The Iron Man 3 trailer hit the net a while ago and has most likely got fan boys and girls jumping up and down with excitement. The only down side to this particular trailer is that the future looks a bit bleak for poor Tony Stark. He gets blown up left, right and center, and then has to survive a drowning. If you have forgotten how much of a beating he takes watch the trailer below.
As you can see Tony has his life ruined from the top to the bottom. In Japan it seems they do not want as much doom and gloom, so they made a slightly different version for their audiences. Gamma Squad gave us our first glimpse of this.
This trailer seems to take a more linear approach with the chaos and even has an extra scene with Pepper Potts coming to say hi to Tony like they are husband and wife. This trailer also shows them together in a more intimate way. The dramatic Avengers style music really helps to make it seem more heroic (that’s probably why they craftily put in a clip from The Avengers movie to). In both trailers Tony seems to be suffering from guilt and remorse over the events that happened in The Avengers movie, but in the Japanese trailer they seem to be setting it up much more for the Tony Stark as an underdog storyline (like Rocky, just with more metal involved), while the American one just shows him as a pretty useless superhero getting thrown about like a rag doll and moaning a lot. Though we do not learn much more from these trailers by comparing them, it is pretty cool to see how different cultures promote their movies for their audiences. We also get two looks at Iron Man 3 which is never a bad thing!
Total Film just reported that there may be another one of Spider-Man’s foes making an appearance in The AmazingSpider-Man 2. We already have Electro in the mix (played by Jamie Foxx), but now it appears that everyone’s favorite living vampire Michael Morbius will be making a cameo as well. For those unaware of whom Morbius actually is here is a brief recap. He was a prize-winning biochemist who suffers a startling vampire like transformation when he tries to cure him self of a rare blood problem he has. Actor Asim Ahmad has the part and he tweeted this information recently about his role in the movie:
“Morbius is only mentioned in two pages, not a big part” (The tweet appears to have been removed since…)
It seems that the role will only be as a cameo with the fact he is only featured for such a short length of time, but this may be an introduction for him to appear as a bigger villain in The Amazing Spider-Man 3 perhaps? This could just as easily be just a little fun piece thrown in to keep the loyal Spidey fans out there happy. At this point who knows?
Another question you may be asking is “Who is Asim Ahmad?” It is a valid question, one that I asked myself. A quick look on IMDB revealed this little piece of information…
[box_light]Asim Ahmad’s career started while attending college in New York, studying acting and creative writing, and at the same time was interning at Marvel Comics. Showing his enthusiasm for the titles they published, he started writing for such comics as Daredevil and Ultimate X-Men. Once he graduated, he progressed from writing comics to helping rewrite screenplays based on Marvel’s characters, movies such as Blade, X-Men, Spider-man and Daredevil. Asim left Marvel in 2002 to concentrate on an acting career, appearing on stage in productions of One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest, The Tempest and Romeo & Juliet. Asim later then went into film and television productions, with works such as Christopher Nolan’s Batman Begins, The Dark Knight and Inception, Rob Marshall’s Pirates of the Caribbean On Stranger Tides and Craig Gillespie’s reimagining of horror comedy Fright Night with Colin Farrell. In 2007, Asim had set up Solar Eclipse Films, his own production company, dedicated to make feature films, television shows, and video games. Solar Eclipse are currently in pre-production for a reimagining of The Hound of the Baskervilles, with Asim making his directorial debut.[/box_light]
On first glance I have to be honest, I did not really see him looking anything like the Michael Morbius I remember from the comic books. But considering the amount of work he has done for Marvel Comics in the past and his obvious love of the genre, I feel like it will be a good fit and it makes me think more and more that a larger role in TheAmazing Spider-Man 3 movie may be on the cards in the future.
The newest film adaptation of F. Scott Fitzgerald’s novel of the same title stars Leonardo DiCaprio as Jay Gatsby. Nick Carraway portrayed by Toby Maguire becomes infatuated with the mystery and intrigue of Gatsby’s empire. As more and more is revealed to him, Carraway finds the inner workings of Gatsby’s lavish lifestyle are pulling apart at the seams.
Joining DiCaprio and Maguire are the likes of Isla Fisher, Jason Clarke, Joel Edgerton and Carey Mulligan. This will be the second time Baz Luhrmann will direct DiCaprio since Romeo + Juliet. Initially due out as a Christmas day release, this has been pushed back to a May 2013 release date so as not to compete with Django Unchained also starring DiCaprio.
Director: Baz Luhrmann Stars: Leonardo DiCaprio, Tobey Maguire, Isla Fisher, Jason Clarke, Carey Mulligan, Joel Edgerton, and Adelaide Clemens. Release Date: May 10, 2013
[/tab][tab title=”Holy Motors”]
This film captures all the lunacy of Monsieur Oscar. This journey of what takes place during the night spans the distance of captain of industry, begger, assassin, monster, and family man.
Though Leos Carax initially wrote Kay M. for Kate Moss, the role was ultimately filled by Eva Mendes. The singing role of Eva Grace was rewritten for Kylie Minogue when she was cast.
Director: Leos Carax Stars: Denis Lavant, Edith Scob, Eva Mendes, Kylie Minogue, and Michel Piccoli. Release Date: July 4, 2012
[/tab][tab title=”Identity Thief”]
I have never had my identity stolen. However, if I had, I would hope the antics that would ensue would be as comical as what Identity Thief has lined up. Jason Bateman is Sandy, a regular old law-abiding citizen who finds out his identity has been stolen. His intention is to catch the thief to clear his good name.
I haven’t personally seen Mike & Molly, but Melissa McCarthy’s comedic presence in film is becoming fully apparent. With a break out comedic performance in Bridesmaids, she is also in This Is 40, and rumored to be in The Hangover Part III.
Director: Seth Gordon Stars: Jason Bateman, Amanda Peet, Jon Favreau, Melissa McCarthy, John Cho, Robert Patrick, Genesis Rodriguez, and Eric Stonestreet. Release Date: February 8, 2013
[/tab][tab title=”After Earth”]
Cypher and Kitai Raige (Will and Jaden Smith) crash-land upon an uninhabitable planet where every organism has evolved to overcome and destroy the human species. In true Shyamalan form, this is the planet Earth 1000 years after all humans have been evacuated.
This isn’t Oblivion, this isn’t I Am Legend. This is After Earth. We are sure to be delighted by the on-screen chemistry of the Smith father/son duo that has truly impressed us in the past.
Director: M. Night Shyamalan Stars: Will Smith, Jaden Smith, Isabelle Fuhrman, Zoe Kravitz, Sophie Okonedo, Kristofer Hivju, and David Denman. Release Date: June 7, 2013[/tab]
[tab title=”Pain and Gain”]
When Daniel Lugo (Mark Wahlberg) gets fed up with his station in life, he decides to recruit two other body builders to kidnap a man and claim his wealth. Surprise twist, something goes wrong. With a director like Michael Bay involved, the true question is how many explosions can be incorporated into a film that primarily takes place in a gym?
Though the comedic pauses initially seem a bit out of place, this could resemble Bad Boys II. I don’t know about you, but I love me some Bad Boys II.
Director: Michael Bay Stars: Mark Wahlberg, Rebel Wilson, Dwayne Johnson, Anthony Mackie, Ed Harris, Ken Jeong, Rob Corddry, and Tony Shalhoub. Release Date: April 26, 2013
[/tab][/tabgroup]
Hailing from the Flint area in Michigan, The Swellers have made quite the name for themselves within the American Punk scene over the last decade. Fresh off of a U.S. tour, and a brand new EP release, I recently had the chance to catch up with lead singer, Nick Diener. Nick speaks candidly about finishing their last tour in their home state, what Michigan bands had the greatest impact on them starting out, what this EP means to him, and even his man crush on a certain WWE wrestler!
DC Entertainment on Wednesday announced three key promotions for its Vertigo arm — the same division from which progenitor Karen Berger recently announced she’d be departing. While we’d like to join in offering our congratulations to new Executive Editor Shelly Bond, Group Editor Will Dennis, and Editor Mark Doyle, we’re far more jazzed about the fact that DC promoted the promotions than the promotions themselves.
I’m not the type of person to normally gush over feel good stories, nor do I particularly like children, but occasionally some story comes along that will make my heart swell and remind me to stop being a hate filled shrew of a man, and remember that sometimes people can be pretty damn great. Case in point, WWE Tag Team Champion Daniel Bryan visited Connor, a 7 year old boy with cancer, whose wish was for Bryan to visit him and let him put Bryan into the No-Lock submission hold. After making a YouTube video asking Daniel Bryan to visit him, people on Facebook and other social media used their powers for good to bring attention to 7 year old Connor Michalek’s wish, and sure enough Daniel Bryan visited the kid. Daniel Bryan then met him, and dutifully let Connor put him into the No-Lock, and tapped out for him. Video here.
I like stories like this. It makes me feel good that one of my favorite wrestlers is a damned good human being as well. I can imagine myself as a kid, and if I had gotten sick there would have been nothing I would have liked more than to meet Mick Foley and give him the Mandible Claw. Seeing Daniel Bryan showing up and being there for the kid is a good reminder that not everything and everyone in the world is a jaded, pompous jerk. On top of that, how cool is that kid that what he wanted to do was not just meet him, but make Daniel Bryan tap out? That fact alone makes me wish the kid can pull through his battle with his terrible disease. Cancer is the absolute worst, and along with the bevy of treatment and care people need to overcome or manage it, a healthy attitude and positive thinking certainly helps a lot along the way. The fact that this kid got to make Daniel Bryan tap out gives me hope that he’ll make it, and fills me with so much respect for Daniel Bryan.
The other that makes this story even better than it already is, is that Connor calls himself “Stonecrusher”, and his brother Jackson calls himself “Jack The Ripper” when they play wrestling video games. How cool is this kid that he’s already got a wrestling name and persona at 7? Hopefully he’ll overcome his disease, and he and his brother can grow up, join wrestling school, where Connor is still Stonecrusher and his brother is still Jack The Ripper, but together they’re The New Demolition.
Altogether though, what a great story, and what a great wish to make. All jokes about tag teams and wrestling aside, I really do hope Connor overcomes his cancer. Any kid that cool deserves to.
Grizzly Bomb 