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‘Blue Beetle’: Becky G Confirms Her Role As Khaji-Da In New Teaser Trailer

By
Travis Hopson
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Warner Bros. is making no secret who will voice the alien symbiote Khaji-Da in the upcoming Blue Beetle film. Singer and Power Rangers actress Becky G has revealed her casting in a new teaser made just for her.

The character Khaji-Da is similar to Green Lantern’s power ring in that it chooses who is worthy of wearing the alien scarab that grants the Blue Beetle armor and powers. A big difference is that Khaji-Da is also the armor’s artificial intelligence system, so think Iron Man’s JARVIS.

Check Becky G’s video out for yourself:

The film is led by Xolo Mariduena as Jaime Reyes, joined by Bruna Marquezine, Belissa Escobedo, Adriana Barraza, Elpidia Carrillo, Damián Alcázar, Susan Sarandon, George Lopez, and Raoul Max Trujillo. Angel Manuel Soto directs from a script by Gareth Dunnet-Alcocer.

Here’s the synopsis: Recent college grad Jaime Reyes (Xolo Mariduena) returns home full of aspirations for his future, only to find that home is not quite as he left it,” reads the synopsis. “As he searches to find his purpose in the world, fate intervenes when Jaime unexpectedly finds himself in possession of an ancient relic of alien biotechnology: the Scarab. When the Scarab suddenly chooses Jaime to be its symbiotic host, he is bestowed with an incredible suit of armour capable of extraordinary and unpredictable powers, forever changing his destiny as he becomes the Super Hero Blue Beetle.

Blue Beetle hits theaters on August 18th.

 

New Clip From ‘The Flash’ Features Michael Keaton’s Very Odd, Very-Bearded Bruce Wayne

By
Travis Hopson
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Whatever one thinks about WB’s decision to release The Flash despite the disturbing allegations against Ezra Miller, let’s be honest that it still features a lot to get excited about. The biggest of these is undoubtedly the return of Michael Keaton as Batman, after first suiting up in Tim Burton’s film in 1989.

A new clip for The Flash gives the best look at Keaton’s return yet, but I should warn you. This is basically the first time Keaton’s Bruce Wayne is seen in the movie, and he’s bearded and very eccentric. That beard is…well, it’s just weird. Lots of chatter about it after a recent screening. Batman also cracks a couple of jokes at Superman’s expense, since the two Barry Allens are on a quest to find the Kryptonian. I won’t say why. You can find that out for yourself.

The Flash opens in theaters on June 16th!

‘The Out-Laws’ Trailer: Adam Devine Gets Roped Into A Heist By Pierce Brosnan And Ellen Barkin In New Netflix Comedy

By
Travis Hopson
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Meeting your loved one’s parents is hard enough. How many comedies have been made about the minefield of potential disasters that awaits? Well, imagine how much harder it would be if your future in-laws were Pierce Brosnan and Ellen Barkin. How intimidating would that be? And what if they were secretly badass criminals, too? Well, that awaits Adam Devine in Netflix’s new comedy, The Out-Laws.

As seen in the new trailer, Devine plays Owen a straight-laced bank manager set to meet his future wife’s (Nina Dobrev) parents for the first time on the week of their wedding. But after a few drinks and a terrible first encounter, the bank Owen works at gets robbed, and he thinks he thinks he knows the culprits! Throw in some kidnapping, an impossible heist, and a dogged detective played by Michael Rooker, and this looks pretty fun.

The film is directed by Tyler Spindel (The Wrong Missy), and co-stars Poorna Jagannathan, Richard Kind, Lil Rel Howery, and Julie Hagerty.

The Out-Laws hits Netflix on July 7th.

Here’s the synopsis: Owen Browning (Adam Devine) is a straight-laced bank manager about to marry the love of his life, Parker (Nina Dobrev). When his bank is held up by the infamous Ghost Bandits during his wedding week, he believes his future in-laws (Pierce Brosnan and Ellen Barkin) who just arrived in town, are the infamous Out-Laws.

 

‘Bird Box Barcelona’ Teaser: Hide Your Eyes! Netflix’s Horror Spinoff Arrives Next Month

By
Travis Hopson
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It’s time to bust out the blindfolds again! Bird Box Barcelona, a spinoff of the 2018 Sandra Bullock thriller that launched a thousand TikTok challenges, hits Netflix next month with a story that takes us back to the day the monsters first arrived on Earth.

No Sandra Bullock this time, as the story shifts to Barcelona (duh) with an all-new cast of  Mario Casas, Georgina Campbell, Alejandra Howard, Naila Schuberth, Diego Calva, Patrick Criado, Lola Dueñas, Gonzalo De Castro, Michelle Jenner, and Leonardo Sbaraglia. The film is written and directed by Álex Pastor and David Pastor.

Here’s the synopsis: From the producers of the global phenomenon, Bird Box, comes BIRD BOX BARCELONA, an expansion of the film that riveted audiences in 2018. After a mysterious force decimates the world’s population, Sebastian must navigate his own survival journey through the desolate streets of Barcelona. As he forms uneasy alliances with other survivors and they try to escape the city, an unexpected and even more sinister threat grows.

Bird Box Barcelona hits Netflix on July 14th.

 

‘The Flash’ Sequel Is Already Written, But It May Not Matter

By
Travis Hopson
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In only a couple of weeks, The Flash finally arrives in theaters. To say it’s “racing” into theaters would be a lie given the years of hold-ups, not to mention the considerable doubt it’d be released following Ezra Miller’s high-profile legal troubles. But Warner Bros. needs this movie to be a hit, and assuming that it is, they’re more than ready to keep the franchise rolling.

Variety reports that a sequel to The Flash has already been written by David Leslie Johnson-McGoldrick, writer of both Aquaman and Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom.  Will it ever see the light of day, though? Well, the outlet’s headline says the script is “on ice” until decisions are made regarding Miller, who may or may not be asked to return. For what it’s worth, director Andy Muschietti has already stated that he won’t recast Miller if a sequel happens.  It’s not really up to him though, is it?

There are some small details about the film, though, like it would see the return of Michael Keaton as Batman, as well as Sasha Calle’s Supergirl. They have the potential to be the breakout characters of this first movie, as nostalgia has fans eager to see Keaton suit up again, and Calle is a decided change-of-pace from the typical blonde-haired blue-eyed Supergirl.

The other factor, of course, is whether James Gunn wants to reboot The Flash as part of his new DCU. Driving that decision will be critical and box office reception. If the movie is a smash hit, then it would be tough for Gunn to start over.

Press for The Flash has been odd. Miller has stayed out of it completely, which is practically unheard of for a movie of this scale.

“Ezra wants the movie to open and the conversation to be about the movie and not about Ezra,” a source close to Miller is quoted as saying. “They are focused on their mental health and don’t want it to be transactional.”

As a further sign of the disarray the Miller situation has caused, multiple versions of the film have been screened. The CinemaCon version was minus some big post-credits sequences, but those are being added back in for theatrical showings. “Warners was looking to keep its options open” in regards to Miller and the Flash as the actor’s problems mounted.

The Flash finally hits theaters on June 16th, and it’s tracking to do pretty well with projections of around $75M opening weekend. It’s a marathon and not a sprint, though, so we’ll see what it all means at the finish line.

 

Cinema Royale: Talking ‘Spider-Man: Across The Spider-Verse’

By
Travis Hopson
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Come on! You didn’t think I’d go the whole weekend without talking about Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse again, did you? A film of this magnitude deserves a bit more personal attention than usual, so in this episode of Cinema Royale I’m flying solo to express all of my thoughts on what is a truly remarkable sequel, the rare sequel that surpasses its predecessor.

Well, I guess you know how I feel about it then! You can still watch (or listen through your preferred podcast outlet) and get a sense of how awkward I am when doing these things off the cuff. But I rather do it like this than by jotting down a bunch of notes. It’s the way I talk movies with my friends, and I hope that comes through to all of you.

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Box Office: ‘Spider-Man: Across The Spider-Verse’ Swings To $208M Debut

By
Travis Hopson
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  1. Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse (review)- $120.5M

Your friendly neighborhood Spider-Man was a friendly neighborhood record-breaker this weekend, as Sony’s Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse opened to a whopping $120.5M. That surpasses Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3‘s $118.4M as the year’s biggest summer blockbuster, and the third-best ever for a Spider-Man movie. Worldwide, the animated sequel to 2018’s Into the Spider-Verse scored $208M, blasting expectations into another realm. You’ve already seen the reviews; the response has been through the roof in every aspect, and while some grumbled at the cliffhanger ending (It was always designed as a two-part story, folks!), you can bet they’ll be back for Beyond the Spider-Verse in 2024.

2. The Little Mermaid– $40.6M/$186.2M

Disney’s live-action remake of The Little Mermaid fell 57% for $40.6M, bringing the domestic total to $186M, and global to $326.7M. We’re truly entering new territory for Hollywood studios, as the top two movies feature people of color in iconic roles generally for white actors. Miles Morales is becoming THE Spider-Man for a certain generation of Marvel fan, while Halle Bailey’s take on Ariel will be looked up to by millions of young girls of color.

3. The Boogeyman (review)- $12.3M

Horror flick The Boogeyman got off to a lukewarm launch with $12.3M. Even so, that meager number is the best for a Stephen King adaptation since 2019’s Doctor Sleep opened with $14.1M.

4. Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3– $10.2M/$322.7M

5. Fast X– $9.2M/$128.4M

While Fast X appears to be sinking fast domestically in the face of stiff competition, worldwide it continues to speed ahead with $603M total.

6. The Super Mario Bros Movie– $3.3M/$566.2M

7. About My Father– $2.1M/$8.8M

8. The Machine– $1.7M/$8.7M

9. You Hurt My Feelings– $769K/$3M

10. Kandahar– $765K/$4.2M

Oof. This was simply the wrong time to drop a small-ish Gerard Butler action movie like Kandahar. After two weeks, the film only has $4.7M globally and will probably be on digital within a few days at this rate.

Review: ‘The Portable Door’

Sam Neill And Christoph Waltz Star In Enchanting But Forgettable YA Fantasy Adaptation

By
Jake Sokolsky
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Things just will not seem to go right for Paul Carpenter (Patrick Gibson) in The Portable Door. His alarm does not ring, his toast is burnt, he is always running late, and most importantly… he cannot get a job. He is friendly enough, the lovable goofball, but his borderline oblivious honesty can be a turnoff to potential employers. This morning being just like the rest, Paul is racing to another interview he is running late for. Then a strange series of circumstances lead Paul into the offices of J.W. Wells & Co. Before he knows it, Dennis Tanner (Sam Neill) leads him into a board room where his interview begins. Paul stumbles and bumbles his way through it, seemingly not impressing CEO Humphrey Wells (Christoph Waltz).

Paul is shocked to get the job offer that night for a paid internship. Joining the other new intern Sophie Pettingel (Sophie Wilde), Paul begins on tedious tasks with Tanner breathing down his neck. Paul and Sophie quickly realize that there is more to J.W. Wells & Co. than meets the eye. The baby dragon running through their office being an obvious sign of that. Sophie begins learning how to use her telekinetic abilities while Wells personally tasks Paul with finding a portable door. As Paul and Sophie become closer, they both begin to question exactly what Wells wants with the door and how he is planning to use it.

Jeffrey Walker directs the film while Leon Ford wrote the screenplay. Both Walker and Ford’s expertise has primarily been in Television. The Portable Door is one of the first feature-length projects that each has worked one. The film is based off the Tom Holt novel of the same name. It is the first book in the seven book J. W. Wells & Co. series. This means there is certainly a chance for more films to follow.

Walker and Ford are able to establish a charming atmosphere. The script has countless subtle jokes and clever dialogue. This paired with whimsical music throughout and humorous touches by Walker help to build this new magical world. It provides an enchanting aura throughout the film. The acting does not blow you away, but Neill, Waltz, and co. do enough to bring the story to life. At almost 2 hours the film is pushing the upper limit, and at times does drag a bit.

One of the key issues with The Portable Door is the lack of clarity surrounding whom the film is best suited for. It may very well be too intense for children, but not intense enough for teens and young adults. The film and story have potential, but is stuck in a no mans land. With it only being the first in a series, there is certainly time to solidify this if given the opportunity. As it stands, The Portable Door does have enough humor and heart that it may be worth a watch. However, when the dust settles, it will most likely be a film that one forgets unless strong sequels follow.

The Portable Door is streaming now on MGM+.

Review: ‘Shooting Stars’

Peacock's Sports Biopic Displays Lebron James And The “Fab Five’s” Superhero Origin Story

By
Khalil Johnson
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Shooting Stars

Let’s not pretend we don’t know who Lebron James is. The high school phenom turned #1 NBA Draft, turned 4-time NBA Champion and Finals MVP, turned Olympic Medal winner, turned activist, turned I Promise School sponsor (and helping many young kids in Akron, Ohio), and even turned into somewhat of a Hollywood player has had a lucrative and successful career both on and off the court. Sure, he has his haters (and “The Decision” didn’t help), but you really can’t deny the legacy he has made for himself. But with him dominating the NBA for the past 20 years, it’s hard to remember his beginning in Akron, Ohio as an All-American high school player and playing with his lifelong friends as members of the ”Fab Five” who took St. Vincent–St. Mary High School’s basketball team to numerous State Championships as well as the National Championship. And in Chris Robinson’s newest movie Shooting Stars, we get to see the early years of how the Fab Five came together and the rest is history.

Shooting Stars is named after the AAU basketball team that Lebron (Marquis “Mookie” Cook), Dru Joyce III (Caleb McLaughlin), Sian Cotton (Khalil Everage), and Willie McGee ((Avery S. Wills, Jr.) played on in grade school together (and the name of the book Lebron wrote about his time playing for the team) and follows the squad (originally calling themselves as the “Fab Four” until former rival Romeo Travis (Sterling “Scoot” Henderson) joins the squad) as they decided they would all go to the same high school together and work together towards glory. The one thing that stands out in Shooting Stars is the bond that these young men have together. It’s not ironic that there previously was a documentary on this team is aptly called More Than A Game as it really was for this group of friends turned found family.

But as Shooting Stars reveals, things almost didn’t turn out. When they first wanted to go to high school together Dru Joyce was told because of his size he would have to play on the Jr. Varsity team due to his short size. This didn’t sit well with Dru, who convinced his teammates that instead of going to the public school (and considerably blacker school) together, they would instead enroll in the local Catholic High School St. Vincent–St. Mary, which got them some animosity from others within the black community and labeled them “sellouts,” but they moved forward and persevered as a family/team on this new adventure.

So, off the Fab Four went, first having to prove themselves to the St. Vincent–St. Mary’s basketball coach Keith Dambrot (Dermot Mulroney), was not in favor of starting freshmen for the varsity team. But their talent and their ability to work very well together couldn’t be denied. And soon enough, they were all starters and leading their school to numerous championships over their four-year tenure at the school. Soon enough, Romeo (who had beef with Dru originally) joined the team and quickly jelled with them and they then became the “Fab Five” and continued climbing the ladder to greatness.

Shooting Stars probably took some dramatic and artistic liberties to make the movie more engaging, but overall did a great retelling of the Fab Five’s story. Shooting Stars mostly accurately chronicles the ups and downs of the team. As Lebron’s star started to shine and he received national attention, egos can get in the way, as well as just the usual high school shenanigans of young men trying to navigate the best years of their lives. But overall, this is a solid sports movie that showcases a phenomenal group of athletes who also were all best of friends.

From the trailers, Shooting Stars may seem like it’s going to place Lebron front and center. After all, he is “King James” and the leading NBA scorer. But actually, Shooting Stars focuses on the other members of the Fab Five just as much as Lebron, if not more. In fact, Dru seems to be the protagonist throughout the film and gives Caleb McLaughlin to wash a little bit of Stranger Things off of him (seriously, he needs to be Static Shock or a live-action Miles Morales!). Dru probably is the most complicated member of the group as he was the shortest player and constantly misjudged, even by his own father/coach Dru Joyce (Wood Harris). The other teammates also get a chance to shine, especially at things heat up for Lebron and he’s suspended and forced to not play after making a mistake in regard to innocently accepting gifts from fans.

Shooting Stars for the most part is interesting and engaging, but it’s not without its faults. Chris Robinson utilized an artistic flair similar to Ms. Marvel and Scott Pilgrim vs. the World and having text randomly appear on screen at important moments as well as having Dru look at the camera and talk to the audience at a key moment for his character. It feels a little distracting at times and takes some getting used to. Shooting Stars is also told in a strange “chapter” format, which makes you wonder if this film might have been better served to be a Limited Series for Peacock instead of a feature-length film. Each chapter break could have been its own episode and could have fleshed things out a little better. Also, for fans who watched the More Than A Game documentary, Shooting Stars doesn’t cover much new territory, it’s just told in a different and more dramatic fashion.

Lebron fans (and even his haters) will enjoy Shooting Stars. As much as its focus is on chronically the highlights of Lebron and the team, it’s really about the bond between 5 lifelong friends who grew into a family and always had each other’s backs and pushed each other. The epilogue of the film displays that they are all still great friends who stay in touch with each other and what they have done since graduating high school. Of course, we know what happened with Lebron, but the other members of the squad’s stories are just as interesting and engaging to see where they all ended up. In a long line of sports films, Shooting Stars combines historical facts with a great story of a group of friends and is worth your time to watch.

Shooting Stars is currently streaming on Peacock.

Review: ‘Falcon Lake’

Charlotte Le Bon's Strangely Beautiful Directorial Debut Blends Summer Love And Dark Horror

By
Travis Hopson
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What is it to be a ghost but to suffer the complete absence of love? Actress Charlotte Le Bon’s arresting directorial debut, Falcon Lake, is a coming-of-age film that melds teenage love stories with gothic horror, but not in an elaborate, over-the-top way. In adapting Bastien Vivès’ 2017 graphic novel, Le Bon has offered an honest story of young love set against a moody, ominous backdrop of a lake rumored to be the watery grave of a long-dead child.

From the beginning, Le Bon establishes that this won’t be your typical “summer catch” story. We’re introduced to 16-year-old Chloé (Sara Montpetit) as she’s floating face down in the water, appearing to our eyes to be quite dead. She pops up, very much alive, after an excruciatingly long pause, the camera never taking its lens off of her. But this is who Chloé is. She has been obsessed with the urban legend of a girl who drowned in the lake, and now walks the Quebec forests as a ghost. At this age, Chloé has all of the jumbled emotions of your typical teen girl. Spirited and adventurous one moment, forlorn the next.

But Chloé is also the oldest child at the vacation retreat where her mom is reunited with a childhood friend. She brings along her 13-year-old son, Bastien (Joseph Engel), a shy, quiet kid not quite ready to be a man but also too old to be hanging out with the kiddies. Chloé doesn’t take much interest in him at first, seeing Bastien as a harmless youngest brother who just happens to be close enough in age. But as he becomes a willing listener to her macabre stories about dead girls in lakes, Chloé takes a liking to him. Soon, she and Bastien are thick as thieves, going to parties with older kids and sneaking around.

Everything about the budding connection between Chloé and Bastien feels natural, a credit both to Le Bon’s screenplay and the authentic portrayals of the cast. That includes the emotional gap caused by the age difference. Bastien is still pretty immature and awkward, and he begins to get a crush on her right away as any boy his age would do. He clams up when older boys are around, making moves on Chloé as if he’s not around. They don’t see him as a romantic rival at all. Why would they? And Chloé is all too eager to play into this. Even at her young age, she’s got enough heartbreak in her past to be cautious, but also to run free.

Shot in mesmerizing 16mm, Falcon Lake balances picturesque summer vibes with the aesthetics of classic slasher movies. It’s a fascinating combination and can shift at a moment’s notice. Eventually, the grim aspects begin to take hold as the story’s full motivation becomes clear, with Le Bon proving in her directorial debut that she’s willing to take bold visual risks. Le Bon occasionally falls into the indie trap of lingering on certain shots for too long, as if by doing so they instantly become meaningful, but for the most part she has already established herself as filmmaker to keep a close watch on. Falcon Lake proves that Le Bon has a courageous spirit behind the camera, and her debut film has a strange beauty that ripples like a rock skipping across the water.

Falcon Lake is open in select theaters now.

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