#fun fact this was originally inspired by the trailer for captain america civil war
Explore tagged Tumblr posts
Text
"I don't want to fight you." The first knight said - both their lip and their muscles quivering.
"I don't want to fight you either." Said the second knight - various parts of them were also quivering but not unattractively so.
"But it looks like we have to fight." Said the first knight. "Because of our irreconcilable but equally valid moral outlooks."
"Yes," said the second knight, "it looks that way."
They looked at each other and in that look was sadness, but also defiance and a little bit of excitement.
"You're a really good knight."
"So are you."
"Maybe after all this is over - if we both survive - we could take the armour off and cuddle?"
"I'd like that."
When the two of them fought, the earth shook. And, despite the falling rubble and gasps of the local populace, they each thought that the ground trembled just for them.
#microfiction#writing#queer ass knights#short story#flash fiction#fun fact this was originally inspired by the trailer for captain america civil war
110 notes
·
View notes
Text
GUARDIANS OF THE GALAXY VOL 2. - EASTER EGGS, TRIVIA, AND THINGS YOU MIGHT HAVE MISSED
DISCLAIMER: I haven’t found any of these easter eggs on my own, I did a bit of research and gathered the many easter eggs I found from multiple sites. I know there are definitely more easter eggs that I didn’t include because I either didn’t spot/know about them or didn’t think they were important enough. If you noticed that I missed an easter egg that you would like me to include, please feel free to tell me and I’d gladly add it! I also apologize that this list isn’t as long as my other easter egg posts, it’s just been a hectic few days and I haven’t had much time to do more research. Also please let me know if i made any mistakes.
QUICK FACTS
Matthew McConaughey passed on the role of Ego to star in The Dark Tower.
The first poster for the movie is based on the cover art for The Ramones’s album Rocket to Russia.
The phrase "I am Groot" appears eight times in the end credits, before changing to an actual name and title of someone involved with the film. This symbolizes the eight main heroes of the film: Star Lord, Gamora, Drax, Rocket, Groot, Nebula, Mantis, and Yondu. As the very last credit rolls, David Hasselhoff says "We are ALL Groot."
You could fit about 1,600 baby Groots on a normal movie screen and about 17,000 on a normal IMAX screen.
Groot says "I am Groot" 17 times throughout the entire film.
When shipping out promotional material, such as posters and banners, for Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 (2017), it was given the code name "Level Up" to discourage theft.
The ironic thing about Gamora not enjoying dancing is actress Zoe Saldana actually has a deep background in dancing, with Ballet being her first passion.
The movie is Kurt Russell’s first superhero and Disney movie since Sky High.
HOWARD THE DUCK
Marvel’s Howard the Duck (voiced by Seth Green) makes his second appearance in the MCU in GOTG 2, partying it up with the Ravagers on Contraxia. We last saw him as part of The Collector’s collection in Guardians of the Galaxy 1.
COSMO THE SPACEDOG
We first see Cosmo the spaced as a dog wearing a spacesuit shown in the previous Guardians film as a part of the Collector’s collection, and we see a portrait of him during the end credits of Guardians 2.
CELEBRITY CAMEOS
David Hasselhoff (obvious if you’ve seen the movie) but he also sings on a song in the film’s soundtrack called “Guardians Inferno”.
Miley Cyrus is Mainframe, an artificial intelligence created by Tony Stark, and tasked with guarding and administrating an entire planet in the 31st Century. We see her along with the original Ravagers during one of the post credits scenes.
Sylvester Stallone as Starhawk, a member of the original Ravagers and Guardians (continue reading for more details).
THE RAVAGERS/ORIGINAL GUARDIANS
In one of the post-credits scenes we see Sylvester Stallone’s character Stakar assembling the original Ravagers. In the comics, Stakar is a Marvel anti-hero known as Starhawk and a member of the original Guardians of the Galaxy from the comics, who are from an alternate future in the 31st century. The other members are Martinex (Michael Rosenbaum), Charlie-27 (Ving Rhames), Mainframe (voiced by Miley Cyrus), Krugarr (a CG character), and Aleta (Michelle Yeoh). Yondu was also a member of the original Guardians.
ETERNITY
When Peter Quill is being manipulated under Ego’s spell, he whispers that he can see “eternity”. Besides its literal meaning, Eternity is a character from the Marvel comics who shows up whenever the Infinity Stones are collected.
The concept of all time and reality within the universe is embodied by Eternity, one of a number of beings existing before and beyond all creation.
This shows the greatness and strength of Peter’s cosmic powers as he might have had a glimpse of reality (the figure of Eternity) rather tan just being under Ego’s spell. While some might think this is a throwaway word, in the first Guardians movie we see a temple mural depicting the characters Eternity, Infinity, Entropy, and Death surrounding the six Infinity Stones….
ADAM
During one of the Marvel’s post credits scenes, we see Ayesha with a golden cocoon containing an artificial being she created and with whom she plans to destroy the Guardians, and calls it “Adam”. In the comics, Adam Warlock is a genetically engineered perfect human being with an Infinity Gem in his forehead; Adam was the key to defeating Thanos in the Infinity Gauntlet comic and has strong ties to both the Guardians and the Avengers. But James Gunn confirmed that in the MCU, Adam will not be in Infinity War but he will be a big character in the future alongside the returning Ayesha, so we’ll definitely see them as a super villain duo in Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3. There was also a golden cocoon in the Collector’s collection in the first Guardians movie, and while people suspected at the time that it contained Adam, it didn’t and the first official Adam teaser/easter egg is in this movie.
STAN LEE AND THE WATCHERS
One of the Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2’s post credits sense confirms a major MARVEL fan theory! One of the post credits scenes of the movie shows Stan Lee talking to a group of aliens (known as The Watchers) about all the things he has witnessed on Earth and his time as a FedEx man (his cameo in Captain America: Civil War). Therefore, this credits scene basically confirms that Stan Lee plays the same character in every Marvel movie he’s been in, and that he is sent or tasked by the Watchers to observe the events happening on Earth. Stan Lee is even credited in the movie as “Watchers Informant”. In the comics, The Watchers are an ever-present part of the comic universe spread across the galaxy, observing lifeforms and preserving their knowledge. It’s very possible that we will see them again in the MCU so keep an eye out!
PETER’S SHIRT
For a while in the film, we see Peter wear a shirt with some sort of Asian-language inspired script. The letters on the shirt match those used in the first film’s Kyln Prison, and a Reddit user quickly deciphered the space brand as “GEARS SHIFT.” The other words on the attached molecules on the shirt read “dust, cement, stone, and ash” with the bottom subtitle reading “A TenEyck Galaxy Invention” - Karen Teneyck is a graphic designer in the Art Department Guardians of the Galaxy Vol 2. (and Captain America: The First Avenger).
THOR 3 GLADIATOR PLANET
When Rocket, Groot, Yondu, and Kraglin decide to go to Ego’s planet, they mention that they had to several “jumps” through different pockets of the universe; during one of these jumps we see them interrupt a gladiator match, which is reminiscent of the scene of Thor having to fight The Hulk during the Thor: Ragnarok trailer.
THE GRANDMASTER
We see Jeff Goldblum’s character from Thor: Ragnarok, The Grandmaster, dancing along with the other character’s during the film’s end credits.
NEBULA IN INFINITY WAR
At the end of the movie, Nebula leaves the Guardians on a mission to kill Thanos. We already know for sure that in Infinity War we will see Thanos try to attack Earth (the Avengers), and Nebula’s role in the movie might be of utmost importance as it is most likely that she will be the one to call on the Guardians of the Galaxy to join the Avengers’ fight against Thanos. After all, she was the one who is responsible for Thanos’ undoing in the comics.
GROOT IN INFINITY WAR
Even though we got the adorable Baby Groot in the movie, one of the post credits scenes shows Groot as a teenager, which implies that he will be a full grown adult in Infinity War (just as he was in the first Guardians movie).
Fun fact: James Gunn has confirmed that Baby Groot has no memories of his past life as Groot (he doesn’t have any memories of Guardians 1) :(
JAMES GUNN’S PARENTS
During one of the flashbacks of Ego on Earth with Peter’s mom, we see a confused older couple.. James Gunn’s parents!
EGO THE LIVING PLANET
In the comics, Ego is a living planet. As Rocket, Baby Groot, and Yondu descend onto another side of Ego’s planet, we see that Ego’s face is actually on his planet, making it a living entity, just like in the comics.
TASERFACE’S ORIGINS
In the comics, Taserface is a warrior from the cybernetically enhanced race known as The Stark. The Stark are a race that found Iron Man technology that accidentally crashed on their homeworld and as a result, worship Tony Stark (a.k.a Iron Man) as their god.
YONDU’S LAST ARROW
As the Guardians mourn Yondu death, his cosmic ashes spread out in a stream of rainbow-colored particles in the air. As the fireworks and music occur, the particles condense into an intense pink/red hue in the shape of an arrow.
GROOT AND ROCKET DISCLAIMER
Just as with the first Guardians movie, at the end of the film’s credits, we see a disclaimer saying: “No raccoons or tree creatures were harmed during the making of this feature. The same cannot be said for handlers of said raccoons and tree creatures.”
#Guardians of the Galaxy#marvel#mcu#gotg#guardians#guardians 2#gotg vol 2#guardians of the galaxy vol 2#gotg vol. 2#easter egg
266 notes
·
View notes
Text
Released: April 4, 2014 Running Time: 2 hours 16 minutes
“After the cataclysmic events in New York with his fellow Avengers, Steve Rogers, aka Captain America, lives in the nation’s capital as he tries to adjust to modern times. An attack on a S.H.I.E.L.D. colleague throws Rogers into a web of intrigue that places the whole world at risk. Joining forces with the Black Widow and a new ally, the Falcon, Rogers struggles to expose an ever-widening conspiracy, but he and his team soon come up against an unexpected enemy.”
Marvel Cinematic Universe – Source – Marvel
You can find all of the reviews for the Marvel Cinematic Universe at the link here. At that link, you can also find the dates that the other reviews for the Marvel Cinematic Universe will be posted. My plan is to release one every single day, and because I’ve already reviewed Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 here, and Spider – Man: Homecoming here, they will not be included in the two weeks leading up to Thor Ragnarok.
As such, I will now move onto the actual review of the film, and I hope you enjoy!
Captain America: The Winter Soldier Trailer – Source: Marvel Studios
Cast and Crew
This film was directed by Anthony Russo & Joe Russo, whose most notable works prior to this film was televison shows ‘Arrested Development’ and ‘Community’. Since this movie is widely viewed as one of the best in the MCU from both the audiences the critics, the Russo brothers have been given the keys to the Marvel Cinematic Universe, having followed up this film with ‘Captain America: Civil War’, and the next two Avenger Films, one in 2018, and the other in 2019.
Scarlett Johansson as Natasha Romanoff / Black Widow & Chris Evans as Steve Rogers / Captain America – Source: Marvel Studios
The writing duo of Christopher Markus & Stephen McFeely have gone on to be the wonder boys of the MCU for their screenplays, even after the mess that was Thor: The Dark World, they followed that up with this film whose story was extremely well put together. They wrote the ‘Agent Carter’ television series, that unfortunately only lasted 2 seasons, as they never touched on the founding of S.H.I.E.L.D. They have also written the scripts for ‘Captain America: Civil War’ as well as the upcoming two Avengers films, which I’ve previously mentioned in the ‘Captain America: The First Avenger’ review.
This slideshow requires JavaScript.
The cast featured Chris Evans, Samuel L. Jackson, Scarlett Johansson, Robert Redford, Sebastian Stan, Anthony Mackie, Cobie Smulders, Frank Grillo, Maximiliano Hernández, Emily VanCamp, Hayley Atwell, Toby Jones, Callan Mulvey, Georges St-Pierre, Garry Shandling, Aaron Taylor-Johnson, Elizabeth Olsen, Thomas Kretschmann and Stan Lee.
Review
Robert Redford as Alexander Pierce – Marvel Studios
As all my other MCU movie reviews in the past week, I’ve talked about how the music in these films really exude the tone and style of the character and aids in enhancing the overall experience. Most of the score of Captain America: The Winter Soldier was quick paced, and brutal in it’s punctuation. The composer, Henry Jackman, did a good job at mixing the spy genre music style with the grandiose and heroic nature of superhero films. The score featured less inspiring songs, and more dramatic songs, and it fit the movie, as Cap is learning the new truths of the world, that not everything is black and white, and is now mostly grey.
One of Marvel’s themes throughout their films is the comedic aspect of them, and while this film is hardly a funny one, there are several funny moments that work really well, such as the opening sequence with Cap literally running laps around Wilson, and Romanoff asking Rogers if the kiss they shared was his first one in 70 years (and Rogers said no, it wasn’t, now I’m curious to find out who he’s kissed since getting out of the ice).
Sebastian Stan as James Buchanan Barnes (Bucky) / The Winter Soldier
The fight choreographer for this film was Chris Carnel, and he did an amazing job. The first sequence on the Numerian Star against the French pirates as well as against Batroc the Leaper showed that Rogers had learned a few things since the Avengers, and his fighting style was more brutal than we’ve seen before, and displayed some pretty amazing sequences, as well as Romanoff’s action portions against random pirates.
The multiple fight scenes between Rogers and Barnes was fast, efficient and brutal. It was really tough watching them fight, knowing who the Winter Soldier was, before even watching the movie. One of the nitpicks that I have with the film, is that they decided to a lot of quick cuts for some of the action sequences, and I feel like it would have served the fight choreographer and the film a lot better if they had filmed it in less shots.
This slideshow requires JavaScript.
I was happy that they introduced Agent 13 in this film, however I feel like they could have added a short cameo in the Avengers film, but I understand that making her the neighbour to watch over Rogers is a better ‘spy move’. When I saw this movie, I was really hoping that we would eventually get more of her, as she was really only a prolonged cameo in this film, and I’m happy that we got what we got in ‘Civil War’, if only for the reaction that Barnes and Wilson give him.
They did a really good job at aging up Hayley Atwell, to play a much older Peggy Carter, who is sadly suffering from memory problems, and is the ‘last’ of Steve’s old friends from WWII. I thought that scene was touching and added a bit of heart to the film, and to the character of Steve Rogers. I only wish we would have gotten more from Atwell in the television show, but it wasn’t run properly.
This slideshow requires JavaScript.
Making Natasha Romanoff / Black Widow come back and aid Rogers in a conflict that is extremely morally based was something that would have took some explaining to make work, as she’s a former KGB operative, turned S.H.I.E.L.D agent, and is one of the greatest spies in the world. The fact that Cap learned to trust her over the mutual grief that they shared over Fury’s ���Death’ is quick, but understandable in the film and it works for some reason.
Anthony Mackie as Sam Wilson / Falcon was another brilliant choice of casting for this film. He was Cap’s new sidekick, while being his own hero in his own way. Their shared history of both being from the military is something that gave them a strong bond right off the bat. The use of the flight suit was pretty awesome to see on the big screen, and the fact that they made it a military suit, rather than spandex (from the comics), was a smart idea. He proved his loyalty over and over again throughout the film, and I’m happy that they decided to include his character. His history in the military was briefly mentioned, and it didn’t need more than that for it to work.
This slideshow requires JavaScript.
Maria Hill was awesome in this film. She managed to go infiltrate a van that was sent to pick up Rogers, Romanoff and Wilson, knock out the other guard in that were there, escape and bring them to the very much alive Nick Fury.
Nick Fury’s worldview is very than Cap’s, and that’s not necessarily a bad thing, just that it causes some friction at first between them in this movie. Samuel L. Jackson did a good job at adding a bit more depth to the character, showing that he is human, and can get hurt. He gives up his role as director of S.H.I.E.L.D. to go after the remnants of HYDRA.
This slideshow requires JavaScript.
Seeing Georges St- Pierre in the film as Batroc the Leaper was really fun, and I’m not much of a mixed martial arts fan, sure, I’ll watch the highlights, but I don’t spend money to watch the fights the night of. I’m really happy that they didn’t kill him off in the film, leaving the door open to maybe having him pop up in a future MCU film down the road. I feel like they did a good job at having Brock Rumlow be a somewhat friend to Rogers before it’s revealed that HYDRA was inside of S.H.I.E.L.D all of this time. By having him survive, and having the crossbones on his chest was a hint that he would be in future films, and it didn’t take long, as he appears in Captain America: Civil War, but I’ll talk about that during that review on the November 1, 2017 review for that film.
Inserting Hydra into the the very foundations of S.H.I.E.L.D. was a stroke of genius, and helps in bringing the storyline together, as the comic book storyline of the Winter Soldier was very complex and includes characters that aren’t part of the MCU, or have been sent away. I feel it also helped the story as it gave it the spy thriller aspect, where you don’t know who you can trust, and it’s an internal conflict as well as bringing back Captain America’s original enemy.
Frank Grillo as Brock Rumlow / Crossbones – Source: Marvel Studios
Chris Evans gets to use a bit more of his acting talent as Steve Rogers / Captain America in this film than in prior films, as it’s more of a dramatic take on the character than the last two times we’ve seen him up to this point. I feel like his view on the world is something that people would aspire it to be, but unfortunately that is not what the world became after he sacrificed himself in WWII. It was disheartening to see him interact with Peggy Carter again, while she’s aged, and he hasn’t, and she’s dealing with memory problems.
Sebastian Stan did a magnificent job at showcasing the conflict in the eyes of the Winter Soldier. The scene when he’s about to get his memory wipe, and he’s trying to come to grips with what he knows, and what he thinks he knows was really well portrayed by him. He knows that man, yet he’s never seen him before, it must have been a harrowing experience in not knowing what is real and not, and I was really pleased with his portrayal of the Winter Soldier, and I was extremely happy that they didn’t kill him off, as there is so much that they could do with that character, and they’ve already done some of it, in the follow up to this film; Civil War.
This slideshow requires JavaScript.
The Winter Soldier storyline from the comics in 2005 was the main inspiration for this film, and it’s a great story to pick from. I’ve included some pictures of the comics in this review to display that they did a really great job at adapting portions of that story. They included a lot of the same characters from the comics into the film, introducing Crossbones, Agent 13, Falcon in this film. I feel like I might have preferred having Agent 13 tag along with Rogers throughout the film instead of Black Widow, but because they didn’t introduce her until this film, I understand the reasoning behind that decision.
Bucky’s relationship with Steve is something that I’ve already talked about a bit in my review of their first film, ‘The First Avenger’. It’s different than any interpretation in the comics that I’ve read, and I’m really glad about that. Bucky knew Steve before he became Captain America, he knows that he’s a good person, and he went from being the hero of the duo, the sidekick, and he didn’t grumble or complain, he was happy to have his friend with him, and he saved his life. It’s something that I feel is something that the MCU has done a magnificent job at, and that they really show you that these two characters are brothers, probably even more so than Loki and Thor, because they chose each other, and to see them fight like they did in this movie, is supposed to be heartbreaking, because you don’t want either of them to be hurt, because once they find out / remember, that would destroy them.
This slideshow requires JavaScript.
The final confrontation between the two in this film is a change up from the comics, where The Winter Soldier tries to finish Captain America off, but he dodges at the last second, whereas in the film, he hesitates, and a piece of the ship takes that problem away from him, dropping Cap back into the water. Their fight was brutal, and featured fantastic acting from both actors, and again, great fight choreography. It’s probably my favourite fight between two characters up from the MCU up until this movie.
There was two credit sequences at the end of the movie, with the first one hinting at introducing Quicksilver and Scarlet Witch into the MCU, and setting up the second Avengers film, ‘Age of Ultron’. The post credit scene shows The Winter Soldier going to the Smithsonian, and giving himself a little history lesson on who this Bucky character is, and if he can piece together his life, hinting that he will make a comeback as a fellow hero.
This slideshow requires JavaScript.
In my opinion, Captain America: The Winter Soldier was the best stand alone movie of the Marvel Cinematic Universe since the first Iron Man, and from a critical standpoint, was a better overall film than The Avengers. The flaws in this film are very nitpicky, and I feel like it completely changed the way that Marvel started making their films. This was very much a spy drama film, hidden in a superhero movie. Adapting the Winter Soldier storyline was a stroke of genius, and it really hurt to watch Bucky and Steve fight each other, and knowing their history together, was brutal. The film had the best fight choreography that we have seen from the MCU until this point, and gave the characters adequate screen time, where their usefulness in this film was worth it.
At the end of the day, this movie is something that is hard to top from the Marvel Cinematic Universe, and I really hope that Thor: Ragnarok will be able to reach this score, but it’s tough, and I plan on going in there with no expectations (yeah right), even with everyone saying it’s an amazing film. This movie, in my opinion, deserves the score of 9.5/10, no questions asked.
What did you think of the film? Are you excited for Thor Ragnarok? Let me know in the comments below!
Thanks for reading,
Alex Martens
Captain America: The Winter Soldier Review Released: April 4, 2014 Running Time: 2 hours 16 minutes "After the cataclysmic events in New York with his fellow Avengers, Steve Rogers, aka Captain America, lives in the nation's capital as he tries to adjust to modern times.
0 notes
Text
Most Anticipated Films of 2017
Can you believe that we are already in the second month of 2017? What better time is there to talk about my most anticipated films for this year? I thought I would take a break from the rankings on this one and simply go through the films in the order of their release dates. Let’s get started!
The LEGO Batman Movie
2014′s The LEGO Movie was a surprising hit, and Batman was a big part of that success. As a result, he now gets to star in his own LEGO movie. Is it sad that this has a higher chance of being the better Batman movie than DC’s Batman flick at this point?
Logan
If Oscars could be awarded for trailers alone, Logan would be a front-runner with that Johnny Cash masterpiece. Logan has a very distinctive feel to it that is quite separate from the X-Men film universe, which might turn out to be a really good thing. Let’s be honest: Who is actually able to keep track of that all over the place timeline from the main films anyway? This Last of Us inspired solo film looks like it will do justice to the character of Wolverine and be a fitting sendoff for actor Hugh Jackman.
Beauty and the Beast
Beauty and the Beast was not one of my favorite Disney movies when I was growing up, but this live-action film looks gorgeous. Emma Watson, beautiful as always, is the perfect fit for Belle, and the voice acting for the servants sounds like it is going to be spot-on. The music sounds great too. All signs seem to point to Disney having another hit on its hands.
The Circle
Let’s follow up Beauty and the Beast with another Emma Watson film, The Circle. Based on Dave Eggers’ 2013 novel of the same name, The Circle imagines what the world would be like if a powerful and influential technology company like Google took control and created a surveillance society, leaving no room for privacy in the digital age. The book was written well enough that it was hard to put down, so I hope the film is just as good, if not better.
Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2
The first Guardians of the Galaxy film was an overwhelming success for Marvel. With C-list characters that casual fans had never even heard of, the first Guardians paved the way for other characters like Ant-Man to have their own films. The chemistry between the actors looks even better than before, and the Soul Stone might make an appearance and be the connecting tissue between the Guardians and the Avengers. I doubt this Guardians sequel will buck the trend of Marvel’s less than memorable villains, but it should be a hilarious, entertaining ride with another stellar soundtrack nonetheless.
Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Men Tell No Tales
In the fifth film of the series, Johnny Depp’s Captain Jack Sparrow searches for the trident of Poseidon while Javier Bardem’s Captain Salazar hunts him down. Geoffrey Rush’s Captain Barbossa will also turn up again, and Orlando Bloom’s Will Turner will make his return after being absent from the fourth installment. Who knows? Kiera Knightley’s Elizabeth Swan may also make a surprise appearance. I will be the first to admit that I was not a fan of On Stranger Tides. It was so forgettable that the only details I remember were mermaids were in it and Penelope Cruz was a new addition to the cast. I wish the series would go back to what made it so enjoyable in the first film, but the trailer for Dead Men Tell No Tales indicates that it would prefer to spiral further into mysticism and supernatural ghost crews. To be honest, I am only anticipating this film because of three reasons: (1) I want to see if it turns out to be any better than On Stranger Tides, (2) I miss the character of Captain Jack Sparrow, and (3) I am interested to see how Will Turner is doing in his stint as captain of the Flying Dutchman.
Wonder Woman
DC desperately needs this film to do well. Batman v. Superman: Dawn of Justice and Suicide Squad were both a mess. Wonder Woman gives DC the opportunity to scale things down a bit and focus on one single superhero. With Patty Jenkins at the helm as director, I am optimistic that Wonder Woman can follow in the footsteps of the first Captain America movie and turn out to be a fun blockbuster film with World War I as its setting. Now who else has Wonder Woman’s theme stuck in their head?
Spider-Man: Homecoming
One qualm before we move ahead: the above scene is a ripoff of the train scene in Spider-Man 2. Now that we have gotten that out of the way, it is nice to see Marvel gain control of Spider-Man again. Was I asking for yet another reboot of the classic comic book hero? No. Personally, I liked Andrew Garfield and Emma Stone in the last series. There is no hiding the Amazing Spider-Man movies’ flaws, but they had their tremendously well executed moments too, most memorably this spoiler. However, this new reboot already has some good things going for it. Tom Holland killed it in Captain America: Civil War, and it is going to be great to see Robert Downey, Jr. come in as Tony Stark/ Iron Man as Peter Parker’s mentor. Let’s just hope that Michael Keaton’s Vulture is not Electro-level goofy as a villain.
Dunkirk
Slap Christopher Nolan’s name on a film, and tons of people are going to wait in line to see it. Nolan is the kind of director that can make the audience feel immersed in the world, and Dunkirk looks to be no different. The cinematography should be amazing, and Hans Zimmer should bring an epic score to the film. The fact that filming took place at the same location as the real historical evacuation during World War II only adds to the excitement for this war thriller.
Kingsman: The Golden Circle
Matthew Vaughn′s Kingsman: The Secret Service was one of my favorite films of 2015. The action was thrilling, the humor was hilarious, the soundtrack was amazing, and the acting was excellent but over the top when it needed to be to fit the film’s tone. Did I want a sequel? No, but I won’t be complaining so long as it does not tarnish the first film.
Blade Runner 2049
I did not see the original Blade Runner until my sophomore year of college. I did not come away loving it, but I appreciated it for what it was, especially for its notable moments like Roy Batty’s ��Tears in Rain” monologue. Yet again, I have to ask: Did I want a sequel? No, but Denis Villeneuve, the masterful director of Prisoners, Sicario, and Arrival, has been turning everything he touches into gold lately. Plus, Roger Deakins is handling cinematography responsibilities, Harrison Ford is returning, and Johann Johannsson is teaming up with Villeneuve once again to compose the score.
Thor: Ragnarok
Thor’s films can be utterly dull at some points, but the addition of the Hulk and Doctor Strange should add a much needed kick to Thor’s third solo film.
Justice League
DC has been rushing toward this film, and its track record so far does not leave much room for optimism. Fans can only hope that Zack Snyder can pull it all together and do justice to the comic book characters we grew up loving. I am most interested to see how he will introduce franchise newbies Flash, Aquaman, and Cyborg.
Star Wars: Episode VIII — The Last Jedi
You didn’t think I would finish this list without mentioning Star Wars, did you? Disney and Lucasfilm recently revealed the title for Episode VIII: The Last Jedi. That sent off a wave of speculation. Why is the font red instead of the traditional yellow? Who is the last Jedi? Is it Luke? Will Luke die leaving Rey to be the last Jedi? Jedi can be singular or plural, so does that mean they will both survive? After the somewhat disappointing Rogue One, I am just ready to return to the main episodic storyline where we last left our beloved characters. Both the Resistance and the First Order will be scrambling, with Hosnian Prime decimated and Starkiller Base destroyed. Poe and Finn will probably go off on a mission together while Luke trains Rey, paralleling Snoke’s training of Kylo Ren. Hopefully, we will learn more about the mysterious Snoke and get to see some of the other Knights of Ren. I also hope we will get to see Luke in action as a central character of the film after we only got to see him for the last minute of The Force Awakens, and I have to wonder how they will handle Leia after the saddening, unexpected passing of Carrie Fisher. Tears will undoubtedly be shed when she first appears in the film. In the end, I trust that Disney and Lucasfilm will handle the character with respect for Fisher’s legacy. These 300-odd days will fly by before we know it, and we will all be back in that galaxy far, far away once again.
0 notes
Text
FEATURE: Crunchyroll Favorites 2016, Part Three: Everything Else!
Superhero friendships ended, the Death Star plans were stolen, we experienced more reboots than you could possibly imagine (although really, that's every year), and Emily cooked a lot of food. After looking at our favorite anime and manga in Part One, and our favorite games in Part Two, we're gonna close up Crunchyroll Favorites 2016 with our favorite EVERYTHING ELSE--movies, books, comics, and more! Let's get started!
NATE MING (@NateMing)
Voltron: Legendary Defender- I think it's safe to say that Voltron--the US edit of Beast King GoLion--was what got me into anime in the first place, so I was pretty skeptical of this new take on the story by the creators of The Legend of Korra. Thankfully, I had absolutely nothing to worry about, as this is a really fun reboot that not only keeps the high-energy feel of the original, but also pays homage to both Voltron and GoLion. I can't wait for the next season (also, Shiro's totally gonna die).
Ip Man 3- The first Ip Man was a cool quasi-historical beat-em-up with some great setpieces, but the second was only okay despite bringing in the legendary Sammo Hung. We're back to the good stuff with the third go-around--the Donnie Yen vs. Mike Tyson headliner is pretty awesome, but the real star is a rival Wing Chun instructor, played by Max Zhang.
Star Trek Beyond- I've always liked Star Trek more than Star Wars, and while Rogue One was great, the real surprise for me was Star Trek Beyond--co-written by Simon Pegg--going back to the series' optimistic roots and giving every character a chance to shine. Justin Lin already has experience delivering with ensemble actioners, and the Enterprise herself has never looked cooler. Just goes to show you can't always judge a movie by its trailer.
Shin Godzilla- This isn't the alpha predator from the 2014 US reboot--the King of the Monsters and reluctant, almost accidental protector of humanity. Hideaki Anno's Godzilla is a ruthless force of nature, death personified that leaves a trail of destruction and levels the heart of Tokyo in mere moments when pushed. Bureaucracy is the real enemy here, as the film constantly switches from meeting to meeting to planning session and back to another meeting to discuss the results of that planning session--sure, Godzilla's blowing stuff up, but nobody wants to take responsibility and act. I hope Anno gets another shot at the King, because this was fantastic.
The VVitch- Low-key, creeping horror can be very hit or miss, but The VVitch wins by never letting you settle down or feel safe. Spot-on period presentation brings us into an American colonial family banished to the frontier for being too religious for settlement life, and how their fanaticism is just as destructive as the dark forces that are literally at their doorstep.
Baskin- On the other hand, Baskin just goes all-out in its ferocity and surreal visuals, where five overly-macho cops investigate a cult and all hell breaks loose. Baskin is horror purity, almost like watching David Lynch join forces with Gareth Huw Evans--hold on tight, this one is absolutely not for the faint of heart.
Batman vol. 2 (The New 52)- Western comics rarely end, or at least they very rarely have good stopping points, which is why I was so satisfied with Scott Snyder and Greg Capullo's New 52 run on Batman. From introducing new villains to really focusing on Batman's relationships with Alfred and Jim Gordon, this 50-issue run came to a close this year with an awesome, gigantic kaiju battle in the middle of Gotham. What's best, you barely need any background character knowledge to get started--just pick up Court of Owls and read all the way through to Superheavy. It's so damn good.
Monstress- Gorgeous, mysterious, and part of an intricate and sometimes terrifying world, Monstress has me hooked. Marjorie Liu and Sana Takeda have crafted something that I try and show off every chance I get, something I want everyone to be a part of--a fantasy-horror story of revenge and intrigue set in an Asian-mythology-inspired world is just too good to pass up, especially when it looks this good.
by 多無
Fanart Friday comes to an end- After five years, I decided to close down my signature Crunchyroll column so I could focus on other projects. Fanart Friday - The Final Edition came on September 23, 2016, the exact fifth birthday of Fanart Friday, and it was great to say goodbye to the audience that was there every Friday for a half a decade. What's coming up next? Shaw City Strikers, a martial arts comic (and homage to shonen manga) I'm working on with some friends, and my new column BETTER NATE THAN NEVER. Stay tuned!
That one tweet- It's nice to see this tweet still making the rounds. The initial explosion was a sight to behold--it just goes to show that 1) being in the right place at the right time is a real thing and 2) you know you've made good content when people brazenly steal it and claim it as their own. Also, 3) you know you did a good thing when it makes actual Nazis mad.
PETER FOBIAN (@PeterFobian)
Crunchyroll x Funimation- My personal favorite anime couple of 2016. The partnership between Crunchyroll and Funimation may just be the biggest news for western anime fans since Crunchyroll itself appeared. It’s one of those “everyone wins” situations that’s almost unbelievable. More free streaming anime, subbed and dubbed, for everyone.
Westworld- I’m a die-hard Anthony Hopkins fan, love westerns, and love love love psychological thrillers with existential implications, so basically Westworld was made specifically for me and me alone. I’m extremely concerned with the direction the story is taking with the finale, but everything this season has been tremendous. Their use of a hybrid maintenance process/psychological evaluation to drive story is inspired.
Monstress- I have a love/hate relationship with American comics, and often take refuge in independent works. Monstress has me more excited about a Western comic than I have been since I started reading Powers. The world, designs, and style alone are so gorgeous I feel like I bought an art book, and the story holds a lot of promise with a supernatural revenge mystery with a predominantly female cast and divine implications.
Netflix Horror Serials: Stranger Things, Penny Dreadful, Hemlock Grove, Black Mirror- I’m not exactly a horror junky, but I’ve definitely spent a lot of time with the genre and couldn’t be happier about Netflix Originals diving in. After years of sitcoms, procedurals, and conspiracy shows dominating the environment it’s great to see some new blood (usually a lot of it) making its way out of cinema and into more available media. Not all of them are revolutionary works of art but they’re bringing in new ideas.
Captain America: Civil War- Like almost everyone, I’m a fan of the Marvel movies and feel like the Avengers movies turned over a new leaf with Civil War. Where previously they were the campier, less-directed collaborations of the more interesting personal narratives of the heroes solo adventures, Civil War was just right, reigning in the theatrics of Age of Ultron with a much tighter, character-driven story. I’m eager to see what the Russo brothers do with the MCU.
KARA DENNISON (@RubyCosmos)
Working in the Crunchyroll Newsroom!- I've worked as a subtitle editor/QCer for Crunchyroll's anime side for a while now, but this year I made the switch to the newsroom and it's some of the most fun I've had in ages. The people I'm working with are awesome (and a couple are old friends) and our chats throughout the day are both informative and hilarious. And hey, I can put on my resume that I've written about Tezuka's mouse porn.
(Re)Generation Who- This was my second year working with this awesome Doctor Who convention, and I was so pleased to be back with them again in Baltimore. I got to meet Peter Davison, Anneke Wills, Michael Troughton, and so many others who made the weekend amazing (not to mention re-meeting Colin Baker, Nicola Bryant, and even more). Hanging out with them -- whether during an interview or at the bar -- is a delight and a privilege, and I can't wait to see what year 3 will be like!
SPACE.- Curiosity's 360 view of Mars posted as an interactive Facebook video. Watching the Pegasus XL rocket launch live. And the fact that the rest of the world is enthusiastic about it. I'm a big space geek and I always love finding more big space geeks. The fact that the majority of the people I encounter are just as ready to freak out about how awesome space is as I am is... well, AWESOME.
EVAN MINTO (@VamptVo)
Chapo Trap House- In the US, politics defined 2016, for obvious reasons. And for many like me on the left side of the spectrum, the political comedy podcast Chapo Trap House has served as an unexpected but welcome guide through the past year. But don’t let me get TOO sincere on you; the hosts have got a penchant for the ironic and absurd, as you might expect from a podcast named after a drug cartel that started off with analysis of pundits’ sexual pathologies and satirical praise for the Turkish deep state. Then again, between the brilliant comedy, they’ve inspired a lot of listeners like myself to get more involved in local politics, a feat that’s likely as baffling to them as it is to the political establishment they love to hate.
Zootopia- Who would have thought a talking animal Disney movie would steal the hearts of jaded adults like me in 2016? On charm alone, Zootopia is one of my favorite American animated movies of recent years, with its carefully observed and animated animal behavior. The diverse cast of animals allows the animators to portray a similarly diverse range of exaggerated personalities — the tiny, timid rabbit, the brawny, surly bison—and the breezy script puts them all to brilliant comedic effect. But what really impressed me was Zootopia’s social commentary, which uses a mess of stereotypes of both predators and prey to shine a surprisingly stark light on real-world issues of race relations and criminal justice. It’s classic Disney meets contemporary Disney!
Captain America: Civil War- I’ve got a bad case of Marvel fatigue (you’ll notice Doctor Strange didn’t make my list), but sometimes the Marvel Cinematic Universe still surprises me. Directors Anthony and Joe Russo, back after the previous high point of the film series, The Winter Soldier, deliver a similarly gray portrait of the Avengers, with the character flaws of the famed superheroes laid bare. It’s not as political as I would have liked, but Civil War is a surprisingly personal film with a deliberately unsatisfying, morally ambiguous finale. And yes, though he feels like a bit of an afterthought, the movie also has the greatest on-screen Spider-Man yet. Homecoming couldn’t come any sooner.
Rogue One: A Star Wars Story- We’re just one year into the new annual schedule of Star Wars movies, so I can still muster some excitement about Disney’s reimagining of one of my all-time favorite franchises. Rogue One stumbles a bit at the beginning, introducing too many characters and planets without justifying their presence, but once the team comes together and heads off to steal the Death Star plans, the movie really kicks into gear. Seeing a classic Return of the Jedi-style space battle is enough to awaken some strong nostalgia even from me, but it’s the thematic resonance with the later films that really makes it all work — the forgotten art of the force, the Rebels’ desperation in the face of the Empire, and of course, the sheer terror of facing Darth Vader.
SAM WOLFE (@_Samtaro)
Rogue One: A Star Wars Story- Despite the release of The Force Awakens last year, Disney has already released a new Star Wars movie this year, and it’s a breed apart from what we’re traditionally used to. Rogue One took risks, and while some die-hard fans may have left the theater conflicted, the movie succeeded in exploring a side of the Star Wars universe never before seen on the big screen. This is the first time in history that two Star Wars movies have been released theatrically in two years consecutively, and although some fear that the brand might suffer from overexposure, it certainly hasn’t gotten stale yet.
Chris Niosi- A smaller story, but one that deserves recognition. Artist Chris Niosi, better known as “Kirbopher”, landed the role of Arataka Reigen in the English dub of Mob Psycho 100 this year. Niosi is known for numerous projects, including animation work on Skullgirls, lending his voice to several shows, and creating the web series TOME, a love letter to anime. This role, in my opinion, is significant because it cements Chris as an anime fan who made his dream of being an anime voice actor. Way to go, Chris.
A Personal Note- Look, 2016 was a rough year for a lot of people for a lot of reasons. Without trying to sound too preachy, as we move into 2017, remember to be kind to one another. It’s very easy, and dare I say it, trendy, to be cynical and apathetic when the chips are down. Take time to recognize what you have to be happy about, and how you can make a positive difference in peoples’ lives around you. If anime has taught us anything, it’s that when somebody knocks you down, you stand right back up and look ‘em in the eyes. I hope everybody has a good 2017!
NICK CREAMER (@B0bduh)
Italy- I took a family trip to Italy this past spring, and visions of Venice’s nestled alleyways and Tuscany’s rolling hills have been dancing through my head ever since. The rural European aesthetic of shows like Kino’s Journey and Haibane Renmei has always been one of my favorite settings, and actually walking through cities that realized those majestic worlds felt like wandering through a dream. It was an inspiring trip, and I hope to one day return.
Westworld- I haven’t really been making enough time for the big western TV dramas, but I was able to catch this year’s Westworld, and I’m glad I did. Though I found the show’s focus on mysteries at the expense of all else a little draining, the fundamental world it established was a fascinating place, and the show built up to some remarkable dramatic high points. It’s the kind of messy but ambitious narrative I always tend to root for, and the fact that it was populated by icons like Anthony Hopkins and Ed Harris certainly didn’t hurt, either.
The VVitch- I’d actually almost forgotten The VVitch came out this year, but it was likely the most gripping new film I’ve seen. In lieu of jump scares or gross-out violence, The VVitch constructed a breathing world that promised danger around every turn, where the fear and distrust of its human characters was every bit as terrifying as its supernatural predators. There’s something fundamentally ominous about the New England countryside - a sense of old secrets and old grudges, a place where humans are not meant to tread. By emphasizing the alien danger of the natural world and tethering it to a precise and claustrophobic moment in history, The VVitch stands as one of the most powerful horror films in years.
EMILY BUSHMAN (@yumpenguinsnack)
Personal Favorite Anime Food of 2016: Mushroom and Cheese Gyoza from Food Wars- This dish never made an anime appearance in this season of Food Wars! but, having read the manga, I really wanted to try this dish out. Soma teaches the gyoza folding method to a class of kids he's teaching, and he lets them fill the gyoza with whatever they want. One kid picked mushrooms and cheese, which at first seemed weird but in hindsight obviously worked out well. Chop the cheese and mushrooms finely and toss with some sauteed onion. Mix with salt and pepper. And simply wrap in gyoza wrappers. It's simple, it's fun to make with friends or on your own, and holy cow, is it amazing! Best of all, the ingredients are easily interchangeable with your own personal favorites, so it's a great recipe to experiment with. I told my housemates that they could eat all the extras I'd made...and sadly had nothing to show after an hour in the kitchen. I'd eaten them all.
Fan-favorite Anime Food of 2016: Katsu Pirohzki from Yuri!! On ICE- This was a big surprise for me. First of all, it's not the easiest thing to make at all. It requires a lot of focus, lots of parts working together, and an ability to handle sticky dough, in excess. Second, it wasn't actually all that amazing tasting. It's an extremely hearty dish, like a lot of Russian foods, and left me feeling over-full after eating one. I also found that I had to dip it in a sauce to heighten the flavor pay-off. For a recipe designer, the ideal is to have a perfectly seasoned, delicious dish, which isn't exactly what happened. But the story behind the dish makes it all worth it, in my opinion. Who would have guessed that this show would be so popular? I love the character dynamics, and the plot was just charming. Best of all, it inspired lots of people to try making this dish, to recreate the magic for themselves. I got more hits on this recipe than anything else this year on Crunchyroll, which is why I designated it the fan-favorite dish of the year.
Magical Roommate Favorite Anime Food of 2016: Sukiyaki from Princess Jellyfish- My roommate, Sarah, is my savior in times of crisis. When I have too much food, she always helps me eat it without a single complaint. So, I felt it was only right to give her a chance to choose her favorite recipe of the year. Princess Jellyfish is by no means a 2016 original, but I came across the recipe for this dish late 2016, and made it for my friends. We all love this show, and had all watched it together when it aired a few years ago. So, I had a hunch they'd enjoy a recipe from the anime, and I was right. It was an instant hit! My darling roommate, who I depend on to eat basically everything I make, elected this as her favorite dish of the year. According to her: "I like it cuz it was just as good as the one we had in Japan and I liked how interactive it was with not only the food but with our friends. I loved the veggies just as much as the meat and the sauce was to die for. It was super fun to eat with everyone and compete for the food with our friends."
A Gathering of Shadows by V.E. Schwab- A brilliant sequel to a fantastic first book. The story focuses on a guy named Kell, one of the few remaining members of his kind of magic wielders, and his struggle to protect his adopted family from harm while also living free of their over-bearing protection. Along the way he makes friends with a cut throat thief who keeps him alive, mostly to suit her own desires, a prince who's too good at heart for his own good, and a dashingly dangerous ship's captain who's in the business for the keeping and collection of the deepest and darkest of secrets. I was startled to find that this book not only added onto the world building of the first novel, but did so in a way that skillfully integrated the events of the first book into the second. A heart-wrenching and gut-clasping read the entire way through. The first book in the series is called A Darker Shade of Magic. Not 100% necessary to enjoy the sequel, but it would definitely help.
Morning Star by Pierce Brown- A great cap to a fantastic space opera-y series. This story follows the life of one man, Darrow, and his quest to overthrow a government that takes care of the best of society at the expense of a those considered the lowest. Racism at its worst. What else is new in a sci-fi novel? It's a familiar plot carried out with the elegance and grace of a particularly dangerous chess game. This book takes no prisoners, cuts your throat, and leaves you to die. And while you're busy trying to return from the dead, it carries on carving a savage path of friends loved and lost, lives risked and gambled away, dirty, secret games played in the dark, and an ending that eviscerates you, heart and soul. The first in the series is called Red Rising. I recommend you start there, unless you like working your way backwards.
----------
And that's a wrap for our three-part series! Be sure to check out Part One and Part Two if you missed them! If you're still in the mood for past CR Favorites, check out the previous years' features here:
Crunchyroll Favorites 2015 Part One Part Two Part Three
Crunchyroll Favorites 2014 Part One Part Two Part Three
Crunchyroll Favorites 2013 Part One Part Two Part Three
Crunchyroll Favorites 2012 Part One Part Two Part Three
Crunchyroll News' Best of 2011 Part One Part Two
What were your favorite "everything elses" of 2016? Remember, this is a FAVORITES list, not a BEST OF list, so there's no wrong answers--sound off in the comments and share your favorites with us!
-------
Nate Ming is the Features and Reviews Editor for Crunchyroll News, creator of the long-running Fanart Friday column, and the Customer Support Lead for Crunchyroll. You can follow him on Twitter at @NateMing.
0 notes