‘Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire’ Trailer: It’s A Kaiju Battle Royale In The Latest MonsterVerse Blockbuster

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February 14, 2024

Is anyone else getting Godzilla burnout? Maybe it’s just me, but I feel like we’ve seen a lot of Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire. There have been a couple of trailers and a teaser already, plus a brand-new one release today. With Godzilla Minus One and the Monarch television series, it’s just a lot of kaiju stuff going on right now. Warner Bros. hopes I’m alone in feeling this way, and that most people are ready to watch these two titans clash one more time.

A sequel to 2021’s Godzilla vs. Kong, and the fifth movie in Legendary’s MonsterVerse, the film finds King Kong and Godzilla, natural rivals, teaming up to face a dangerous new threat. Oh, and there’s a baby Kong in this one. Like a Diddy Kong, if this were a Donkey Kong movie.

Adam Wingard returns to direct, joined by a cast of Rebecca Hall, Brian Tyree Henry, Dan Stevens, Kaylee Hottle, Alex Ferns, and Fala Chen.

Here’s the synopsis: This latest entry follows up the explosive showdown of Godzilla vs. Kong with an all-new cinematic adventure, pitting the mighty Kong and the fearsome Godzilla against a colossal undiscovered threat hidden within our world, challenging their very existence – and our own. The epic new film will delve further into the histories of these Titans, their origins and the mysteries of Skull Island and beyond, while uncovering the mythic battle that helped forge these extraordinary beings and tied them to humankind forever.

Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire opens on March 29th.

‘Thunderbolts’ Swaps Release Dates With ‘Fantastic Four’, Moves To May 2025

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Travis Hopson

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February 14, 2024

If you were paying attention during the news about Marvel’s Fantastic Four casting, you probably thought that the film’s July 25th 2025 release date sounded familiar. Isn’t there something already on that date? Well, there was, and it was Thunderbolts, Marvel’s other superteam movie coming out that year. So what’s up with that? The answer is pretty simple, actually.

Disney/Marvel have decided to swap release dates, so that Thunderbolts will now arrive on May 2nd 2025. This is actually a bigger deal than it might seem, because it shows the confidence Marvel has in both movies. The first weekend in May is where the Guardians of the Galaxy movies were consistently huge hits for them, clearly Marvel is expecting the same kind of payoff.

To be fair, there are some similarities between Thunderbolts and GOTG, starting with the star-studded casts. Florence Pugh, Julia Louis-Dreyfus, Sebastian Stan, Julia Louis-Dreyfus, Harrison Ford, Olga Kurylenko, David Harbour, Wyatt Russell, Geraldine Viswanathan, and Lewis Pullman lead the movie about a group of villains brought together to pose as government sanctioned heroes.

Fantastic Four opening in July, one one of the summer’s hottest weekends, makes sense considering the anticipation fans have for it. The dream casting has been going on for years. Also, with both movies still awaiting the start of production, it shows that Marvel thinks Fantastic Four will need a bit more time before it’s ready.

Marvel’s First Family Arrives as Casting for ‘The Fantastic Four’ and a Release Date is Officially Announced

By

John Nolan

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February 14, 2024

Marvel's FANTASTIC FOUR have been found!

It’s been a solid month since we become reasonably certain that the smartest man in the Marvel Universe, Reed Richards, would be played by none other then Pedro Pascal. With the MCU in a current downdraft and the Fantastic Four being one of the most anticipated upcoming plot points it’s easy to say that this casting may be one of the key deciding factors in the remaining longevity of history’s most successful franchise.

Disney unveiled the core four today and while there were no earth shattering surprises, it’s still pretty astounding to finally have this information out there and confirmed by the mouse house itself. The casting was revealed as follows:

Pedro Pascal as Reed Richards/Mr. Fantastic
Vanessa Kirby as Sue Storm/The Invisible Woman
Joseph Quinn as Johnny Storm/The Human Torch
Ebon Moss-Bachrach as Ben Grimm/The Thing

While all of these names have been bounced around previously as being associated with the project we now know that this is concrete factual information. I absolutely love that Joseph Quinn has come of his star-making turn as Eddie Munson in Stranger Things to land this role, Johnny Storm is absolutely someone I could see him playing.

This being Valentine’s Day, Marvel wanted to make sure we went home with more then just some casting news (awesome though it may be), the official Marvel Studios Instagram account also saw fit to post the following, letting us know that we have just under 1.5 years to wait to see the F4 in action, with a premier date of July 25th, 2025

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Interview: Reinaldo Marcus Green Talks ‘Bob Marley: One Love’ And Being True To The Reggae Legend’s Story

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Travis Hopson

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February 14, 2024

Reinaldo Marcus Green talks BOB MARLEY: ONE LOVE

Reinaldo Marcus Green made his directorial debut in 2018 with Monsters and Men, a breakout film that I remember being impressed by at its Sundance world premiere. Since then, Green has turned his attention to dramatic films about real-life men in times of struggle. 2020 saw his sophomore effort, the Mark Wahlberg film Joe Bell; that was followed by Green’s biggest film to date, King Richard, starring Will Smith as Richard Williams. But the movie that has the potential to reach millions all around the world is Bob Marley: One Love.

Green’s latest stars Kingsley Ben-Adir as Bob Marley, the reggae legend whose music has spread the message of peace, love, and unity for decades. Marley’s life and career are too big for one movie so Bob Marley: One Love focuses on two crucial years as he navigates a civil war in Jamaica and prepares his historic album, “Exodus”, which he hoped would help heal the wounds of his people. The film is the first major Hollywood effort to truly try and explore who Bob Marley was beyond the music. Who was he to his friends, the people of Jamaica, his bandmates, and most importantly, his wife Rita and their children?

I had the chance to speak with Reinaldo Marcus Green about Bob Marley: One Love, and we talked about any hesitation he felt making a movie about such a beloved figure. We talked about the decision to center the story on just two years and Marley’s planning of two key concerts. And we discussed the shoot itself and how the reception they received from the people of Jamacia, who were VERY invested in seeing this be an accurate depiction of Bob Marley.

Bob Marley: One Love is in theaters now. You can check out my review here, and the interview below!

Review: ‘The Taste Of Things’
Benoît Magimel Cooks For Juliette Binoche In Tran Anh Hung’s Decadent French Romance

By
Cortland Jacoby
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NOTE: This review was originally part of our Middleburg Film Festival coverage.

In Tran Anh Hung’s decadent and indulgent The Taste of Things, Benoît Magimel plays a chateau owner who is heavily involved in the life and work of his cook played by Juliette Binoche. In the opening sequence, which lasts a good twenty minutes, the two work with a fellow houseworker to prepare a lavish meal for Dodin’s (Magimel) dinner guests.

Taking place in 1885 France, the two have worked together for close to thirty years and though they have an established relationship, they never married. Between long and deliciously shot cooking sequences, Dodin discusses his desire to marry Eugénie while she talks about her longing for freedom. It’s after Dodin cooks a multicourse French feast for her, that she starts to reconsider her feelings towards matrimony.

Magimel and Binoche’s chemistry is palpable. Whether it’s longing glances over a boiling pot or just how the two discuss food, you can feel the romantic tension wafting off the screen. Binoche’s Eugénie is more reserved with her words but gives the film its grounding anchor. Magimel is much more dominant, taking up dialogue and camera time but provides a frantic sense of urgency that the narrative needs.

The Taste of Things may have some of the best food porn cinema has ever seen. Cooking sequences last for at least five minutes with minimum dialogue. Hung gives each shot a yellowish-bright warmth that only seems to enhance the food onscreen. By the time Dodin is done making pot-au-feu, you will not only know what it is but how to make it. While these cooking sequences are mesmerizing, the narrative pacing is slow, at times painfully so. There’s an unneeded subplot concerning Napoleon that just diverts the story altogether. Really any throughline that doesn’t have to do with Dodin or Eugénie feels superfluous. At 134 minutes, this makes the runtime feel longer by almost an hour.

France has selected The Taste of Things as its submission for the Best International Feature category at the 96th Oscars. While I personally believe Anatomy of a Fall is a much more groundbreaking movie, there’s a reason Tran Anh Hung won Best Director at this year’s Cannes. It is a visually beautiful movie with an intriguing story that slightly gets away from itself.

The Taste of Things is open in theaters now.

‘The Beast’ Trailer: Léa Seydoux And George MacKay Star In Sci-Fi Film Arriving In April

By

Travis Hopson

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February 14, 2024

George MacKay and Lea Seydoux in THE BEAST

Now that artificial intelligence is a part of our normal everyday lives, how does Hollywood go about portraying this long-held boogeyman? It’s just not enough to simply posit a future where AI unleashes deadly technology on all of humanity. So The Beast offers something a little different, where AI instead tries to wipe out all humanity’s strongest emotions.

Léa Seydoux and George MacKay star in the film written and directed by Bertrand Bonello. It’s set in a near future when AI controls all of humanity, and has decided that human emotion is a threat. Seydoux plays a woman who has decided to purge her strong feelings by going back into the past, only for things to go awry when she encounters the man she has repeatedly fallen in love with through many incarnations.

The film is a loose adaptation of Henry James’ 1903 novella, The Beast in the Jungle. Also in the cast are Guslagie Malanda and Dasha Nekrasova.

Here’s the official synopsis: The year is 2044: artificial intelligence controls all facets of a stoic society as humans routinely “erase” their feelings. Hoping to eliminate pain caused by their past-life romances, Gabrielle (Léa Seydoux) continually falls in love with different incarnations of Louis (George MacKay). Set first in Belle Époque-era Paris Louis is a British man who woos her away from a cold husband, then in early 21st Century Los Angeles, he is a disturbed American bent on delivering violent “retribution.” Will the process allow Gabrielle to fully connect with Louis in the present, or are the two doomed to repeat their previous fates? Visually audacious director Bertrand Bonello (Saint Laurent, Nocturama) fashions his most accomplished film to date: a sci-fi epic, inspired by Henry James turn-of-the-century novella, suffused with mounting dread and a haunting sense of mystery. Punctuated by a career-defining, three-role performance by Seydoux, The Beast poignantly conveys humanity’s struggle against dissociative identity and emotionless existence.

The Beast opens on April 5th.

‘Masters Of The Universe’: Travis Knight Eyed To Direct Long-Awaited Live-Action Film

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Travis Hopson

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February 13, 2024

Kellan Lutz, Kyle Allen, Noah Centineo, McG, the Nee Brothers, Jon M. Chu…these are just a few of the names who have been part of various attempts at a Masters of the Universe movie. And that doesn’t include the many studios who have given it a shot. Warner Bros. had the rights, before giving up and Sony took over for years. They eventually quit, and Netflix swooped in. But when their attempts failed, Amazon/MGM was next and they are still trying to make it happen, and they may have just found their director.

Deadline reports that Laika CEO and Bumblebee director Travis Knight is the top contender to direct Masters of the Universe. If it all goes through, Knight will work from a script by Chris Butler. The two previously collaborated on ParaNorman, Kubo and the Two Strings, and Missing Link. They’re currently developing Wildwood, Laika’s latest stop-motion film arriving in 2025.

Masters of the Universe is probably best known for the 1980s animated series and action figures featuring He-Man. The franchise was also turned into a terrible live-action movie with Dolph Lundgren in 1987.

I kinda feel like the time has passed for He-Man on the big screen. Netflix is doing awesome things with it in the realm of animation with Masters of the Universe: Revelation and Masters of the Universe: Revolution which debuted last month.

‘Michael’ First Look: Jaafar Jackson Is A Spitting Image Of Michael Jackson In Antoine Fuqua’s Biopic

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Travis Hopson

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February 13, 2024

Antoine Fuqua isn’t keeping anyone in suspense. With filming having just begun on Michael, his upcoming Michael Jackson biopic, already the first shot of Jaafar Jackson in the title role has been released to the public. And damn if he’s not a spitting image of his late uncle.

“We have assembled an incredible team of artists for this project – hair & makeup, costumes, cinematography, choreography, lighting, everything – and some who knew and worked with Michael are reuniting for this film. But most importantly, it’s Jaafar who embodies Michael,” said Fuqua. “It goes beyond the physical resemblance. It’s Michael’s spirit that comes through in a magical way. You have to experience it to believe it.”

Fuqua is directing from a script by Oscar-nominated writer John Logan. Others in the cast but yet to be seen are Colman Domingo, Nia Long, Miles Teller, and Juliano Krue Valdi.

But clearly this is a potential breakthrough role for Jaafar Jackson, who looks as if he was destined for the part.

There are a lot of shades to Michael Jackson’s life and career. It’ll be interesting to see how the film decides to portray him, and if they go deep or stay surface level.

Michael opens on April 18th 2025.

SYNOPSIS: Michael will bring audiences a riveting and honest portrayal of the brilliant yet complicated man who became known worldwide as the King of Pop. The film presents his triumphs and tragedies on an epic, cinematic scale — from his human side and personal struggles to his undeniable creative genius, captured by his most iconic performances. As never before, audiences will experience an inside look into one of the most influential, trailblazing artists the world has ever known.

‘Damsel’ Trailer: Millie Bobby Brown Doesn’t Want To Be Dragon Food In Netflix’s Fantasy Action Film

By

Travis Hopson

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February 13, 2024

Millie Bobby Brown has found a home at Netflix, and she’s not going to walk away very far. The Stranger Things breakout already has one franchise under her belt with Enola Holmes, but she potentially has two more. Coming up is the Russo Bros.’ sci-fi film The Electric State. And after that is the fantasy action film, Damsel, which finds Brown taking up arms against a dragon.

Damsel is directed by Juan Carlos Fresnadillo, who is best known for 28 Weeks Later, Intruders, and his Oscar-nominated short Esposados. In his first movie in 13 years (!!!), Fresnadillo directs a script by Dan Mazeau (Fast X) that centers on a dutiful princess who agrees to marry a handsome prince, only to learn it was part of a plot by the royal family to sacrifice her to repay an old debt. Locked away in a dungeon with a fire-breathing dragon, she must use everything at her disposal to survive.

The plot and tone of the movie sorta resemble The Princess, a Hulu action flick starring Joey King from a couple of years ago. That’s a really great film, too, if you haven’t seen it.

Also in the cast are Robin Wright, Angela Bassett, Nick Robinson, Ray Winstone, Shohreh Aghdashloo, and Brooke Carter.

Here’s the synopsis: This classic tale with a genre-bending twist sees Millie playing Elodie, a dutiful damsel who agrees to marry a handsome prince, only to find the royal family has recruited her as a sacrifice to repay an ancient debt. Thrown into a cave with a fire-breathing dragon, she must rely on her wits and will to survive.

Damsel hits Netflix on March 28th.

‘Sasquatch Sunset’ Trailer: Jesse Eisenberg And Riley Keough Are Living The Wild Life In The Zellner Brothers’ Oddball Nature Comedy

By

Travis Hopson

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February 13, 2024

Here’s the thing about the Zellner Brothers, David and Nathan. They are basically Sundance royalty, with films including Kid-Thing, Kumiko the Treasure Hunter, and Damsel playing at the festival to packed crowd. If they’ve got a film, it’s there. And guaranteed that every year they have one, it’s going to be one of the craziest experiences you’ll have. But nothing they’ve done before goes quite so far into the realm of weird as Sasquatch Sunset.

Yes, the title is apt. The film, almost like an expansion of their short Sasquatch Birthing Journal #2, literally follows a year in the lives of a family of Sasquatch. And there’s no dialogue, either. We follow them as they go about their merry way, eating strange berries, avoiding being devoured by other prey, and staying out of sight of humans. Oh, and fornicating. And looking out for one another. And mourning their losses. And becoming a family.

Yeah, it starts out pretty goofy, but Sasquatch Sunset is ultimately the story of an offbeat family just trying to survive out there in a harsh world.

Did I mention that it stars Riley Keough and Jesse Eisenberg are underneath a lot of that fur?

If I sound like I’ve seen and loved the film, that’s because I did. But the Zellners don’t make mainstream movies that anyone can enjoy, and trust me this one is definitely an acquired taste.

Here’s the synopsis: In the misty forests of North America, a family of Sasquatches—possibly the last of their enigmatic kind— embark on an absurdist, epic, hilarious, and ultimately poignant journey over the course of one year. These shaggy and noble giants fight for survival as they find themselves on a collision course with the ever-changing world around them. Starring Riley Keough and Jesse Eisenberg, acclaimed directors David and Nathan Zellner (Kumiko, the Treasure Hunter) bring you the greatest Bigfoot story ever told.

Also starring Christophe Zajac-Denek, and Nathan Zellner, Sasquatch Sunset opens in select theaters April 12th, with a wider rollout on April 19th.