The Marvel Cinematic Universe has only had three rough patches, The Incredible Hulk and the first two Thor films. Don’t get me wrong, they were all box office hits and only deemed mediocre by critics, but when a franchise like this has so many excellent movies under its belt, then the blemishes are easier to spot.
After 23 films and counting, the only thing the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) isn’t running out of is a fresh supply of superheroes and villains to plop into new adventures. They've covered the familiar (Iron Man, Captain America), the boring (Hawkeye, Captain Marvel) the cosmic (Thor, Doctor Strange), the diabolical (Loki, Thanos) and the obscure (Guardians of the Galaxy, Ant-Man).
The state of the DCEU (DC Extended Universe) is, and has always been, in a complete sense of displacement. Sure, Wonder Woman was a pleasant surprise, Aquaman was silly entertainment and Shazam! has unexpected heart. Yet the fact remains that there's no way to comprehend where these movies are headed, and if they're even connected after the financial and critical failure of Justice League. In fact, nothing sums up the current state of the DC films more than the trailer for Todd Phillips' upcoming Joker.
The force is extremely strong with the Star Wars franchise right now. With years before an actual J.J Abrams directed film hits screens, there is already talk circling separate movies being made focusing on characters from the galaxy far, far away.
What better way to start off the new year in film than to judge and dissect the Academy Award nominations that were recently announced. We already have a list of the nominees and who the favorites are, but what about the controversy concerning the actors and titles that were left out? Every year there’s a handful left behind, causing movie fans to raise their pitchforks in protest (once again) over the Academy’s direction of being too old-fashioned.
It’s hard to tell what Hawkeye’s role will be in Marvel’s Phase Two of films coming out; he won’t be in Iron Man 3 for sure and his appearance in Thor: The Dark World, Guardians of the Galaxy or Ant-Man would seem out of place. His presence makes more sense whenever SHIELD is involved, so the only logical bet for him to pop on screen before The Avengers 2 hits theaters in 2015, would be in Captain America: The Winter Soldier. Maybe he’ll show Cap what the benefits of being a lone wolf include; the two do share a lot of history and respect with one another in the comics. But if there’s one thing Marvel should take from the pages and emphasis with Hawkeye over the next four or five sequels, it’s how much of a playboy he is. Seriously, Tony Stark has got nothing on Clint Barton. He has gotten it on with almost every female Avenger who ever joined the team. Renner definitely wouldn't complain.
With the release of what is easily the biggest movie of 2012 happening shortly, British actor Richard Armitage must be in the process of preparing to forever be immortalized in film history as a dwarf. Not just your usual pint-sized, axe-wielding dwarf, who loves to chug mead as much as he does cutting down paths of savage orcs. Armitage portrays Thorin Oakenshield in The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey, who is king to all dwarfs in Middle-Earth. For anyone familiar with Tolkien's universe, this is a big deal; and for those who are unknowing of Peter Jackson's first movie in his prequel trilogy to Lord of the Rings, Armitage is going to be the guy who's onscreen for the majority of all the three movies.
Hollywood has a horrible track record at remaking older movies. Achieving one or two successful attempts a year, compared to the dozens that fall flat on their face, is not a passing grade. The majority of remakes have - and will continue to be - a perfect way to butcher a former film's credibility. Upon further examination, it seems that the majority of remakes come from the most schlocky and progressive decade in film's history: the 1980's.
If there's one show that has gained a sudden dramatic jump in popularity, its FX's creep-a-thon American Horror Story. The second season's boosted ratings have already garnered a third season renewal, with production for another 13 episode mini-series beginning next summer.
