Tag Archives: James Gunn

Guardians of the Galaxy Update: John C. Reilly, Ronan the Accuser, Plus Glenn Close & the Nova Corps!

We’ve been following the news pretty closely lately concerning James Gunn’s Guardians of the Galaxy, and some recent developments have revealed a lot more of the story. Rumors and casting announcements have been hitting fast lately, so we’ll try and speed through this as quickly as possible.

Continue reading Guardians of the Galaxy Update: John C. Reilly, Ronan the Accuser, Plus Glenn Close & the Nova Corps!

Chris Pratt Cast as Star-Lord in Marvel Studios’ “Guardians of the Galaxy”!

The search for Marvel Studio’s newest lead actor has ended, and the role of Star-Lord goes to… Chris Pratt! Just like the title says! Pratt will be joining no one in Marvel’s Guardians of the Galaxy, the next big franchise coming to us in Marvel’s Phase 2. Still pretty early in it’s development, GotG has yet to cast any other members of the team or reveal much about the story, but casting this role is a huge step forward.

Continue reading Chris Pratt Cast as Star-Lord in Marvel Studios’ “Guardians of the Galaxy”!

James Gunn in Negotiations to Direct Newest Marvel Project “Guardians of the Galaxy”

In one of the many post-Avengers Marvel movies hitting theaters before 2015’s The Avengers 2, it’s possible that James Gunn will join Kenneth Branagh, Joe Johnston, Jon Favreau, and Louis Leterrier as the directors who made all the pre-Avengers movies possible. With Guardians of the GalaxyGunn hopes to introduce a plethora of new characters to the franchise, like Star-Lord, Rocket Raccoon, Groot, Gamora, Drax the Destroyer, with Thanos as a villain, a being audiences were only able to catch a glimpse of at the end of The Avengers.

With a somewhat obscure filmography as a director, Gunn will be another addition to the already unorthodox list of names chosen to direct the films. Gunn is known for writing and directing Slither and Super, while also writing the two live-action Scooby Doo movies as well as the Zack Snyder directed Dawn of the Dead remake. I’m a huge James Gunn fan, and after hearing this and the talks of an Edgar Wright-directed Ant-Man have me thinking that Marvel is going to go in a new direction. Previously considered for the job were Peyton Reed (Yes Man) and Ryan Fleck and Anna Boden (Half Nelson, It’s Kind of a Funny Story), but it was Gunn’s ability to blend horror and comedy that landed him the job. Serves him right, too. He’s been doing stuff way smarter and funnier than the traditional studio fare, and I hope his break into the mainstream is a successful one. And yes, I know, I’m not the biggest fan of the Marvel movies. Yes, I’m “that guy” who didn’t like The Avengers. And yes, even the people who claim they love me also call me an asshole on a regular basis due to this. Do I deserve it? Probably. But am I also excited with the new direction Marvel seems to be taking with its films now that it’s owned by Disney (who, surprisingly enough, makes the best action movies these days). [Ed. Note – No they don’t.]  With Captain America: The Winter Soldier, Thor: The Dark World, Iron Man 3, and Nick Fury to hit theaters before The Avengers 2, I’m interested in seeing how this massive story line is extended even further. And by the way, I think the titles for the Captain America and Thor sequels are badass while Iron Man is stuck with a generic number title. What’s up with that? Guardians of the Galaxy is set to release on August 1st, 2014.

In Case You Missed It Review: Super

In 2010, we were introduced to one of the best films of the year, Kick-Ass, as well as the future of female actors, Chloe Grace Moretz. Playing Hit Girl, the infamously foul-mouthed pre-teen assassin, Moretz nailed the role perfectly and that will forever go down as my favorite performance of that year.

2011 gave us the flip side of what seemed to be the same story. Whereas Kick-Ass celebrated its unrealistic nature and extreme cheesiness, James Gunn’s new film Super revels in realism. Starring Rainn Wilson, the film follows a loyal husband named Frank D’Arbo, a fry-cook at a local diner. When his wife, Sarah (Liv Tyler), falls for a manipulative drug dealer named Jacques (Kevin Bacon), it’s up to Frank to save her from Jacques, but more importantly from herself.

To do this, he becomes a “superhero”, under the name The Crimson Bolt. He spends his first few nights hanging around dumpsters waiting for crime to come to him, with no luck. Inspired by a Christian TV star known as The Holy Avenger (Nathan Fillion), Frank searches for meaning in life, as well as what he can do to help the innocent people of his city.

One day, while at a movie theater, a man cuts in line to much disapproval from the rest of the people behind him. Frank, in a misguided act of heroism, changes into his Crimson Bolt costume in his car, grabs a large wrench, and bludgeons the man on the head, causing his skull to split open. This well-meaning but ultimately daft and vigilante behavior lands Frank a spot on the local news, which labels him a dangerous vigilante.

Desperate times call for desperate measures, and the only way that Frank has any chance of getting Sarah back from Jacques is to accept an offer by a local comic book chick named Libby (Ellen Page) to be his sidekick. A borderline psychotic young girl, Libby, whose superhero name is Boltie, begins hatching a plan with The Crimson Bolt, who has now adopted the catchphrase “Shut up, Crime!”, to get Sarah back once and for all.

Super, which is Slither writer/director James Gunn’s new film, is a darkly hilarious and brutally violent film about the chemically imbalanced vigilante in all of us. Rainn Wilson plays a distressed husband pushed to the point of violence perfectly, and his onscreen chemistry with Ellen Page is comedy gold. Previously sharing the screen with her for a scene in 2007’s Juno, it’s good to see them both starring in a movie together because from that one scene in Juno, I knew they would do well together if they co-starred with each other in a dark comedy. These are the things I daydream about don’t judge me.

Kevin Bacon is great as usual, playing a good villain with a particularly toothy smile. His sometimes dim-witted cronies make for some pretty great laughs, especially when they come into contact with Frank in the explosive climax. James Gunn’s directing is perfect for a film like this, previously displaying his action/comedy chops in his first feature film, Slither.

Super is probably not everyone’s idea of a good time. Some will find it dull, some will find it too brutal or realistic for a comedy film. Some will even find it to be completely unfunny with its dark punch lines and physical comedy. I’ll give you a taste of what you’ll be seeing; Super contains the funniest rape scene out of any movie I’ve ever seen. Take that as you will, but it’s true.

4/5 Bears

#8 – Countdown to Halloween: SLITHER

Slither is a fun ’80s throwback gross-out horror flick starring Nathan Fillion, Elizabeth Banks, and Michael Rooker. It was written and directed by James Gunn (Super, Lollipop Chainsaw). The story is about a malevolent alien parasite that crash lands in the town of Woodsville. Grant (Rooker) gets infected while romping in the bushes with Brenda (Brenda James) and then begins eating local pets like it’s going out of style while slowly changing into a hideous slug monster.

Continue reading #8 – Countdown to Halloween: SLITHER

Game Trailer – ‘Lollipop Chainsaw’: Cheerleaders, Zombies & Power Tools

There is a trailer out for a video game so enticing that I had to change my pants after I saw it. I am talking about Lollipop Chainsaw; a hack-and-slash zombie killing… no… dismembering game.

In the game, you play Juliet, a cheerleader who’s outfit leaves little to the imagination. In the trailer, she appears to be in her school slashing zombies left and right.

James Gunn (writer/director: “Slither”, “Super”) wrote the story behind the game. Suda 51 (Video game director: “Fatal Frame IV”, “Shadow of the Damned”) is the creative director. When looking at these guys’ reputations, it is clear that Lollipop Chainsaw will be a crazy, yet fantastic journey. As a former cheerleader, cheer coach, and current zombie lover, this looks like it was made for me.

The release date is set for the end of 2012, but there hasn’t been a definite date scheduled. One thing is for sure… I will be reserving this one. Here is the trailer: