‘Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire’ Trailer: Titans Stand Together To Face A New Threat In Monsterverse’s Latest Sequel

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December 4, 2023

Godzilla fans, you have to be loving this moment in time. The king of all Kaiju has been everywhere, in what I think is the best Toho movie yet in Godzilla Minus One, or on Apple streaming with Monarch: Legacy of Monsters. And don’t forget Legendary’s Monsterverse, which also has the epic sequel Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire, coming in 2024.

The first trailer has arrived for the sequel to 2021’s Godzilla vs. Kong, and it finds the two titans facing a new, more dangerous threat. In the footage we get a look at the son of Kong (isn’t he cute?), a bunch of other Kongs in the clan, the rise of Godzilla and his purple atomic breath, plus a lot more.

Once again behind the camera is director Adam Wingard, who has really risen up from his days as an indie filmmaker on films such as The Guest and You’re Next.

Coming back to lead the case is Rebecca Hall, sporting a brand new cut, plus Brian Tyree Henry, and Kaylee Hottle, joined by new additions Dan Stevens, Fala Chen, Alex Ferns, and Rachel House.

I’ve never been a huge Godzilla fan but I’m more of one now than ever. I suspect it’s the same for a lot of people.

Here’s the synopsis: The epic battle continues! Legendary Pictures’ cinematic Monsterverse follows up the explosive showdown of “Godzilla vs. Kong” with an all-new adventure that pits the almighty Kong and the fearsome Godzilla against a colossal undiscovered threat hidden within our world, challenging their very existence—and our own. “Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire” delves further into the histories of these Titans and their origins, as well as 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 hits theaters on April 12th 2024.

Box Office: Beyonce’s ‘Renaissance’ Wins the Weekend but Doesn’t Come Close to Beating Taylor Swift’s Opening

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John Nolan

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December 3, 2023

Renaissance: A Film by Beyonce– $21M

The Beyhive came out in force for their queen to win the weekend for Beyonce. This marks the second concert film to take the top spot it’s opening weekend in 2023. If there was any question of whose fans were more willing to hit the theater that question is answered. While Beyonce took a respectable $21M for her #1 spot, Taylor Swift’s Taylor Swift: The Eras Tour blew the doors off with a $92M opening weekend. *Queue Kanye telling us all he’s happy for Taylor, but Beyonce had the best concert film of the year*

2. The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds & Snakes– $14.5M/$121.2M

In a year where we’ve seen so many franchise films fall flat I can honestly say I’m surprised that the latest film from Panem has taken in $121 million in it’s three weeks. Of course, that doesn’t account for what the budget was and likely this isn’t enough to qualify it as a success but hey….it’s not The Marvels.

3. Godzilla Minus One – $11M

This actually shocks me. Was it a lack of marketing? A reluctance for American audiences to see a Japanese language film? Or is it just plain old Kaiju confusion/fatigue? Whatever the reason there’s no denying that US audiences are missing out big on this latest Godzilla film which is being touted as one of the best.

4. Trolls Band Together – $7.6M/$74.8M

5. Wish – $7.4M/$41.9M

Yeesh, it is NOT going to be a Merry Christmas in the Iger household. The Disney CEO came back to right the ship and has instead had to endure what must be one of their worst performing years at the box office. Their latest animated film, Wish, is going to struggle to get to $50m domestic in total and won a top 5 spot in it’s second week by a literal hair (200k less and it was #6).

6. Napoleon – $7.1M/$45.7M

Disney’s not alone in their misery, Ridley Scott’s Napoleon is just the latest in a year full of big money losses for what would have been a sure thing just a decade ago. The Joaquin Phoenix led historical epic had the biggest drop of the week with 65% of it’s take from last week gone. With a reported budget of $200M it looks like this films final take is going to be as short as its namesake.

7. Animal – $6.1M

Further proving the rise of Indian cinema internationally Animal may be #7 in the top 10 but in terms of per theater average it’s #1 taking $500 more per theater then Renaissance: A Film by Beyonce.

8. The Shift – $4.3M

Speaking of types of cinema on the rise, Angel Studios The Shift is the third film from the Christian-centric film studio to chart in the top 10 on it’s opening weekend this year. I guess that just goes to show that dedicated fanbases help to ensure success.

9. Silent Night (review) – $3M

When you start to ask yourself “Why aren’t there any non-superhero action movies in theaters these days?”. Look not further then the performance of Silent Night. Not a great film by any measure but action of this quality is the norm with the John Wick‘s of the world the outlier. It just doesn’t make financial sense to roll the dice and have this happen when you could break even selling to a streaming service.

10. Thanksgiving – $2.6M/$28.3M

‘Spider-Man 4′ Needs Right Script For Tom Holland To Return: “I Won’t Make Another One For The Sake Of Making Another One’

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Travis Hopson

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December 2, 2023

SPIDER-MAN 4 is still in need of some work

While many Marvel fans out there act as if a sequel to Spider-Man: No Way Home is a sure thing, Tom Holland sure doesn’t think so. And he’s kindof important to the process, y’know? According to Holland, who discussed Spider-Man and other topics with the Critics Choice Association (of which I’m a member), a script for Spider-Man 4 hasn’t been written that would get hime back into the Spidey suit.

“All I can say is that we have been actively engaging in conversations about what it could potentially look like for a fourth rendition of my character. Whether or not we can find a way to do justice to the character is another thing.”

Holland continued, “I feel very protective over Spider-Man. I feel very, very lucky that we were able to work on a franchise that got better with each movie, that got more successful with each movie, which I think is really rare, and I want to protect his legacy. So, I won’t make another one for the sake of making another one. It will have to be worth the while of the character.”

Writers wrote themselves into a bit of a corner with the last film. Released in 2021, Spider-Man: No Way Home save the Multiverse by erasing himself from everyone’s memory, including the people he cares about most. The film went on to earn $1.9B at the box office, the highest-grossing of the year. Still, the conclusion makes for a tough starting point for a sequel.

On the plus side,Holland sounds like he wants to get Spider-Man 4 done. He’s not one of the many Marvel actors who had one foot out of the door already before they left.

“If we can figure that out, I would be a fool not to put the suit back on again because I owe everything to Spider-Man. I love the character and the people I get to work with. So, I would love to tell another story, but I’ll only tell it if we can find the right one.”

Sony/Marvel have an open date slot in June 2025 that some think is being held for Spider-Man 4, but with things in a state of flux at Marvel right now, who knows how things will turn out for the webhead.

Japan Is Under Attack In the Final Trailer for ‘Godzilla: Minus One’

By

John Nolan

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December 1, 2023

Godzilla has become so iconic that it can be easy to forget about the subtext in the wake of the awe-inspiring roar and earth shattering size of everyone’s favorite Kaiju. I think that’s what I like most about Godzilla: Minus One, the latest film to feature the King of Monsters, it’s clear on the connection between the use of atomic weapons and the monster’s creation. That’s a lie, that’s not what I like most, honestly what I like most is that he has been reclaimed and perfected by his original creators at Toho.

For the longest time the Japanese made Godzilla films have been loved, yes, but also synonymous with a somewhat silly looking guy in a suite stomping on cardboard cutouts of Tokyo. By all accounts Toho, who created the character in 1954, has raised the bar to an insane level with Godzilla: Minus One even sparking an admission of jealousy from Godzilla (2014) director Gareth Edwards.

If there is any hesitation in believing that his film is both beautiful and powerful look no further then this final trailer for your proof. The effects are flawless and the human drama is not only compelling but completely believable. Imagine being a citizen of Japan in the 1950’s under US occupation, you are at your lowest point possible, nothing else could go wrong….then a giant fire breathing lizard comes trapsing out of the ocean. Check out the trailer below and look for Godzilla: Minus One now playing in theaters!

Official Synopsis:
Post war Japan is at its lowest point when a new crisis emerges in the form of a giant monster, baptized in the horrific power of the atomic bomb.

DC Readers: Attend A Free Early Screening Of ‘Merry Little Batman’

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Travis Hopson

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December 1, 2023

We’re happy to offer our DC readers the chance to attend a free Saturday morning screening of Merry Little Batman. The Prime Video animated film features the voice of Luke Wilson as the Caped Crusader, Yonas Kibreab as Damian Wayne, James Cromwell as Alfred Pennyworth, and David Hornsby as The Joker!

SYNOPSIS: This Christmas, Damian Wayne wants to be a superhero like his dad—the one and only Batman. When Damian is left home alone while Batman takes on Gotham’s worst supervillains on Christmas Eve, he stumbles upon a villainous plot to steal Christmas and leaps at the chance to save the day.

The screening takes place tomorrow, Saturday December 2nd at 11:00AM at AMC Tysons Corner. If you’d like to attend, RSVP at the Amazon link here. Please remember all screenings are first come first served and you’ll need to arrive early to ensure seating. Enjoy the show!

Merry Little Batman hits Prime Video on December 8th.

Get Your Pilgrim Hat Ready! Eli Roth is Serving Second Helpings with ‘Thanksgiving 2’

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John Nolan

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December 1, 2023

It’s still somewhat surprising to me that Eli Roth pulled off a movie that was well-received based on a gag trailer from his joint love letter to 70s trash cinema Grindhouse. Yet here we sit with Roth’s recently released Thanksgiving holding a certified fresh rating and pulling in $30 million dollars on a $15 million dollar budget, a success by any measure. Yes, I know you’re thinking “But they already did that with Machete“. Well, true, but Danny Trejo as a machete wielding, motorcycle riding, bad-ass vigilante is a much easier sell then a slasher with a pilgrim themed bad guy.

If there’s one thing we knew leading up to the release of Thanksgiving it’s that Eli Roth has REALLY been wanting to make this movie. He’s elaborated on his desire to put out a full-length feature since just after the release of Grindhouse 15 years ago. With this in mind it should come as no surprise that Roth (and co-writer Jeff Rendell) are gearing up to start putting together a sequel. Sony’s Tri-Star Pictures arm (side note: I’m so nostalgically happy whenever I see Tri-Star mentioned…so many childhood memories started with that title card) has given the go-ahead on production so Roth and Rendell have a clear road to production.

This is the beauty of horror when done with a talented and creative filmmaker. All the drama held by the MCU, DCEU, and really anyone else wanting to spend 12 figures on producing a movie is completely absent. Make them cheap and make them good…that’s all you have to do. A wonderful little side effect of this is that when you don’t have to spend billions things seem to go faster, Roth has stated that he’s planning 2024 to write and shoot the film with a targeted 2025 release (presumably in November).

Review: ‘Candy Cane Lane’
Eddie Murphy Tries To Save Christmas In The Very Messy Christmas Holiday Comedy

By
Cortland Jacoby
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When it was announced that Candy Cane Lane would be Eddie Murphy’s first holiday movie ever, I couldn’t believe it. Out of all the family comedies he did in the late ‘90s to early 2010s, he must’ve done a Christmas movie right? Well, I was wrong. Instead, the Prime Video film sees the comedic star reteam with Boomerang director Reginald Hudlin and harken back to some of the kid-friendly films Murphy might rather forget.

Candy Cane Lane centers on Chris Carver, a hard-working family man pushing himself, his kids, and even his Christmas-decorated yard to the limit. His wife Carol (Tracee Ellis Ross), is working on a promotion at the factory while he himself is laid off as a sales exec. The local Christmas decorating contest is the one thing holding him together as he tries to provide his children with a happy holiday. When it gets announced that a local TV station is offering a cash prize to the winner, Chris’ holiday spirits are lifted.

Caught up in the competition, he and his youngest child, Holly (Madison Thomas) come across a spectacular Christmas shop under an overpass. Run by the eccentric and batty Pepper (a very committed Jillian Bell), he buys a tree decoration modeled after the “Twelve Days of Christmas” and signs the receipt. He will soon find out that that signature essentially binds him to complete an impossible task after making his Christmas wish: finding the gold rings kept by the reanimated characters of the famous Christmas song. Otherwise, he will end up like Pepper’s past victims and turn into an old-timey Christmas figurine (Robin Thede, Chris Redd, and Nick Offerman doing a very weak English accent).

Candy Cane Lane’s plot is very convoluted. It drags on and twists to unneeded lengths toward the film’s end. It doesn’t seem aware of its stakes and its goalpost is always moving. There are a few creative shots Hudlin throws in there to smarten up this messy film but his direction goes off the rails by the end. There’s also some dialogue-syncing issues that detract from the final product.

Eddie Murphy and Tracee Ellis Ross have great energy and seem to be excited to be in this movie. Most of the jokes they deliver actually hit despite varying levels of corniness. Murphy’s recent filmography in Dolemite Is My Name, You People, and Coming 2 America indicated an uptick in the quality of the projects he picked. While that can’t be said for Candy Cane Lane, he at least seems to have a good time reuniting with Hudling and Boomerang costar David Alan Grier (who plays the most smartly-dressed Santa I’ve ever seen).

Candy Cane Lane is on Amazon Prime Video Dec. 1. Watch the trailer below.

‘Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga’ Trailer Reveals Anya Taylor-Joy As A Young Imperator, Chris Hemsworth Going Wild

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Travis Hopson

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December 1, 2023

Anya Taylor-Joy in FURIOSA: A MAD MAX SAGA — FURIOSA: A MAD MAX SAGA- No, it's not MAD MAX: FURY ROAD but I didn't need it to be. Anya Taylor-Joy captures the burning ferocity of Charlize Theron's performance in this blistering revenge tale that audiences decided they didn't want. For shame.

Mad Max: Fury Road is already considered by many to be the greatest action movie ever made. Having just watched it for maybe the tenth time, it’s hard for me to disagree. George Miller created something truly special outshined all of his previous Mad Max films, and perhaps the best part was the introduction of Charlize Theron’s Imperator Furiosa. A total badass and the epitome of a strong female character, Furiosa is likely to endure as a centerpiece figure for a long time. And that begins with the newly-titled prequel, Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga, which we are now getting our first trailer for.

Oh what a glorious day!!

Anya Taylor-Joy gets the unenviable task of following Theron in the role, but a much younger version of Furiosa. The story returns us to the post-apocalyptic wasteland to tell a story teased and ultimately concluded in Mad Max: Fury Road, that of a young Furiosa’s abduction from the Green Place of Many Mothers and into the clutches of a demented warlord. The footage reveals Warboys, Chris Hemsworth going native as Warlord Dementus, and Tom Burke, possibly as a young Immortan Joe. Even ex-pro wrestler Nathan Jones is coming back as Immortan Joe’s brother, Rictus Erectus. It’s twisted men such as these that killed the world, leading an adult Furiosa to fight back and reclaim her freedom from them.

Here’s the official synopsis: As the world fell, young Furiosa is snatched from the Green Place of Many Mothers and falls into the hands of a great Biker Horde led by the Warlord Dementus. Sweeping through the Wasteland, they come across the Citadel presided over by The Immortan Joe. While the two Tyrants war for dominance, Furiosa must survive many trials as she puts together the means to find her way home.

Warner Bros. will release Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga into theaters on May 24th 2024, with a likely Cannes world premiere just like Fury Road had.

Cinema Royale: Talking ‘Maestro’, ‘Napoleon’, And ‘Silent Night’!

By

Travis Hopson

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November 30, 2023

You’re tuned in to Cinema Royale, and this week it’s three three three big movies, one with Oscar aspirations, one a historical epic of dubious accuracy, and another a holiday actioner with zero dialogue. I’m joined by Chris Bumbray of Joblo.com to talk about Bradley Cooper’s Leonard Bernstein biopic Maestro, plus Ridley Scott’s Napoleon starring Joaquin Phoenix, and John Woo’s return to American action flicks with Silent Night!

All of this plus a lot more as Chris and I do what we normally do and veer off into other subjects, like the 2015 Tom Hardy stinker, Child 44. I have no idea how we ended up there, but there we were!

Enjoy this bit of silly fun.

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The Grabber Returns As Blumhouse Announces ‘The Black Phone’ Sequel With Original Cast

By

John Nolan

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November 29, 2023

One of the most disappointing things about true crime, other than the pure depravity and cruelty, is the complete and total lack of masks. Seriously, other than the Zodiac, has any real killer rocked a trademark mask? You know who appreciates the value of a striking mask? Scott Derrickson, that’s who. The writer/director brought us one of the most recognizable horror masks of the last decade with his surprise smash hit horror film The Black Phone back in 2021. Of course, it wasn’t all the mask. No, Derrickson’s obvious talent for horror mixed with a stellar cast lead by Ethan Hawke were obviously the driving force behind that film’s $160M box office take…but I’m sure the cool mask didn’t hurt.

That 9 figure box office was bolstered even further thanks to the Blumhouse method of film making, make ’em good and make ’em cheap. Their fiscal responsibility during production led to The Black Phone becoming one of the most profitable films of its release year. If there’s one thing you can guarantee about films on the most profitable list, its that there WILL be a sequel. Thanks to Deadline we now know that a sequel has been green lit and is headed toward production. There being a sequel isn’t much of a surprise, what is surprising is that they managed to get the entire principal cast to return. Ethan Hawke, Mason Thames, Madeleine McGraw and Jeremy Davies are all signed on. While Derrickson himself hasn’t been named as the director at this point he is co-writing and producing the film. With a theatrical release slated for June 27th, 2025 we can expect the film to go into production sometime this coming summer.

Maybe The Black Phone hitting headlines again will remind all the bigtime studio suits that you don’t need to spend $100M to make a great film. Jason Blum really needs to teach a class on production frugality. It seems like once a month we have some film that made over $100M being called a failure because it cost $300M to produce. Sure, films from the MCU are going to be markedly more expensive then a small-scale horror film but you’re crazy if you think they couldn’t trim those budgets and finish with the same result. [Deadline]