Film review-Black Adam

Warner Bros. Discovery faces multiple challenges that threaten the success of their entertainment empire. Changes to the streaming service HBO Max, the Batgirl cancelation, and the redirection of the DC Extended Universe have all negatively impacted the studio’s reputation. Despite attempts to re-approach the model through different creative perspectives, the DC Extended Universe has yet to establish a consistent cinematic universe. The main issue seems to be the lack of consistent quality over time.

Black Adam, the latest addition to the DC Extended Universe, features a solid performance from Dwayne Johnson as the titular anti-hero. However, the chemistry between the cast members falls short, with the Justice Society of America lacking meaningful substance. The humourless, hollow screenplay fails to balance the dramatic intensity with the comedic beats that made Shazam! successful. The film’s overall aimlessness and narrative misdirection warn that CGI-ed mass destruction is not enough to rebuild a brand.

The superficiality of Black Adam contradicts any signs of progression for the DC Extended Universe, accusing them of misusing their characters. The film presents a bare-boned and uninspired “good vs. bad” narrative without much of a story to support it. There’s a disregard for audience expectations, needs, or desires, relying on expensive-looking excuses for an origin story. While the post-credits scene featuring a thrilling cameo may excite DC fans, it does not make up for the film’s overall shortcomings.

In conclusion, Black Adam’s solid performance from Dwayne Johnson is overshadowed by its aimlessness, lack of chemistry, humourless screenplay, and narrative misdirection. Warner Bros. Discovery and their DC Film team must focus on crafting comprehensive works of fiction that meet audience expectations, needs, and desires, rather than relying on high-volume talent to attach themselves to projects.

Episode 281: The Batman

Martyn and Gerrord are joined by Antoni Pearce. The dynamic trio talk about The Batman. Spoilers are contained within, obviously. 

The podcast Smartlink.

Artwork by Beeble Pete. Adapted by Penny Smallshire.

We sound familiar can be found here, More than just an impression can be found here.

Comedians talking about football can be found here, Cister Act here.

Twitter: Martyn, Chris, Sam, Gerrod, Pete

Instagram: Podcast, Martyn, Chris, Sam

 

Colin Farrell to star in a spin-off to The Batman

According to Variety, Colin Farrell is set to reprise his role as The Penguin, in a spin-off series to The Batman.

Farrell will play the character for the first time in Robert Pattinson’s “The Batman,” which will be released in March 2022.
After then, the series is said to focus on The Penguin’s ascent to prominence in the Gotham criminal underground.
The series was first announced in September, though Farrell was not involved at the time. It’s thought the series will be an adaptation of the comic Penguin Triumphant, from 1992.

Lauren LeFranc has been tapped to pen the series.
Matt Reeves, the director of “The Batman,” and Dylan Clark, the film’s producer, will executive produce the Penguin series under their 6th & Idaho and Dylan Clark Productions labels, respectively.

Warner Bros. Television would be in charge of the production. It will air on HBO Max, in the US.

The Penguin, a.k.a. Oswald Cobblepot, is a well-known member of the Batman Rogues Gallery, distinguished by his top hat, monocle, and a vast range of lethal umbrellas.
Burgess Meredith, Danny DeVito, and Robin Lord Taylor have all previously played the character in live-action films and TV series.

Penguin will be HBO Max’s second spin-off series from “The Batman.” Joe Barton is attached as the showrunner for a drama based within the Gotham Police Department, which has already been ordered by the streaming service. It will adapt the Gotham Central line of comics.


WarnerMedia is attempting to create a new, integrated Batman universe that spans all of the company’s platforms.

Other live-action DC shows in development at HBO Max include John Cena’s “Suicide Squad” spin-off “Peacemaker,” a “Green Lantern” series from Greg Berlanti, and a “Justice League Dark” series from J.J. Abrams, among others. “The Batman” and its two spin-offs have been confirmed as taking place on Earth 2.

First look at Javicia Leslie as Batwoman

The CW has shared a couple of photos from the second series of DC’s Batwoman series. The images show actress Javicia Leslie in the new Batsuit and ready to patrol and protect Gotham City.

Leslie replaces actress Ruby Rose, who dropped out of the show after one series.

She is playing a completely new and original character named Ryan Wilder, whom takes on the Batwoman mantle.

Leslie said:

“I love the fact that Ryan is becoming her own Batwoman — it’s her style, her swag, and her moment. I felt it was important that viewers could tell by the silhouette that Batwoman was a Black girl. With the form-fitting suit and beautiful Afro, we definitely nailed it!”

Batwoman is scheduled to return in the US, with new episodes in January of 2021. An E4 airdate has yet to be confirmed.



Nicholas Cage rumoured to play Superman in The Flash

The Flash is shaping up to be one hell of a film. Not only are Ben Affleck and Michael Keaton set to reprise their roles as Batman, but it’s also been rumoured that Christian Bale, Val Kilmer, and George Clooney are set to don the cowl again, to co-star alongside Ezra Miller’s Barry Allen.

FandomWire claims not only has Chris O’Donnell been approached to reprise his role as Robin, but Nicholas Cage has also been approached to play Superman, from the cancelled Tim Burton ‘Superman Lives’.

What’s interesting, is Warner Bros has stopped calling the film series ‘The DCEU’ and the TV stuff ‘The Arrowverse’. It’s all now just part of the ‘DC Multiverse’.



With everything that’s been rumoured about this film so far, I’d say that anything is possible. I’ve always wondered just how Cage would’ve played Kal-El, we got a slight glimpse in Jon Schnepp’s excellent documentary ‘The Death of Superman Lives: What happened?’. Cage even voiced the character in ‘Teen Titans Go to the movies’.

Even if all those actors didn’t want to appear, I’m sure they could repurpose some archive/unused/test footage to tell a compelling story.

Here’s what director Andy Muschietti had to say about the multiverse:

“This movie is a bit of a hinge in the sense that it presents a story that implies a unified universe where all the cinematic iterations that we’ve seen before are valid. It’s inclusive in the sense that it is saying all that you’ve seen exists, and everything that you will see exists, in the same unified multiverse.”

 

Blu Ray review-Reign of the supermen

Six months after Superman (Jerry O’Connell) sacrificed himself to defeat Doomsday, the world has been introduced to four new versions of the man of steel; Superboy, Steel, Cyborg-Superman, and the Eradicator. Each one of them is very different in their personalities and crime-fighting style compared to the original Man of Steel; leaving the world questioning which one, if any, is the true Superman.

At 87 minutes, this is one of the longer DC Universe Animated films. But the extra length enables it to achieve a number of things, such as continuing threads that were set up in ‘The Death of Superman’. We also get a great amount of character development, not only do we see some really touching moments between the Kents and Lois Lane (Rebecca Romijn). We also see Lois develop a friendship with Wonder Woman (Rosario Dawson). Lex Luthor also plays a very active role in this story-excellently voiced by Rainn Wilson. It also allows for the film to set up the wider DC animated universe.

DC’s animation department has once again proven their prowess with “Reign of the Supermen,” a triumph of a film. Despite its source material being a comic book from 1993, writers Tim Sheridan and Jim Krieg, along with director Sam Liu, manage to infuse the movie with a fresh and engaging feel. They fully comprehend the importance of the original comics to fans and flawlessly adapt them for the screen.

The film’s tone, darker and edgier, is something that DC’s live-action department should be striving for. The heroes’ actions have consequences, adding depth and weight to the story. However, it’s not without its lighter moments, making it an enjoyable experience for all. “Reign of the Supermen” is a prime example of the type of movie that DC’s live-action department should be emulating.

REIGN OF THE SUPERMEN is available now on Digital Download, Blu-ray™ and DVD

The Blu Ray special features include;

Lex Luthor:The greatest nemesis

Sneak peak at Justice League vs The Fatal Five

From the vault-two bonus cartoons.

Blu Ray Review-Justice League vs Teen titans 

For the past ten years Warner Bros and DC Comics have been doing a series of straight-to-DVD animated movies. With mixed results. A lot of the output has been outstanding, but some have fallen a little flat. The Batman, Superman, and Justice League titles have all sold well. 
  
But, DC have never really had much confidence with Teen Titans. Their range of films were put on hold, then quickly cancelled. 

The film is titled ‘Justice League vs Teen Titans’ but don’t let that fool you, it’s actually Teen Titans featuring a couple of possessed members of the Justice League.
  
It’s set in the same continuity as Justice League: War and Son of Batman. And picks up right where the latter left off, introducing Damian Wayne (Sturat Allen), the young son that Bruce Wayne (Jason O’Mara) never knew he had.

The film also cherry picks Teen Titans greatest hits. There’s elements from the comics history, thrown in with moments from the two animated TV shows, which ran from 2003-2006.
  
The Robin in this adventure is Damian Wayne. Whilst assisting his dad and the justice league, he disobeys a direct order and almost ruins the entire mission. 

Batman decides to ship Damian off to train with the Teen Titans. Reluctantly, Damian agrees and Nightwing takes him to Titans Tower. Where he meets his new team mates; Starfire, Beast Boy, Blue beetle, and Raven. 
  
It turns out that Raven (Taissa Farmiga) is the daughter of a huge Satanic-like creature named Trigon (Jon Bernthal), whom is not only intent on reclaiming her, but on also enslaving mankind. He omits an ooze, which renders the Justice League under his control. This is where the ‘vs’ comes in, Damian has to put aside his problems with the other Titans and work together to take down Trigon and, the possessed League. 

  

The film is directed by Sam Liu and written by Bryan Q. Miller and Alan Burnett. It manages to balance humour, whilst keeping the threat ever present. Which is something the other vs movie has been critiqued for not doing. It isn’t all perfect, there’s a pointless musical montage that goes on for far too long, whilst the Titans are “bonding”. It also managed to balance some adult themes, that kids won’t get. Dick Grayson very clearly expects to have Skype-sex with Starfire. 

The fights are incredibly well-done and entertaining, but much like the other ‘vs’ movie, there’s a lot of style over substance. But I eagerly await the next Titan adventure. 

Justice league vs Teen titans is out on Blu-Ray on the 30th of May 

Confirmed: Ben Affleck directing a Batman movie 

It was finally confirmed last night that a standalone Batman movie co-written, starring and, directed by Ben Affleck is officially in development. Warner Bros. boss Kevin Tsujihara took to the stage at CinemaCon to break the news. 

Speculation that Affleck would direct the project, has been circling for about a year now. But this announcement is the first official confirmation. 

Reactions to Batman V Superman have been mixed. But Affleck was universally praised for his debut as the Caped Crusader.

  
No further details were given on the production, but it’s thought that a new Batman could be one of the two as-yet untitled DC movies already given a release date — if so, Batfleck could be back in the cowl on either October 5th, 2018, or November 1st, 2019. Personally, I think Batman will be 2018, with Suicide Squad 2 in 2019. 

Ben Affleck has already co-written a Batman script

Last year, we heard a rumour that Ben Affleck was going to co-write a solo Batman film with legendary DC writer, Geoff Johns. Well, today the Hollywood Reporter has reported that the dynamic duo has completed the first draft and have submitted it to Warner Bros.

THR spoke to Patrick Whitesell (Affleck’s agent) who revealed the following information:

“He’s [Ben Affleck] contracted to do at least Justice League One and Two, so at least three times wearing the cape. There’s a script that he’s written that is a really cool [Batman] idea, so that’s out there as an option.”

It’s no secret that Batman V Superman has received mixed reviews, but Affleck’s Batman has been hailed as “the best Batman we’ve ever seen”. It remains to be seen exactly when Warner Bros. will fit a solo Batman film into their already packed release schedule, but I imagine they’ll find room for it.

Check out Martyn’s vlog about Batman V Superman. It features Henry Cavill and Zack Snyder.

Gotham may be getting a spin-off

So, a strange thing has happened. DC have filled copyright on the name ‘Pennyworth’ as in Alfred Pennyworth, the character played by Sean Pertwee. 

The copyright is for “production of live-action, dramatic comedy television series”.

Plot details have yet to be revealed but two things are happening, either Sean Pertwee is getting a spin-off, or this prequel series is getting a prequel series.