Mark Hamill Shows What A Han And Luke Star Wars Reunion Could've Looked Like

Mark Hamill Shows What A Han And Luke Star Wars Reunion Could've Looked Like

Mark Hamill's Luke Skywalker only re-entered The Skywalker Saga at the very end of Star Wars: The Force Awakens, so he never got to see Han Solo again. Hamill shared a photo with Harrison Ford, giving fans his imagined look at what their reunion could've looked like, and fans replied with some strong emotions:

Maybe Lucasfilm should just let Mark Hamill retcon Star Wars' Skywalker Saga. He has been open with his ... let's call it surprise on the direction of Luke Skywalker's story in Star Wars: The Last Jedi. He also recently expressed sadness that the new trilogy will never be able to have Luke, Leia, and Han Solo reunite. Han Solo was killed by his own son in Star Wars: The Force Awakens, and sadly we lost actress Carrie Fisher in real life after The Last Jedi was filmed.

It has already been revealed that Carrie Fisher's General Leia Organa will appear in Star Wars: Episode IX through used footage from J.J. Abrams' The Force Awakens. And we know Mark Hamill is returning for Episode IX, despite Luke's apparent death at the end of The Last Jedi. So if Luke is returning, does that give hope that we could see spirit Han Solo again -- like the Force ghosts who gathered at the end of Return of the Jedi?

Han Solo wasn't a Jedi, but he's Han, so ... it would just be great to see him again, even if Harrison Ford only agreed to a cameo. But at this point Episode IX is finished filming, and Mark Hamill knows what they filmed. So if his photo is the imagined Han/Luke reunion, it sounds like even Force ghost dreams may not come true.

Han Solo and Luke Skywalker were last seen together in Episode VI, Return of the Jedi. But Han and Leia's son Kylo Ren was later trained by Luke Skywalker. That went wrong in spectacular fashion, as we learned in The Last Jedi.

Fans have voiced many frustrations with the first two films in the new trilogy, with one being the lack of the original trio -- Luke, Leia, and Han. The Force Awakens even had Leia hug new character Rey after Han died, instead of embracing Han's best friend Chewbacca. Episode IX is bringing back one old school frenemy in Lando, and it will be great to see him again, but it can't make up for the missed opportunity of getting the old gang back together again for the end of the Saga.

Star War: Episode IX has a lot of questions to answer, including how Luke returns and how we say goodbye to Leia on screen. Also, the title would be nice. Some answers, and maybe a trailer, could be coming soon via Star Wars Celebration 2019. The movie itself opens in theaters December 20 as one of the many movies heading to the big screen in 2019.

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Spider-Man: Far From Home Wants Nick Fury To Be The Anti-Tony Stark

Spider-Man: Far From Home Wants Nick Fury To Be The Anti-Tony Stark

When Marvel Studios officially brought the character of Spider-Man (Tom Holland) over to the MCU, they immediately paired the teenage superhero with Tony Stark (Robert Downey Jr.) as a portal into the world and also a mentor. That relationship, which started in Captain America: Civil War, grew throughout Spider-Man: Homecoming… especially when Tony had to save Spidey’s ass on the State Island Ferry. And it took a tragic turn in Avengers: Infinity War, when Tony failed to save Peter from the Snap.

The MCU doesn’t have Tony Stark anymore, but Spider-Man will still have help in his next adventure, Spider-Man: Far From Home. As you guys likely saw in the trailers, Samuel L. Jackson will bring Nick Fury across the “pond” to hijack Peter Parker’s European vacation, and recruit Spider-Man in his battle against the Elementals, dangerous creatures from another universe.

CinemaBlend got the opportunity to visit the set of Spider-Man: Far From Home and interview director Jon Watts, and we learned that he wants Fury in this story to be the complete opposite of what Tony was to Peter in Homecoming. Watts said:

I always wanted to put our idealistic teenage hero Peter Parker against a jaded, world-weary super spy like Nick Fury. I always thought that would be such a great combination of conflict and relationship to explore. That was something that was in my very, very, very first pitch, and my very first meeting at Marvel. I was like, ‘I want to see this kid go up against this bad motherfucker.’ You know? And Tony Stark is like the cool, supportive rich uncle. Nick Fury is more like the mean, new stepdad. And I just thought it would be really fun to see those two worlds collide.

When Nick Fury approaches Spider-Man to help him on this mission, Peter initially refuses. He asks if Thor (Chris Hemsworth) or Captain Marvel (Brie Larson) might be better fits, as Peter still sees himself as that friendly, neighborhood Spider-Man.

But Fury is putting together a team to fight the Elementals, and it will include Maria Hill (Cobie Smulders) and Mysterio (Jake Gyllenhaal), who appears to be from a multiverse Earth.

While visiting the set, we spent time with Executive Producer Eric Carroll, who elaborated on the decision to bring Nick Fury into Spider-Man’s corner of the MCU, and how Fury will fit. He told us:

One of the themes we wanted to play with was youth. It's the timeless theme of these coming-of-age movies. Why do adults operate in the grey? Spider-Man is like, ‘This is easy. Let's just do the right thing.’ Or, ‘Let's just tell people what's going on and everyone will be okay.’ And Nick Fury's like, ‘That's not how the world works, kid.’ So, [Peter] just gets wrapped up in this sort of spy adventure, being driven by Fury and getting more and more caught between how he wants to operate and how he's being told he should operate.

This led to a big question on the set: Who is Nick Fury working for? S.H.I.E.L.D. is a complicated organization, and Fury has been off the grid for some time. Eric Carroll didn’t address the situation directly, but instead told us:

Nick's still doing what he does -- operating out of the shadows. I think he probably gets some funding from his buddy Tony [Stark], and stuff like that, to keep up this thing. There's even a line in the movie where he's kind of like, ‘Any other interesting case files come in?’ So it sort of seems like he's just trying to keep the planet safe in the way he does, which is looking out for these sort of extra-normal events. And making sure he and whatever team he puts together is there when the... you know.

He likely has a direct connection to all surviving Marvel heroes, and that would include Captain Marvel. But for this mission, he wants Spider-Man, whether Spider-Man wants it or not.

Take a look at the teaming of Peter Parker and Nick Fury in the latest Spider-Man: Far From Home trailer:

We will have even more from our set visit to Spider-Man: Far From Home. The movie hits theaters on July 2. Are you planning on checking it out?

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A Timeline For The Conjuring Universe

A Timeline For The Conjuring Universe

We’ve seen many film franchises try to launch cinematic universes in the last decade, but few have been as immensely successful as what has been built with The Conjuring Universe. The ball started rolling in 2013 with the massively successful James Wan film that gave the brand its name, and while there weren’t really initial ambitions to create something bigger, everything changed when John Leonetti’s Annabelle turned into a $250 million global hit one year later. Since then the spooky world has grown and grown, and by the end of 2019 it will have seven titles in canon.

With all that growth can come a little confusion, however, as each new release is set in a different time period and has specific connections to previous stories. It’s in aim of eliminating that confusion that we’ve built this feature. In hopes of helping fans fully grasp the breadth of The Conjuring Universe, we’ve put together this timeline to both linearly illustrate the events we’ve seen so far, and show how the titles link to one another. So without further ado, let’s start at the start by taking a step back in time to the 1950s…

The Nun

Setting: 1952

While there are scenes in other Conjuring Universe titles that take place before it, Corin Hardy’s The Nun is featured first on the timeline because the primary events in the story take place before all of the other narratives in the franchise – specifically taking us back to the year 1952. It was at this time that Father Burke (Demian Bichir) and Sister Irene (Tessa Farmiga) were sent by the Vatican to Romania in hopes of uncovering the details behind the mysterious suicide of a nun. Unfortunately for them, it led to a direct confrontation with the demon known as Valek (Bonnie Aarons), and while they were ultimately able to escape with their lives, the events also saw the horrifically evil entity let loose on the world.

Being set so early on the timeline and taking place in Eastern Europe, The Nun isn’t as directly tied into the events of The Conjuring Universe as many of the other movies, but it does feature some key details. Not only does it show us the origins of the main villain from The Conjuring 2, but it also provides an interesting link to one of the Warrens’ most dangerous cases, as seen in The Conjuring.

Annabelle: Creation

Setting: 1955

As the name of the film implies, David F. Sandberg’s Annabelle: Creation is designed as an origin story for its titular character, literally showing how the seriously creepy porcelain toy came into existence. Technically it all kicks off in 1943, as that was when doll maker Samuel Mullins (Anthony LaPaglia) first designed Annabelle for his daughter (Samara Lee), but the majority of the story takes place in 1955 – which is when Samuel and his wife Esther (Miranda Otto) agreed to take in the children from a shuttered orphanage, as well as their caretaker Sister Charlotte (Stephanie Sigman). It was at this time that the doll not only started to get stronger, but also took its first victims.

This is obviously a table-setter for all of Annabelle’s adventures in The Conjuring Universe so far, showing how she first became possessed and the initial efforts that were taken to contain her power. And while those efforts were successful for a while, it took about 12 years for her special brand of chaos to be one again unleashed upon the world…

Annabelle

Setting: 1967

Despite Annabelle’s very small role in The Conjuring, audiences quickly fell in love with her, and Warner Bros. acted quickly to take advantage of that affection. But with the movie having already established how she ended up in the possession of Ed and Loraine Warren, the first Annabelle spin-off had to find a different story to tell, which is why it wound up being set in 1967. Inspired by the cult murders of the era – specifically the actions of the Manson family – it tells a rather self-contained tale about the terrors that the titular doll can induce, specifically torturing a couple of new parents (Annabelle Wallis and Ward Horton) who wind up with her in their possession.

Despite being the first of its own series, John Leonetti’s Annabelle is arguably best seen as a middle chapter sandwiched between Annabelle: Creation and Annabelle Comes Home. Its connections to the rest of the Conjuring Universe are minimal, but it does fill a key gap in the timeline between Annabelle’s “birth” and her time in the hands of the Warrens.

Annabelle Comes Home

Setting: 1970

Although Gary Dauberman’s Annabelle Comes Home hasn’t actually been released or even screened just yet, we know a lot about the movie’s setting simply because the central premise is very much tied into where it takes place on The Conjuring Universe timeline. Specifically, the story is told on the night that Ed and Loraine Warren (Patrick Wilson and Vera Farmiga) bring the titular doll back to their house so that it can be contained in their occult museum. With what we already know about the Warrens relationship with Annabelle, this pins it right before the main events of The Conjuring, hence its placement here in this feature.

Taking things a step further, it’s even easier to specifically place Annabelle Comes Home because it’s apparently a story that doesn’t exactly stretch out for weeks/months on end. Instead, the action will be taking place over the course of one night, as young Judy Warren (Mckenna Grace), her babysitter (Madison Iseman), and her babysitter’s friend (Katie Sarife) try and survive the terror that Annabelle is able to unleash while being surrounded by the Warrens’ huge collection of terrifying objects.

The Conjuring

Setting: 1971

Finally we get to the film that started it all – and it’s a pretty easy one to explain timeline-wise. James Wan’s The Conjuring is a straight-forward horror flick when it comes to narrative, as while there are references to events in the past, as well as the aforementioned introduction of Annabelle, most of the movie takes place within a few weeks of the year 1971.

As for its relationship with the rest of The Conjuring Universe, there aren’t many connections to mention that haven’t already been established – though it is worth recognizing that Ed and Loraine Warren aren’t exactly amateurs at the start of this story. As a result, it’s entirely possible that future chapters of this franchise could be set both before and after the events in this movie – it all just depends on the stories that the filmmakers are interested in telling.

The Curse Of La Llorona

Setting: 1973

Because of the period storytelling that The Conjuring Universe employs, most of the titles have been very specific in establishing exactly when it is that each of the stories take place (hence why we’ve been able to tag specific years for each movie). Michael Chaves’ The Curse Of La Llorona is a bit different, though. While we know that it definitely takes place after the events of Annabelle, specifically because of the involvement of Father Perez (Tony Amendola), the upcoming movie recently revealed it's setting to be 1973, which puts it smack dab in the middle of the Conjuring franchise.

It almost makes sense that there would be a bit of vagueness surrounding The Curse Of La Llorona, as it’s also The Conjuring Universe movie with the fewest connections to the rest of the franchise. It’s not a spin-off from any specific title, and with the exception of the presence of Father Perez is doesn’t actually have any other Easter eggs. If you’re watching these films chronologically, you can really watch this one any time after Annabelle and not get confused by how it fits into the grand scheme of things.

The Conjuring 2

Setting: 1977

Because of the inspiration taken from the lives of Ed and Loraine Warren, it may be a minute before we get to see a contemporary movie set in The Conjuring Universe, so right now the last title on the franchise timeline is James Wan’s The Conjuring 2. The film opens in 1976, specifically with the paranormal investigating duo looking into the notorious events in Amityville, New York, but the majority of the narrative takes them to 1977 England where they look into the case of the Enfield Poltergeist.

Much like its direct predecessor, elements of The Conjuring 2 have been expanded through spin-offs, most notably The Nun, and it makes for an interesting viewing experience knowing the background material provided by the other titles. So if you’re planning on doing a chronological run through The Conjuring Universe the next time you decide to revisit the franchise, you may find that certain details come across a bit differently by the time you get to the end of the timeline.

This covers everything that we’ve seen from The Conjuring Universe so far, but there is still a bright future ahead for the demon-filled series, with announced projects like The Conjuring 3, The Nun 2, and The Crooked Man. You can be sure that we here on CinemaBlend will be following them all very closely, so be sure to stay tuned for all the latest details.

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Captain Marvel Is Still Doing Incredibly Well, Despite Being On Fewer Movie Screens

Captain Marvel Is Still Doing Incredibly Well, Despite Being On Fewer Movie Screens

The latest Marvel Cinematic Universe film, March’s Captain Marvel, has been in theaters for over a month now and it has enjoyed massive, record-breaking success during its run. That run is slowly coming to an end as more new blockbusters are released, and Captain Marvel’s theater count continues to drop to make room at the multiplex. Yet despite being on fewer movie screens, Captain Marvel is still doing incredibly well.

Captain Marvel lost a whopping 598 screens last weekend as new releases like Little, Missing Link and fellow comic book movie Hellboy opened. Despite that huge drop in screen count, Brie Larson’s heroine still managed to hold on at the box office remarkably well week after week. According to Forbes, Captain Marvel pulled in $884,741 on Monday, which is up 2.2% from last Monday. It didn’t do quite as well on Tuesday, dropping 6.1% from the previous week to $1.297 million, then rebounded on Wednesday with an 8% jump over last Wednesday to $971,000.

That type of hold and box office performance is very impressive given that there were almost 600 fewer screens on which audiences could see Captain Marvel. It’s not like there’s no competition at the box office either. Both Shazam! and Hellboy are now out and are competing for largely the same audience’s superhero dollars.

The Anna Boden and Ryan Fleck-directed film will now pass $390 million at the domestic box office. When it does, Captain Marvel will pass Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2’s domestic performance to become #7 on the MCU’s domestic box office charts.

If Captain Marvel continues to have small drops in the coming weeks as it gives more ground to the start of the summer blockbusters, and receives a bump around Avengers: Endgame, it could pass the $400 million mark domestically and beyond. When it’s all said and done, it could surpass Captain America: Civil War’s $408 million and Iron Man 3’s $409 million to land in the MCU’s top 5.

Captain Marvel has made over $1 billion worldwide, so that it is doing well is no surprise, but the solid box office hold despite playing on fewer screens reflects something of an Avengers: Endgame bump. Black Panther enjoyed something similar with Avengers: Infinity War last year, and with about a week left until the first Endgame screenings begin, all eyes are on the concluding chapter in the MCU’s Infinity Saga.

So some MCU fans may be going back to see Captain Marvel again as part of their pre-Endgame MCU watch list. If you want to rewatch all 21 films, that means heading back to the theater to check out Captain Marvel before next weekend.

Given that Brie Larson’s character has been more prominent in the trailers than I think many suspected (she’s clearly not being saved as a third-act savior), it’s also possible that some who thought they could skip Captain Marvel are finally getting around to seeing it. Captain Marvel is also likely benefitting from kids being out of school for the Easter holiday.

You can check out Captain Marvel again in theaters now before Avengers: Endgame arrives to dominate on April 26.

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Ben Affleck Will Direct, Write, And Star In Ghost Army

Ben Affleck Will Direct, Write, And Star In Ghost Army

Earlier this year, Ben Affleck noted that while he wasn’t sure what project would be the next he’d attach his directorial stamp to, he was keen to get something up and running by the end of the year. Looks like that search is narrowing down pretty quickly, as Affleck’s name is in the news today as potentially directing, as well as writing and starring, in Universal’s long developing film Ghost Army.

Based on a book/documentary on a crucial piece to the World War II war effort, Ghost Army would be about a specific group of warfighters: namely, a squadron tasked with fooling the Axis armies into thinking that Allied forces were greater than they actually were. Through creative means of deception including inflatable tanks, convincing sound effects, and fake intelligence, it was a secret directive that recruited notables like designer Bill Blass and photographer Art Kane into its efforts.

The project sounds like a dream come true for Ben Affleck fans, as his skill set for telling true stories about diplomatic fakery was proven back in 2012, with the Best Picture winning film Argo. So if anything, Ghost Army feels like a spiritual prequel to that film, as it’s another case of the U.S. Government enlisting the best and brightest creative minds to turn the tide of an international conflict.

It would be a welcome return of Affleck’s writing/directing efforts, as he’s been out of action in those respects since 2017’s unfortunate flop Live By Night. But with his acting chops still moving along, most recently in Netflix’s Triple Frontier, one third of the equation is already raring to go with the challenges that Ghost Army will present.

It’s a moment that has been long awaited for Ben Affleck, as when Variety grabbed the scoop, they also reported that he’d been looking to set up camp with Ghost Army for quite some time. But now, it looks like his scheduling has timed out just right with Universal’s intent for the project, allowing all to move forward.

That being said, it’s still up in the air as to when exactly Ghost Army will start marching into production, as Affleck will still need to do some rewrite work on the film. This is after a script originated by Shazam! writer Henry Gayden, as well as a rewrite by True Detective creator Nic Pizzolatto.

Seeing Ben Affleck come back to writing and directing with Ghost Army is something exciting for fans, as his recent departure from the DCEU felt like a bump in the road for his recent career. Now all that has to happen is for Kevin Smith to write a reunion between himself and one of the characters Affleck played in his View Askew-niverse, or for Warner Bros to greenlight The Accountant 2, and all will be right with the world.

Ghost Army has no production start date specified, or release date in mind. If you want to see what 2019 has on offer for eager moviegoers, you can take a look at our 2019 release schedule and find your next night at the movies!

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Why Disney Has Become So Successful With Live Action Reimaginings, According To One Head Honcho

Why Disney Has Become So Successful With Live Action Reimaginings, According To One Head Honcho

Disney is going hard on live action reimaginings of previous animated movies this year. Dumbo has already been released into theaters and Aladdin, The Lion King and Maleficent: Mistress of Evil will all hit theaters before 2019 ends. Why so many? Well, they’ve been pretty successful at the box office. This week at CinemaCon, Disney executive Sean Bailey explained why this type of movie has been so successful, noting the answer lies in the fact the story is not simply being retold in the same way. Per Bailey:

Over the past several years we’ve had great success in revisiting some of these stories and characters and reimagining them for moviegoers. The reason we’ve been successful is because we are never simply retelling. We always want to stay true to their spirit and protect what people love and remember about them.

If you look at the recently released tale of Dumbo that retelling is far different from the original. There are human characters that help Dumbo fully realize his ability to fly; there’s a whole separate theme park premise and a different antagonist who is basically a nod to a bad Walt Disney. Similarly, Maleficent took a tale fans know and love and told it from the perspective of the villain from the original film. So, that was a big twist to the narrative as well.

Other classics, including Beauty and The Beast, are closer to the traditional animated narrative, but even then Disney does try to throw in new original songs, new jokes and more to differentiate from what audiences got with the animated tale. Similarly, Aladdin will feature a brand new song sung by Princess Jasmine.

According to Bailey, the process starts with a simple question.

We ask ourselves: How do we take these timeless stories and expand and update them to reflect our current world? Our goal is to create the quintessential, modern, live action versions of these stories.

In general, the way these live action reimaginings are coming together seems to be working. Beauty and the Beast, in particular, made over a billion dollars worldwide when it hit theaters in 2017, but most other live action products from the company have been successes financially even if they didn’t hit the billion mark.

Of the live action reimaginings, the recent Dumbo did fall a little short of box office expectations on opening weekend, although it still managed to be the #1 movie the weekend of its release, bringing in $45 million during its first outting. It’s too early to tell if one movie falling a little short of expectations is the start of a trend, but we’ll be sure to keep you posted regarding how the other live action properties fare in 2019.

In the meantime, be sure to take a look at when Aladdin, The Lion King and Maleficent: Mistress of Evil will be hitting theaters with our full movie premiere guide.

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Deadpool Is Already Featured On Disney’s Website

Deadpool Is Already Featured On Disney’s Website

It's far too early for us to see a lot of changes in the Walt Disney Company now that the merger with Fox is complete, it's not even lunchtime in Burbank yet. However, one place that has already seen a significant change now that the merger is finally done is the Walt Disney Company website. The company's homepage now has a brand new banner which, in addition to giving us expected character from the likes of Star Wars and Pixar, now includes images of Deadpool, The Simpsons, and Avatar among others. Check it out.

Of the 14 images that make up the new homepage banner, fully half of them are new to The Walt Disney Company as of this morning. The Shape of Water was a former Best Picture winner distributed by Fox Searchlight. While Disney had previously made a deal with James Cameron to include the world of Avatar in the company's theme parks, they only own the rights to the films as of now. The Simpsons come courtesy of 20th Century Fox Television.

The little monkey is likely a reference to the National Geographic cable channel that is now part of Disney. The cricket player is probably there because Disney now owns Star India, a conglomerate of Indian cable channels that spotlight the popular sport. Then you have Deadpool representing 20th Century Fox's film arm, and Donald Glover, who's show Atlanta is a hit on the FX cable channel.

While the website change doesn't necessarily mean anything on its own, it would certainly seem to be an indication of what Disney finds most important of its new acquisitions. There'd be no interest in drawing attention to Deadpool if there were no plans to make new movies under the Disney regime. We know that Avatar is going to continue forward with new films, a couple of them are in production right now, and The Simpsons is showing no sign of ever stopping. It may make new episodes until the heat death of the universe.

National Geographic content is going to be quite important to Disney going forward. The cable channel's library is set to be a major pillar of the content available when Disney+ launches later this year.

Seeing all these popular characters, from Deadpool to Elsa to Bart Simpson, on the same homepage is almost surreal. All of these popular characters now exist in one place. If nothing else, it opens up near endless possibilities for Disney's theme park business. The number of new attractions that could be created to sit alongside the existing ones seems almost limitless.

Over the next several months and years we'll begin to see how this massive pop culture juggernaut actually moves forward with all these properties, but the work has already begun.

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Netflix's The Perfection Trailer Welcomes Get Out's Allison Williams Back To Horror

Netflix's The Perfection Trailer Welcomes Get Out's Allison Williams Back To Horror

In Get Out, Allison Williams proved to be quite the horror villain as Rose Armitage, a seemingly normal and harmless person who was really a cold and menacing sociopath. I mean, did you see how she ate her cereal? What a monster! The actress seemed to relish the role, and now she is returning to the horror genre for Netflix’s upcoming The Perfection. The first trailer for The Perfection has arrived, and yes, Allison Williams looks creepy in it. Take a look:

It really is a tough beat to be an artistic prodigy in movies these days, because inevitably your competition and friends are all plotting to kill you. The way the trailer for The Perfection starts off, you can tell that something is not quite right. Allison Williams’ Charlotte seems to not be taking the plight of Logan Browning’s Lizzie very seriously, as if she suspects it is all in her head.

We are then given glimpses of Charlotte and Lizzie and see that they are fellow musicians, friends and perhaps lovers. However, Lizzie has attained a real level of fame that Charlotte is perhaps jealous of, and Allison Williams looks positively devious in the role. Charlotte’s feigned concern and confusion is revealed for what it is when she pulls out a butcher knife, basically proposing that Lizzie cut off her bug-infested arm.

It’s a hilarious and creepy moment in a trailer full of unsettling imagery. The Perfection trailer has plenty of body horror elements with the vomit, the bugs under the arm and the head shaving. There are also a bunch of strange images of food, from a raw chicken to tomatoes to some kind of Asian dish. The food all takes on a nauseating quality in the context of the trailer though and something tells me this one is best watched on an empty stomach.

What’s interesting about The Perfection is that it’s not entirely clear if the horror elements in the film are all “realistic” or if they will go into the realm of the supernatural. There is a surreal quality to the trailer and there might be some sort of psychological element at play, because we do see indications that someone may be undergoing electroshock therapy. And although Allison Williams’ character appears to be nefarious, it also seems like she isn't in complete control of what's going on.

I really dug the dark humor in this trailer and it’s great to see Allison Williams in another horror film after her disturbing performance in Get Out. I really have no idea what is going on in this movie, but I look forward to laughing hysterically, barf bag in hand. You can check out the poster for The Perfection below.

The plot of The Perfection finds Allison Williams’ troubled musical prodigy seeking out the star student of her former school, and the journey they go on together has dark and shocking (also gross) consequences. From Don Hemingway director Richard Shepard, The Perfection debuted at Fantastic Fest last year to largely positive reviews that indicate it is a total blast and a movie that is full of surprises.

The Perfection arrives on Netflix on May 24. For all of the theatrical releases headed your way this year, check out our 2019 Release Schedule.

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Looks Like Toy Story 4 Will Include Flashbacks, So Bring Your Tissues

Looks Like Toy Story 4 Will Include Flashbacks, So Bring Your Tissues

It was a very exciting morning for Disney fans, as the first full trailer for Toy Story 4 finally arrived online. Woody, Buzz, and the gang are back together, and going on an epic journey across country with their new kid, Bonnie. Along the way, we'll meet some adorable new characters, while also being reunited with Annie Potts's Bo Peep since her noticeable absence in Toy Story 3.

The trailer revealed the basics of the movie's plot, but also showed some of the ways Toy Story 4 will be unique to the first three films. In addition to taking the group of toys on a road trip, it looks like the franchise is breaking new ground with the ample use of flashbacks. Specifically, the footage shows the toys during their time with their original kid, Andy.

The flashbacks pop up a few times throughout the course of the trailer, although the biggest gut punch shows a young Andy back in his iconic bedroom. Signature Red Cowboy hat in tow, he plays with Jessie, Bullseye, and Buzz Lightyear. It shows the love between those toys and their owner, and once again hammers down the heart-wrenching ending of Toy Story 3.

Also featured in the Toy Story 4 trailer are several shots of Bo Peep back in Andy's house with Woody. The duo of toys were the love story of the first two movies, although Bo was unceremoniously written off in the threequel. Andy's sister Molly kicked her to the curb sometime in between the second and third movies, and Annie Potts' signature Toy Story character was barely mentioned at all.

But we see Bo Peep back in her classic outfit in the first Toy Story 4 trailer, so it looks like the upcoming animated blockbuster will take us back to simpler times. While flashbacks were used briefly in moments like Jessie's Song in Toy Story 2, the franchise hasn't relied much on that macguffin. Until now.

As a reminder, you can check out the trailer below, complete with the flashback moments.

I'm not crying, you're crying.

Toy Story 3 proved to be the most emotionally devastating movie of the franchise, although it's clear the the upcoming fourth installment isn't taking any prisoners either. It should be interesting to see how the property outdoes itself in regards to tears, as the toys' near-death experience and passing to Bonnie in the threequel reduced the generations of fans into puddles.

All will be revealed when Toy Story 4 arrives in theaters on June 21st. In the meantime, check out our 2019 release list to plan your next trip to the movies.

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Every Song From The Baby Driver Soundtrack, Ranked

Every Song From The Baby Driver Soundtrack, Ranked

Every once in a while, a movie comes along with such an awesome soundtrack that it can even overshadow the rest of the film. Sometimes the songs can be huge hits all on their own. Baby Driver is a perfect example, because let’s be honest, the music is central to the movie’s plot about a getaway driver for a bank robbery crew with tinnitus. The driver, named Baby, constantly listens to music to drown out the ringing in his hears, so music is key.

The music is not only central to the plot, but because the song choices are so cool, it adds almost all the style to the movie. Every scene and every car chase are elevated by the fantastic song choices made by director Edgar Wright and Steven Price, Baby Driver’s music composer. Music, driving, and stealing sunglasses are what makes Baby tick.

There are 30 tracks on the soundtrack, ranging from solid gold oldies to very modern choices and everything in between, so we’ve ranked from worst to best – but make no mistake, there really aren’t any bad songs in the lot.

30. “Was He Slow (Credit Roll Version)” – Kid Koala Featuring Kevin Spacey And Jon Bernthal

One of two original songs on the soundtrack and as is clear from the title, it’s the song over the end credits. It’s just a mishmash of quotes from the movie and the weakest song on the Baby Driver soundtrack.

29. “Tequila” – The Button Down Brass Band

An off-brand cover of the The Champs song from 1958 by an off-brand British copy of Herb Albert & The Tijuana Brass. Easily ignored on Baby Driver’s great soundtrack.

28. “Unsquare Dance” – Dave Brubeck

This jazz number by the great Dave Brubeck is mostly clapping, drums, and bass. It works great to build tension; it’s not so great to listen to on its own.

27. “The Edge” – David McCallum

There is a lot of great jazz on the Baby Driver soundtrack, but this isn’t the best of the bunch. It is however, the sample for Dr. Dre’s “The Next Episode,” which does make it pretty cool from that angle.

26. “Debora” – T. Rex

It’s difficult putting a band as awesome as T. Rex toward the bottom, at least for me, but this isn’t the band's best song by a mile.

25. “Easy” – Sky Ferreira

"Easy" is a decent enough cover of The Commodores classic (which also appears in the movie), but it’s not deserving of being higher on this list of great songs.

24. “Intermission” – Blur

Like T. Rex, it’s hard to rank an amazing band like Blur this low on a ranked list, but this song is really kind of a throwaway from the group's album Modern Life Is Rubbish and serves as an intermission on the album; in Baby Driver, the buildup of sound is used well, however.

23. “Kashmere” – Kashmere Stage Band

This funky number, played by a bunch of high school students no less, is a fantastic feel-good and move-your-feet kind of song. This stuff's starting to get good!

22. “Every Little Bit Hurts” – Brenda Holloway

Motown’s Brenda Holloway is one of the lesser-known artists on that label’s legendary roster, but this song goes to show how great Motown was at producing incredible songs.

21. “Know How” – Young MC

Any song that samples “The Theme From Shaft” by Isaac Hayes is cheating. But it’s the best kind of cheating and Young MC nailed it with this one.

20. “Bongolia” – Incredible Bongo Band

This may seem as if it is ranked a little high on the list; regardless, Incredible Bong Band’s music always sounds awesome on soundtracks.

19. "Smokey Joe’s La La" – Googie Rene

Such a fun little tune with easy lyrics and great beat to drive to. Play it now if you don't know it off the top of your head.

18. “B.A.B.Y.” - Carla Thomas

Carla Thomas is a soul singer who has sadly been overshadowed over the years, but her powerful voice is on full display in this 1966 hit.

17. “Brighton Rock” – Queen

This is circus music from Queen. It’s a weird little song that is often overlooked in the band's catalog, but it’s a great song with a great solo by Brian May – which is like half the track!

16. “Early in the Morning” – Alexis Korner

Alexis Korner is way more important to rock history than most people realize and this dripping, plotting, sweat-soaked track is weird and awesome and a great addition the Baby Driver soundtrack.

15. “Baby Driver” – Simon & Garfunkel

It’s pretty clear that this song inspired the whole movie. It’s not the most recognizable tune by this famous duo, but just check out the first couple lyrics to see how important this song is to the movie:

I was born one dark gray morn

With music coming in my ears

They call me Baby Driver

And once upon a pair of wheels

I hit the road and I'm gone

14. “Chase Me” – Danger Mouse Featuring Run The Jewels And Big Boi

"Chase Me" is the other of the two original songs on the Baby Driver soundtrack. This is by far the better one, with great performances by all three MCs and a great beat from Danger Mouse.

13. “Baby Let Me Take You (In My Arms)” – The Detroit Emeralds

Another track on the Baby Driver soundtrack that is more famous for being the sample in a hip hop song. This is used by De La Soul in “Say No,” but the original is fantastic.

12. “Harlem Shuffle” – Bob & Earl

This song is mostly famous for the horn fanfare that opens it (and was very famously sampled by House Of Pain), but it should be known for much more. The horns are fantastic throughout the whole song.

11. “Neat Neat Neat” – The Damned

In a movie with so much chaos, Baby Driver needed at least one chaotic punk song and this is one by a band that isn’t as well known as The Sex Pistols, brings a bit of the drama and anger that Johnny Rotten brought with the Pistols, but with more musical talent.

10. “When Something Is Wrong With My Baby” – Sam & Dave

There is nothing quite like that old time soul like Sam & Dave were the masters of.

9. “Never, Never Gonna Give You Up” – Barry White

The great Barry White and his silky smooth bass/baritone voice is unmatched in 20th century music. Honestly, anytime it appears anywhere, it’s one of the best.

8. “Radar Love” by Golden Earring

Okay, this song might not deserve to be in the top ten usually, but “Radar Love” is one of -- if not the -- greatest driving song of all time and Baby Driver is a movie about driving, right? Seriously, put this one next time you hit the highway and hit the gas, that’s why it’s here.

7. “Egyptian Reggae” – Jonathan Richman & The Modern Lovers

This little weird ditty by the godfather of punk Jonathon Richman fits so perfectly in this movie it’s almost like it was written for it.

6. Bellbottoms – Jon Spencer Blues Explosion

While it’s not the best song in the movie (though it is awesome), it’s the most important song as it sets the tone right away for Baby Driver. Car chases and great music abound.

5. “Debra” – Beck

Beck loves to show off sides of him you’d never expect and “Debra” is Beck channeling his inner Prince, falsetto and all, to outstanding results. This really is close to perfect.

4. “Let’s Go Away For Awhile” – The Beach Boys

If you are going to be including The Beach Boys on a soundtrack, choosing something from Pet Sounds is never a bad idea. Brian Wilson’s musical genius is on full display with this American classic.

3. “Nowhere To Run” – Martha And The Vandellas

"Nowhere to Run" is of the greatest Motown songs from the sixties,period. It’s so catchy and wonderful, it’s like you know the lyrics before you’ve ever heard it. It’s a song that's impossible to ever get sick of and it were used in every movie ever, that’d be just fine. It’s a fantastic addition to the Baby Driver soundtrack.

2. “Hocus Pocus” – Focus

This is one of those songs that always makes everything awesome, whether it’s the scene in Baby Driver or a Nike Commercial, “Hocus Pocus” by Focus (yes, you have to say the full title and band name every time, because it’s awesome), makes the world a cooler place.

1. “Easy” – The Commodores

The easy pick? Probably. Not much needs to be said about this absolute classic of a song. Is there a person on earth that doesn’t like it? It’s just easy like Sunday morning and that's alright with us.

Every good car chase needs great music and in Baby Driver, a movie with lots of car chases, the music is crucial to making them as wonderful as they are. Next time you steal a car or rob a bank, pop in your earbuds blast this soundtrack. Let's hope when they make another one, the soundtrack will be just as good.

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Is Toy Story 4 A Great Idea Or Bad One? We Weigh In

Is Toy Story 4 A Great Idea Or Bad One? We Weigh In

This morning, a brand new trailer for Toy Story 4 sent the world into a spin of nostalgia and anticipation, as the latest adventure of Woody, Buzz, and the gang feels so much closer to happening now we know what it's about. Yet, as with any sequel to a storied franchise that keeps on chugging, there are some who are wondering just why Toy Story 3 wasn't a good enough ending for the saga that started Pixar's feature film empire. It's the type of question the internet loves to discuss, and we here at CinemaBlend are ready to discuss the pros and cons ourselves.

Weighing in from the positive corner is our own Dirk Libbey, while I, Mike Reyes, will hail from the opposing side of the issue. Both of our arguments will be laid out in meticulous fashion; but in the end, you'll have a chance to tell us what you think about Toy Story 4's existence. Don't forget to vote in our poll, and give us your extended remarks of feedback in the comments section below. Now, to give Dirk's Toy Story 4 opinions their day in the sun!

Dirk

Almost since it was first announced there was going to be a Toy Story 4, there have been voices asking, "Why?" It’s certainly true the third film ended things on a powerful note, but I’ve never been one who felt the franchise was untouchable. Thus, I'm excited by the potential of Toy Story 4.

I like the Toy Story movies well enough. I think they tell great stories and are full of fun characters, but there’s honestly a lot from Pixar that means more to me on a personal or emotional level than the Toy Story movies. Maybe I’m a little too old, I was almost out of high school when Toy Story came out, so I didn’t really “grow up” with the franchise. Maybe I just didn’t have a favorite toy that meant as much to me as Buzz and Woody mean to Andy. Either way, it seems that because I don’t hold these movies in such high regard that I’m actually more interested in another adventure with these characters. The first three movies were good, so as long as the fourth one is too, I’m in.

At the same time, even for those people for whom the Toy Story trilogy is perfect as it is, I still think there’s a value in Toy Story 4. Toy Story 3 perfectly rounded out an impressive trilogy of films, but so much of what the Toy Story movies do well is the way they reflect real life with the characters, and life rarely fits into a perfect three-act structure. After you’ve grown up and moved on from your childhood toys and begun your adult life, the story doesn’t end. Really, it’s just beginning.

Based on the new trailer, it feels like Toy Story 4 is going to be the “mid-life crisis” movie of the Toy Story franchise. Forky is clearly a character trying to come to terms with who he is and what his purpose in life is. We also see Woody beginning to question everything that he has known up to this point. Will he continue in the role that he has played for so long or is it time to move on and try different things, experience a different adventure?

As somebody who writes these very words now because I once asked myself very similar questions, I’m certainly intrigued by where Toy Story 4 could be going. There is always another story to tell and I’m excited to see this one.

Mike

As someone who was right at cusp of childhood and adolescence when Toy Story debuted in 1995, it's safe to say that the films were definitely a part of my formative years as a moviegoer. The visual spectacle of CG animation, mixed with some of the freshest storyline and dialogue to come out of an animated film in the '90s made me pretty damned happy as a kid. So it's that basis of fandom that has me wondering just why we need another Toy Story sequel, considering the last one was pretty questionable itself.

Toy Story 2 was the gamble of all gambles when it came out in 1999, but even as a high school kid, I was still with it. It was a rare sequel that matched, if not outdid, the original; and provided a nice ambiguous note of finality. So naturally, Disney/Pixar had to go ahead and push its luck with Toy Story 3.

It's not that I didn't like Toy Story 3, it's just that it felt to me like a step down from the heights of the franchise. The most redeemable factor, and the one thing that really helped keep me from writing it off completely, is that it brought closure to the series once and for all. And it did so in such a beautiful way that it still makes me cry when Andy tells Bonnie about his dear old friends.

Yes, there have been TV specials and shorts continuing the adventures of the Toy Story gang, but none of those fundamentally undid the ending of Toy Story 3, nor did they repeat story beats from throughout the series. We've already seen the toys wrestle with saying goodbye to a trusted kid in Toy Story 3, and we've already experienced the push and pull between what Woody wants to do with his own life, and what he'll do for Andy in Toy Story 2. But Toy Story 4 looks like it's ready to do both all over again, and I just wish Pixar had left well enough alone.

Sometimes, you just need to know when to leave a series alone, and Toy Story 4 looks to be living proof of that fact. Watching that trailer this morning which featured the manipulative shorthand of using The Beach Boys' “God Only Knows” wasn't even enough to crack my shell. I'll still see it out of curiosity, but at this moment, I think Toy Story 4 is a bad idea. If the studio really wanted us to know what Bo Peep was up to, then maybe she shouldn't have hastily been written out of Toy Story 3.

Ultimately, Toy Story 4 is happening, so really the only question is whether or not it will resonate with a fanbase that has stuck with it for decades. Still, there you have it: Both sides of the argument have been made, and now the floor is turned over to you, the audience. Take our poll below, and tell us why you think Toy Story 4 is a good or bad idea. As for the film itself, you can catch Toy Story 4 in theaters on June 21, 2019. But if you want to find some other animated antics to tide you over until then, head over to our 2019 release schedule, and find a new "pardner" for your next cinematic roundup!

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How Detective Pikachu May Set The Stage For Major Pokemon Character Ash Ketchum

How Detective Pikachu May Set The Stage For Major Pokemon Character Ash Ketchum

Warning! The following contains spoilers for Detective Pikachu. Read at your own risk!

Detective Pikachu is a great movie, and a wonderful nostalgia trip for those who were a part of Pokemon's original run 20-plus years ago - but there are bits of the film where older fans may have been a bit out of the loop. Those only familiar with the franchise up to the 151st Pokemon may have missed some of the deep cut references to successive games, not to mention been unfamiliar with some of the new species that are prominently featured. It still makes for a fun time at the cineplex, but imagine if there was a movie that focused on the Pokemon of the late 1990s.

Not to get anyone's hopes too high, but there's a possibility something like that could happen now that the new film is a hit. You may have missed it, but Detective Pikachu has a very subtle reference to past stories that very well could tie the movie into the anime world of Pokemon and the franchise's most famous human character. To spell it all out, below you'll find the details behind the reference that some may have missed, and an exploration into how it may set the stage for a popular figure who didn't appear in the film: Ash Ketchum.

Detective Pikachu's Reference To The Pokemon Anime And Pokemon: The First Movie

Detective Pikachu does a lot to establish Rhyme City as a part of the greater Pokemon universe, and surprisingly added a bit that may tie in the movie with the actual canon of the Pokemon anime and Pokemon: The First Movie. The moment comes when Tim, Pikachu, Lucy, and Psyduck explore Clifford Industries' lab, and learn more about the mysterious origins of the Pokemon, Mewtwo.

In a bit of dialogue, it's revealed that Clifford Industries managed to catch Mewtwo after it escaped the Kanto region 20 years ago. In the Pokemon anime, Mewtwo was in the possession of Viridian City Gym Leader and leader of the Team Rocket syndicate Giovanni, who operates in the Kanto region. Giovanni used Mewtwo (who was subdued with electronics) to defeat Ash's rival Gary in a gym battle. Mewtwo escaped shortly after that, which became the basis for Pokemon: The First Movie.

What makes this reference all the more interesting is the revelation that it happened 20 years ago, which is essentially how long it's been since Pokemon: The First Movie was released in theaters. It could be a coincidence, but there's something really intentional about that time frame that seems to show Detective Pikachu is wanting to align itself with the show's original canon.

Why Didn't Detective Pikachu Reference Ash Ketchum Then?

If researchers knew of Mewtwo's escape, then why didn't they know about Ash, Misty, Brock, or Team Rocket? Better yet, considering Tim believed he was going up against one of the strongest Pokemon in existence, why didn't he ring up one of the world's most prolific Pokemon trainers for some advice on how to bring him down?

There's actually a rather simple explanation for this: Ash Ketchum and his friends don't remember their encounter with Mewtwo. The powerful psychic Pokemon ended up wiping everyone's memory following the climax of Pokemon: The First Movie, and the characters resumed their lives as though nothing had ever happened. So, if Ash saw the news about Mewtwo in Rhyme City, he was probably just as shocked and as oblivious as anyone else who may have seen it.

While Mewtwo doesn't make any reference to Ash in Detective Pikachu, there are parts that imply he lived through the events of Pokemon: The First Movie. For example, he seemed far less ruthless and more forgiving of human kind in Detective Pikachu, whereas the version featured pre-Pokemon: The First Movie would've turned all the humans he encountered to stone really quickly. Fortunately, he only had to turn Ash to stone that one time to figure out it was a terrible idea he should never replicate.

Where Is Ash Ketchum In The Detective Pikachu World?

Ash was a little older than 10 when he faced off against Mewtwo, which would make him around 30 years old when the events of Detective Pikachu go down. Like most cartoon characters, Ash is basically ageless in the Pokemon anime, but while that would be an absolutely riveting plot point to tackle in a Detective Pikachu sequel, it feels more likely he would show up as an seasoned Pokemon Trainer played by an adult actor.

Ash travels around a lot, and he's gotten into some crazy situations. If Tim managed to run into Ash in the midst of some big mystery it wouldn't be the least bit surprising, and the two might even join forces. Of course, the question is, is there really a need for Detective Pikachu 2?

It would appear that Tim's issues are largely resolved with his father back in his life. Tim could still have some adventures with his dad and a non-speaking Pikachu sidekick, but that doesn't sound nearly as cool as the general premise. Ash Ketchum would certainly sweeten the deal, but maybe not enough that audiences would sign on for another Detective Pikachu where Ryan Reynolds isn't the voice of the yellow mouse.

Will Detective Pikachu Lead To A 90s Pokemon Film?

Detective Pikachu's mention of Mewtwo's origins could be the link needed for the franchise to take a trip back in time, making a movie that could potentially use Ash Ketchum as a way of telling the origin story of Mewtwo once again. Yes, it would essentially be a live-action remake of Pokemon: The First Movie, but could be completely different than the film with which American audiences are familiar.

For those that aren't aware, the story differences between the Japanese and American versions of that Pokemon movie are substantial. In fact, it's fair to say they're basically entirely separate movies, as the American version of Pokemon: The Movie was heavily edited and had its script changed to cater to American audiences. Had they stuck with the original, Americans could've had a deeply nuanced story about Mewtwo, his existential crisis, and a movie that honestly made the diminutive Mew seem like the true villain.

It's a story far better than what the American version of Pokemon: The First Movie delivered, which essentially stated that fighting is wrong in a franchise where the world's entire economy revolves around fighting. Now, Detective Pikachu has presented an opportunity to tell that story right if it wants to, and the company could retcon a very bad Pokemon feature and give America its first live-action Ash Ketchum in the process. Sounds like a win-win to me!

Should Ash Ketchum appear in the next Pokemon movie? Is remaking Pokemon: The First Movie a good idea? Sound off in the comments below, and be sure to stick with CinemaBlend for all updates regarding movies, television, and pop culture.

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Apparently Goose Had Some Trouble On The Captain Marvel Set Filming Around Skrulls

Apparently Goose Had Some Trouble On The Captain Marvel Set Filming Around Skrulls

Captain Marvel? More like Goose: A Love Story. The latest MCU origin story featured a Flerken named Goose; he was quite the scene-stealer and we all can’t stop raving about all the cuteness the character brought to the superhero blockbuster. Goose was portrayed by four cats (Reggie, Archie, Rizzo and Gonzo) who interacted with just about every one of the film’s stars, some of whom reportedly spooked the cats a bit at first, per their trainer, Ursula Brauner of Boone’s Animals for Hollywood. In her words:

I think maybe it was probably the Skrull costumes. That was one of our challenges because they look so different from people. Ben Mendelsohn was so amazing getting the cats used to the costume and makeup, though. He showed them how he moved and sounded, and he was just really great getting the cats to like him.

Wouldn’t we like to know what goes through the minds of the cats who found themselves working with the green alien race of Captain Marvel? The trainer explained it was a challenge at first, but thanks to the patience of Ben Mendelsohn, who plays Talos, the cat actors warmed up to working with the Skrulls.

In Ursula Brauner’s interview with Vulture, she continued with a sweet anecdote about how the filmmakers helped make one animal star at ease with him on set, with these words:

I remember being in the quad-jet set in a very tight space, and Ben doesn’t look anything like a human being in his costume. Reggie was a little unfurled. [Captain Marvel directors Anna Boden and Ryan Fleck] took the time to say, “Let’s stop what we’re doing and get the cat comfortable.” We had Reggie sitting on a chair, and Ben was sitting in the chair next to him, and we let Reggie go to him and explore on his own volition, and pretty soon, he realized Ben was just like us, but he just looked different. It’s about taking the time to stop. And it shows onscreen.

The cats portraying Goose in Captain Marvel certainly look comfortable on screen, as they just about own every moment they’re in, including some especially memorable ones with Samuel L. Jackson’s Nick Fury. The actor has given some mixed signals about his time working with the cats on set, telling us that “always a good day” when Goose was there and other outlets "I am not a cat person."

Brauner did set the record straight in regards to Jackson, noting he was one of the best people for the cats to work with on the film. She said they loved him and would go right up to the actor. Of the four cats, Reggie was the star cat actor, who probably is in 70% of the scenes seen on screen, according the his trainer.

In the Captain Marvel comic books, Carol Danvers does hang with a Flerken, though his name is famously Chewie. The filmmakers decided to go with Goose instead to match the film’s roots in the ‘90s and pay tribute to the fellow Air Force film character.

Goose has been treated like just about every other human star in Captain Marvel, as the character has been seen in massive banners in his own character poster everywhere and even walked the red carpet at the movie’s premiere. You can gush over the cat actors in Captain Marvel, in theaters now.

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Why The John Wick Franchise Is Better Than Mission: Impossible

Why The John Wick Franchise Is Better Than Mission: Impossible

There is a general consensus among many movie fans, as well as a lot of film critics, that the best modern action movie franchise is the Mission: Impossible series. Tom Cruise has taken action to the next level by not only performing all his own stunts, but performing some practical stunts on screen like we've never seen before.

I would never claim that what Tom Cruise has accomplished in the Mission: Impossible franchise isn't amazing. It absolutely is. However, while Tom Cruise climbing the world's tallest building is phenomenal on its own, as a franchise, I actually find the John Wick movies to be far superior in many ways. Here are some reasons why.

John Wick Is More Human

It's true that, for the most part, both John Wick and Ethan Hunt are essentially superheroes. They are men of incredible talent and skill who are successful to a ludicrous degree in everything they do. However, I find John Wick to simply be a much more relatable character.

When we first meet Mr. Wick, he's not busy murdering a room full of assassins. He's in his house, alone, mourning. The first thing that we learn about Wick is his weakness and vulnerability This is important, because for the rest of the movie he is running around murdering rooms full of assassins, but now we can better relate to him.

By contrast, Ethan Hunt is a near perfect superspy who free climbs dangerous mountains alone for fun in his free time. The franchise has done a better job of humanizing him in more recent films, but it's been working backwards. It made him the invincible hero first and that's just not as relatable.

It Has Superior World-Building

The first thing that jumped out at me about the John Wick franchise was the excellent way it created the world in which Wick and the other characters lived. The idea that this whole world of professional killers is happening all around us in plain sight is incredibly entertaining. There's a serious lack of expository dialogue as well. Instead, the film just drops you into the world and lets you understand how it works as you go along.

Nobody tells us where the Continental hotel comes from or where its traditions originated. It's just there; one assumes it always has been. Because the characters can navigate this world with ease, it comes across as normal to us and we learn what we need to know by watching what happens.

We don't even need the explanation of who John Wick is that the first movie gives us. Everything we need to know about the level of badass we're talking about here is expressed in the dialogue between two other characters. The reaction spells it all out.

The Mission: Impossible franchise isn't without its own world-building, specifically as it pertains to the IMF itself, but for the most part the IMF just feels like any spy agency in the real world. I enjoy the more fantastic elements of John Wick.

There's A Cohesive Story

One of the things that set the Mission: Impossible movies apart was the way that each installment was handled by a new director. This let each one take the property in a different direction and use it to try and do something different. This was a great idea and it gave us a lot of different flavors of Mission: Impossible to enjoy, and also a John Woo movie.

Unfortunately, one negative side effect was that each movie feels so different that they barely feel like they're part of the same franchise. Only in the last couple films have we seen real sequels that feel like they belong together, and that's because Christopher McQuarrie has been overseeing things.

By comparison, the John Wick films are so tightly woven together, the second film follows almost immediately after the first and we know the same will be true of John Wick: Chapter 3 - Parabellum. The entire trilogy takes place over a matter of days. Each event that happens follows directly on the events that came before. The events of Chapter 2 happen because of what happened in the first movie. Parabellum's plot is a consequence of Chapter 2. The reason that the following installments are called chapters is because they really are just pieces of a longer narrative.

More Visceral Action

Action scenes are largely a matter of taste and the type of action that one person loves might not work for another, but personally, I'm a fan of action that is simple and personal. Give me a good sword fight or fist fight, when well shot and choreographed, and I'm in heaven.

Mission: Impossible certainly isn't without this sort of action. The bathroom fight scene in Mission: Impossible - Fallout is a thing of beauty and my favorite part of that film. However, the rest of the action in that movie involves Tom Cruise doing HALO jumps and flying helicopters. They're big, amazing moments, but I find them to be so big that the character of the moments gets lost.

John Wick, by comparison is almost nothing but these close quarters hand-to-hand fights and gun battles. Everything feels more intimate, and therefore, more tense. When John Wick gets thrown off the balcony of the dance club you don't just see him hit the ground with a thud, you feel that impact.

John Wick isn't about one massive set piece stunt, it's about a collection of stylish, perfectly choreographed action sequences, where each one ever so slightly out does the one that came before building to an epic finale.

It's Got Style For Days

While the action of John Wick may feel more real, the rest of the world, to be sure, does not. The world of assassins that exists around our own is somewhat fantastical, that's true, but that's what makes it so much fun.

It exists out of time, with operators using an old fashioned switchboard and typing out contracts on vintage typewriters. Contracts are sent out on the modern cell phone network, but they come from a computer that looks like it came out of a silicon valley garage in the 1970s. The timeless element adds so much to the overall feel of the story.

The fight scenes are an extension of this style. Everything in them is beautifully choreographed. It's like watching a big song and dance number in a very bloody musical. Watching all the players perform their steps to perfection is a joy to watch.

I still love the Mission: Impossible franchise. I look forward to the two additional films that are coming from Tom Cruise and Christopher McQuarrie, and I can't wait to see what they have in store for us next. There's no question we'll see some epic stunts. However, outside of those epic stunts, I'm just not sure there's going to be enough in the story to keep me excited when the big stunt is over.

Instead I'm much more excited to see John Wick: Chapter 3 - Parabellum, and if there are even more chapters in John Wick's story left to tell, I'll be even more excited for those. I find John Wick to be a more compelling character, who also is really good at killing lots of people in very pretty ways.

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Millie Bobby Brown Says Godzilla: King Of The Monsters Needs To Be Seen On The Big Screen

Millie Bobby Brown Says Godzilla: King Of The Monsters Needs To Be Seen On The Big Screen

As far as film franchises go, there are none that go back quite as long as Godzilla. Dating back to 1954, the behemoth creature has been thrilling audiences for decades. And the big green guy will once again return to theaters with Godzilla: King of the Monsters, which is set to arrive in theaters in a matter of days.

The anticipation for Godzilla: King of the Monsters has been steadily building, as footage revealed the myriad monsters that will be battling for supremacy in the upcoming blockbuster. Fans are also excited to see Stranger Things favorite Millie Bobby Brown in the movie, and the 15-year old actress recently implored moviegoers to see it on the big screen. She said:

It’s a spectacular and thrilling cinematic experience that people should experience on a big screen. We had so much fun making it and that’s why people should go and see it so that they can actually feel what we felt which was just ultimate fun.

The Godzilla franchise focuses on larger than life creatures, and technology has made anything impossible in the past few years. King of the Monsters includes a number of beloved characters, and they'll appear even bigger on a larger screen. According to Millie Bobby Brown, the end result is quite the theatrical experience.

Millie Bobby Brown's comments to THR are sure to excite fans of the franchise. Rather than simply focusing on the title character or one adversary, Godzilla: King of the Monsters is a true ensemble movie as far as behemoth creatures go. It's a veritable whose who of Godzilla icons like Rodan, Mothra, and King Ghidora. And watching it on your own TV just won't do the scale of the movie justice.

Legendary's MonsterVerse has been steadily building over the past few years, and seen some solid success at the box office. Gareth Edward's 2014 Godzilla movie was a strong reboot to the franchise, and earned great reviews, on top of making $529.1 million. Kong: Skull Island performed similarly in both critically and financially, helping to set up the eventual clash of these titans.

Related: Upcoming Godzilla Movies: List Of Titles And Release Dates

But before Godzilla and King Kong come to blows, he'll have to become the King. This will put him in conflict with some of the Godzilla franchise's most beloved titans, as well as the impressive cast of actors that director Michael Dougherty assembled to play the human characters. Joining Millie Bobby Brown are Vera Farmiga, Ken Wantanabe, Charles Dance, Bradley Whitford, and Sally Hawkins.

We'll just have to see how many of them make it through the conflict, and hopefully return for a future. installment of the MonsterVerse. Serialized storytelling has become commonplace since the inception of the Marvel Cinematic Universe, and crossovers are clearly coming down the line in Godzilla Vs. Kong.

Godzilla: King of the Monsters will move the MonsterVerse forward when it arrives in theaters on May 31st. In the meantime, check out our 2019 release list to plan your next trip to the movies.

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Disney Just Dropped A Bunch Of Surprise Star Wars Dates

Disney Just Dropped A Bunch Of Surprise Star Wars Dates

This December marks the release of Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker, the final chapter of the Skywalker Saga. Following that, Lucasfilm had already made it clear that the franchise set in a galaxy far, far away would take a bit of a break from the big screen, but now we’ve learned that it won’t gone for too long. Because by 2022, Star Wars movies will be playing again at a theater near you.

Disney announced today that starting in 2022, three new “as-yet-untitled” Star Wars movies will be released on the pre-Christmas weekend every other year. That means Star Wars fans will get their fill of new cinematic adventures in 2022, 2024 and 2026. So once the Skywalker Saga wraps up, the franchise will take a three-year breather, and then return to turn the page on a new chapter of this space opera epic.

Movie studios announcing the release dates of major blockbusters years ahead of time is nothing new, but this now gives Star Wars fans a firm launch date on the post-Skywalker Saga era. It’s interesting that rather than release a Star Wars movie every year as has been happening since The Force Awakens came out, Disney and Lucasfilm are now taking a more reserved approach and delivering a Star Wars movie every two years.

What’s unclear is what Star Wars movies these will be. The Last Jedi director Rian Johnson is putting together a new trilogy after his next movie, Knives Out, is released, and Game of Thrones showrunners David Benioff and D.B. Weiss have their own trilogy in the works. Unless Disney and Lucasfilm change their minds and decide to throw additional Star Wars movies into 2023, 2025 and 2027, that means that whatever next set of films is coming next, we’ll have to wait a long time for the other set to arrive.

It’s also worth mentioning that the Friday before Christmas weekend in 2022 is December 16, and that’s the same day that Warner Bros has Aquaman 2 slated for release. So unless one of them is willing to move from that date, we’ll have a Star Wars vs. DC showdown at the box office. My guess is that Aquaman 2 is the likeliest to exit that slot, as aside from Solo: A Star Wars Story, Star Wars movies have all come out right before Christmas in the Disney era.

Related: Natalie Portman Had A Tough Time Dealing With The The Star Wars Prequel Trilogy Backlash

Of course, even without any Star Wars movies between 2019 and 2022, it’s not like there will be a lack of Star Wars content during that time. Along with numerous novels, comic books and video games being churned out, Disney+ will keep fans entertained with The Mandalorian and the still-to-be-titled series focusing on Cassian Andor and K-2SO.

Keep checking back with CinemaBlend for more updates on the Star Wars movies coming out on December 16, 2022; December 20, 2024; and December 18, 2026. In the meantime, you can look forward to Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker hitting theaters on December 20.

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Detective Pikachu Cinematographer ‘Is So Glad’ He Turned Down Sonic The Hedgehog

Detective Pikachu Cinematographer ‘Is So Glad’ He Turned Down Sonic The Hedgehog

If you logged on to the internet in the past few days or glanced at the image above, then you’ve likely witnessed some of the anxieties many fans have dealt with about the upcoming live-action Sonic the Hedgehog release. The first trailer for the video game adaptation was packed with odd moments, between the use of Coolio’s “Gangsta’s Paradise” to soundtrack the introduction, to the iconic blue hedgehog having human-like teeth and being an alien now.

At least one person out there gave one big sigh of relief upon witnessing the early look at Sonic the Hedgehog in all its glory: Detective Pikachu cinematographer, John Mathieson. Here’s what he had to say:

Funny enough, I was offered [Sonic the Hedgehog] and after watching the trailer I thought I’m so glad we don’t look like that.

That’s some shade! Mathieson is an experienced cinematographer who has worked on fan favorites such as Logan and X-Men: First Class, and has earned Oscars nominations for his photography on The Phantom of the Opera and Gladiator. The filmmaker is certainly feeling like he dodged a bullet right about now. He attributes the difference between his video game adaptation of Pokemon and Sonic by the fact that he opted to shoot the former on traditional film. Check out more of his words to Newsweek below:

If all we’re talking about is how these two films look, our film is better than Sonic the Hedgehog and I’m sorry, I don’t care who I upset by saying that, but I think it looks better. There’s no reason why you can’t shoot a film like [Detective Pikachu] or Sonic the Hedgehog on film. If you had, [Sonic the Hedgehog] would look more realistic. I look at Sonic the Hedgehog and I just go ‘yeah whatever.’

It is unlikely that shooting on film instead of digital would have made a difference regarding fans’ most popular gripe with Sonic the Hedgehog: the character design of the ‘90s icon. Some artists have even gone so far as to take matters into their own hands and rework some of the images. Take a look this one from Twitter user @EdwardPun1:

John Mathieson said the contrast in colors between Detective Pikachu and Sonic the Hedgehog makes a difference, especially since shooting a movie on digital film doesn’t capture colors such as blues and reds as well. The look of Pikachu is certainly more stylized and true to the character fans know and love. Just look at this fluffy pika-pika voiced by Ryan Reynolds:

Detective Pikachu has screened for critics ahead of its release on May 10 and the response has been positive, but before that, the movie had also been marketed in a way that has drummed up positive buzz with its first trailer. At this point, Sonic the Hedgehog won’t likely go down the same road when it hits theaters on November 8.

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