Spider-Man: No Way Home (2021) Trailer - Review/Reaction

 

The latest trailer for the webslinger's latest movie outing is out. And it promises to be the mother of all cross overs, even by MCU standards.

Peter Parker/Spider-Man has taken Doctor Strange's help to solve his identity crisis and the outcomes are far worser than anything he could have expected.

Check out the trailer:

As readers would know from the previous trailer, characters from parallel universe/multiverse have descended on Peter Parker's reality.

 

This includes Doc Ock (Alfred Molina), Green Goblin (Willem Dafoe), J Jonah Jameson (J K Simmons) and Sandman from the Sam Raimi/Tobey Maguire movies. We have Lizard and Electro/Max Dillon (Jamie Foxx) from Marc Webb/Andrew Garfield movies. 

 

I am personally excited by the return of Green Goblin as Willem Dafoe is a terrific actor. Another noteworthy point is the comic book faithful depiction of Electro's costume this time. Alfred Molina seems to be genuinely enjoying his return to Spidey's Universe.

There are some aspects of the trailer that also raised my concern. Benedict Cumberbatch looks a bit bored in his role as the Sorcerer Supreme. There is a clear difference between this performance and what we have seen him do as the Sherlock in the BBC series.

Plus, most of the jokes fell flat (at least for me). Hope the other jokes in the movie are funnier.

 

Obviously, like most other fans, I am also eagerly anticipating the return of Tobey Maguire to his arguably most famous role. Did not enjoy Andrew's performance and would not care either way for his appearance.

 

Doc Ock seems to be on Spidey's side this time. It would be fun to watch the 3 Spider-Men/Doctor Strange/Doc Ock take on Green Goblin/Lizard/Sand-Man/Electro alliance.

 

And, let us not forget about a certain alien symbiote and a living vampire who should also pop up in Spidey's timeline soon...

 

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Image Sources: Pascal Pictures, Marvel Studios, Columbia Pictures, Sony Pictures Entertainment (SPE)

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The Batman (2022) Trailer - Review

The latest trailer for the upcoming blockbuster has been released.

Directed by Matt Reeves (War for the Planet of the Apes, Cloverfield), the movie stars Robert Pattinson as Bruce Wayne/Batman, Zoe Kravitz as Selina Kyle/Catwoman, Paul Dano as Edward Nashton/Riddler, Andy Serkis as Alfred Pennyworth, Jeffrey Wright as James Gordon, Colin Farrell as Oswald Cobblepot/Penquin.

Check out the trailer:

 

Two things stand out after watching this trailer:

• Matt Reeves has taken the Caped Crusader back to his detective roots.
• This version of Batman is probably the angriest of  all the live action versions (at least among the ones I have seen)
  

I am happy with the first part as the Batman being a detective is one of the least explored aspects. Christopher Nolan's The Dark Knight briefly touched upon this facet. Credit to Matt Reeves for focusing on this.

The second part worries me. Pattinson's Batman seems bent on outdoing Batfleck on being the broodiest and violent Batman of them all. Even Affleck broke into a smile now and then as Bruce Wayne. But we get one or two shots of Pattinson without the mask and he remains as sullen as ever. This might result in a one-note performance that can get weary soon. Considering that this movie has a run time of nearly 3 hours, it could be become quite a chore to see a dour faced Batman screaming and moping around alternatively.

Speaking of Pattinson, there have been reports of alleged clashes on set between the lead actor and the director.

Coming back to the positive aspects of the trailer, Michael Giacchino's background score is amazing. He looks set to join the annals of great Batman composers along with Danny Elfman and Hans Zimmer.

I also liked Zoe as Selina Kyle. She comes across as spunky and spirited. I expect another stellar performance that will rival those of Anne Hathaway, Michelle Pfeiffer and Julie Newmar.

The direction and cinematography looks great.

 

From a plot perspective, Edward Nashton has put his plan into motion, despite being held behind bars. Bruce Wayne/Batman seems to be losing his perspective, much to Alfred's despair. Plus, Batman seems to be getting real cozy with Selina Kyle.

 

Keeping in tone with the plot, almost all the actors look and sound solemn. I am not expecting a Batman and Robin or the Adam West series level of camp. But a little bit of humor always helps.

 

The Tim Burton 1989 movie and The Dark Knight Trilogy managed to achieve this balance of fun and serious approach to the character.

 

War for the Planet of the Apes and Dawn of the Planet of the Apes are two of my all time favorite movies. Matt Reeves has been the main reason I have been excited for this movie.

 

Here's hoping that the final product turns out great and we will have another great Batman series to enjoy.

 

Trivia: The song playing in the Batman trailer is “Something In The Way” by Nirvana.

 

Click here to read all my posts about DC Comics.

Image Sources: 6th & Idaho Productions, DC Comics (based on characters from), DC Entertainment, Warner Bros.

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Celebrating World Animal Day today

 

Dear Readers,

Today is World Animal Day.

Over the past century, a number of animal species have gone extinct or are on the verge of extinction. The reason in most cases is human activity that results in deforestation and other ways in which man disturbs the natural equilibrium of ecosystem.

We humans need to remember that we are also part of the ecosystem and not above it. We are all part of the same family that is Mother Nature and have a specific role to play to ensure that a healthy balance is maintained.

Let us take a pledge to remember our roots and treat our animal brethren with the respect and compassion that they richly deserve.

“All life deserves respect, dignity, and compassion. All life”

                                                                               - A.D. Williams.

Click here to read all my Nature related posts.

Image Source: Themetapicture.com

 

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Spider-Man: No Way Home (2021) Trailer - Reaction/Review

This is the third film in the series, following Spider-Man: Homecoming and Spider-Man: Far from Home. Joining our friendly neighborhood superhero is Dr Stephen Strange (Benedict Cumberbatch), who uses his powers to separate Peter Parker from Spidey. Peter is having issues from the secret identity disclosure (courtesy of Mysterio) in the previous movie and Sorcerer Supreme tries to help his fellow Avenger, against Wong's advice.

Seems Wong is right. The third movie in the MCU's Spider-Man franchise promises to be a true crossover - we see Doctor “Doc Ock” Octopus (Alfred Molina) and Green Goblin (Willem Dafoe) return to harass Peter. Electro/Max Dillon (Jamie Foxx) also is listed in the IMDB credits.

The only question that remains is: Will Andrew Garfield have a cameo as well. I am sure/hoping that Tobey Maguire will be back.

Check out the trailer:

 

The trailer was ok. I found it to be mildly interesting. The only parts that piqued my interest was Willem Dafoe's return as Green Goblin. I am more excited for his return than for Doc Ock, even though we only heard Dafoe's voice. Dafoe did a great job as Aquaman's mentor and I cannot wait to see him menace Spidey once again. 

 

For the rest of the cast, the regulars are ok. Tobey Maguire's incarnation and his fellow cast continue to be my favorites and while I enjoy the ongoing MCU series, the tone is a bit off for my taste. Nevertheless, Cumberbatch is having fun and having JK Simmons and Dafoe makes the movie a must watch.

 

Fun Fact: Sam Raimi, who directed the Tobey Maguire Spider-Man trilogy, is directing the Doctor Strange sequel: Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness.

Click here to read more posts related to Marvel Comics.

Image Sources: Pascal Pictures, Marvel Studios, Columbia Pictures

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RIP Una Stubbs [1 May 1937 - 12 August 2021]

Una Stubbs, who played Mrs Hudson in BBC Sherlock passed away on 12th August.

 

She was the heart and soul of the series (sorry Martin Freeman) and enjoyed excellent chemistry with Benedict Cumberbatch in particular. Her version of Mrs Hudson is cheeky and caring - consistent with the overall tone of the show.

 

RIP.

 
Check out this tribute:

 

Click here to read all my posts about BBC Sherlock.

 

Image Sources: BBC Wales, Hartswood Films, Masterpiece Theatre

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Snake Eyes (2021) Trailer - Reaction/Review

Snake Eyes is one of the most popular G.I. Joe characters. The black clad ninja is one of the most recognizable and it was a matter of time before he got his own standalone movie.

 

This is the third film in the series, following G.I. Joe: The Rise of Cobra (2009) and G.I. Joe: Retaliation (2013). The ensemble cast includes Henry Golding as the black clad ninja, Andrew Koji as the titular character's blood brother Storm Shadow, Úrsula Corberó as Baroness, Samara Weaving as Scarlett, Iko Uwais as Hard Master and Peter Mensah as Blind Master.

 
Check out the trailer:

 

 

Snake Eyes is recruited by Storm Shadow to join the Arashikage, a centuries old Japanese clan of ninjas. The clan has been protecting the world from threats and Cobra (a terrorist organization) is the latest. Snake Eyes has to pass the requisite tests to become an accepted member of the clan and join the fight.

I am not familiar with G.I. Joe lore and am not sure how much this story line is faithful to the character's mythology. As a general fan of movies, this one piqued my interest. The casting choices looks solid for the main characters. Henry Golding and Andrew Koji seem to be having fun in their roles. Úrsula Corberó is well cast as Baroness.

 

I am looking forward to watching Samara Weaving and Iko Uwais as Scarlett and Hard Master respectively. I liked Samara's performance in Ready or Not and The Raid: Redemption is one of my favorite action movies. The action sequences in the latter were amazing and the finale fight between Iko's character and his brother vs Mad Dog is a classic.

Speaking of action sequences, this movie too promises lot of fun. Hopefully, the movie will live up to the high expectations set up by this trailer and not go the route of Mortal Kombat.

 

Image Sources: Paramount Pictures, Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM), Skydance Media, Hasbro, Di Bonaventura Pictures, Entertainment One

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Celebrating World Environment Day 2021

 

Dear Readers,

Close on the heels of Earth Day, today marks yet another effort to recognize the peril that the world is in. Every year, June 05 is recognized as World Environment Day.

Let us stop paying lip service and start taking small steps to protect our planet. Every individual has the power to make a difference. It is up to each one of us to choose to act responsibly.

Click here to read all my Nature related posts.

 

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Dexter Season 9 (2021) Trailer - Reaction/Review

Every one's favorite vigilante (outside of DC comics) returns in the ninth season on Showtime channel.

 

Dexter is one of my all time favorite TV shows. Michael C. Hall was born to play the role of Dexter Morgan, the bloodstain specialist who moonlights as serial killer with a twist: he only targets killers/murderers and human beings of similar ilk.

 

Dexter and his sister, Debra Morgan (Jennifer Carpenter) worked for the Miami Metro Police Department. Debra becomes aware of her brother's alter ego at the end of the sixth season.

 

Despite having a strong ensemble cast (led by the lead actor) and superb seasons initially, the show slowly started going downhill after the fourth season. The sixth and eighth season were among the weakest (in my opinion).

 

Now, after a lot of online speculation and fervent wishing by fans, we finally have the trailer for the next season.

 
Check out the official trailer from Showtime:

 

 

Dexter has assumed the alias of Jim Lindsay, a sales associate with Fred's Fish and Game store. This is a tribute to Jeff Lindsay, the author of the Dexter Morgan series of books.

 

We can see that though Jim/Dexter is seemingly leading a normal life, he is tempted by the Dark Passenger, who is clearly active and itching to get back into action. The small town settings did remind me a bit of Fargo. 

 

One of the strong points of the series has been the excellent casting of actors to play the series antagonists. As good as most of them were (except Colin Hanks), I especially enjoyed the performances by Christian Camargo (The Ice Truck Killer/Brian Moser), Jimmy Smits (Miguel Luis Prado), Jonny Lee Miller (Jordan Chase) and Ray Stevenson (Isaak Sirko). I actually liked Jonny Lee here better than as Sherlock Holmes in Elementary.

 

Continuing in the same vein, Clancy Brown has been cast as the main antagonist: Kurt Caldwell, the unofficial mayor of small town Iron Lake. Clancy has had a long career playing villains and would be a favorite among both DC and Marvel comic book fans, after voicing Lex Luthor in the DC Animated Universe and Surtur in Thor: Ragnarok.

I personally look forward to seeing the return of Dexter Morgan and his inevitable cat-and-mouse game with Kurt. Clancy has the physical presence and the gravitas to become a memorable entry to the illustrious rogues' gallery.

Image Sources: Showtime Networks, John Goldwyn Productions, The Colleton Company, Clyde Phillips Productions, Devilina Productions

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Friends: The Reunion (2021) Trailer - Reaction/Review

Friends is undoubtedly one of the most popular TV shows of all time. The show ran from 1994 to 2004 and all the six lead actors earned 1 Million USD per episode as the series attained a worldwide following.

After almost two decades since it's last run, an actors' reunion is in the offing.

Check out the trailer:

I personally have seen some of the episodes and liked them. I was never a die-hard fan. Still, the trailer struck a chord with me.

I can only imagine how hardcore fans would react. Right from the beginning, when the theme music starts playing, the trailer hits the right spot and makes us nostalgic.

The actors clearly had a great time making the series and have a great chemistry. All this is evident from the trailer. Most interesting part is that Matthew Perry (Chandler Bing) has only one line and that is certain to bring a tear to any fan of the show.

The Reunion is set to be telecast on HBO Max on May 27. I am sure the hourly countdown would have already begun for many.

Image Sources: Bright/Kauffman/Crane Productions, HBO Max, Warner Bros. Television

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Venom: Let There Be Carnage (2021) Trailer - Reaction/Review

 

We have the first official trailer for the sequel to the worldwide blockbuster: Venom.

Eddie Brock/Venom (Tom Hardy) have clearly settled into their life together, with the alien symbiote now preparing breakfast for his human host. He still frequents the local store owned by Mrs Chen (Peggy Lu).

 

But trouble is brewing in the form of Cletus Kasady (Woody Harrelson) and Shriek (Naomie Harris). Fans of Marvel Comics/Spiderman will immediately recognize Cletus as the alter ego of the homicidal Carnage.

 

Michelle Williams returns as Anne Weying, Eddie's flame and Stephen Graham joins the cast as Detective Mulligan.

Check out the trailer:

Tom Hardy slips back effortlessly as the unwitting host of the murderous symbiote. He continues to show a great sense of humor as Eddie. Woody has been cast in yet another role of a unhinged individual that he has played so well in other movies (2012, War for the Planet of the Apes). I look forward to seeing the cast-against-type Naomie Harris play the antagonist.

With two villains combining their powers and Carnage being stronger than Venom, could this mean a certain more famous webslinger will have a cameo appearance?

 

The movie is being marketed as a comedic superhero flick, very much in Deadpool's alley. The other interesting aspect is that the movie has been directed by Andy Serkis. Andy has given some of the best motion capture performances (Lord of the Rings trilogy, King Kong, Planet of the Apes trilogy).

 

Andy has already directed three movies and this is his highest profile movie yet. His previous movie (Mowgli: Legend of the Jungle) was overshadowed by Disney's version, that was directed by Jon Favreau. Let us see if he steals all the limelight with his latest attempt.

 

Click here to read all my posts about Marvel Comics.

Image Sources: Marvel Entertainment, Pascal Pictures, Sony Pictures Entertainment (SPE)

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