series with no star, and no real direction to go. A sequel, xXx: State of the Union, starring Ice Cube as Darius Stone, the newest agent in the xXx spy program. The film unceremoniously killed off the character of Xander Cage in a line of dialogue, and never looked back. But the film’s underperformance left the series on ice, and most thought it would go quietly into the night without another word. Hollywood, however, is never one to leave well enough alone, and in a time where many long dormant film series are resurrected, it was only a matter of time before someone took another crack at the xXx franchise with its original star back in the lead.
Flash forward twelve years, Vin Diesel is back as Xander Cage for xXx: Return of Xander Cage, the third entry in this spy series, this time directed by D.J. Caruso. But Vin isn’t alone, as he brings series regular Samuel L. Jackson back, mixed with an incredibly exciting diverse cast from across the world, including famed martial artist Donnie Yen, Ruby Rose, Tony Jaa, Deepika Padukone, and Nina Dobrev. In xXx:Return of Xander Cage, the world is once again threatened by a mad man, and the only person who can stop him is the long thought dead Xander Cage. But Cage can’t do it alone, and assembles his own team of the bad, the extreme, and the completely insane, to take on forces no one else can.
If the plot synopsis feels like something you’ve seen before, you’d be right, and normally that’s to the detriment of a film. But in this case, it’s honestly better that the film’s synopsis is so straight forward and easy going, because the film’s focus isn’t on the story, but the characters and the situations they get into. It’s got a real throwback feel to the action films of the 1990s, and in a lot of ways, it feels like a film Jean-Claude Van Damme would have made at the height of his career. Not only that, but the film has an incredibly self aware nature, and never takes itself too seriously, which is the film’s biggest asset. With so many movies so set on being grounded and realistic, this film throws logic to the wind, and lets itself be crazy, ridiculous, and over the top, all while winking at the camera.
A lot of this can be attributed to Vin Diesel’s Xander Cage, a character Diesel clearly enjoyed returning to. Unlike Dominic Toretto, Diesel’s stone faced and serious Fast and the Furious counterpart, the role of Xander is a lot more light hearted, and a much more over the top figure who spouts one liners, simply because he can, and kicks ass while doing it. He really seems to have made peace with the character, and his place in the franchise, and his return is certainly a welcome addition. It’s almost even more impressive that the film never really tries to explain why Xander has managed to hide so long. For someone that is supposed to be dead, the CIA has an incredibly easy time finding him. Yeah, this film has next to no logic throughout, knowingly so, and it’s that big, dumb grin it has on its face that makes it work so well.
Pulling a page from the last three Mission: Impossible films, Return of Xander Cage also makes the wise decision of not laying the film squarely on Diesel’s shoulders, and instead surrounds him with so amazing talent. The film’s ensemble nature certainly makes the proceedings throughout more exciting, as each actor brings something fun to their role, though some much more than others, with Donnie Yen, Deepika Padukone, and Ruby Rose as the film’s biggest standouts. Yen, who was just seen in Star Wars: Rogue One, is someone who many may recognize, but haven’t truly gotten to see at his very best, as many of American films haven’t given him the platform to show off his martial arts. But Caruso and Diesel wisely use Yen’s talents fully here, with his character of Xiang being a force of nature, and being in many of the film’s best action sequences. It’s nice to see Yen really getting to show off just how talented he is in a film like this, as many of his previous films have sadly gone overlooked by western audiences.
Deepika Padukone and Ruby Rose are both similarly used here in their roles of Serena and Adele, two of the film’s big female action heroines. It’s great to see a film that lets women be kick ass, as well as smart, and both bring that to life here. Their frenemy relationship is a bit unnecessary, but when the characters come together in the final act of the film, it’s really a joy to see them together. This also leads us to Nina Dobrev, who plays the quirky tech geek, Becky, this film’s equivalent of James Bond’s Q. Dobrev takes the reigns of the role of the late Michael Roof, who played Agent Shavers in the previous films, but makes it her own. She’s quirky, and ultimately a very fun presence throughout the film. Though at times the character comes off as a little much, she’s so likable it’s almost enough to look past, as she works so well with the team and adds to the film’s already over the top and light nature.
Unfortunately, the rest of the supporting cast isn’t as lucky, as most are used so minimally, you wonder why they’re there, instead of just fleshing out the characters in the film that we’ve already come to like. One character who is used minimally, but effectively, is Ice Cube’s Darius Stone, who returns in the film’s third act. The only problem is, once he appears, you realize he should have been in the rest of the film as well. He’s such a great presence, that it could have only strengthened the rest of the film. It’s just great to see that the series hasn’t left the second entry completely out, even after its lackluster performance, and it’s something I think other franchises could take a note from. Use the past, no matter how ugly it may be, learn from those mistakes, and build off them. This doesn’t mean repeat things from previous entries though, which is the biggest flaw of the film overall, and its use of Samuel L. Jackson’s Gibbons. It’s such a waste of a great character, it’s too bad they couldn’t find any other way to use him.
Director D.J. Caruso, best known for Disturbia and Eagle Eye, does a fine job behind the lens of the camera, filming some compelling action sequences that are a lot of fun throughout. Xander’s introduction in the film in particular, as he skis through the mountains, and then skateboards down a winding hill, is a lot of fun, and Caruso does a fantastic job with it. He also captures much of Donnie Yen’s fantastic skills very well, but a few action sequences have a bit too much quick cutting, which lessens the impact of the action, as well as makes it hard to really get a feel for what’s happening. One of the biggest crimes many modern action films make is the lack of staging and geography, making it nearly impossible to tell what’s happening. Caruso never lets the film get that bad, but the quick cuts are at times a bit jarring, and make it hard to get a feel for what’s happening. Thankfully, by the film’s third act, those problems all go away, and the film ends on a strong note.
xXx: Return of Xander Cage is a big, bombastic, over the top action film where logic doesn’t have to exist, because it’s ridiculous, and it knows it. The film is not just the return of Diesel as Xander, but it’s a return of fun for the franchise. Diesel and Yen shine throughout, kicking ass at every turn, while Deepika Padukone and Ruby Rose steal the show. The film delivers thrills, fun, and laughs, and is a great way to start the year at the movies.
Nintendo has finally announced that the new Nintendo Switch system will launch worldwide on March 3, 2017 at a suggested retail price of $299.99 in the United States.
The system will include the main console, Joy-Con (L) and Joy-Con (R) controllers, a Joy-Con grip (to which two Joy-Con are attached and used as one controller), a set of Joy-Con wrist straps, a Nintendo Switch dock (which holds the main console and connects it to a TV), an HDMI cable and an AC adapter. Two stylish versions of the system will be released: a version with a set of gray Joy-Con, and a version with one neon blue and one neon red Joy-Con. Both versions will be the same price.
“Nintendo Switch is a brand-new kind of home gaming system that offers a wide variety of play modes,” said Nintendo President Tatsumi Kimishima. “We will introduce the world to new experiences made possible by the unique characteristics of the Nintendo Switch hardware and the Joy-Con.”
Nintendo Switch is a breakthrough home video game system. It not only connects to a TV at home, but it also instantly transforms into an on-the-go handheld using its 6.2-inch screen. For the first time, players can enjoy a full home-console experience anytime, anywhere. The screen includes capacitive multi-touch capabilities for compatible games. Battery life can last for more than six hours, but will vary depending on the software and usage conditions. For example, The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild can be played for roughly three hours on a single charge. While away from home, Nintendo Switch can be charged by plugging the AC adapter into the console’s USB Type-C connector.
The versatile Joy-Con offer multiple surprising new ways for players to have fun. Two Joy-Con can be used independently in each hand, or together as one game controller when attached to the Joy-Con grip. They can also attach to the main console for use in handheld mode, or be shared with friends to enjoy two-player action in supported games. Each Joy-Con has a full set of buttons and can act as a standalone controller, and each includes an accelerometer and gyro-sensor, making independent left and right motion control possible.
Nintendo Switch also contains a number of built-in features that make it more interactive. The left Joy-Con has a Capture Button that players can press to take instant screenshots of gameplay to share with friends on social media. The right Joy-Con includes an NFC touchpoint for interaction with amiibo figures, as well as an IR Motion Camera that can detect the distance, shape and motion of nearby objects in specially designed games. For example, it can tell how far away a player’s hand is, and even if the hand is forming a rock, paper or scissors shape. Both Joy-Con include advanced HD Rumble, which can provide compatible games with subtle vibrations that are much more realistic than before. The effect is so detailed that a player could, for example, feel the sensation of individual ice cubes colliding inside a glass when shaking a Joy-Con. With HD Rumble players can experience a level of realism not possible through sights and sounds alone.
Nintendo Switch makes it easy for players to stay connected. Up to eight systems can be connected for local wireless play. The player can place the system upright anywhere by using the built-in stand, then easily share Joy-Con for multiplayer fun away from the TV. The system will support online Wi-Fi multiplayer gaming. Nintendo also unveiled a new online subscription service that will begin with a free trial at launch. The service includes a smart-device application available in Summer 2017 that will let users invite friends to play online, set play appointments and chat with one another as they play compatible games. The fully featured paid service will be available in the fall.
Nintendo Switch will be supported by world-class third-party publishers including Activision Publishing Inc., Electronic Arts, Take-Two Interactive, Ubisoft, Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment and major Japanese publishers. Some publishers, such as Bethesda Softworks, are joining Nintendo for the first time. Players can look forward to major franchises on Nintendo Switch such as EA SPORTS FIFA, The Elder Scrolls, NBA 2K, Minecraft and more. Nintendo Switch software will not be region locked.
The unique capabilities of the console and Joy-Con have combined with innovations from past systems to create Nintendo’s most flexible, feature-packed video game system ever. This is demonstrated by the wide variety of unique games that were announced for launch day, this summer and into the 2017 holiday season, from both Nintendo and its third-party partners. From the engrossing open-air experience of The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild to the party fun of 1-2-Switch, Nintendo Switch offers something for everyone.
Select First-Party Games
The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild: Prepare for the biggest Legend of Zelda adventure yet, with an open-air style that breaks new boundaries while honoring the origins of the acclaimed series. Explore a world of unprecedented size and discover more than 100 puzzle-filled Shrines of Trials, plus a wide variety of weapons, outfits and gear. Players won’t want to stop playing, and they won’t have to since Nintendo Switch allows them to continue the adventure anywhere, anytime.
The game is compatible with Zelda 30th Anniversary series amiibo, the Wolf Link amiibo (which will be re-issued as a standalone amiibo on Feb. 3) and the new Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild series amiibo. In addition to the previously announced Link (Rider), Link (Archer) and Guardian amiibo, The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild series amiibo will also include new Zelda and Bokoblin amiibo. The amiibo in this series carry a suggested retail price of $15.99, except for the massive Guardian amiibo, which has a suggested retail price of $19.99.
The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild will provide players with a landmark Nintendo Switch experience on the system’s launch day in March, and will be available as a standard edition, Special Edition and Master Edition. The Special Edition includes the game, a Nintendo Switch Sheikah Slate Carrying Case, Sheikah Eye Collectible Coin, Relic of Hyrule: Calamity Ganon Tapestry and Weather-Worn Map, and The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild Sound Selection CD for a suggested retail price of $99.99. The Master Edition includes all of those items plus a Master Sword of Resurrection figure, and has a suggested retail price of $129.99.
1-2-Switch: This is the first Nintendo video game in which players compete in fun activities while staring into each other’s eyes instead of at the TV screen. From Wild West gunslinging to copying each other’s dance moves, the games in 1-2-Switch make creative use of a broad variety of Nintendo Switch features to liven up parties with anyone, anywhere, at any time. 1-2-Switch will be available alongside the Nintendo Switch system on its launch day in March.
ARMS: Featuring a unique multiplayer fighting sport that lets players trade blows using extendable arms, this game includes elements of both boxing and shooting games, plus a new cast of characters. After customizing a character with a variety of arms, the player holds one Joy-Con in each hand and throws left and right punches at the opponent. Characters can jump and dash, and players can bend their punches by twisting their hands as they swing. As players learn the game and improve their skills, they will discover a deeper level of advanced tactics. Players can compete against the computer, against a friend on a split screen using a second set of Joy-Con (sold separately), against worldwide rivals online, or with two Nintendo Switch systems over a local wireless connection. ARMS will be available this Spring.
Mario Kart 8 Deluxe: With Nintendo Switch, fans can enjoy the definitive version of Mario Kart 8 anywhere, anytime, even with up to eight friends in local wireless multiplayer. All your favorite tracks and characters return from the Wii U version, plus all DLC tracks and characters, and new characters join the roster, too: Inkling Girl and Inkling Boy from Splatoon, as well as King Boo, Dry Bones and Bowser Jr.! Plus, Battle mode has been revamped and includes Balloon Battle and Bob-omb Blast, with new courses such as Urchin Underpass and Battle Stadium, and returning ones like GCN Luigi’s Mansion and SNES Battle Course 1. Players can now carry two items at a time, including new items returning from previous Mario Kart games such as Boo (the item-stealing ghost) and the Feather, which gives players a high jump in Battle mode. Players can even choose to use a new Smart Steering feature, which makes driving and staying on the track easy for novice players and kids, even at 200cc. Play in TV mode in up to 1080p. Mario Kart 8 Deluxe launches in April.
Splatoon 2: Traditional 4-on-4 turf battles return in this full sequel to the original breakout hit game, along with new stages, new fashions and new weapons such as the two-handed Splat Dualies. Players can compete on the TV or on the go. Whether they use the Nintendo Switch Pro Controller (sold separately) or Joy-Con, players can aim their ink using gyro controls. Splatoon 2 supports both local and online multiplayer matches. The game will also support voice chat using the new Nintendo Switch smart device app (a free, limited version of the app will be available this summer), and will add new stages, fashions and weapons after launch, as the original game did. Splatoon 2 is scheduled to launch this summer.
Super Mario Odyssey: This is the first sandbox game that allows Mario to fully explore his world since Super Mario 64 on Nintendo 64 and Super Mario Sunshine on Nintendo GameCube. Mario jumps out of the Mushroom Kingdom and embarks on a journey through mysterious new places and new experiences, such as sailing between worlds aboard an airship and the ability to throw Mario’s cap. Super Mario Odyssey is scheduled to launch during the 2017 holiday season.
Snipperclips – Cut it out, together!: In this creative new kind of Action-Puzzle game, players communicate, cooperate and use their imaginations to solve basic and advanced puzzles by cutting paper characters into new shapes. People can play solo or with a friend in the main game, then bring in a bigger group to solve up to four-player dynamic puzzles or compete in other activities. Snipperclips – Cut it out, together! will release in March exclusively in Nintendo eShop.
For more information about Nintendo Switch, including a video of the announcements, visit http://www.nintendo.com/switch.
This guest post was brought to you by William Reynolds
HITMAN: AGENT 47 is not a new movie, but in the context of one of the last releases of 2016, now seems like a good time to take a look back at it. Last month we saw the release of Assassin’s Creed, a film based on the popular Ubisoft series starring Michael Fassbender in the lead role. Viewed by many as a project that could reverse the trend of underwhelming game-to-film adaptations, Assassin’s Creed flopped with critics and was relatively disappointing at the box office. That’s not to say it was an outright failure. Fassbender is always enjoyable and the first quarter or so of the film was intriguing. In the end it fell prey to the same old lack of substance and confusing action that has doomed video game adaptations in the past.
It seems fair to ask if Hitman: Agent 47 was any better. The circumstances surrounding the movie’s release were similar to those with regard to Assassin’s Creed. Hitman wasn’t just a recognizable name in gaming, but a franchise that was in the midst of significant expansion across multiple platforms.
Following the 2012 release of Hitman: Absolution, Square Enix and IO Interactive took steps to further branch out with the series. This began with internet casino gaming platforms, where it’s not uncommon to see existing characters used as subjects for slot reels and jackpot games. The Hitman slot reel involved recreates some of the most memorable features of the series, including a bonus game where players could choose a target to eliminate before obtaining that target’s hidden value. It’s more creative than you’d expect and signaled the decision by the publisher to expand the reach of the franchise.
That decision to branch out also led to multiple mobile games including Hitman Go and Hitman Sniper. The former is a turn-based puzzle game where you control an agent moving along various grids toward targets, and the latter is a point-and-click sniping game that stands out in a crowded genre of mobile shooter..
With all this going on and interest in the character at an all-time high they decided to follow up with a second Hitman movie. Unfortunately, Hitman: Agent 47 wound up being a mess and is considered one of the worst video game films not directed by Uwe Boll.
The movie tells the story of 47 (Rupert Friend), a specially trained and genetically altered assassin working for an international contract killing agency. Wishing to meet the man who helped create him, 47 begins a search for Katia (Hannah Ware), the same man’s daughter, who holds the clues to his whereabouts. Along the way a group called Syndicate International and their agent John Smith (Zachary Quinto) get in the way, attempting to stop 47 and find his creator for themselves. As the film progresses we learn that Katia too has the power to unlock assassin abilities, and she and 47 wind up on a frantic quest first to find, and then to rescue her father.
The movie does decent job of capturing the sleek aesthetic of the games and the action scenes are done well but aren’t enough to comprise a good film. The plot is bland, the characters are soulless, and the action, even if it’s not bad, is somewhat suffocating.
The only surprise is that no one involved saw that problem coming. Replicating video game action in an action movie doesn’t seem particularly difficult, but giving a video game character a compelling persona and an interesting mission is a different challenge. If you love the series, it’s still worth checking out, but if you’re just looking for some action-packed escapism, you’d be better off looking elsewhere.
In an exciting new collaboration with Thirteenth Floor Entertainment Group, the Winchester Mystery House is launching "Festival Fright Nights." This all-new Halloween event will...
A lot of this can be attributed to Vin Diesel’s Xander Cage, a character Diesel clearly enjoyed returning to. Unlike Dominic Toretto, Diesel’s stone faced and serious Fast and the Furious counterpart, the role of Xander is a lot more light hearted, and a much more over the top figure who spouts one liners, simply because he can, and kicks ass while doing it. He really seems to have made peace with the character, and his place in the franchise, and his return is certainly a welcome addition. It’s almost even more impressive that the film never really tries to explain why Xander has managed to hide so long. For someone that is supposed to be dead, the CIA has an incredibly easy time finding him. Yeah, this film has next to no logic throughout, knowingly so, and it’s that big, dumb grin it has on its face that makes it work so well.
