Blog Archives
Lara Croft’s New Craft
With movements nearly as precise as an intricately designed AI robot, Academy Award winner Alicia Vikander’s portrayal of video game favorite Lara Croft looks like quite a bit of adventurous summer fun will be coming soon to your local cinema (that will actually arrive this March). The film’s second trailer, released by Warner Bros. Pictures today, confirms that aforementioned fun.
Narratively, Tomb Raider seems comparable to Batman Begins; the first act in what will likely stretch out into a thrilling trilogy with a lead character who will add more grit and emotion to an already larger-than-life story. Similar to Christian Bale (also an Academy Award winner), Ms. Vikander should add more depth to Lara Croft’s motives and, consequently, her surroundings. By that, I mean the dangerous, life-threatening stakes in the film should be raised beyond a mere visual recreation or addition to the highly-acclaimed video game, which is saying something.
Tomb Raider just may succeed in rebranding a hero of sorts…who is kind of super in her ability to raid tombs, yet not a superhero by definition.
We’ll have to wait and see on March 16th if that analysis (along with the effects in the movie) were, in fact, a practical presumption.
The Force Awakens the Last Jedi…
Star Wars: The Last Jedi is now (finally) in movie theaters.
Rest assured, Jimmy’s Daily Planet will not reveal any spoilers. With a prime viewing scheduled for tomorrow night, a general reaction to Rian Johnson’s Episode VIII will follow this Monday.
For now, a visual storytelling recap and promo for The Last Jedi.
Will The Last Jedi be the darker Dark Knight equivalent to The Force Awakens? If so, then this cinematic universe has the potential to become even more epic than before…
and Star Wars, as you know, is already sufficiently epic. There’s a short preview of a spoiler-free review.
These ARE the Voices You’re Looking For
We all hear voices from time to time (so I’m told…). However, there’s a real talent for impersonating voices. Enter Last Jedi actor and Star Wars legend Mark Hamill in a recent sit-down interview with famed movie critic Peter Travers.
For the record, the merchandise from Star Wars, Jurassic Park and countless movies and television shows are what enabled escapism normally confined to a movie theater and family TV rooms (pre-YouTube and Internet) to reach new levels of imaginative curiosity. It’s an impactful part of being a kid, going to the movies and dreaming big. So, Sir Alec Guinness, wise Obi-Wan Kenobi, you were gravely mistaken.
If only Mr. Guinness (bet that got him a few free beers over the years) could have heard the voices of millions of kids seeing his films and playing with a myriad of merchandise, all while beginning a lifetime passion for some of the most treasured films in cinematic history.
Obi-Lost that Debate Kenobi more like it, hmmm (just one of those voices…).
Happy Monday
Star Wars is everywhere.
Now that that’s settled, let’s move forward.
The Last Jedi writer and director Rian Johnson (Looper, The Brothers Bloom, Brick) has promised a new twist (or two…) for Star Wars: Episode VIII. As fans all over the world prepare for the December premiere of the eighth chapter in one of the greatest sagas concerning good vs. evil, we are looking for little tidbits of information to whet our theatrical appetite. Not the full meal or anything close to it, but just a delicious tasting menu. And in doing so, we’ve discovered that the highly-anticipated Last Jedi was written and directed not only by a brilliant moviemaker but by a lifelong Star Wars fan.
As the video after the jump shows, Rian Johnson’s enthusiasm is infectiously inspiring. Tapping into his excitement of being involved in a Star Wars film is more powerful than any Red Bull or triple latte.
The Last Jedi is a Star Wars movie made by one of its biggest fans. Therefore, this forthcoming film will be eight kinds of awesome, especially since Rian Johnson has already been hired to write an entirely new trilogy after this current trilogy.
Have a Better Week Than Last Week.
P.S. How does your Wookiee impersonation sound?
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