'Split' First Official Trailer from M. Night Shyamalan

M. Night Shyamalan has returned and, dare I say it, he seems to be heading on the right track! After many misses at the box office (After Earth, The Happening, The Last Air Bender), Shyamalan seemed like he just went back to basics with last year's The Visit. To be honest, I was not expecting anything great from that film because of his more recent films, which is sad because Signs is one of my favorite movies. Not to mention other films like The Sixth Sense and Unbreakable. So, to see him become a joke among the casual movie goer is a shame. Luckily, I think he's found a groove and Split is the return of classic Shyamalan.

Split stars James McAvoy as Kevin, a man with 23 personalities who kidnaps three teenage girls, including Casey (Anya Taylor-Joy). This trailer is chilling, to say the least. It has a sense of total unpredictability and manages to elevate the level of tension as the trailer progresses. I also thought the music set the tone perfectly as it seemed to be cycling through multiple personalities as well. Beginning with an innocent sounding rhythm, followed by a more ominous tone as if it was slowly counting down from ten, and then those moments of a swift personality change that would coincide with am erratic sound. The music alone should be enough to sell an audience on what type of film this will be: uncomfortable, tense, and possibly terrifying.

Also, I cannot praise James McAvoy enough after watching this trailer. This isn't the kind of role I would expect from him, but after watching half of the footage, it was a no-brainer. It looked like he was so committed to this role because he manages to transform himself into these other personalities. To be honest, there's only one other actor I can think of that would fit this role and that's Daniel Radcliffe, but I'm so glad to see McAvoy playing this character. As for Anya Taylor-Joy, she is a rising star in Hollywood. I wasn't a huge fan of The Witch but I thought she was the stand out in that film by far, and I'm loving what I'm seeing from her in Morgan. Very interested to see how she plays off of McAvoy in this film.

Overall, I'm very excited for this film. I'm a fan of these actors and the plot is something that fits so well into this genre. However, I am going to try and go into this film with low expectations because we all know how good the trailer was for The Last Airbender. The only other thing that has me a little worried is the release date. January has a tendency of having disappointing films, but maybe this is a bright spot. I'm hoping Shyamalan has a great film in store for us with fantastic performances.

Split is slated for release on January 20, 2017.

'Justice League' Official Comic-Con Trailer

DC is making a HUGE splash today at San Diego Comic-Con as they debuted the first trailer for Wonder Woman, and now the first official teaser for Justice League. I'm not going to waste time talking about the response that Batman v. Superman: Dawn of Justice received, because its all been said. However, I suggest watching the extended cut because until I saw it, I was doubtful on whether or not I thought Snyder should be directing this film. After seeing the extended cut, and this teaser trailer, I think he definitely deserves another shot.



This teaser trailer absolutely nailed it because it did what is was designed to do: tease. We didn't need to see any of these characters in action, nor did we need 2 minutes and 38 seconds of story points. Ben Affleck saying, "I believe that an enemy is coming," is all we needed to hear, followed by the recruitment of the Justice League. As an audience, we want to be surprised in the theater and we want your best scenes and moments to be left for that experience. My only complaint with the trailer was the use of the rock guitar riff, but I'm nitpicking at this point.



As far as the actors go, I thought Jason Momoa and Ezra Miller knocked it out of the park in the trailer. Jason Momoa is no stranger to playing the role of a character with an intimidating presence, and extraordinary power. For this portrayal of Aquaman, and from what I saw in this teaser, he was a great pick for the role. Now, as for Ezra Miller, while I would've preferred Grant Gustin to continue playing the Flash in the films, Miller grew on me. He exhibited that wit and humor perfectly in his encounter with Bruce Wayne, and I trust that the special effects surrounding him in the film are going to be spectacular. I still want to see more from Ray Fisher as Cyborg, although the look of the character is awesome.



Justice League is directed by Zack Snyder and is slated for release on November 17, 2017.

WONDER WOMAN Comic-Con Trailer

The first trailer for Wonder Woman is finally here! Gal Gadot made her first appearance as the Amazonian warrior in Batman v. Superman: Dawn of Justice and was terrific in the film, making her first solo film one of the most anticipated superhero movies of 2017. Luckily for us, the trailer is not an exclusive for SDCC attendees. We can watch and dissect this trailer until the next one, and until its eventual release in the summer of 2017.



This trailer was absolutely fantastic. I mean, I don't know what else there is to say. For it being nearly three minutes long, they didn't give us a plot, nor did they spoil any cool action sequences. The color of this film is also much richer and saturated than previous DC films, giving it a much more lively tone. I'm also liking Gal Gadot and Chris Pine's chemistry in this film quite a bit, albeit its a very small sample. Robin Wright looked pretty badass, as well, so I'm hoping she gets a scene or two to show off her skills. But, overall, this film has me extremely excited for the future DC properties. I'm hoping this trailer is a little taste of what we can expect next year, and that's all I really need. We will inevitably get an official trailer with more story, but I hope they don't fall into the BVS trap of releasing your best scenes in the trailers.



Wonder Woman is directed by Patty Jenkins and is slated for release on June 2, 2017.

'Star Trek: Beyond' Review

It has been three years since Star Trek: Into Darkness, a film that is still a touchy subject for hardcore fans of the property. However, J.J. Abrams succeeded in reinvigorating the franchise back in 2009, but it will be the first time in which Abrams is not directing the film. Fast and Furious 6 director, Justin Lin, is in charge of Star Trek: Beyond, which was already getting some heat for the Fast and Furious style action sequences in the trailers. Granted, the previous two films were not without their grandiose action sequences or special effects, but the fear was that Lin would utilize these aspects of his previous films too much. Despite these worries, writer and star of the film, Simon Pegg did say that the trailers did not represent the film as a whole, as well as Lin saying that this film is a throwback to the original series. Well, let's find out, shall we?

When a surprise attack demolishes the Enterprise, led by Krall (Idris Elba), an alien creature who is in search of an ancient artifact that is on board the ship, the crew is stranded on the planet below and must band together to escape. We're also introduced to Jaylah (Sofia Boutella), a delightful addition to the current ensemble, who tries to help the crew escape the planet and defeat Krall. One of the strengths of this film are the character moments between Kirk, Bones, and Spock. We learn that being the captain of the Enterprise has taken a toll on Kirk and he begins to reflect on why he enlisted in Starfleet. Spock, also facing an internal struggle, ponders leaving the crew of the Enterprise. Bones, on the other hand, is not undergoing any of these self-examinations. He is the character that, throughout the film, acts as the familiar voice for both Kirk and Spock. The character development in this film was the strongest element.

I did, however, have problems with the film. One of the main things that I noticed was the direction of this film. It is apparent that J.J. Abrams was not helming this movie. In the previous films, there was emotional build-up, investment in the story, and there was a sense of urgency for the protagonists and antagonists. Also, the beginning of the film did not feel like Star Trek to me at all. We're in a world with countless alien species, yet we have these non-humanoid looking creatures speaking English? Its the same problem I had with some of the aliens in The Phantom Menace. Also, while we were supposed to emotional about Kirk and Spock's internal struggles, while I thought that the character development was the best part of the film, I did not feel any emotional investment in that storyline. That brings me back to the direction of the film. Had J.J. Abrams directed this film, I think this film would've packed a better emotional punch, which he succeeded in doing with the previous two films. Lin, I think, was trying too hard with these characters. I think it speaks volumes when your favorite moment of a Star Trek film is when a Beastie Boys song is utilized. As for the villain, Krall did nothing for me. While many thought Nero was forgettable, and many didn't like the Khan reveal, I thought they were much better villains for the story that each film was telling. Nero was responsible for the death of Kirk's father, and Khan was responsible for the death of Captain Pike, who acted as a father figure for Jim. What I am trying to say is, while the subject matter wanted this to be the most mature of the films, I felt it missed the point.

Overall, I thought the movie was fine. It could've been about 10-15 minutes shorter, seeing as I was glancing down at my watch a few times during the film, which should not happen. If you're a fan of these films, I will still tell you to go see the movie. Pine, Quinto, Urban and the rest of the cast still turn in great performances, and Sofia Boutella is a wonderful addition. There were funny moments peppered throughout the film, although they seemed to be reaching a few times. It's a good addition to the films, and it definitely has its fans. So, I encourage you to see it. All film is subjective, so you may completely disagree with my assessment of this movie.

Finally, it would be remiss if I did not mention Anton Yelchin. With his tragic and untimely death, Yelchin once again is fantastic in this film. Although, it does hurt whenever you see him in the film, knowing this is one of the last things he ever did. I am glad that this film was dedicated to him, and that his role will not be recast in the future. Yelchin was truly a great talent and will be sorely missed.

R.I.P Anton Yelchin.

New Trailer for 'Hell or High Water' Starring Chris Pine, Ben Foster and Jeff Bridges

A new trailer for the film Hell or High Water has been released by CBS Films earlier today, showing a little more of what we can expect from Chris Pine, Ben Foster and Jeff Bridges in this modern-Western thriller. The film revolves around brothers Toby (Chris Pine), a father who has had no trouble with the law, and Tanner (Ben Foster), his ex-con brother, who orchestrate a series of heists to have their revenge on the bank that is foreclosing on their land. In pursuit of the brothers is a Texas sheriff who is nearing retirement in Jeff Bridges.

One of the things that immediately grabbed my attention with this film was the writer. Taylor Sheridan, writer of Sicario, a movie that was in my top 3 of 2015, easily makes this one of the films I'm most looking forward to in the coming weeks. Aside from the visuals of Sicario, I thought the script was one of the best parts of that movie because it made the performances what they were, along with the direction of Dennis Villeneuve. Also, the tone of the film feels very much like a character driven narrative. I don't think Hell or High Water will rely on action sequences or chases in order to make the film worthwhile.

With Chris Pine, Ben Foster and Jeff Bridges being the main characters of this film, I think we're in for some fantastic performances and I think David Mackenzie has a golden opportunity to build off of his break out film Starred Up.

Hell or High Water is slated for release in select theaters on August 12th and opens nationwide on August 19th.

'Star Wars Celebration Europe' Recap - Day 3

Image via comingsoon.net

Star Wars Celebration Europe has officially come to an end. Following a day that saw the return of Grand Admiral Thrawn, a new trailer for season 3 of Star Wars Rebels, and the announcement of a Thrawn novel by Timothy Zahn, the finaly day had to pack a big punch. Today, we had the pleasure of spending an entire hour with Princess, now General Leia herself, Carrie Fisher, the Lucasfilm Story Group, Ray Park, and the most anticipated panel of the day (which wasn't streamed), the Future Filmmakers panel, featuring directors Rian Johnson, Phil Lord and Chris Miller. So, what happened today?

Carrie Fisher: The Princess Diaries

Much like the panel with Mark Hamill and Anthony Daniels, Carrie Fisher spent an hour with the fans and host Warwick Davis. With anything involving Carrie Fisher, this panel

Image via metro.co.uk

was a lot of fun and very funny. She shed some light on Han and Leia's relationship leading up to The Force Awakens, saying they weren't divorced, but "estranged." That is something that you could pick up a bit in Claudia Gray's novel, Bloodline. She went on to tell some stories from the original films, as well as commenting on Leia's look in the most recent film. One of the more memorable moments of the panel was when she, along with Warwick Davis, attempted to reenact a scene from Return of the Jedi in which Wicket and Princess Leia meet for the first time. Unfortunately, Carrie's beloved sidekick, Gary Fisher, chased Davis off the stage and cut that reenactment a bit short. At the end, however, Fisher and Davis invited fans onstage to take selfies with them as the Q&A was nearing its end. This was an hour filled with fun and laughs, a perfect description of Carrie Fisher.

Lucasfilm: The Art of Storytelling

Including members of the story group like Kiri Hart and Dave Filoni, as well as Lucasfilm executives, this panel was focused on the inner workings of how these stories are crafted and all of the stuff that goes on behind the scenes. One of the big themes in this panel was how everyone at Lucasfilm, and each department, acts as a cohesive unit. When crafting a story for a film, TV show, or video game, it is important to have everyone working together in order to deliver the best possible product. Towards the Q&A portion, a fan on Twitter asked if the folks at Lucasfilm have experienced Star Wars fatigue since they work on these stories all the time. In response to that question, StarWarsNewsNet.com summed up the sentiments of the panelists perfectly b

Image via starwarsnewsnet.com

y saying, "They never get tired of Star Wars because they love it so much and they can't afford to get tired. They do exciting things and they love it. Lucasfilm takes ideas from many sources, but they also do a lot of them internally by brainstorming. Everyone who has an idea should express it and if its good - it will be used." So, clearly, the members of Lucasfilm are exactly like us. We can't get enough of Star Wars.

Ray Park Unleashed

Image via starwarscelebration.com

Ray Park, lauded for his role as Darth Maul in The Phantom Menace, delighted fans with an hour long Q&A in which he even taught some lightsaber techniques to fans, as well as reenacted his death from the film with help from a few fans and Warwick Davis. His interactions with the fans was definitely a highlight of the panel, showing how much he appreciates the Star Wars fandom. One of the more interesting things that Park said during this Q&A was that when he learned of Maul's return in  The Clone Wars, he thought he should start getting ready to reprise his role, if the character was ever brought back to the big screen (maybe in a future Obi-Wan film?). He also spoke about an idea he had for Qui-Gon's death that involved using his horns. He pitched the idea to George Lucas that he thought Maul could scratch Qui-Gon's chest with the horns, and then deliver the killing blow. Unfortunately, Lucas said that would've been a little too scary for the audience. Nonetheless, little details and stories like that are what you can hope to get from these panels.

The Future Filmmakers Panel

Image via nydailynews.com

The final panel of the day, and the most anticipated panel, centered around the future of the Star Wars films. Joined by host Pablo Hidalgo of the Lucasfilm Story Group, was fellow Lucasfilm Story Group member, Kiri Hart, President of Lucasfilm, Kathleen Kennedy, Episode VIII director, Rian Johnson, and Han Solo directors, Phil Lord and Chris Miller. We learned some information about Episode VIII, but nothing that we didn't already guess, or nothing that would've broken the internet. For example, Episode VIII will pick up right where The Force Awakens left off, its going to be a more character-centric film, Billie Lourde, Carrie Fisher's daughter, will return for the film, and Rian Johnson will be at next year's Celebration in Orlando. Then, for Han Solo, we did get some information on when the film will begin shooting, which is in six months. We were also introduced to Alden Ehrenreich, the man who will be taking on the mantle of the legendary character. He gave some information on his audition, stating that his screen test for the film was on the Falcon with Chewie and that he was in awe of the whole experience. After that exchange, John Boyega surprised the crowd and came up on stage! He spoke a bit about Episode VIII, saying that Rian Johnson's "doing an indie film within a franchise." This is very exciting news, considering his success with films like Brick and Looper. Mark Hamill and Carrie Fisher then joined them on stage and had a bit of fun with the crowd. To end the recap of this panel, Pablo Hidalgo mentioned earlier that next year's Celebration in Orlado will be the "Episode VIII Celebration." We can definitely expect a lot of news next year for the 40th anniversary of Star Wars.

That is the end of Star Wars Celebration Europe! I hope those who attended had a fantastic time indulging their obsession, as well as mine, for a weekend. Here's to Celebration 2017 in Orlando!

May the Force be with you.

Image via starwarscelebration.com

*Links to the respective panels will be posted if and when they are posted online.*

'Star Wars Celebration Europe' Recap - Day 2

Image via comingsoon.net

Yesterday, fans got a chance to spend an hour with Mark Hamill, learn about Ahsoka's untold adventures with Dave Filoni, Ashley Eckstein and Pablo Hidalgo, take a journey through Star Wars visual history with Doug Chiang, John Knoll, and Kevin Jenkins, and capped off the day with the highly anticipated Rogue One panel and newly released behind-the-scenes reel. We also got a chance to see a clip from season 3 of Star Wars Rebels, which unfortunately shed no light on Ahsoka's fate. Today, we once again indulged ourselves with more news, clips and sneak peeks into future Star Wars projects from multiple platforms. So, lets get started!

Droids of The Force Awakens

Image via starwars.com

Image via starwars.com

To start the day off, David Collins held an hour long discussion with the builders of R2-D2 from The Force Awakens, Oliver Steeples and Lee Towersey, and Matt Denton and Josh Lee, the engineering team behind BB-8. It was a particularly fascinating panel, especially for those who are interested in how these droids are brought to life and how they work. We were able to see a couple of variations of BB-8 as well, including the one from the red carpet premieres. The engineering team behind BB-8 also cleared up a few things regarding BB-8 and what were practical movements and effects, but one of the more interesting details revolved around the lighter effect, or the "thumbs up." Denton and Lee told the audience that they were planning to do that gag, practically, for that scene, but they couldn't finish it in time, so that effect had to be inserted digitally. So, little pieces of information like that, sort of enhancing the knowledge of those who love the films and are interested in the behind-the-scenes aspect of the film, were throughout this whole panel.

The Creatures, Droids, and Aliens of The Force Awakens

Much like the Droids of The Force Awakens panel, the creative team sat with host Warwick Davis and discussed the process behind creating these characters and how they function. They also brought the heads of some of the alien creatures of the film, and they explained how they were able to incorporate facial expressions and certain aesthetic looks to the characters. One of the things they discussed, certainly stressed by J.J. Abrams, was making as much of the film using practical effects as possible. For example, the droid walking out of Maz's castle was entirely pr

Image via slashfilm.com

actical and had to be built around the performer who was standing on stilts. But, the highlight of the panel, was when they brought out a new character from the upcoming Rogue One film that was shown in the behind-the-scenes reel. We got our first live look at, who they call "Space Monkey," and that character has already become a favorite from that specific reel.

Anthony Daniels, Without Protocol

Beginning in hilarious fashion, Anthony Daniels spent an hour with fans, along with host Warwick Davis. Daniels explained why C-3PO has a red arm in the film, actually reading the comic book that explains that particular story. He also brought several fans on stage to participate in the Q&A, as well as reenacting a scene from A New Hope. It was a very fun and funny panel, learning about his role in the previous film, answering questions about wearing the suit, and playing C-3PO in general. He really showed his commitment to the fans and his love for the Star Wars universe.

Star Wars Rebels Season 3

Image via screenrant.com

This was the most anticipated panel of the day, and definitely the most memorable. On stage with host Warwick Davis was creator of Rebels, Dave Filoni, Darth Maul himself, Sam Witwer, and Sabine, Tiya Sircar. News had been circulating that Dave Filoni had a big announcement to share during that panel. So, we were able to see a couple of clips from the new season, showcasing Ezra and Sabine in action, as well as the Ghost crew being held captive by Darth Maul. We also saw that some of our characters have new looks, as well as having grown as characters. But, the highlight for those watching the live stream, was the new trailer for season 3 of Rebels. Dave Filoni had been teasing that a character from Legends would be returning to canon, and midway through the trailer, we got our answer as to who that would be. In season 3 of Star Wars Rebels, Grand Admiral Thrawn will make his return to the Star Wars universe. Filoni received a standing ovation from the
crowd for bringing this character back, made popular by Timothy Zahn in the Heir to the Empire novels. Speaking of Zahn, Filoni made another announcement. In April 2017, a new novel entitled "Thrawn," will be released and written by none other than legendary Star Wars author, Timothy Zahn. To end the panel, those that were present in the hall got to watch the first two episodes of the new season. By far, this panel stole the show, and quite possible the weekend thus far.

Meet ILMxLAB: The Future of Immersive Entertainment

ILM always has some of the more interesting panels during Celebration. This one in particular focused on the future of Immersive Entertainment, which will allow people to step inside the world of Star Wars and experience original stories. You will essentially be a part of these original narratives. Writer David Goyer (Batman Trilogy, Man of Steel), spoke about their current project with this new form of entertainment. Goyer mentioned that an original narrative is currently being developed for this medium, and that it will center around one of the most iconic villains of all time - Darth Vader. While describing how this form of entertainment works, Goyer said this, "You are the visitor in this story that is happening in and around you, and to a certain extent you might even have some effect on. You can pick up things, you can open things. You can push things, you can walk. You can touch characters." The film will also function in a "persistent" world, meaning that there is day and night, and it continues to do so after the story is complete for the first time. This was a very exciting announcement for fans and for entertainment as well.

The Minds Behind EA's Star Wars Games

With news of a new Star Wars game to be released in the next year, this panel was pretty exciting as we got to get some new details and footage of new content in the Star Wars gaming world. First, we learned that there will be new, downloadable content after the premiere of Rogue One that will include the planet Scarif, as well as make new Jyn Erso and Director Krennic playable characters in Star Wars: Battlefront. Granted, the game wasn't received overwhelmingly well, but additions like these definitely make the game more enjoyable. Also coming to Star Wars: Battlefront will be a new location - the Death Star. You will be able to do the trench run, as well as fight in that iconic aerial battle. The teaser for this add-on is absolutely incredible and showcased some unbelievable graphics. Aside from that, Amy Hennig of Visceral spoke briefly about their Star Wars game that is currently in development. Since the game is still in its early stages, there wasn't much to elaborate on, but she did say that this will be an original narrative, which is something that fans have been clamoring for. The image that was shown, taken from the E3 conference, makes it feel incredibly immersive.

There you have it! Day 2 is in the books, and it did not disappoint. Grand Admiral Thrawn was reintroduced, we got a new Rebels trailer and clips, a Thrawn novel, and some fantastic news regarding the video games and immersive entertainment from ILMxLAB. Let's see what Day 3 has in store for us!

May the Force be with you.

*Links to the respective panels will be posted if and when those videos become available.*

'Star Wars Celebration Europe' Recap - Day 1

Image via comingsoon.net

Today, Star Wars Celebration Europe finally began, thus kicking off Nerd Christmas. Granted, those of us on the east coast had to wake up before 6:00 am, and our less fortunate friends on the west coast had to drag themselves out of bed before 3:00 am, forcing themselves to stay awake (see what I did there?). Anyway, the atmosphere was absolutely electric. From the fans, to the hosts, to the actors, directors and Lucasfilm personnel, you could tell that this was the place to be. Now, what happened on the first day of this glorious weekend?

Q&A with Mark Hamill

Kicking off Celebration was none other than Luke Skywalker himself, Mark Hamill. Hamill spent an hour answering questions from fans that covered a variety of topics, from Star Wars to his role as The Joker. There wasn't anything new, or particularly juicy, in terms of information about Episode VIII or certain Force Awakens rumors. However, one particular fan asked a question about Michael Arndt's script for The Force Awakens, which Hamill said he didn't get a chance to read, but he did talk about concept art that had Luke in scuba gear, accompanied by Rey. But, in this exchange, Hamill forgot the character's name and then was subsequently asked by the fan, "What's her last name?" Obviously, being the pro that he is at Star Wars secrecy, Hamill didn't budge. Also, Hamill did say, "I was looping Episode VIII  yesterday and there's dialogue in there - I thought, "Oh boy, I can already see this on a t-shirt. Seriously, Rian Johnson is so good. He'll make you forget all about "May the force be with you. He's come up with so many new catch phrases." So, it appears as though the script for Episode VIII is pretty fantastic.

Ahsoka's Untold Tales panel with Dave Filoni, Pablo Hidalgo and Ashley Eckstein

Image via thewookiegunner.com

The second panel of the day featured the man behind the character of Ahsoka Tano and Star Wars Rebels, Dave Filoni, Pablo Hidalgo of the Lucasfilm story group, and Ahsoka Tano herself, Ashley Eckstein. This panel, accompanied by a PowerPoint showcasing different character ideas and story arcs revolving around Ahsoka, was pretty awesome. We learned about how she was discovered by the Jedi, some of her adventures before, during and after The Clone Wars. They also spoke of the Ahsoka novel, written by E.K. Johnston, that is set to be released this fall. The novel will cover the period between Episode III and Episode IV. Filoni also stated that Ahsoka did reunite with Anakin after she left the Jedi Order, as well as have a run in with Darth Sidious himself. Finally, before ending the panel, Dave Filoni did say that we may not have seen the end of Ahsoka. So, we should expect her return for season 3, but we shall get more information about the upcoming season tomorrow during the Rebels panel. Ashley Eckstein also unveiled the new Ahsoka Funko POP! figure that'll be released later this year. That will definitely be an item that a lot of fans will want to get their hands on.

ILM Presents: Star Wars Archaeology

The third panel of the day centered around the special effects and visuals of the films. Chief Executive Officer, John Knoll, Vice President Executive Creative Director, Doug Chiang, and Supervising Art Director, Kevin Jenkins showed the audience what it takes to create the visuals, from miniature sets, to how the films look before and after certain special effects are added. They also discussed the use of models for Rogue One, as well as how they incorporated a lot of miniature sets into the films. It was definitely the type of panel that an artistically adept mind would enjoy much more than someone like myself. With that being said, I would still recommend checking it out because you do view, specifically, The Phantom Menace in such a different way. Also, it's Star Wars and that's why you're here in the first place.

Rogue One: A Star Wars Story panel w/ Kathleen Kennedy, Gareth Edwards, Kiri Hart, John Knoll and the entire cast

Image via screenrant.com

Finally, the most anticipated panel of the day, hosted by Captain Phasma herself, Gwendolyn Christie. First off, we got to see the first official poster for Rogue One. Very different from the saga films, so they are stressing the fact that these definitely are stand alone films, both narratively and visually. There was a lot of speculation as to what we were going to get from this panel. A trailer? Some new details about the film? Footage or images of Vader? Well, for those of us at home, we got a chance to see a brand new behind-the-scenes video of Rogue One, reminiscent of the one released last year at San Diego Comic-Con for The Force Awakens. In it, we saw some new images and footage from the film, as well as Gareth Edwards talking about the film as a whole. Also, the cast was able to talk a bit about their respective characters and their role in the film. Unfortunately, there may have been a huge spoiler during the answer from Jiang Wen. Out of respect to the readers, I will not say what the spoiler was, but if you view watch the panel, it would be wise to skip his response. Another piece of information that was circulating for several days was that a new trailer for the film was going to premiere during the panel. Lucky for those in attendance, they were able to see it. For those of us at home, we may have to wait a little longer. What I can tell you, thanks to Perri Nemiroff of Collider who is in attendance, is that Darth Vader does appear in the trailer. She also gave a description of the trailer, which was a little over 1-minute in length.

That was Day 1 of Star Wars Celebration Europe and it definitely had a lot of interesting information (some of which you may want to stay away from). Come back tomorrow afternoon for a recap of Day 2!

May the Force be with you.


*Links to the ILM and Rogue One panels will be posted if and when the videos are available.*

'Swiss Army Man' Review

Image via comingsoon.net

In a year filled with sequels, reboots and talking animals, indie films have stood their ground and turned in some fantastic films thus far. While audiences love seeing their favorite franchises continue to make quality sequels, or filmmakers want to reimagine certain films and tailor them to today's world, there is a thirst for originality. Unfortunately, big studio films have to weigh risk and reward, thus often making them play it safe and continue playing in a familiar sandbox, so to speak. However, with films like The Lobster and now Swiss Army Man, these low budget films with big ideas have the ability to take numerous risks since they aren't trying to break the box office. Instead, the concentration is on making a work of art that those involved believe in. This film is a work of art, and like any masterpiece, no one person will view it the same way.

Swiss Army Man follows the story of Hank Thompson (Paul Dano), a man who has been stranded on an island in the Pacific and sees no other way to escape his situation, so he attempts to commit suicide until he looks to the shore. Thompson then sees the body of a corpse (Daniel Radcliffe) who he later calls Manny, and together they try to find their way back home. In the trailer, this film looks pretty bizarre since it involves a farting corpse, and the premise itself is one you have to read a few times. When the film premiered at the Sundance Film Festival some people walked out of the theater. In fact, as I walked out of my screening, this woman said, "That is probably the worst movie I've ever seen," and I completely understood that. This film is definitely not for everyone and if you're the type of viewer that wants to be hooked from the beginning, you may want to follow their lead. I must say, though, those who left deprived themselves of a movie experience like no other. I found myself smiling throughout this film because I was finally watching a film that was original and one that I had no idea where it was taking me. As an audience member, you are along for the ride. Also, there are plenty of laughs in this film, and no, they don't revolve around farts. There are moments between Dano and Radcliffe's characters that are absolutely hilarious and make them extremely likable. The bond that forms between these two characters is quite memorable, especially since it works as a study on modern society in some ways.

Paul Dano and Daniel Radcliffe are at their very best in this film. A role that requires you to, essentially, play off of a dead person, and BE a dead person is no easy task. Also, when an actor stars in a film like this that is very risky, and very odd, they have to do it for something more than a paycheck. Just by viewing the trailer, I think, one can easily tell that their hearts were into this project because they knew how special this film was. Forget about audience reactions or how the film is being received critically, but based on the pure artistic elements and the originality of it all, actors like these who love going out of their comfort zones have to feel at home with a film like this. Actors like Paul Dano and Daniel Radcliffe are the rare cases that will find longevity in their careers because of the projects they select and the way they approach them.

The direction of this film was one of the best things about it when you look at the characters and the story being told. Making an audience believe what they're watching on screen is always a daunting task, especially when you've got a guy riding a farting corpse like a jet ski. However, in this film, everything worked. The writing was also felt very natural. I never felt like they were trying to make this film too smart, or too layered. However, the ending of the film is the one aspect I'm still struggling with. Furthermore, the visuals were fantastic and, by far one of the most interesting parts about the making of this film is that almost the entire soundtrack is performed by Radcliffe and Dano.

Swiss Army Man is refreshingly original, surprisingly heartfelt and funny at the right moments. Paul Dano and Daniel Radcliffe poured their hearts into their performances, Radcliffe going as far as saying it may have been his favorite role to date. With that being said, this film is not for everyone, but if you're even minimally intrigued, I suggest you go see it. If you don't like it, you probably farted in the theater.

New 'Rogue One' Trailer Hits July 15th

Photo via makingstarwars.net

In early April, the world got their very first look at the new Star Wars stand alone film, Rogue One: A Star Wars Story. This film is set in between Revenge of the Sith and A New Hope, and follows the story of how the rebels stole the Death Star plans. The two minute trailer gave us some insight into our main character, Jyn Erso, who is believed to be the leader of this daring mission. A familiar face to many Star Wars fans was also shown and is believed to have a prominent role in the film, that being Mon Mothma, who is only seen in Return of the Jedi. Above all, the two things that the first trailer nailed was the look and tone of the film. Since this story takes place 34 years prior to The Force Awakens, it has to look that way. So, the old uniforms of the Rebellion were back, along with the original stormtrooper helmets and armor. Also, the tone did feel like a war film, and as director Gareth Edwards stated before, "its called Star Wars." This has the look of a more gritty film, and one that will probably be geared more towards adults than kids.

Now, with Star Wars Celebration London kicking off on July 15th, it should come as no surprise that a new trailer for the upcoming film will be released that day. What is driving this conversation, however, is one thing: will we see Darth Vader and how much? Around the time of the first teaser, there was no definite confirmation by Kathleen Kennedy that Vader was going to appear in the film, or have any significant role, but we have since learned that he will indeed be in the film and be voiced by the legend himself, James Earl Jones. It has been 33 years since we have seen Vader have an integral part in the films, so it is definitely going to be the highlight of the new trailer. If one had to speculate, however, the smart move for Lucasfilm would be to include one shot of Vader, along with one line of dialogue, and that's it. It is crucial to save him for the film because, if rumors are correct, his presence will be very impactful.

Reports are that the trailer will be around three minutes long, which is a fairly long runtime. Some fear that this may be too long, thus spoiling some parts of the movie. Yet, as fans, there is no doubt that the audience would want to see as much as possible. But, there could be a reason why this trailer is the length that it is. During the promotion of The Force Awakens, we were constantly getting snippets of new footage, whether they be international trailers or new TV spots, and they got into some dangerous territory by doing that. One thing Rogue One has to its advantage that The Force Awakens did not is a marketing tool that will succeed in filling theaters, albeit not as much as The Force Awakens, and that is Darth Vader. If the new trailer shows a glimpse of him, or includes the breathing, that will be enough to draw people into the theater because there is more weight to the character now. With the expansion of canon, Vader has been involved in new battles and has encountered new enemies in both the comics, novels and Star Wars Rebels. Also, since Rebels is taking place during this time period, there is a potential for a crossover in the upcoming season, or some references to the show in the film. So, for the fans who are keeping up with the new canon material will get to see both stories develop, and the casual fan will get to see Vader on the big screen.

Rogue One: A Star Wars Story is slated for release on December 16th and is directed by Gareth Edwards.

First Trailer for 'Imperium' Starring Daniel Radcliffe

After taking on the role of a talking corpse alongside Paul Dano in Swiss Army Man, and starring in Now You See Me 2, Daniel Radcliffe is back on the big screen in the new FBI thriller, Imperium. For those who still look at Daniel Radcliffe and think of the "boy who lived," his recent films will definitely challenge that perception, and this film is no different.

Imperium follows Nate Foster (Daniel Radcliffe), a young FBI agent who must infiltrate a neo-Nazi terrorist group and try to bring them down. As anyone might expect, in order to accomplish this, Foster must become one of them. Foster has to undergo the struggle of remaining true to his country and his principles while he moves through this domestic terrorist organization.

This trailer does a very good job of building tension and making you think about what the main character has to face. Also, they did a fantastic job of showing just enough of the plot and the tone, but not spoiling any key moments, unlike many trailers these days. This film, just like American History X starring Edward Norton, has the potential to have some very uncomfortable scenes since the subject matter itself is uncomfortable. Overall, the trailer did a very good job of grabbing the audience right from the beginning, sustaining that initial grab for the duration of the trailer, and they ended it perfectly. The main goal of this trailer should aim to have the viewer ask themselves one question: does he blow his cover? I think this trailer will have people talking pretty positively about this film.

Alongside Daniel Radcliffe, Imperium stars Toni Collette (Fright Night, The Sixth Sense),  Tracy Letts, Nestor Carbonell (The Dark Knight, Bates Motel), Burn Gorman (The Dark Knight Rises, Pacific Rim), and Sam Trammell (True Blood, The Fault in Our Stars).

Directed and written by Daniel Ragussis, alongside Michael German, the FBI agent whose experiences this film is based on, and produced by Ty Walker, Dennis Lee and Simon Taufique.

Imperium is slated for release on August 19th in theaters and On Demand.