Tuesday, June 27, 2017

Despicable Me 3 For No. 1

New updates on Baby Driver, Rodriquez, Hugh Jackman (see bonus for Greatest Showman).
We will be back Live on MNN July 15. In the meantime repeats are still be played until then.

Mini-review: Transformers 5: 2, the worst of the lot. If it wasn't for Hopkins and the robot butler, who were very funny, this was a bloated and boring long ass movie. And burrowed ideas? 3 headed dragon aka King Gidorah. Spaceship from under the sea aka Cameron's The Abyss? Shame, I like the series with 1 and Moon (Sentinel Prime !) my favorites. Who doesn't love Rock em Sock em robots? Again another tired franchise that needs a break. Bring in Bumblebee solo movie already.

Update:
http://movieweb.com/baby-driver-fan-reactions-video-stardust-app/
Could this be the surprise action hit of the summer? Fans of F8 and cars should love it. But what gets me is this app is by real people and not critics. Well that should leave a lot of them out of work, lol.

http://www.darkhorizons.com/rodriguez-considers-furious-franchise-exit/
"And do what?" The comments all over were not in her favor. that's for sure.  Guess that whole Wonder Woman thing got to her but did you see "The Assignment" where she tries to stretch her acting skills? (yes besides her going full frontal for you hounddogs out there which is kind of setting the womans movement backwards when you think about it.). Well at least Cameron's got her back in Battle Angel. And she does have 2 top 10 grossing films of all time. Still she shouldn't push it. Right now there are at least over 1000 actresses ready to be Vins girlfriend, and they'll be cheaper to hire.

Previously:
http://movieweb.com/despicable-me-3-box-office-predictions/
DM3 is going to kill it for sure. Especially for July 4th week. Only if some like me were very disappointed with DM2. The minions turning into purple creatures were dumb and that villian was annoying. Either way no competition for sure except Spidey next weekend and Wonder Woman still having last laugh as it's still in the top 5. Everyone else are disappearing very fast. No legs whats so ever, right Wonder Woman? lol.

http://deadline.com/2017/06/transformers-the-last-knight-wonder-woman-tubelight-opening-international-box-office-china-1202119634/
Well talk about a lousy opening for a major franchise. Another sequel biting the dust. But didn't anhyone notice the Knights theme was a dead horse when King Arthur tanked? The signs were there. And know the robots are already old news. The catch here is the big opening in China but from Saturday to Sunday there was a big drop in attendance. Remember I said when T4 opened it barely cleared $100m with the studio bragging the money mark only to have it drop to $25 the next weekend. ON 4th of July weekend! Yep they sure shout up after that. Well again it happened, only it took one weekend in China. Also across the boards it cleared less by losing a third of the box office from the last film.

http://variety.com/2017/film/in-contention/war-for-the-planet-of-the-apes-special-achievement-oscar-1202469625/
Finally a sequel that is getting rave reviews. And finally full attention is going to Andy Serkis with actual Oscar seriousness. His name has been mentioned but the Oscars has just planed shrug about it. Is it his time for an award. All across the boards and reviews say it is time and he should recognized after all years and movies.

http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/heat-vision/star-wars-han-solo-movie-firing-new-details-behind-phil-lord-chris-miller-exit-1016619
This has really shaken up the industry but maybe the fault is with Disney for putting on too much pressure on making these films work. At the end I like to see who gets the final credit for directing this. The guys got paid sure enough but will the Directors Guild credit them or will Howard get the final credit. A lot is riding on this on the future of Directors before taking a gig and not getting the credit they deserve regardless of paycheck or not. Translation: Future employment.

http://www.darkhorizons.com/star-trek-discovery-details-frakes-directing/
"But wait Frank, Frakes is directing a few episodes so this is going to work out great!"
Fascinating, not ! So what, they are still going where man has gone before..backwards! Cue Enterprise sing-along. Man I hope I am wrong on this but its about treks future not the past.
If Rodenbarry was alive this wouldn't happen thats for sure.

Bonus:
http://www.joblo.com/movie-news/trailer-for-the-greatest-showman-starring-hugh-jackman-sings-its-way-online-148
The film project I spent 3 months working on. And all worth it. Nope you don't see me yet. But see the bearded fat lady sing. Oscar nod and real funny on the set. Fox is going to push this like crazy and I'll be braggin like nuts so get used to it, lol. This will be this years La la land. But much better everything. I thought Land was overrated anyways with all the hype. Glad it lost. Hugh & co. will win.

http://movieweb.com/bondverse-james-bond-movie-universe-plans-rumored/
Does anyone remember me saying how they can expand the Bond universe?
Remember the rumour of Edris Alba as James Bond? Regardless of Race, he could have been 009 as he was seen as the clown who gets kills at the beginning of Octopussy. Also in Russia to Love when Bond enters the big room and you see 9 chairs, backs to the camera, and Bond sits in the empy one?
So? Well give Alba the spinoff of 009 and there you go. And have all the others aka Felix, Moneypenny, Q , M etc in the film as 009 reports to the office.
BUT.. this idea everyone having thier own movie aka Verse just plain sucks. They are not leading characters, they are supporting regardless of Felix having his own novel series. Are they that empty again with ideas? Well Monkey see monkey do.
Ps I do agree that Brosnan films were not all that (only Goldeneye had the spirit) but neither was Craigs. Spectre sucked (poor reharsh of You Only Live Twice) and Solace is the worst (Bourne ripoff, damn that editing). Just have Craig do one more as the sendoff and lets get on with a new Bond already.

Wednesday, June 21, 2017

Transformers Roll Out....again.


It's news like this that can make this blog so frustrating to post. Does anyone know what their doing?

Mini-review:
Cars: 1 out of 5. Race, boring speeches, repeat. Mcqueen wins race at the end. zzzzzzzzzz. Great animation tho. Shame is wasted  instead of using it for The Incredibles sequel that never happened.

Update:
http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/heat-vision/wonder-woman-becoming-top-grossing-live-action-film-directed-by-a-woman-1016002
Mama Mia really? Ha Ha the wonder of it all. While the studios were nervous about  how WW was going to do the "Sure Bests" are all disappointments with Transformers being the next train wreck. And all that talk with 3D Max hype (extra $ prices) and its actually bringing less money than the previous sequels. Now that's ironic. Yep WW still has legs.

http://www.joblo.com/movie-news/ron-howard-confirmed-as-han-solo-director-366
Well it's official. He got the gig to finish the job. But how could it get to this level with so much at stake. Deja Vu  with Superman 2 with Director Donner getting fired and Lester hired. And to a degree that kind of work out.

http://variety.com/2017/film/news/box-office-transformers-the-last-knight-opening-day-1202475810/
Already they're writing this off at $65 for 5 days. Guess they didn't learn from last time. (see below).
Again overseas needs to rescue this. But with all the spinoffs planed won't that be overkill and will the audience be there for those. Again with all the other sequels the audience is looking somewhere else. "What was that? too busy binging on Orange New Black that you didn't notice?" lol.

Previously:
http://variety.com/2017/film/news/box-office-transformers-the-last-knight-1202472497/
Remember the last one when it opened July 4th weekend and the studio bragged it crossed the $100M only to make just $25 the next weekend losing 75% of it's box office gross. So now all these films need overseas for any chance of more sequels. As you can see from the past few months most open at No. 1 and die quickly. Like I said before the exceptions of WW, which still is strong with it's numbers, and so will Spidey who has minus competition. Dunkirk? You can see an old version on Youtube and you'll get an idea how it plays out.

http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/heat-vision/gal-gadot-got-paid-same-as-henry-cavill-superhero-debuts-1015202
Ok never mind the paychecks for first headliner. The second film is the big payoff. But what is her corner is she took one for the team while filming the big battle scene while a couple of monthspregant (CGI covered that up). The studio has to make up to her with bonus points along with a huge bump in pay. And it doesn't hurt that not only is doing great but other films are coming and going from the top spot faster than you can say Wonder Woman Sequel! So ..
Cars was no. 1. So what. That should have cleared $75. Again franchise fatigue. Same with Transformers. While WW will dance in the top five thru July 4th. Man it got legs, lol.
Hey look at Guardians 2, it just broke the top 60 world wide. Big disappointment since both Fast 8 and Beuaty Beast are both 10 & 11 of all time. Besides Minions we just got Spidey left.

http://www.joblo.com/movie-news/report-says-the-mummy-could-lose-as-much-as-95-million-222
$150M for promotional costs? For what? Everyone knows what a Mummy is, and we all know who Tom Cruise is. Wow is the studio out of touch. But the studio will not quit with Bride of Frankenstein still getting the greenlight which is beyond reasoning.

http://variety.com/2017/film/news/star-wars-han-solo-kathleen-kennedy-director-fired-1202473919/
Talk about being nervous with the outcome. They couldn't figure this out at the beginning of production? Again aka Rogue One and DC pulling Justice League bit. But the big news here is that Ron Howard's name has been making it's rounds. Why not, he did Willow, fun fantasy. see IMDB.

http://www.joblo.com/movie-news/jon-berg-geoff-johns-talk-lessons-learned-from-bvs-suicide-squad-176
Wow can someone get their shit together. And these are the overpaid suits making dumb decisions.
How hard is it to adapt previous material and translated to the big screen? Especially comic books. Their storyboards ready to come alive with sound added and CGI. But then again it takes the boys club at DC to screw that up. Well it did take a woman to get it right, didn't it.

http://www.alien-covenant.com/news/alien-awakening---ridley-scott-confirms-engineers-return-alien-covenant-sequel
Again with the friggin engineers? And David? And another Sequel? Is the studio so empty that they rather go ahead with this dead franchise than doing something original especially after the Box Office numbers were less than Prometheus? Well......yeah. Another studio in sad shape.

http://www.darkhorizons.com/godzilla-sequel-cast-monsters-revealed/
Hardcore fans knew this even before it was revealed in Kong Skull Island after credit. What an insult. Mothra, Rodan, King G, Duh! No he was going to fight Barney the Dinosaur. FU studio.

http://variety.com/2017/film/news/daniel-day-lewis-quits-acting-oscar-winner-1202472766/
Who cares. Sure he's a great actor when he gets around to making them. Guess  going to cable is not an option since he only does big screen films and not small screen. So let's see:
No superhero, big VFX, voice animation, dumb R comedies for the summer. Yep looks like he's out of job. He can stay home, make his shoes and polish his 3 Oscars which most actors dream about.

Tuesday, June 13, 2017

Wonder Woman No.1 Again

Taken back in 2010 at The Police Museum Car Show, NYC. RIP Adam West, My Batman.
 Live on MNN this Saturday will be a repeat: Kong Skull Island for next months BR release.

Mini-reviews: 
47 Meters Down: 3 out of 5.Another trap by shark movie?  If they can keep up with the thrills and tension on whats goin to happen why not. If you like The Shallows you'll like this one.

The Mummy: 2 out of 5. 6 writers ?! That explains everything. Main problem it tried to hard with eveything. Moved fast, lots of action, had some funny parts and nothing original to deliver:
MI meets Indy Jones meets American Werewolf meets Walking Dead meets...etc etc etc.

Baywatch: 1 out of 5: Ok I admit it. Waited until someone else picked up the tab to see this.
Such a bad 21 Jump Street wannabe. Just the one liners The Rock calls Zack, that's it.


Latest Update:
http://variety.com/2017/film/news/the-mummy-meltdown-tom-cruise-1202465742/
With so much on the table and studios banking on franchises, of course top actors can be control freaks. But this article states one major thing. Movies stars can't bank it at the Box Office. It doesn't matter who's behind the mask (who's the new Spiderman, who cares) and little minions and animated Cars there're all sweating it. Anyways Cruise can kiss this goodbye. The big three are around the corner: Cars, Minion, Transformers. Here's the big thing: Can Wonder Woman hold her own in the top 5. July 5 will say it all.

http://www.indiewire.com/2017/06/box-office-despicable-3-cars-3-pixar-illumination-universal-disney-1201842130/
My money is on Minions. I enjoy the whole franchise. Cars on the other hand? the first one was a total bore. I actually liked the second one only because it went to different countries. So don't expect a great review on Cars 3. You've been warned......BANANAAAAAAAA!

Previous Update:
http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/heat-vision/what-wonder-woman-means-female-directors-1013265
Great article on how many films are being release featuring female directors. It's about time and long overdue. Boo Hoo Hoo they're breaking up the boys club. Bring it on ladies...!

http://www.thewrap.com/simon-kinberg-set-direct-x-men-dark-phoenix/
Why? The last one didn't break any records, BR sales tanked and Logan put that to shame. Guess Fox doesn't have a choice but to over pay everyone for another been there done story about Pheonix. With so many sotries to tell and so many X-Men in the catalog.... never mind, wasting my breath here.

http://www.joblo.com/movie-news/tom-holland-confirms-solo-spider-man-trilogy-260
No shit. Now that Disney is pulling the strings on Sony of course this would make sense. Another studio that doesn't have a choice. These suits just need to give in to Marvel/Disney already. Cause I'm really getting tired of repeating myself.

Previously:
http://variety.com/2017/film/asia/china-box-office-mummy-52-million-opening-weekend-1202462078/
So Cruise's Mummy got it's ass kicked this weekend by Wonder Woman. Man that's gotta hurt, lol. Hence the bragging of $52M in China.Good opening but will it continue for the next weekend or burn out fast? While it's doing good everywhere else and will make a profit, already a very nervous Universal is going ahead with Bride of Frankenstein but being very careful with that budget. And if that tanks so much for the franchise.
In the meantime we WW fans are waiting for Director Jenkins to sign the bottom line. No matter her demands, salary and all, she deserves it. Why DC didn't signed her up for the sequel were being too cautious. Remember, Michelle MacLaren (Director of several episodes on Breaking Bad, X-Files, Games of Thrones and the up coming HBO The Deuce in which she directed me in the pilot episode), was going to direct this but they were afraid of it being to dark hence why DC and her parted ways.

http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/appreciation-adam-west-a-campy-batman-who-was-joke-1012232
For me it was coming home after school back in the 1970's and seeing this in syndication. Ch. 11 PIX in NYC t be exact. Sure it was campy but funny and fun. Again a sense of humour which Marvel has gotten right (without the camp of course). That's what made Wonder Woman a better film than some of the other films. But not only West got in on the joke, he carried over his sense of comic style and humor to Family Guy. Yep he was my Batman and lets not forget the car. My fav of all time.


Tuesday, June 06, 2017

Wonder Woman's Super Box Office



Live on  MNN will be doing repeats until we go back live in July in time for our 28th year on the air.
These will feature our Fast Furious and Skull Island in time for their Blu-ray release.

Last Update: I included these two articles for the fun of it. WW gets all of the love.
http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/heat-vision/box-office-showdown-mummy-mortal-danger-losing-wonder-woman-1010543
"Mortal danger, to get lassoed by WW...man I love these puns. Like everyone knew Cruise doesn't have a chance domestically. But already it's the biggest opening in South Korea out of all places. And it's opening in China this weekend which will decide whether there will be a franchise or not. But man Cruise gets no love here. lol.
http://variety.com/2017/film/news/box-office-wonder-woman-the-mummy-tom-cruise-1202457429/
"WW to slay Cruise"..oh stop it, you're killing me with these puns. But these magazines are writing him off, but we already knew that didn't we? And like I said she will have legs for the rest of the month. (that's not a pun, really! That's tech talk on the strength of the box office. really!) But she does have nice legs hee hee. Aw c'mon give me a break, can you blame me, lol.

Update:
Mini-review" WW: 4 out of 5. Perfect except a bit long in the middle. That romance kind of dragged on  bit even it was necessary to the over all arc of the movie. The rest? Let's just say it makes up for all the slag in the past month and those hiccups of BvsS and Squad. They finally got it right. But the irony is that Zack wrote the story with 2 other guys (they must of added the humour). 3 people for the story. Really? Itsn't this based on the comics? Credit to the one writer who got it right.
Full review on radio show next week. Then I can mention spoilers, until then see it and enjoy.

http://www.slashfilm.com/patty-jenkins-horror-project-in-the-works/
Well now she can do her pet projects, that's what success can bring but for hardcore DC fans that mean waiting for the WW sequel and her directing other DC projects like Justice League 2? Sorry Zack, time for a change like adding humour. Aw c'mon, what was the highlight in that BvsS trailer?:
"I thought she was with you"  just that one line!

Note: Check out both Variety and Hollywood reporter for more articles on Wonder Woman as there is quite a lot of converage, too much to cover here but I included the headlines to start off with.

http://variety.com/2017/film/news/box-office-wonder-woman-opening-weekend-1202453353/
Woman power at full force. And she will own the month. Cruise and tht silly looking Mummy will both get theri ass kick this coming weekend. Cruise needs that International BO or Monsterverse is dead. And while both Cars and Transformers have their fan base, they too will need Intl BO for a long run. Only twoother Woman Power film will try to compete which is a shame, they both should have been released in July and August. 47 Meters Down aka The Shallows with women surviving shark attacks and Meagan Leavey, a soldier and her dog. Look for the Yankee Stadium scene as 300 hundred extras took the place of thousands in the crowd. Yep I was one of those, good luck in seeing me, cloudy and rainy the whole day must of us will be one big blur. Behind the scenes photos coming soon from the set.

http://variety.com/2017/film/news/wonder-woman-box-office-analysis-patty-jenkins-warner-bros-1202453504/
The real wonder woman. And the joke going around is have her do the rest of the DC movies especially Justice League. Sounds good to me. They just announced Suicide Squad is the next one, they at least have her co-produce to make it won't be a mess like the last one. Of course DC is going to screw that up anyways.

http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/topic/wonder-woman
Note: No spoilers are included here even tho it does have a few nods toward the picture. If you've seen the trailer (duh!) you'll be fine.This page includes many different articles on behind the scenes and making of plus the future of the franchise including Oscar talk already. Yeah baby!

http://www.comingsoon.net/tv/trailers/854693-ras-al-ghul-debuts-in-gotham-finale-featurette#/slide/1
Man did that ending gave me the chills! Talk about DC getting it right. Not much of an appearence from Al Siddig from ST:TNG and Games of Thrones has landed another prime gig. Even tho the show does take liberties on the history of Gotham it still kicks ass. Lets not start with DC TV aka Supergirl and Flash Win and Marvel's Agents of Shield Fail!

http://variety.com/2017/film/columns/jack-sparrow-and-the-alien-time-for-you-to-go-johnny-depp-1202453403/
They must have read my blog last week, lol. When Captain Underpants beats your Sparrow ass in your second weekend, it's time to call it quits. But with Pirates crossing the $500M mark looks like we're getting another one, especially since they tagged that hint at the end of the movie. As far as Alien goes, the shame is that killed Blomkamp's Alien 5. If anything that's the one they should start pushing. Signorney's character never had closer. And man I am sick and tired of that Fking David android. Did I mention that before?

http://www.comingsoon.net/movies/news/855061-terry-gilliams-the-man-who-killed-don-quixote-filming-wraps
Finally after all these years. At one time Depp was attach to this. There's a documentary call Lost in La Mancha. The making of the film that never came to be. It actually got shut down at the beginning of the production and you see Depp in a few scenes. Check IMDB for more credits. Available on a double dvd set.

http://www.darkhorizons.com/first-trailer-tom-cruise-is-american-made/
Cruise against Wonder Woman. Wipeout. Not being cynical again but is it me or are they really pushing Cruise with all these other projects just to get the hype up on The Mummy? Or is that a cover up with the studio afraid they might have a bomb here. Remember if this tanks there goes the Monsterverse sending Frankenstein and Wolfman back to the reboot department. While I would love to see these characters make the screen for a new generation the whole concept blows. An organization? Really? That concept belongs on tv aka once upon a time. Only overseas is going to save this.