David Dastmalchian will take on the role of Abra Kadabra in The Flash later this season, " a criminal from a distant future whose advanced technological powers seem like magic." Technology is magic always makes me groan. Hopefully they go with the cheesy stage magician look. Pretty good actor, though. He was in Ant-Man, The Dark Knight, and a couple of episodes of Gotham, as well as some other less capeshow related that I can't be bothered to look up. I think Prisoners? The following episode will involve the Mirror Master, which doesn't sound that interesting but it'll be directed by Tom Cavanagh.
Kind of speaking of, during Supergirl they showed a commercial for the upcoming musical crossover for Kara and Barry, and it looks like it'll be based on the '40s lounge scene in some way. Might be the best episode of both series.
Actually, something about the episode description is making me wary.
"Duet" Episode Description wrote:
Barry (Grant Gustin) and team are surprised when Mon- El (guest star Chris Wood) and Hank Henshaw (guest star David Harewood) arrive on their Earth carrying a comatose Supergirl (guest star Melissa Benoist) who was whammied by the Music Meister (guest star Darren Criss). Unable to wake her up, they turn to Team Flash to save her. However, the Music Meister surprises The Flash and puts him in a similar coma, one that Team Flash can’t cure. Kara and Barry wake up without their powers in an alternate reality where life is like a musical and the only way to escape is by following the script, complete with singing and dancing, to the end.
It sounds like Music Meister's powers don't affect reality but are more like the Framework in Agents of SHIELD. Which admittedly not exactly an important detail since the focus is the singing and dancing, but still. Just nitpicking. While on that, what a bockclock to only show Lois Lane and Hercules at the end of the episode.
____________________________
George Carlin wrote:
I think it’s the duty of the comedian to find out where the line is drawn and cross it deliberately.
While on that, what a bockclock to only show Lois Lane and Hercules at the end of the episode.
I'm guessing that Mon El is some sort of royalty, and Lane and Sorbo are the parents trying to find their runaway son?.
Edit: Apparently it's already known that they are playing his parents. I guess I didn't hear fully what the two were saying about Mon El at the end there, and just assumed it was so. Unless they didn't actually say it, and it was just known from plot announcements prior to the episode.
Unless they didn't actually say it, and it was just known from plot announcements prior to the episode.
I don't remember their saying anything like that, but at that point I was pretty much checking out from the episode and getting ready for APB. I kind of just assumed that they were either parents or retainers or the like.
Simon Kinberg wrote:
We are working hard on New Mutants, Gambit with Channing Tatum, Deadpool 2 and the new X-Force movie where Deadpool is alongside Cable and other main characters. Deadpool 2 is going into production this year. Then X-Force which is a combination of Deadpool, and Cable –they’re like the Black ops of the X-Men. They’re much darker and have an R-rated decibel. There are other X-Men characters coming into X-Force at different times in the comic, but it’s separate from X-Men.
There is a larger architecture to tell these stories in. I talk to the studio all the time about this and there is a plan for how these movies can connect and be a part of a larger narrative. It’s something that’s fun, exciting and it will be interesting to see how we marry the different tones that we’ve been generating in these standalone movies of the X-Men universe. But we go into making the best movie we can. It’s not just about a Colossus or Deadpool cameo. Connecting all of these movies will happen when it organically makes sense. These movies aren’t simply being built as stepping stones to a larger story. Each one is wholly enclosed and a movie worth seeing.
I'm sold.
I was joking about how Powerless was a continuation of the 60s Batman, and now Adam West is going to guest star. Well played. Also somewhat casting news related, Coby Bell (Burn Notice) will play Jace Turner, "a weathered man who quietly wrestles with the moral ambiguities of a job that regularly requires cold-blooded, calculating efficiency on a day-to-day basis" on the Still Untitled After All These Casting Announcements X-Men Family Drama.
Brie Larson and Captain Marvel is set to start shooting January 8, 2018.
Embargo for Iron Fist has been lifted for at least the first six episodes, and the first reviews are available online from various places. There's a lot of "painful dialogue, poor pacing, bland cinematography" complaints, most of which leveled by the same people that complain about a white character being white. So while critics are generally hard to take serious in the first place, these might be even more difficult to take serious.
Entertainment Weekly cover showcasing Thor, Hela, and Valkyrie. Nice to see they cut the Odinson's hair. I'm a little peeved that they cut it, but at the same time I'm not a fan of dudes with long hair.
Edited, Mar 8th 2017 1:37pm by lolgaxe
____________________________
George Carlin wrote:
I think it’s the duty of the comedian to find out where the line is drawn and cross it deliberately.
Legion: I think I'm going to be looking for these Octopus images now. I kind of think that the brain scan that the doctor was studying looked like an octopus to me. But I'm probably biased now cause I'm looking for them. It had a head, and then at least three curling "tentacles" one off to the right, one to the left.
David/Yellow Eyes destroying D3 was nice. I especially liked the part where he is going down the stairs, and peaks his head down the stairs doing that "finger wave". And when he snaps his fingers and immolates the group in the hallway. Final scene back in the mental hospital made me want to go back to the first episode and make sure that they didn't actually have those actors in the circle to begin with. (I'm about 95% sure it's not, but that scene made me want to check.
Doctor Carey/Kerry is getting the short end of the stick in this relationship. Any damage to her is completely transferred to him when they return to one being, and she is 100% the next time she comes out.
I also half expected during the scene where Lenny is making out with the partially comatose David, while Syd watched, for Lenny to morph into Yellow Eyes.
Lenny, Benny, King, Yellow Eyes, World's Angriest Boy in the World (I actually realized now that the redundant title is the actual title) are all the same thing. Syd has acknowledged the existence of the female Lenny as David's friend in the hospital (actually going to go back this weekend and check that, but I think it was in a scene out in the forest, maybe between Syd and Kerry?) But if it's true, I think that's pretty much the biggest hint to it being in his mind since the start.
I think I'm going to be looking for these Octopus images now.
So'm I, and I blame you for it. I considered the scan as well, but I kind of feel that's more power of suggestion than a breadcrumb.
TirithRR wrote:
Lenny, Benny, King, Yellow Eyes, World's Angriest Boy in the World are all the same thing.
Maybe Lenny/Benny and Yellow Eyes, but WABitW feels like something else. King seems a little different too, but there's been little about him to really figure that out. I think that Lenny is the only one that is aware of what is actually happening, which is why she has pretty much free reign and can do whatever she wants, like transform into the different characters this episode and freely travel between, for lack of a better description, "scenes". I'm assuming she's trying to become the dominate personality.
The big thing, for me anyway, was how Doctor Carey was talking about a powerful parasite in David's head that rewrites his memory to make him forget the parasite even exists, but so far David has memories of all the various characters. He's talking about the Demon with the Yellow Eyes in the first episode, the World's Angriest Boy in the World comes up as a book character, King, Lenny. Kind of leads me to believe that there's something else we haven't been introduced to yet. Or maybe it's Benny? David doesn't seem to remember him. Maybe one is impersonating the other and hiding in plain sight?
____________________________
George Carlin wrote:
I think it’s the duty of the comedian to find out where the line is drawn and cross it deliberately.
More Legion spoilers I think King was what Yellow Eyes disguised himself as for Child-David. And Lenny/Benny is his Adult-David disguise. When Lenny meets David's Sister, doesn't she refer to herself as Benny/Lenny/King? And for the WABitW bit, when King is in the bathroom in the White-Room, as the door is closed, and you see the Boy through the mirror. Since at that time, Lenny/Benny/YE/King were all switching imagery, I just kind of guessed that WABitW was part of it.
WABitW being the Yellow Eyes manifestation of Child-David. He did something bad as a kid as King took over. Much like Yellow Eyes/Lenny taking over at the D3 slaughter. Lenny/Benny and King being the memory replacement versions of this entity or personality that he hides himself as. Yellow Eyes / WABitW being the full release of that entity or personality.
Edit:
Oh, and the terrified David singing the happy song and playing the banjo. That was quite creepy.
Legion: The freaking lightbulb finally went off (don't know how I forgot this). The yellow eye thing (and eveyone else maybe?) is the Shadow King. In the comic series, the Shadow King is some nasty telepath guy (Farouk something?) who delights in entering people's minds and playing them like puppets. Enter a youngish Charles Xavier, who enters some bar where the King is, sits down in front of him, they have a mental battle on the plane and Xavier kills him with his mind. Gets up all calm and leaves. Turns out that the Shadow King had become so adept at entering other people's minds that he actually slipped away during the battle and entered David's mind (presumably he picked up his existence from Xavier, given that David in the comics is the son of Xavier and Gabrielle Haller (the woman he freed from a catatonic state from what had been done to her by the *****, during which he discovers she knows where a cache of **** gold is, which lead to young Charles and Eric to go find the gold, and which ends with Eric, AKA magneto, taking the gold and embarking on his own plans. You know... if you want the full exposition).
In the comic, the Shadow King basically messes with David's mind, but also has to keep him alive (since he's kinda in there, right). David's powers allow him to do massive stuff in the real world (kill people, distort reality, etc). But he sometimes he absorbs the minds of those he kills (which manifest inside his mind). Not sure how much of that they're going to implement into the series, but the whole bit about a complete second mind inside his mind, that's been there since childhood, and makes him forget that it's there, totally looks like the Shadow King. The other personalities may be manifestations of him, but since David does seem aware of them, they may be other people he's absorbed along the way. Maybe. Who knows.
In any case, it just got a lot more interesting to me.
Oh, and the terrified David singing the happy song and playing the banjo.
Yeah, but come on. That tune was easily identifiable. It was The Rainbow Connection from several of the Muppets movies.
gbaji wrote:
Shadow King
I've been trying to avoid basing my theories on the comic book simply because it takes some of the mystery out of the whole "is it in his head" deal. Call it hypocritical, but I both hate when these shows and movies stray from the source material and also don't like knowing what's going to happen and enjoy when they stray. But I do agree, the whole speech by Doctor Carey pretty much describes Amahl Farouk pretty accurately.
Ryan Reynolds confirmed with what looks like MSPaint that Zazie Beetz will play Domino in Deadpool 2. While I'm not really a fan of the show, she (and everyone, really) are tremendous in Atlanta so as far as acting she's certainly capable. What's going to be fun is whether or not they paint her all white, since that's a pretty definitive trait of her mutation. It would be weird not to, considering the lengths the movie goes to in making Deadpool and Colossus so comic accurate.
A handful of new actors have been cast for Preacher: Season 2. No announcement of what their roles will be, though. Noah Taylor (Game of Thrones), Pip Torrens (Star Wars: The Force Awakens), and Julie Ann Emery (Better Call Saul) have been added to the cast as series regulars, while Malcolm Barrett (War on Everyone), Ronald Guttman (Homeland) and Justin Prentice (13 Reasons Why) in recurring roles. If I had to venture a guess, I'd say Pip was going to be Herr Starr. Because he's bald.
James Gunn gave some details about some characters' personal story arcs for Guardians of the Galaxy: Vol 2. It's not particularly spoilery, but it's new details that one might feel better about discovering in the movie itself so as usual open at your own risk.
Star-Lord wrote:
That's the first thing people say when they see the movie. The first movie was about Peter Quill, and the second movie has every single character have a complete arc, a complete story. They each learn something. It's a story about Peter Quill, with his father, but also his abusive step-father, Yondu.
Gamora wrote:
It's about Nebula's relationship with her sister, Gamora, and how that's not all that we saw in the first movie. It's a lot deeper and more complicated than that. We thought in the first movie that Gamora was the good guy, and Nebula's the bad guy, but that really isn't the whole story.
Rocket Raccoon wrote:
I think it's a story about this poor little Rocket, who is in search of a father and in search of a somebody to give a ****, who cannot find it - and maybe does a little bit with Michael Rooker's character.
Drax wrote:
It's about Dave Bautista and Mantis together, who become on the one hand close friends, and then on the other hand she's a surrogate daughter for the daughter that was murdered.
Baby Groot wrote:
And of course Baby Groot's relationship with all of them, they are the worst parents in the entire world! Who else brings a two-year-old son into a giant battle with a giant monster? Terrible parents! And maybe Gamora and Rocket are better than the other two. The other two are terrible. All of those things come together in a way that seems pretty magical.
And finally, wow is Iron Fist taking a beating from the critics. One star, 14%.
Edited, Mar 10th 2017 11:14am by lolgaxe
____________________________
George Carlin wrote:
I think it’s the duty of the comedian to find out where the line is drawn and cross it deliberately.
I found out today that David's actor is playing Beast in the new Beauty and the Beast movie.
I've not scene any of his movies, pretty sure Legion is the first time I've seen him on screen. And not that I have any interest in this remake, but if he was recognizable at all behind that Beast costume/makeup/CG, I don't think I could watch the movie without continually hearing the interrogator's voice... "Daaaviiiid."
Edit:
Ok, thinking about the Interrogator made me remember something: His death scene at the pool. Everyone is burned to crispy skeletons. But where did that power come from? The only people in the room were Female-Karey(Carey? How do they spell it?), Memory-Man, and Syd. Maybe Melanie, but so far her possible powers, if any, haven't been explained. Unless hers are actually Fire-based... and is a polar opposite of Oliver's seemingly Ice-theme?
But anyway, it was implied a few times that Syd was the one who burned the D3 people to a crisp. But her having those powers is never shown. And the only other time that burning powers are shown is when Lenny-David assaults the D3 group who has his sister. Flamboyantly strutting around, burning people with claps of his hands, reducing them to ash with snaps of his fingers.
So, I'm thinking this is another link between all these possible characters in his mind. Syd almost has to be, at the very least. Even the name alone is enough to make you question her reality. And if Syd is, then many of the people interacting with her and David are suspect. Either actually inside David's mind, or David is manipulating reality so much without even realizing it that everything in his mind is being projected for others to experience as well. And in the end, would that be any different? If individual persons existed in a reality shaped by the mind of a single person, would that be any different than if separate personalities existed within the mind of a single person?
I'm also thinking of a scenario where Syd is a manifestation of David's mother. (Which, gets kind of creepy with some Oedipus stuff there, definitely after this last episode, but still could work). Early on there were some flashing memory and overlay imagery that seemed to leave that trail. If King really did take control of Child-David, and WABitW emerged, and he killed his Mother, and possibly even Sister, and now Syd and Amy(? sister's name, can't remember 100% sure there) are manifestations from his mind of those persons.
Can't think how any octopus could/would fit into this all. Probably an imagined link, or possibly a Red Herring. I just can't think of anything that would fit. Still going to have to keep a lookout in the episodes for more octopus images.
There really are just too many routes for this stuff to take.
Samurai Jack: Weird seeing him as a gunslinger. That scene at the river was creepy, as were the Akulolis though I felt a little bad for the runt of the litter, as it were. Sammy Davis Jr the Robotic Lounge Assassin was a neat guy, though.
More Legion: I've been going through the few X-Books that I haven't quite completed, because like I've mentioned I have a ridiculously moronic obsessive compulsion to read books to completion regardless of quality and comic books are the worst for that kind of thing since they're interconnected through like hundreds of other titles. Anyway, and I'll double (or triple, I guess) spoiler this in case no one wants to potentially get spoiled but I've been going through X-Factor and Legion showed up, reminding me that originally there were three personalities: Jack Wayne the telekinetic, Jemail the telepath, and Cyndi the pyrokinetic. So far the three powers that David has shown to have. With what Tirith said about how we don't know who actually set the people at the pool on fire, combined with the name Cyndi, and that pretty much puts far more credence to this being all in David's head. Maybe "Syd"'s didn't so much trade places with David as she took control of the body. Like she was steering. It doesn't quite explain how she took over Milky Eye, but maybe that's just because she's a "main personality" and they're capable of doing things like that? Also doesn't really explain why we saw Yellow Eyes while David was whimsically nuking people. It's kind of a weak theory trying to use two sources which isn't the best of systems. But I now think they're purposefully changing the spelling of her name to throw us off course. Syd, Cydni. In other words:
TirithRR wrote:
There really are just too many routes for this stuff to take.
Finally they've given the show a name. The X-Men Family Drama is now known as "X-Men: Gifted", though probably without the X-Men prefix. Easier to keep track of, though. Like Wolverine. Also, last month Blair Redford was cast as mystery character "Sam." Well, it has been revealed that was just code, and that he'll actually be Thunderbird. No clue if it'll be John Proudstar or his brother James, but most likely not Neal Shaara since Neal is an actual Indian and not a Native American like "Sam" was described as. So we've got Polaris, Thunderbird and Sentinels confirmed, and possibly Sunspot.
Christine Adams joins Cress Williams as Jefferson Pierce's ex-wife Lynn on CW's Black Lightning. She was Agent Weaver during the first couple of seasons of Agents of SHIELD.
Finn Jones responded to the negative reviews over Iron Fist, and like an idiot took the "made for fans" approach. Sure, some movies are made for critics. Those are the ones that are being pushed for Oscars and Emmys and such, but even they're made so the audience can enjoy them. All movies are "for fans," especially movies and shows like in the MCU and DCEU. While I am a little annoyed that several of the negative reviews revolve around Finn's skin color, I'm always much more annoyed by the production's responses to negative reviews. So far I've cleared my calendar for Netflix shows so I could binge them over the weekend, but I might not with Iron Fist. I'll watch it all, certainly. Just probably over the course of two or three weeks. Also according to Mr Jones that Shou Lao won't be showing up, but Steel Serpent might. Kind of disappointing, considering just how important Shou Lao is to the story.
Isabelle Cornish suited up as Crystal on Inhumans, complete with black hair stripe.
New Wonder Woman trailer. Rumor has it that there will be an R Rated Director's Cut, which basically means if true that there's no reason to see it in the theater. Good trailer, though. Not spoilery like the usual movie trailers.
Along with that, Marvel felt the need to get into the Kid's Choice Awards and released a minute clip from Guardians of the Galaxy: Vol 2 to compete. I liked it better than the last trailer but I'm extremely juvenile and find poop jokes hilarious.
Speaking of trailers, there's a commercial for The Belko Experiment, which had John C. McGinley and Micheal Rooker walking by, which it immediately caught my attention. Doesn't hurt it's a James Gunn flick. Kind of a mixed bag, that one. You have Guardians of the Galaxy, but he also has Scooby Doo on his resume. Though I'll give him the benefit of the doubt, he also did Slither and the Lollipop Chainsaw game.
Edited, Mar 13th 2017 11:57am by lolgaxe
____________________________
George Carlin wrote:
I think it’s the duty of the comedian to find out where the line is drawn and cross it deliberately.
Some leaked footage of The Defenders, a scene filmed in NYC of Luke Cage, Jessica Jones, Iron Fist and Colleen Wing rushing to find aid for an injured Misty Knight. Maybe this is how Misty loses her arm? I'm guessing the green screen is for some kind of damage. Smoke, fire, pile of dead ninjas.
Speaking of Defenders, Finn Jones is now saying that the reason critics don't like Iron Fist is because of El Presidente 45.
Finn Jones wrote:
I think the world has changed a lot since we were filming that television show. I’m playing a white American billionaire superhero, at a time when the white American billionaire archetype is public enemy number one, especially in the US. We filmed the show way before 45’s election, and I think it’s very interesting to see how that perception, now that 45’s in power, how it makes it very difficult to root for someone coming from white privilege, when that archetype is public enemy number one. Danny is a fish out of water, and you don’t really understand where he’s coming from. But I think there’s also a level of intrigue. People need to see the full series–’Iron Fist’ doesn’t end until the last episode of ‘Defenders.’ He really goes on a journey of self-discovery, and grows into the role. It’s paced out; it’s a long journey.
Now I kind of don't even want to see it.
Director Patty Jenkins revealed that Ann Wolfe will play Artemis (not to be confused with the Green Arrow character of the same name) in Wonder Woman. She's a kick ass champion boxer. And hey, if Gina Carano (MMA champ, Angel Dust in Deadpool) and David Bautista (MMA, WWE, Drax in Guardians of the Galaxy) can do it I can believe Ann can as well. Oh, and Dwayne Johnson, John Cena, Terry Bollea, Roderick George Toombs ...
Edited, Mar 14th 2017 1:41pm by lolgaxe
____________________________
George Carlin wrote:
I think it’s the duty of the comedian to find out where the line is drawn and cross it deliberately.
I've been following some of the reviews on Iron Fist, and Finn's whining aside, it looks like most of the criticism rests on some combination of "why didn't they make him Asian?" and "slow paced". And honestly, I found all of the Marvel Netflix shows to be pretty slow paced anyway, so I'm not sure if that's a huge deal. I'll watch the show and see for myself. I doubt I'll have issues with falling asleep and having to rewatch the last 2/3rds of an episode any more often than I had to do when watching Luke Cage (seriously, fell asleep sooooo many times watching that series). But you never know!
As to the first issue, are people actually arguing that it would have been less problematic to apply a racial stereotype instead (all skilled martial artists musts be Asian)? I get that the whole "white guy learns martial arts and Asian culture (and is actually good at it!)" is a tired trope today, and thus project an assumed racial connotation on such stories, but back when the comic was first introduced, it wasn't. The idea of a white guy learning super secret Asian whatzit was new and was a way to bring such things to an American audience. And I think the primary point that is missed here is that if Rand isn't a white American (or at least American), then there's not much reason for him to go to New York and thus not much reason to have the character make sense in the setting they're in. Having the American kid who randomly gets lost in a plane crash and find himself at the super secret monastery of whatzit also just randomly happen to be Asian American would be pandering IMO and just as (if not more) offensive.
So yeah, I actually do agree that it was a case where Marvel was going to be criticized no matter what they did. Doesn't mean that the show wont suck, but it wont (or shouldn't) for that reason.
I think Legion may have made my interest in CW shows dwindle.
I found very little in Flash tonight all that interesting. I sat with my Switch playing Breath of the Wild during the episode, and half paid attention to it.
Biggest events, they find out Savitar is just a guy wearing armor. And Barry fucks his relationship with Iris (And not in the good way). I found the speed force portion to be a big boring. Not-Dad sacrifices himself so Barry and Wally can leave. Apparently Speed-Ghosts can phase through floors and stuff, but hiding in an elevator and the doors closing just in time is just fine.
As to the first issue, are people actually arguing that it would have been less problematic to apply a racial stereotype instead (all skilled martial artists musts be Asian)?
They've been making that argument since Daredevil Season 1, when the "rumor started" that Madame Gao was connected to K'un L'un in some way started. (A) She kicked Matt's butt like it was nothing and (B) the symbol on her drug packets are the Steel Serpent's emblem and (4) There is absolutely no way she's not the Crane Mother) and fans got excited for the possibility of an Iron Fist show. They also made a similar argument that Doctor Strange should be Asian, because most of the origin story is in Tibet.
TirithRR wrote:
Apparently Speed-Ghosts can phase through floors and stuff, but hiding in an elevator and the doors closing just in time is just fine.
Victor Garber / Dr. Stein has a pretty lovely singing voice in Legends of Tomorrow, though "Day-O" is an ass of a choice since it's been earwormed for the last twelve freakin' hours. Mick singing along was the icing, though. Brilliant. Coincidence that next week is the musical episodes?
Samuel L Jackson wrote:
You didn’t see me in (Captain America) Civil War. I’m still out there trying to figure out what The Skull is going to ...
and then he's cut off. Pure speculation, of course. Hugo Weaving has insisted he has no interest in reprising the role, after all. Could be Mr Jackson just throwing things out into the wild for us feral fanboys to drool over. Would be kind of neat if Thanos used the Mind Stone on the Avengers and each member had to fight their worst enemy, with Red Skull cameoing for Cap. Loki and Thor, Hulk and Banner, Widow and a solo movie contract.
There's murmurs in the world of Warner Brothers that they're working on rebooting The Matrix, with Zak Penn (Ready Player One) in talks to work the script. And the rumor within that rumor is that Michael B Jordon is being eyed for a role. Also on the slab to be remade, The Fly, with JD Dillard will direct. Kind of a hard sell, that one. Who would they get that can match Vincent Price (1958's version) or Jeff Goldblum (1986)?
Some more news from the world of Batman, the posterchild of white American billionaire superheroes.
Ben Affleck's Facebook wrote:
I have completed treatment for alcohol addiction; something I've dealt with in the past and will continue to confront. I want to live life to the fullest and be the best father I can be. I want my kids to know there is no shame in getting help when you need it, and to be a source of strength for anyone out there who needs help but is afraid to take the first step. I'm lucky to have the love of my family and friends, including my co-parent, Jen, who has supported me and cared for our kids as I've done the work I set out to do. This was the first of many steps being taken towards a positive recovery.
A few months ago he stepped down from directing the solo Batman feature film because he felt that both acting and directing in the movie required focus, passion and his very best performance and he just couldn't. Good on him. He knew he had a problem, he took steps to work on that problem and stepped back from responsibilities he felt would be compromised. Now if only they had a version of Alcoholics Anonymous for his tendencies to pick crappy scripts. * Which, speaking of scripts, there's a new rumor that The Batman is going through (another?) rewrite. If true (again?), it's most likely to better fit for the new director, Matt Reeve.
Speaking of Batman v Superman, Henry Cavill recently posted on his Instagram.
Henry Cavill wrote:
Since I came off the ol knee injury I've been steadily increasing my training work load. I know it's irritating when people say this but it genuinely does feel so good to be back in it. I'm not destroying myself every day. Just working towards improvement by pushing hard enough to elicit change. Nothing funny to post here, it's deadly serious because I've got to make sure that I'm bigger than Green Lantern....Wait whaaat?
Great, more speculation to drive myself mad with.
Suicide Squad 2 has a writer, Adam Cozad of the recent Legend of Tarzan. Maybe he'll remember to add something resembling a plot in the script.
New trailer for Neil Gaiman's American Gods. Bloody.
Most important news of the day: Legion has been renewed for a second season already.
Edited, Mar 15th 2017 6:30pm by lolgaxe
____________________________
George Carlin wrote:
I think it’s the duty of the comedian to find out where the line is drawn and cross it deliberately.
Legion: The two Careys, playing ping pong without the ball, but still hearing the ping pong ball sound. Lenny/Yellow Eyes makes reference to David's father, and knowing him. His father trying to hide David from him. The role reversal from the first episode between David and Syd. "The Eye" got all Rapey with female-Carey there.
The lyrics to the song during the ending credits... at first I thought I recognized it, then I listened to the lyrics a few times. Looks like it's David Bowie's "Oh You Pretty Things." And I really think it uses those lyrics as more hints to it all being in David's head. Not just this current hospital incarnation, but everyone from the start.
I think there is going to be a connection between all the people yelling at him in the opening montage that they've used a few times (presumably in his head) and what ever happened with WABitW as a child. I got a couple ideas but don't feel like expanding on them yet.
I did not spot any octopus images this time. But instead, I think I've connected them to the nautical theme of Oliver, his suit, and when female-Carey mentions 20,000 leagues. I think it would be fitting then that the possible Octopus image from episode 5 was displayed in the mental image of his brain activity.
Oh, and Eyes in the Wall are creepy. Plaza in fishnet leggings was pretty good though.
Only two episodes left. But it did get renewed for another season. I'm glad this is an FX show. They seem to do a good job with their shows. Nice budgets, and won't cancel a show half way through it's first season and force the writers to half *** an ending.
Edit: Oh, and I keep seeing trailers for this "Belko Experiment" while watching Legion. I can't tell if it's trying to be a serious movie or not? Definitely not watching it in theaters, but would probably check it out on a movie channel if it aired.
Legion: But instead, I think I've connected them to the nautical theme of Oliver, his suit, and when female-Carey mentions 20,000 leagues.
I think there's two competing themes. First you have the forest. The hospital has a foresty theme, the hideout after they escape is in a forest, David's early memories are of him running through forests and fields. And then you have the nautical themes, like at the lighthouse with Dr Poole (and his name), 20,000 Leagues, when he was captured by the Milky Eye's group the pool had a nautical theme, and Oliver and his deep sea suit. Or I'm just overanalyzing trying to make connections with this crazy sith.
There was even more weird things in this episode. Like at the beginning when the Careys are playing ping pong. One second there wasn't a ball, and the next it was there, and it was gone again. And then when David went into Syd's room his feet were missing. And the frosted glass between rooms? That means for whatever reason someone was doing handstands and spreading their legs behind Syd's head when she first went to bed, and now I have to rewatch the first episode to see what they were doing behind David. I remember they were doing something right before the bed levitates and crashes, because I remember thinking how weird it was. The music was a nice touch though. It was playing normal, but when people started questioning reality the music started becoming distorted.
Apparently there is a promo for he next episode, and it has a pretty substantial spoiler type name drop.
Belko Experiment looks like it's going to be a slightly less serious Purge type movie. I mean, it has Dr Cox.
There's a new Esquire interview with Chris Evans, and while it doesn't provide a quote from the actor, it does go on to imply that Captain America is out after the second Avengers: Infinity War movie. Not a new rumor, as for a while there's been talk about Evans exiting acting all together and start directing. There's also no reason to believe Marvel couldn't convince him to extend his six picture deal. But if true, we'll most likely get Sebastian as BuckyCap to take over.
Esquire wrote:
Settling in on the couch, he groans. Evans explains that he’s hurting all over because he just started his workout routine the day before to get in shape for the next two Captain America films. The movies will be shot back to back beginning in April. After that, no more red- white-and-blue costume for the thirty-five-year-old. He will have fulfilled his contract.
James Gunn wrote:
Ego is a living planet who is able to manifest himself in different ways he's been alone for millions of years and he's learned how to control the molecules around him in such a way as to create avatars of themselves, such as Kurt Russell. I think Ego was a very lonely character out there by himself and went off in search of love and perhaps found it in Quill's mother.
Edited, Mar 16th 2017 10:53am by lolgaxe
____________________________
George Carlin wrote:
I think it’s the duty of the comedian to find out where the line is drawn and cross it deliberately.
David's feet not being visible is a direct scene replacement from the first episode. When Syd walks in, her feet are not visible as the door opens/closes, but she is standing there over him as the camera pans up.
The ping pong ball appearing and disappearing may be related to the ball being the only thing left after Syd-David's power release on the residents in the first episode.
Episode 1 also had the frosted glass with silhouettes doing things behind them. But they also showed that same action during the empty pool, fake building, interrogation of David. They had two people purposefully set up outside this frosted glass of the interrogation room, apparently "acting" to make it look like something seemingly normal was going on outside, presumably to hide what was really going on outside. This similarity may be hinting at these rooms and the hospital, both times, being fake. The Interrogation HQ also had a strange theater stage setup that they walked by where normal looking people were sitting on normal looking living room furniture watching what appeared to be a normal TV. (Not to be confused with the "Command Center" which had the old man, later trapped in the floor in episode 5, and the caged dog under the blanket, watching the interrogation on a monitor).
Much of the imagery used existed in the first episode. Frosted glass, silhouettes, the ping pong ball, etc.
I did like the interactions between the two Careys in the hospital. When explaining their relationship to Syd, Female-Carey says "He makes me laugh, I keep him safe." I always thought it was weird cause nothing about that relationship up to that point had confirmed that "He makes me laugh" part. But then as they are walking he starts clowning around, doing the "never-ending handkerchief" routine. The second half though. Seems like she is the one in danger, and male-Carey is now going to use Oliver to try to save everyone.
I think Oliver is a key figure. Maybe a main personality. One that knows the most about it all.
Yeah. I'm kinda approaching this in two directions.
1. It's all in his head. The role swaps, repeating themes and actions, etc, all point to that. I'm still not sure how satisfying this would be from a storytelling pov, but it does "work", and makes it much easier to explain everything (cause it doesn't really need an explanation, it just has to be strange and weird). For this to work though, there would have to be multiple layers of awareness going on inside his own head. It's easy enough to accept each of the characters as part of his own shattered mind trying to work things out with perhaps the shadow king characters being a force trying to prevent this for some reason. But that doesn't fully explain why there seem to be at least three completely distinct "realities" going on, and not all of them seem related to each other (two versions of the same hospital, with things muddled up, the various memories of his childhood and life, and the "outside" involving the rogue mutants. Sure, you can just explain this away as "it's in his head", and even "the shadow king is messing with him", but again, I'd like more of a story direction to move in.
2. Some of it's in his head, but some of it is real. He was really in a hospital, but some of the characters he saw and interacted with were inside his head. He's really possessed by the shadow king who is trying to keep him in a confused mental state for some reason (to fully take over?). There really does exist a Department 3, and rogue mutants who fight against them, and he really was rescued by them. But he continues to have hallucinations and slips into his own mind and experiences things there that aren't real. I actually think that this current hospital is entirely in his mind. He went there instinctively to protect himself and Syd from the bullets, and pulled everyone else in the room into his mind with him (like the character did in the comic book). Oliver is himself real, but trapped on the astral plane, but this allows him to interact with David when he's there (like right now). He's trying to help free the people currently trapped in David's head (or wake them up to what's happening enough to try to free themselves).
If it's number 1, then nothing really matters, since nothing is really "real". The bullets aren't real. He's not really in any danger (except mentally). And the plot can cheerfully move in any direction it wants and have stuff happen "just because". Again though, I'm not sure how satisfying this will be, nor how long before I lose interest in that. So I'm hoping it's number 2. I find the story of someone who has a hard time telling reality from fantasy trying to function in the real world far more interesting. Add in an external mind intentionally messing with him and fighting him for control of his very real and very powerful mutant abilities and it's even moreso.
Based on some of the final dialog it looks like it's heading in that direction. The shadow king is going to try to take direct control to save David's life, and I suspect that David and the other characters now trapped in his mind will have to work both to save his and Syd's lives while preventing said takeover (and David maybe mentally "dying", whatever that may mean).
Oh. Speaking of the ping pong. I didn't actually notice the ball disappearing, but did anyone else notice that the paddles were square? Or at least one of them was (and now I can't remember which one was holding that one, but I'm pretty sure it was male-carrey, which maybe makes sense).
I do have to say, grousing about "it's all in his mind" aside, I do really love the detail they put into the scenes. It's a show I'll definitely have to go back and watch all the way through a second time just to see all the little details that I missed the first time around.
That's the most frustrating thing about Legion. Every new episode you end up having to go back and watch older episodes as well.
Aquaman has been pushed back in the schedule again, this time from 05October2018 to 21December2018. Which means it'll be competing directly with the animated Spider-Man movie. Most probably a good idea, as Jason Momoa will probably have a better chance against a cartoon Miles Morales than another Disney live action movie, The Jungle Book with Christian Bale and Beezlebub Chuckecheese.
According to the Exhibitor Relations Twitter account, Sony has penciled in the Venom movie for release on 05October2018. Maybe that's why Aquaman moved? Doubt it.
Henry Cavill joins Tom Cruise in Mission Impossible 6, which considering the height difference I guess means the next mission is in the Land of Giants. And according to James Gunn Sylvester Stallone and Michael Rosenbaum are going to show up in Guardians of the Galaxy: Vol 2 as key Marvel characters. Rosenbaum was probably the best live action Lex Luthor, and Stallone has been rumored to be seen on the set of the movie for forever now. If I had to guess, I'd say one of 'em as Richard Ryder, or a real Nova corpsman of some sort, not the Galaga reject spaceshippy guys from the first movie. We've got two Elders of the Universe (Collector and Gamemaster) so I would be tickled if they made Stallone another one: Tryco Slatterus, the Champion.
Iron Fist is officially out in the wild, and ready for binging. Also, Into the Badlands returns this Sunday after The Walking Dead, for those of mes that like Wire-fu shows. "Forum Talk" says it's not as bad as critics say it is, but "forum talk" says that about everything cape related. Also, Marvel went ahead and released the soundtrack along with the show, so that's out in the ether as well.
While I was digging through various webpages for this nonsense, I saw an article titled "Why Star Wars Is Looking To Get Away From Legacy Characters" and my immediate reaction was "Because they're old and dying."
Edited, Mar 17th 2017 3:22pm by lolgaxe
____________________________
George Carlin wrote:
I think it’s the duty of the comedian to find out where the line is drawn and cross it deliberately.
My DVR box has decided that I don't really want to watch Powerless. I could have sworn that it was in the "Future Recordings" list, but for the past two weeks nothing actually shows up the day after. Doesn't even show up in the "DVR History" as some sort of generic "Not Recorded Due to User Settings" BS. It's just like it never existed.
Adult Swim abandoned the older Samurai Jack series. Shifted their line up around. They didn't think that one through very well.
As a side note, apparently there was a small "fappening 2.0" this week. Including some Laurel Lance images, if one was so inclined to partake in that type of internet media.
Samurai Jack episode 2. Really liked the bits with Jack's inner self. And his struggle against what he thought were just machines. And his reaction when he realized they were human, as he slices the throat of one, and it bleeds to death.
But, Aku... I'm not sure. I get a feeling the reason he was portrayed like he was, was to show a contrast between Jack and Aku. Both of them going crazy for almost the same reason, and how it manifests. But while 50 years is a long time for a human, I can't imagine 50 years being all that much for a nearly immortal, almost all powerful, demonic being. Maybe it's more that Jack has been alive for 50 years tormenting him, but 50 years should feel like a blink of an eye to Aku. So I get the contrast, but hope they don't leave him as this comedic character going mental, it just doesn't fit with the rest of it so far.
So I'm getting what the critics meant when they said Iron Fist had pacing problems. The second episode alone feels like it's somehow going backwards it's so slow. The whole hospital scene just drags. It's a martial arts character and there's barely any martial arts. And the way they handle flashbacks, with a flicker effect sure isn't doing any favors for me. Finn does a pretty good job as Danny Rand, but the script doesn't really help and the Hobo Zach Galifianakis hair and beard just makes it worse. Spends more time fighting with corporate law than kung fu. When there's action it's pretty good (Especially with Jessica Henwick), but there just isn't much of it, and even less use of the Iron Fist, and no Kirby Krackle at all. The biggest problem is there really isn't an antagonist. Jessica Jones had the Purple Dressed Man Kilgrave, Cage had Cottonmouth, and Daredevil had both Kingpin and Punisher. Iron Fist just doesn't have anyone. A couple of smarmy jerks at best so far, but noone to really root against. The Meachums and everything involved with their storyline have been just so painfully dull. Ward's story starts to pick up about the fifth or sixth episode. And the music is so boring. It just doesn't help the show in the least. Just finished with the sixth episode, and so far it's the highlight. Dog Brother karaoke assassination at the start of the episode alone was worth seeing for me. That, and Bride of the Nine Spiders was a little too easily identifiable but still got a squeal out of me. Now we just need Fat Cobra. The fight with the twin Russians was pretty weak, though. But so far there just isn't enough over the top comic book action you'd expect from Iron Fist. As it stands Into the Badlands is a better Iron Fist than Netflix. Which, speaking of: Is that Nick freakin' Frost? Now I want him to play Fat Cobra. Overall I'd say it's not a bad show, but it certainly is disappointing considering the bar set by the other Netflix shows and the greater MCU.
I don't know who said that you couldn't tell the difference, but I sure as hell could tell that didn't sound like Mako at all. Aku just seems ... completely out of place for the show now. But wow at least the music is hauntingly amazing. I wonder/hope they release the soundtrack soon. Pretty spectacular roaming fight scene and ending.
"Sandwhale and Me", or as my wife called it "What the **** did you put in the hot chocolate?"
TirithRR wrote:
My DVR box has decided that I don't really want to watch Powerless.
My opinion notwithstanding, I don't know what to say about your DVR and the week before but there wasn't a new episode on the 16th due to basketball.
Warner Bros is confirmed to have a large panel at WonderCon, which leads people to believe they'll be showing some new footage, most likely the first look at Justice League. And some unfortunate rumor type speculation from both JK Simmons and Joe Manganiello. With the rumored rewrites and delays Joe is unsure if he'll even be in The Batman, while JK Simmons isn't sure if he'll have a place beyond one movie as Commissioner Gordon.
Some leaked footage from Korea of one of Black Panther's Dora Milaje, or one of T'Challa's royal guard.
Paul Wernick and Rhett Reese have said that "there are definitely some more obscure characters that people know or that real diehards know that will be in there just by virtue of we need a new villain, and we need some new good guys to compliment" in Deadpool 2. Personally, I'm hoping for T-Ray as the main badnik.
Every time I think there are dumb arguments about these movies I end up getting kneecapped. I had spent the last two years believing the people that insisted Doctor Strange should be black because a colorist painted him as a slightly darker Vincent Price as the dumbest of the dumb, but a trap door opened beneath me this weekend. Apparently there is outrage, outrage over a recent Wonder Woman trailer because, get this, she didn't have any armpit hair. This after she was made an ambassador to the UN and then had her diplomatic status revoked when people said her boobs were too big and she was an "unrealistic standard of beauty." Apparently being made of clay in the image of Aphrodite is a job killer on the ol' resume.
Edited, Mar 20th 2017 2:32pm by lolgaxe
____________________________
George Carlin wrote:
I think it’s the duty of the comedian to find out where the line is drawn and cross it deliberately.
I don't know who said that you couldn't tell the difference, but I sure as **** could tell that didn't sound like Mako at all. Aku just seems ... completely out of place for the show now. But wow at least the music is hauntingly amazing. I wonder/hope they release the soundtrack soon. Pretty spectacular roaming fight scene and ending.
If it's the same person who replaced Mako when he died during Avatar (I haven't looked), then it's probably I who mentioned it. His work as Iroh was a lot closer to Mako than his work as Aku seems to be. You could tell with Iroh (he went heavy on the accent when he took over). But it was not shockingly different.
At the end of the episode though, how did Jack make the walls explode by tapping them with his "tuning fork" dagger? Did I miss him planting small explosives? Like that belt of grenades he used as a distraction while fleeing those "Daughters of Aku".
I do like the gun toting Jack a lot more than I thought I would. It seems to work since he has been stuck in this time for 50 years, and would adapt to it.
If it's the same person who replaced Mako when he died during Avatar (I haven't looked), then it's probably I who mentioned it.
I think you mentioned something about it, but I was thinking Genndy Tartakovsky who said the guy they got for Aku "does a pretty good imitation" of Mako, which I guess is true enough. I was wrong about him saying we wouldn't be able to tell the difference (at least according to what I posted a few pages back, but I could have been paraphrasing and am not interested enough to look up more than that). Either way, I am nitpicking.
TirithRR wrote:
how did Jack make the walls explode by tapping them with his "tuning fork" dagger? Did I miss him planting small explosives?
It was the dagger's "special ability" that Robo Sammy Davis Jr used in the last episode. It's frequency made things like Jack's weapons, armor, and hiding spaces spontaneously explode.
Not sure how I forgot Mr. Beep-bop-diddly-bop Robot.
Supergirl: No surprise, cross over starts at last 1 minute of the episode. This Music Meister character just hypnotizes people with his flashy eyes. Not a single lyric sung. Not sure I recognize the actor. Just that it's not NPH. Guess we'll see how it goes.
So does another Kara love interest show up to fill the gap while she and Mon El take a drama filled break? Or maybe she goes running to the arms of Lena... give the other side a try for a few episodes.
