New Trailer: Batman v. Superman Comic Con 2015 Edition!!

Probably the biggest film trailer to debut at this past weekend's Comic Con was Warner Bros' Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice. This second much longer look at the DC Universe film gives us additional info on the conflict brewing brewing between two brooding superheroes, leading to an eventual fight on the yard (or a Batmobile). They'll take whatever is available at the moment.

We see Superman aka Clark Kent (Henry Cavill) feel more and more marginalised as an outsider. We  see an older, bulkier Bruce Wayne (Ben Affleck, who takes over the role from Christian Bale) who's suppressed his feelings for a long time. Somebody's also goading Bruce with notes about his past and you can literally feel the waves of anger rolling of him against Superman. Cue the return of the vigilante Batman.

The trailer also shows us glimpses of other iconic characters of the universe, Jeremy Irons as Alfred, Laurence Fishburne as Perry White, Amy Adams as Lois Lane, Diane Lane as Martha Kent, Jesse Eisenberg as a very youngish Lex Luthor with hair and of course Gal Gadot debuting as Wonder Woman. Director Zack Synder sure has his hands full with all-star cast that I hope get the opportunity to do justice to their characters.

My only problem is (and I felt this with The Amazing Spider-Man reboot too and look what's happened there, it's being rebooted yet again) we just said an emotional goodbye to Christopher Nolan's Batman trilogy. To say that Nolan's films changed the way we look at comic book/superhero films is an understatement. It's too soon. Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice is also setting up the road for the rest of the DC characters to go off and have their own adventures. More surprising news coming out of Comic Con was that Affleck himself would be directing a standalone Batman film after the Justice League film in 2019! Wow, that's a whole lot of Batman down the line.

Gotham's bringing the fight down to Metropolis. I sure hope Superman's ready. Will Earth survive the fighting between two ultimate superheroes? Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice releases March 25, 2016 ahead of the crowded summer season.

New trailer: Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice

"Tell me, do you bleed? You will... " A very grim Batman informs Superman as the first trailer of Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice ends. Director Zack Synder's follow up to 2013's Man of Steel brings together two frenemies, Batman (Ben Affleck) and Superman (Henry Cavill) going up against each other for the first time. This film has huge expectations for Warner Bros., not just because they are pitting two iconic characters in a battle on the big screen, but also since the film will lay the groundwork for upcoming DC Universe films featuring Wonder Woman, Aquaman, The Flash and more.

Going up against rival studios Marvel and Disney who have already shown immense success with their superhero and franchise films, Warner Bros. needs this film to work badly. It's already been delayed from this year's summer release schedule. But one hopes this will be for the betterment of the film. This current trailer released early by a few days since the trailer leaked online. Competing with the other big trailer release of Star Wars: The Force Awakens, the studio had no choice but to make it official.

There aren't too much shots in the trailer of the friendly foes fighting each other but instead a lot of discontent piling up against the outsider Superman in the form of voice overs of cast members Holly Hunter and Jeremy Iron . A statue of Superman has the words 'False God' graffitied onto the famous logo. We finally get a glimpse of the very beefed up Batman (Affleck) who I'm assuming is coming out of retirement to face Superman. He does not look happy. There's a lot of anger and resentment under the surface here. We have to assume this is not the same Batman from Christopher Nolan's Batman trilogy. Whatever happened to Bruce Wayne? I guess we'll find out more when Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice releases on March 25, 2016. The cast also features Amy Adams, Gal Gadot, Jason Momoa, Jesse Einsenberg and Laurence Fishburne.

Summer's Hottest Trailers: Man of Steel and Star Trek Into Darkness

Are we sure Man of Steel is not really directed by Christopher Nolan and not just produced by him? Because this trailer bears all his marks. This origin story of Superman looks incredibly promising with first looks of  Krypton, his father Jor-El (Russell Crowe), his adoptive father on Earth (Kevin Costner), Zod (Michael Shannon) and Lois Lane (Amy Adams).  Could this Superman film do what Nolan’s Dark Knight trilogy did for the Batman brand? And what does the 'S' stand for? We’ll find out June 14, 2013.

 

The final trailer for this summer's most anticipated sequel, Star Trek Into Darkness, shows Benedict Cumberbatch's John Harrison luring the impulsive Captain Kirk (Chris Pine) and the Enterprise crew into a trap.  Will they survive?  I'd put some pretty good odds on it. Star Trek Into Darkness hit theaters May 17th 2013

Breaking News: Henry Cavill cast as Superman!

Zack Synder and Warner Brothers have chosen their Superman.  It's Henry Cavill (The Tudors).  What do we think? 

Movie Review: Legends of the Guardians: The Owls of Ga'Hoole

Legend of the Guardians: The Owls of Ga'Hoole is a sweeping majestic tale about a young owl, Soren, who is kidnapped (owlnapped?) by the Pure Ones, Tyto owls, who want to take on the Guardians for control of the owl kingdom.  Made by the studio who made Happy Feet, this movie takes it to a whole new level.  Where before there was miles of snow and ice, there are these enormous forests and trees that seem to have been around for hundreds of years. This is a world inhabited by owls and what a world it is.

This is a very niche fantasy film based on the books by Kathryn Lasky.  I was disappointed that there weren't too many people in the theater I was watching it at.  Films like this needed a bigger fan base for more fantasy animated films to be released.  The pleasant surprise was the animated short that preceded the film, a Looney Tunes short featuring Wiley E. Coyote and Road Runner up to their usual cat and mouse game.  But this time it was in CG and 3D, it was a delightful start to the movie, and I wish this trend of shorts before the movie catches on.  It'll force people to come on time for the movie.

On the actual film, it didn't disappoint.  I had been waiting to see this and am highly impressed with the look and animation of the film.  Bonus point, it has subtitles.  The owls mostly talk in Australian and British accents and sometimes, you miss what it is that they're talking about.  Having subtitles helped immensely.  The fur on the owls is unreal.  You can actually see the wind ruffle their feathers as they fly across seas and fly through snow and monsoons.  And the little owlets, truly adorable.  It was like watching a documentary on owls where they can talk and fight an epic battle at the end.  But in a good way as the animation and realism factor is very high.  There were so many moments in the film where all I could do is watch the screen is whisper "Wow" as the visuals and camera angles are absolutely breath-taking.  I would watch this movie again and again.  Big thumbs up!

Side Note: While this is a animated film, it is not necessarily for young children.  I think they might be afraid by the violence and actions of the owls against each other.  I think children 10 and up should be fine with it.

Directed by Zack Synder; Screenplay by John Orloff and Emil Stern; Music by David Hirschfelder; Editing by David Burrows.

With the voice talents of : Jim Sturgess (Soren), Ryan Kwanten (Kludd), Geoffrey Rush (Ezylryb), Sam Neill (Allomere), Helen Mirren (Nyra), David Wenham (Digger), Anthony LaPaglia (Twilight), Hugo Weaving (Grimble), Miriam Margolyes (Mrs. P), Adrienne DeFaria (Eglantine), Emily Barclay (Gylfie), Abbie Cornish (Otulissa)

Rating: 

Quick Update: Movie Deals in place

• It's time to put the rumors to rest.  Zack Synder (300, Watchmen) has been selected, by Christopher Nolan no less, to direct the new Superman reboot.  Nolan will be producing the film and David S. Goyer is writing the script.  Yeah, they're doing this again, so soon after Superman Returns a mere 4 years ago.  Will our thirst for superhero movies never end?  So now that director has been selected, Who's Superman?  Brandon Routh, please do not be standing by the phone.  I like the idea of Jon Hamm as EW suggests but I think he'll be busy with Mad Men.  However, back when Brett Ratner was supposed to direct Superman Returns, his first choice was Matt Bomer (White Collar).  It could still work.  
• Bourne will be back.  Tony Gilroy (Michael Clayton), who, incidentally, wrote the previous two scripts in the Bourne saga, is back to direct the fourth movie titled Bourne Legacy.  No word on whether Matt Damon will return as Bourne.  Could he be tempted back or will he be too busy with his current projects? (Side note: Just checked Gilroy's IMDB page and am shocked, shocked I say, to discover that he wrote and directed The Cutting Edge! How did I not know this?)
• Right, where were we?  In the trend of books turned into movies, here's a new one.  These books haven't even been published yet but Summit Entertainment, looking ahead to life after the Twilight series, has grabbed the rights of Julie Cross' unpublished trilogy, Tempest, about a teenager who time-travels into the past, two years before his girlfriend is murdered.