Wow. That’s two trailers now for this film that look outstanding. I didn’t do a breakdown for the first one because I kinda just stood there in awe. The whole thing would have just been .gifs of people with slack jawed expressions. With this one, though, there’s more we can glean about the story and characters.
Logan looks to take some inspiration from the Wolverine comic “Old Man Logan” and a whole hell of a lot from the origin of X-23 in “NYX“. Logan and Professor X are on the run and are protecting a little girl that’s very similar to Logan. In the comics Laura Kinney/X-23 is a clone of Wolverine that Logan sometimes treats as a daughter. She has the same ability to heal herself, as well as two adamantium claws per hand and one in each foot. Much like Logan’s berserker rage state that he enters, Laura has something very similar in a trigger scent. A scent that, when smelled, causes Laura to black out and go into a murderous rage. She is also currently the Wolverine of the Marvel Universe as Logan is dead, but it’s comics so I don’t imagine that lasting for very long.
The movie looks to course correct the Wolverine franchise after an abysmal opening salvo and 2/3rds of a good follow up. This is also Fox’ second R-rated X-Men Universe flick following last year’s Deadpool. But enough talking Let’s Talk About The New Logan Trailer: Continue reading →
Welcome to the Weekend Watch. Where we try to point you towards the best ways to spend your viewing time (or, at least, steer you clear of the garbage).
Movies
Monster Trucks
Loren: I don’t even think kids are going to like this and kids like everything.
RDT: I have no words.
Rick: I can’t wait for this to top the list of Razzie winners next year. I mean, it should at least win the award for Most Literal Title of the Year. That’s a thing, right? Also, who’s up for a double feature of this and Mac & Me?
Jen: YAAAASSSSSSS!!!!!! MacGyver and an Octopus in a truck can take on the world! Also, the budget on this was $125 million. What do you think the odds are they make that back?
The Bye Bye Man
Loren: Hahahahahahahaha.
RDT: Don’t see it. Don’t watch it.
Rick: So, it’s some shitty hybrid of Candyman, Sinister, and The Ring? *rolls eyes*. Also, it’s fitting that the poster art is just as derivative as the movie it’s promoting:
Remember that Keanu Reeves masterpiece, The Watcher? No? Anyone? Okay. Just me, then.
Jen: At :47 into this trailer is the worst onscreen kiss I’ve seen in a long time. This looks like the type of horror movie they release in January to fill a random weekend when nothing else is happening… oh wait…
We’re talking a little bit more about Rogue One and the future of the Star Wars Universe this week. We even got a listener question, how about that? All that plus news like:
The passing of Carrie Fisher and Debbie Reynolds.
Han Solo might get a Woody for Christmas. (whatever, I’m 5)
The Predator gets Obama’s Anger Translator and a Moonlight veteran.
Synopses for Pirates 5 (of the Caribbean not the porno) and Thor:Ragnarok.
TV Line likes one gritty tv reboot but not another. Vagueness!
Charmed gets a 70’s prebootquel.
Is a weekly format better for Conan? We don’t know and neither do they.
Hulu gets the best part of NBC’s Florida Saturday Night.
We find out that Rob Lowe enjoys money.
Powerless pitches us a changeup (to their format).
This Is Black Panther.
New Mutants Anna Taylor-Joy lets slip that McAvoy is in the film.
Welcome to the Weekend Watch. Where we try to point you towards the best ways to spend your viewing time (or, at least, steer you clear of the garbage).
Movies
Underworld: Blood Wars
Loren: Huh, I guess it’s good to see Len Wiseman working, and by that extent Kate Beckinsale.
RDT: There have been 5 of these?!?!?!?
Rick: Listen, I’m all for Kate Beckinsale showing up in skin tight outfits, but I’m not sure it needs to be in yet another Underworld movie. I guess trying to get blood from a stone is all Sony Pictures is capable of these days.
Jen: Even Kate Beckinsale’s got boat payments nowadays. Also, want to feel old? The first of these movies came out 14 years ago.
I, Daniel Blake (Limited)
Loren: I don’t know what to say about this one. It’s an important topic and it looks like it handles it well enough but I don’t think I’m going to see it.
RDT: This looks interesting, but I’ll be honest, I doubt it’s gonna stay on my radar.
Rick: I have a few of Ken Loach’s films in my library that I, unfortunately, haven’t gotten around to yet. I’m compelled to dig them out before going to see this.
Jen: For a good few seconds I thought this might be a really well-shot documentary. I doubt I’ll see it but it does feel worth seeing. Continue reading →
Welcome to the Weekend Watch: End of the Year Edition. There’s not much new out there, but there’s definitely stuff worth seeing, whether it’s out this week or the last few weeks.
Movies
Live By Night (Opened 12/25, expands 1/13)
Loren: I love the time period and actiony fare set within, but early reviews are not favorable (34% on Rotten Tomatoes) and though I enjoy Murder Batman as a director he’s not my favorite actor. I’m pretty sure I’m waiting on this one.
RDT: I saw it a couple weeks ago. It felt…not finished. There’s a lot going on (and a lot of the “a lot going on” is really good), but it lacks focus. I think it was originally supposed to come out March of next year, but they jumped the gun and pushed it for awards qualifications. I think had they had another month or two to work on the edit, we would’ve gotten a much stronger film.
Rick: Like Loren, I think Ben Affleck is a talented director and a middling actor. I like the aesthetic and the story, but I’m not in a super rush to see this. If I catch it in theaters it’ll be on the cheap.
Jen: Man, Affleck sure can wear a suit. The costumes and production design look fantastic. The rest of it looks like… a gangster movie. I’ve seen a gangster movie before so not sure if I need to rush out and see another one.
Hidden Figures (Opened 12/25)
Loren: I kinda hate that I knew nothing about this story before this trailer (and the episode of Timeless from a few weeks ago) but I am really interested in it now. I know a few people that have already seen it and I’ve heard nothing but praise. The only thing I will say is that this trailer is not my favorite. It’s a little all over the place tonally and does that thing where it tells you the whole story.
RDT: I agree with Loren. Hopefully, this movie gets these women the notice they’ve long deserved. As for seeing it, I definitely will, maybe not in theaters though.
Rick: Yeah, the trailer isn’t strong, but I watched this recently and the film is definitely praiseworthy. There are a couple of moments that feel like they stretch the truth a bit, but not enough to detract from the story. It is shameful that these hyper-intelligent women are just now getting the credit for the landmark work they accomplished, but at least now they can help inspire new generations to achieve.
Jen: I think, and hope, that this trailer strongly undersells this movie. I will absolutely see it, but the trailer is a little too cheesy for the story they’re telling. Costner’s “I need someone who can look beyond the numbers” is a an eye-roller for sure.
20th Century Women (Opened 12/28)
Loren: Sometimes I wonder, “Is Billy Crudup from the 70’s?” (The answer is yes.)
RDT: Ok, I enjoyed the hell out of that trailer. Shockingly, it did what a trailer is supposed to do, made me want to see the movie, not tell the whole story of the movie. Great cast, too. In.
Rick: I can’t recommend this highly enough. It takes an unusual path to relate the experiences of three generations of women; both through their own lenses and through that of the young men in their lives. It’s rife with humor, love, and a touch of sadness. Well worth your time.
Jen: Annette Bening looks off-the-charts awesome in this. I loved Beginners and this is sort of a companion piece to that story so I think I will be checking it out when it pops up streaming.
It’s the end of the year so the guys brought in co-contributors Rick and Jen to cover all things 2016.
The gang talks their biggest surprises of the year in Movies and Tv as well as their biggest disappointments. They also give their top and bottom three movies from 2016. You could go as far as to call it a romp.
Everyone here at the Hollywood Picture News thanks you for spending the year with us and wishes you all a very happy and healthy holiday season. We’ll see you next week in 2017!
Welcome to the Weekend Watch: Holiday Edition. There’s a lot out there this time of year. So hopefully we can point you towards the best ways to spend your viewing time (or, at least, steer you clear of the garbage) this holiday season.
Movies
Passengers (Opened 12/21)
Loren: Yay scifi stuff! Boo precociousness! I don’t know, the first time I saw the trailer this looked pretty cool but every other time it’s been more of a, I don’t know, slog to get through. That can’t be good right?
RDT: Despite the reviews and early “buzz,” or lack thereof, I like these two actors. So, given how cheap tickets are where I am right now, and the amount of downtime I have, I’m pretty sure I’m going to see this.
Rick: I enjoy that there’s more notable sci-fi coming out, but early reviews of this have not been favorable. Must have been a lot of studio meddling because this script was one of the most highly regarded entries on the Black List. I may catch this at a matinee or on Netflix down the line.
Jen: A week ago I was a mark for this film. It only took one review to ruin it for me and, while I still may see it eventually on some streaming outlet, I’m not spending my money on this one.
Sing (Opened 12/21)
Loren: Illumination does not make very good animated movies. I’m sorry.
RDT: I’ve been told I’m taking my niece to see this or Moana. Fingers crossed she picks Moana.
Rick: I’m sure this is fun, but it’s just not for me.
Jen: I think my 6 year-old niece is going to love it. I’ll be seeing something else.
Assassin’s Creed (Opened 12/21)
Loren: I want this to be good to break the curse but, *sigh*, it’s tracking at 33% on Rotten Tomatoes. Oh well. Maybe the next video game movie will get it.
RDT: Sadly, it looks like this will not be the video game movie to “reverse the curse.”
Rick: I mean, the stunts will be good, right?
Jen: What’s the over/under on those blind trust fall things? I’m thinking it will be a high number.
This week the guys are talking a little known SciFi movie that hit the cinemas a few of you may have seen… Rogue One (Spoilers from 01:17:00 – 01:24:45). Also all the news bits from last week like:
F8 of the Furious Tr4il3r.
Pacific Rim and Godzilla sequels get lacklustre title changes.
King’s Revival gets a Crowe.
The next Pirates movie gets Knight(ley)ed.
Incredibles 2 starts recording so we talk for too long about other Pixar movies.
The most TV reboots imaginable. Single White Female, Taken, Star Trek, The Honeymooners, How I Met Your Father, Riverdale, Foxy Brown, Ducktales etc.
Marco….Polo….Marco…Polo… I can’t find the $200m you lost. You’re Cancelled.
Amazon gets Sneaky with Pete.
Julia Roberts heads to TV while Taran Killam heads to Broadway.
F*ck this F*cking Universe gets an Ocean Master, Batflick News, and Gotham City Sirens might happen
Hugh Jackman gets paid less to make something more for Logan.
All of that plus the Weekend Watched and all of the usual tangents.
