An unexpected pleasure on Apple TV+, “Underrated” tracks the phenomenon and potential GOAT of the Golden State Warriors from his first buckets at age 4 to his record breaking career we all know by now.
It’s a fascinating story of an unlikely, undersized shooter, and chronicles his tenacious struggles to cope with his unique situation as an underestimated and unexpected talent.
Born on March 14, 1988, in Akron, Ohio, Wardell Stephen Curry II was destined to have a life intertwined with basketball. As the son of Dell Curry, a sharpshooting guard in the NBA, young Steph spent his childhood with a front-row seat to the world of professional basketball.
Despite his pedigree, Curry’s path to NBA superstardom was anything but assured. His small stature and lean frame didn’t impress recruiters from major college programs, leaving him to play at Davidson College, a mid-major school in North Carolina. But Steph’s Davidson years, from 2006 to 2009, became the launching pad for one of the most remarkable careers in NBA history.
In his sophomore and junior seasons, Curry exploded onto the national scene with captivating performances in the NCAA tournament. His audacious long-range shooting, deft ball-handling, and unselfish play transformed him from a lightly regarded recruit into a bona fide college basketball sensation.
The Golden State Warriors selected Curry with the seventh pick in the 2009 NBA draft. Early in his career, concerns about chronic ankle injuries cast a cloud over his future. But Curry persevered, guided by an unwavering belief in his abilities and a relentless work ethic.
In the 2012-13 season, Curry began to make his mark in the NBA, setting a new league record for three-pointers in a season. But it was in the following season that “Chef Curry” truly came into his own. With his silky shooting stroke, behind-the-back dribbles, and clutch performances, Curry led the Warriors to their best season in decades, earning his first Most Valuable Player (MVP) award in the process.
The 2014-15 season was a banner year for Curry and the Warriors. Not only did Curry win his first MVP award, but he also guided the Warriors to their first NBA championship in 40 years. But Curry wasn’t done yet. In the 2015-16 season, he took his game to even greater heights, becoming the first unanimous MVP in NBA history and leading the Warriors to a record 73 regular-season wins.
Despite a heartbreaking loss to the Cleveland Cavaliers in the 2016 NBA Finals, Curry remained at the top of the NBA hierarchy. He teamed up with superstar forward Kevin Durant to lead the Warriors to back-to-back championships in 2017 and 2018.
The 2019-20 season saw a shift in fortune for Curry and the Warriors. With Durant departing for Brooklyn and Klay Thompson sidelined by a devastating injury, the Warriors struggled, and a hand injury limited Curry to only five games.
The 2020-21 season was a comeback year for Curry. Despite a turbulent season for the Warriors, Curry reminded the world of his preternatural abilities. He won his second NBA scoring title and broke Wilt Chamberlain’s record to become the Warriors’ all-time leading scorer, demonstrating that even in the face of adversity, Steph Curry remained a force to be reckoned with.
Huge box office unexpectedly this weekend for both films: $155 Million, which was the biggest of 2023 so far, for Barbie, while Oppenheimer raked in $80 Million.
The somewhat odd pairing, now known as “Barbenheimer” has become a double feature smash. Countless moviegoers found themselves torn between two strikingly different blockbusters, each boasting a vast ensemble of talent, the visionary touch of auteur directors, and simultaneous release dates.
Instead of choosing one over the other, they chose both. This resulted in “Barbie” and “Oppenheimer” being enjoyed as an unparalleled same-day double bill, transforming the anticipated box office clash into a historic cinematic experience.
What it means, if we ascribe meaning
The respective histories of the Barbie doll and the atomic bomb have continued to intersect and diverge in interesting ways since their inception.
The atomic bomb’s legacy is complex and profound. Its first use in warfare, in the bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki in August 1945, brought an end to World War II but at a staggering human cost.
This, combined with the subsequent nuclear arms race during the Cold War, led to the atomic bomb becoming a symbol of destruction and a deterrent against global conflict. However, the technology and knowledge gained also led to advancements in nuclear energy, providing a new, potent source of power.
J. Robert Oppenheimer, despite his pivotal role in the creation of the atomic bomb, became a vocal opponent of nuclear proliferation after witnessing its destructive power.
His life after the Manhattan Project was marked by his advocacy for the control of nuclear power and his regret about the weapon he had helped to create.
On the other hand, Barbie, launched by Ruth Handler in 1959, was initially met with skepticism but soon became a global phenomenon. Barbie was the first doll of its kind to have an adult body, breaking away from the tradition of childlike dolls. This new design was seen as a way for children, particularly girls, to imagine and role-play their futures.
As time went on, Barbie became more than a doll. It became a reflection of the changing social attitudes and norms. Despite facing criticism for promoting unrealistic body standards and perpetuating certain stereotypes, Barbie evolved with the times.
Mattel, the company that produces Barbie, has since made significant strides in inclusivity and representation, producing dolls with varying body types, ethnicities, careers, and backgrounds. Barbie dolls have been astronauts, presidents, and doctors, reflecting society’s changing views on women’s roles.
By 2020, Barbie was seen as a symbol of female empowerment and potential, far from the simplistic toy it was once considered. Its origin as a creation born out of a mother’s desire to provide a sense of normalcy and future for her children in a world overshadowed by war still resonates.
It is fascinating to see how two creations, both born out of the context of World War II, took such different paths. The atomic bomb and Barbie doll each represent contrasting aspects of the human experience – destruction and creation, despair and hope. Their histories serve as poignant reminders of the far-reaching impacts of the decisions and actions taken during tumultuous times.
What the stories accidentally intertwine
In the heart of 1943, the world was clouded in the dust and smoke of World War II. Far from the front lines, in a remote corner of New Mexico, an intense battle of the mind was raging, led by the enigmatic J. Robert Oppenheimer. A theoretical physicist, Oppenheimer was tasked with the mammoth responsibility of heading the Manhattan Project, a clandestine initiative to develop an atom bomb that could end the war.
Across the country, Ruth Handler, a humble young woman in Los Angeles, watched her two children, Barbara and Kenneth, play with makeshift toys. She could hardly escape the feeling of dread permeating the air as the radio hummed in the background with updates about the war. At this moment, an idea sparked in her mind – a vision of a doll, a symbol of hope and normalcy, something to distract and comfort children from the harsh realities of the world.
In Los Alamos, Oppenheimer and his team of brilliant minds worked against the ticking clock, racing to finish their devastating invention. With each passing day, Oppenheimer felt the weight of his actions – a burden as heavy as the nucleus at the heart of the project. He was crafting the potential destroyer of worlds, something so powerful, so irreversible, that the echo of its explosion would forever change the world.
While Oppenheimer grappled with the moral implications of his work, Handler busied herself in the creation of her vision. She was determined to bring her idea to life, a doll with adult features, something girls could dream through and play with, projecting their hopes and aspirations. Her friends and family thought her idea strange, but she pressed on, with a fierce determination in her heart.
Then came July 16, 1945. In the early hours of the morning, as dawn began to break, the world’s first atomic bomb, christened “Trinity,” was detonated in the New Mexico desert. Oppenheimer watched in horrified awe as the desert lit up with an unnatural light, an intense wave of heat followed by a deafening blast. As the mushroom cloud ascended, he quoted a verse from the Bhagavad Gita, “Now I am become Death, the destroyer of worlds.”
News of the atomic bomb’s successful testing spread like wildfire. People reacted with a cocktail of emotions – awe, fear, relief, and horror. Amidst this chaos, Ruth saw an opportunity. In the aftermath of this massive creation, she saw room for a smaller one – a beacon of hope.
In 1945, as the world started to piece itself together following the cessation of the worst war in human history, Handler went to work. She labored day and night, combining, crafting, refining, until finally, in 1959, Barbie was born – the doll Ruth had envisioned all those years ago. With its adult physique, fashionable clothes, and endless possibility for play, the doll was an instant success.
Barbie and the atom bomb, two creations born from the same era but of diametrically opposed intentions. One, a symbol of destruction, crafted in the shadows by a team of the world’s brightest scientists, and the other, a beacon of hope and innocence, created by a mother yearning for normalcy amidst chaos.
As the years passed, the legacy of both creations evolved. Barbie became a symbol of empowerment and possibilities for millions of girls worldwide. And as for the atom bomb, its terrifying power also paved the way for peaceful nuclear energy, highlighting the dual aspects of scientific advancement.
The narrative of Barbie and the atom bomb reflects the dual nature of human capability: our power to destroy and our ability to create hope in the shadow of devastation. It serves as a reminder of the choices we make and the impacts they have, for years and generations to come.
13.6 Million Likes?! Sure, if you are Jason Stratham on TikTok. And it’s the first video on a brand new account. The only video on the account so far. And you are dancing while you divulge your stats.
Looking at the comments, however, nearly 70,000 of them, a large number are asking “is this real”. Deep-fakes are most definitely real. Several accounts used Tom Cruise Deep-fake video to try to spoof an official TikTok account for the star. And a few stray clips of Brad Pit at a script reading spawned a series of fake accounts trying to look like Brad’s personal “rogue” account.
But, wait, there’s also Billie Eilish who started a “secret” personal account in November 2020 and posted some fascinatingly bizarre ukulele footage, apparently just for kicks, as she surely has no need for more publicity. The account was so unique and, well, strange, that it was hard to imagine that it could be fake.
Sure enough, yesterday what appears to be an outtake from her recent music video with some hilarious captions and stickers popped up on the, mostly dormant, account and has since gone viral. All of which pretty much cements the “it’s definitely real” theory.
As for Jason Statham? We are going to go out on a limb here and say that he is following Billie Eilish’s lead and this is a real account. The fact that there is a single video with a full body dance clip of what absolutely appears to be the star is a tip-off. Secondly if this is his head deep-faked onto someone else’s body, that’s a pretty perfect body double.
Also, the original sound mix seems to indicate that there was method that went the extra mile.
What’s your take? Send us comments or your detective results and let us know if you think this is real, like we do, or if this is just some amazing wizardry at a next level of deep-fake-ness, which thousands of comment writers on TikTok seem to believe…
Above: Official Trailer for “Wrath of Man” Credit: MGM
In addition to Statham, he is joined by a slew of actors including: Alex Ferns, Holt McCallany, Scott Eastwood, Jeffrey Donovan, Laz Alonso, Josh Hartnett, Niamh Algar, Raúl Castillo, Post Malone, Lyne Renee, Anthony Molinari, Deobia Oparei, Tadhg Murphy, Babs Olusanmokun, Darrell D’Silva, Chris Reilly, Matthew Illesley, Rebecca Calder, Jason Wong, Alessandro Babalola, Cameron Jack, Montana Manning, Rocci Williams, Josh Cowdery, and Eve Macklin.
The future of Ethereum, DAOs, Defi and Web3 set to become mainstream with movie tracing its history
Ridley Scott’s production company, Scott Free Productions, is slated to produce a feature film based the book, which tells the story of Ethereum, ‘The Infinite Machine‘ written by cryptocurrency crusader and journalist Camila Russo, and has Shyam Madiraju attached as director. Tom Moran, Vera Meyer, and Alejandro Miranda are also onboard, according to Deadline.
With Ridley Stott’s credits running the gamut from ‘Blade Runner‘, to ‘The Last Duel’, to Alien, to Gladiator, and too many more to count, plus production credits for Scott Free that are no less impressive, the upcoming films appears set to be big.
Ethereum co-founder Vitalik Buterin will play prominently in the story, showing the early and incredible initial launch, inspired by the self-taught 19 year-old, into what is now the world’s second largest cryptocurrency (Ether) and, according to Ethereum.org is a technology that’s home to digital money, global payments, and applications. The current ‘market cap’ for Ethereum is nearly $400 billion.
The story up to the present day is fascinating enough, with the meteoric rise of Ethereum from the founding in 2015 to the announcement of this project. Particularly noteworthy is the connection between the Ethereum blockchain technology and the invention of NFTs (Non-fungible tokens), DeFi (decentralized finance), D.A.O.s (Decentralized autonomous organizations) and more.
Camila Russo, author of “The Infinite Machine”, also founded TheDefiant( thedefiant.io ) which “curates, digests, and analyzes all the major developments in decentralized finance, so that you can stay informed and smart about the most cutting-edge and fastest-changing corner of crypto and finance” according to the site itself.
The film project has already started to make waves and accomplish meaningful buzz in a deep layered, totally coherent approach to its creation. Namely, the fact that part of the fundraising for the film is taking place via NFT collections. This bold move has been incredibly well timed and successful, with the first @ETHMovie collection selling out completely within 28 hours and raising $670,000 in the process.
The @ETHMovie Collection’s first mint of 2,100 NFTs at 0.08 ETH sold out in 28 hours, raising $670K. The movie is based on @CamiRusso's book on the story of Ethereum. The raise will go towards funding the movie.
This funding, along with subsequent NFT collections offered are being managed via The Infinite Machine DAO community treasury, along with traditional film financing techniques. The DAO is, itself, the executive producer of the movie.
According to the official site for the film, the NFT collection sales will be equally distributed amongst the 36 intervening artist which will receive 22.5% of the budget. 10% will be sent to a community treasury pool to fund the DAO, and the 67.5% will be used for the movie.
‘It’s incredibly exciting to have Ridley Scott and the crew at Scott Free produce the movie of The Infinite Machine alongside us. I can’t imagine a better team to turn the riveting story about the people behind the most revolutionary technology since the internet into a feature film that will capture the hearts of our generation.‘
Camila Russo as per ‘DeaDline’
This groundbreaking funding mechanism, in this case for a movie that is intended to “become a blockbuster movie for the mainstream”, is part and parcel of the radical yet optimistic and hopeful changes that DAOs, NFTs, DeFi all were created to achieve, within the greater context of Web3 and the Ethereum blockchain itself. In other words, making this film is itself proof that the subject matter is alive, kicking and becoming more real (and dangerous, to some) in real time.
Traditional funding and monetary distribution channels, from the creative genesis of an idea (in this case the book) to a fully formed commercially released product and its proceeds, are by comparison, woefully inadequate and generally corrupt and unfair, according to many artists and creators super-pumped for the transition to these new methods made possible by Ethereum, blockchain, and soon, Web3.
So from the story, in both book and movie, to the NFT collections, the the DAO created to executive produce and partially fund the film, there is a thread of real-life proof-of-concept running throughout.
That proof is that, far from being a far flung, possible flash-in-the-pan, the entire saga, beginning with 19-year-old Vitalik Buterin’s idea to expand the potential of block chain, is destined to come to spectacular fruition, and sooner than you might believe.
Culminating the relatively short history of the last 7 years, all the way to the present day explosion of work, massive capital investments and development of Ethereum, along with its various applications and use-cases, we could be inexorably headed toward a moment in the near-future when the film will crash head-on into the realization of the very dream scenario it depicts. Oh boy howdy.
Below, the breakdown of the The Infinite Machine DAO funding plan:
Before the Movie Budget is Covered
Distribution of primary and secondary sales:
22.5% in an equal basis amongst the 36 intervening artists
10.0% to a community treasury pool used to seed The Infinite Machine DAO
67.5% to cover the movie budget up to $16M. That number may be reduced depending on the amount of funds raised via traditional means.
After the Movie budget is covered
Distribution of secondary trading fees and any other revenues from all collections:
22.5% will be received by the artists in this collection
25.0% will be received by the NFT Collection core team and contributors
52.5% will be used to fund a community pool to seed The Infinite Machine DAO
Camila Russo spent eight years at Bloomberg covering the Argentine market (bonds, stocks, FX) for 4+ years based in Buenos Aires; she wrote about European stocks with a focus on Southern Europe in Madrid; analyzed macro emerging markets moves for the Markets Live blog in New York; and was one of the most prolific and dedicated cryptocurrency reporters.
news is out!!
🎬🎬 The GOAT Ridley Scott and his production company Scott Free, the makers of
🔥 Gladiator 🔥 Alien 🔥 Blade Runner 🔥 House of Gucci 🏆 Nominated for 80 Academy Awards
🚀🚀 Will produce @ETHMovie The Infinite Machine movie!!!
The first trailer, a teaser really, of the second iteration of Avatar is finally here, unless you went to the theater to see “Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness” where the trailer was first released.
Returning cast members Sam Worthington, Zoe Saldana, Sigourney Weaver and Giovanni Ribisi are present for Avatar 2. There is also said to be a variety of new characters, a couple of which will be played by Kate Winslet and Michelle Yeoh.
There are some that are none too thrilled with the lack luster teaser…. Maybe because it didn’t really feel all that much like a “trailer”, or it could be, the original Avatar was a movie in which you went to the theater, put on special 3D glasses and was an experience. Watching the 2D video clip online didn’t pack the punch or awe-factor that many have been waiting for.
It’s a common theme with James Cameron movies – the plot and concept are so “perfect” but nearly generic is that perfection. Then all the effort and $$$$ is lavished on special effects and execution of that archetypal concept.
Will this, admittedly ultra-successful recipe work in 2022? Hard to say – this will be a big, huge, ultra-promoted blockbuster release no matter what. Little chance of besting Avatar ‘1’ but could be less than a disappointment even if it does not hit the $1 billion mark.
Check out the trailer below, the nearly 2 minute video clip, in glorious streaming 2D, doesn’t present audience with much in the way of a plot line besides showing the Na’vi in Pandora and having to defend their territory against invaders.
“Avatar: The Way of Water” is currently scheduled for a theatrical release at the end of the year on December 16:
This upcoming Horror-slash-Gore-slash Sci-Fi explores a future world where humans live in a more synthetic environment, forcing the body to undergo new mutations and transformations. And get this, in this world, the body has become so strong, that pain has been eliminated, which, strangely, now the characters experiencing pain through acts of self-mutilation and surgery has become the new “sex” (in other words pleasurable). Viggo Mortensen plays a performance artist named Saul Tenser, where he showcases the changing displays through the various forms of surgical alterations that his body undergoes.
If you’ve got the stomach for it, or an appetite for scaring yourself silly, this is the railer for you.
*Warning* the trailer is a bit much to watch if you are like most that don’t necessarily enjoy seeing people cut into themselves.
“Crimes of the Future” stars Viggo Mortensen, Lea Seydoux, as well as Kristen Stewart and Scott Speedman. When the movie was originally thought up, fun fact, Nicolas Cage was meant to play the lead, however due to the project being shelved for several years, recasting was done with Viggo.
The film is set for theatrical release this summer on June 3, 2022.
Those willing to watch the trailer, check it out below:
Back in 2019 Greta Gerwig (known for work on “Lady Bird”, “Little Women” and “The Squid and the Whale”) and Noah Baumbach signed on to write a live-action Barbie movie for Warner Bros. By the looks of it, giving by a sneak-peak that it’s giving hot pink, retro 80’s Barbie vibes.
Some might find it anomalous that Robbie, famed for, among others, being Harley Quinn of suicide squad, a role that had the feel of a life-time type-casting dream, so Barbie might seem a stretch for those that feel married to her portrayal of a more, shall we say, dangerous female anti-hero.
And yet, perhaps it’s brilliant. Certainly the photo, released as a teaser at CinemaCon gives out a vibe that is spot-on for an inspired casting take on the doll come to life. Unfortunately the official trailer is still to come, so we’ve provided a “first look” video with clips from her that kind of visualizes a fantasy take in the meantime.
Alongside Margot Robbie as Barbie, Ryan Gosling will play the iconic boyfriend Ken. There are also a handful of crazy talent with fellow cast members to include: Will Ferrell, America Ferrera, Simu Lui, Issa Rae, Michael Cera and Kate McKinnon.
The plot details for the film have not been shared and kept quite mum as of now, so we may have to wait closer to the release date next year to see Gerwig’s adaptation. Currently “Barbie” is scheduled for theatrical release on July 21, 2023.
During a screening at CinemaCon, Paramount held a debut for “Top Gun: Maverick” and thus far it has been enthusiastically reviewed, to put it mildly. Attended by film critics, some of the first ravings of the sequel included: “the perfect blockbuster”, “a total banger” and “a masterful adrenaline rush”.
Looking at the trailer, which is out now (below) it is clear to see where some of the excitement is coming from. The photography in the action sequences has a realistic feel that, when using the original film from 1986 as a reference, clearly shows an amazing upgrade. On a big screen at CinemaCon these sequences must have been amazing.
There’s also the sense that the storyline used Tom Cruise’s age in a clever way, turning it into an advantage throughout, and , as a result, turning the film into a sympathetic one for anyone older than 25 (most reviewers, in other words).
Finally, one has to wonder if the current situation in Ukraine, with the same enemy from the ‘Top Gun’ in 1986 – MiG-28s fighters from Russia (Soviet Union) played a role in the excited reactions in any way?
Not having seen the entire film, without any spoiler alerts, there could be an emotional connection with the sad and scary enemy that invaded Ukraine and the projected heroic power and potential of ‘Top Gun: Maverick’, to counter that threat, were they to be real.
Please take this with a grain of salt, it could be way off base. But one thing is certain – the critics who’s reactions are already out there are wildly positive on the film and are predicting that it will be a huge memorial weekend hit, just for starters.
TOP GUN: MAVERICK is the perfect blockbuster. Not only did it feature dazzling aerial combat sequences, but I actually cried, it’s that emotional. And call me crazy, but I humbly predict that it WILL land a Best Picture nod next year. It’s not just THAT good, it’s VERY good. 😉
Yes. So much yes. #TopGunMaverick is a masterful adrenaline rush. Tom Cruise is our greatest movie star. This delivers EVERYTHING you want in a blockbuster. Aerial scenes are jaw dropping. Character work is fantastic. Pure action with massive heart. A must see! pic.twitter.com/c8WvoInUze
The film shows “Maverick” still pushing the envelope as a courageous test pilot. The official plot synopsis says “Facing an uncertain future and confronting the ghosts of his past, Maverick is drawn into a confrontation with his own deepest fears, culminating in a mission that demands the ultimate sacrifice from those who will be chosen to fly it.”
More than 30 years since the original 1986 action drama “Top Gun” has been released, the sequel starring Captain Pete “Maverick” Mitchell played by the one-and-only Tom Cruise is coming to the big screen .
Val Kilmer and Jennifer Connelly, also original actors from the first film, return as well. Additionally some new characters will be introduced which will be played by: Miles Teller, Jon Hamm, Ed Harris, Monica Barbara and Glen Powell.
“Top Gun: Maverick” will be held for theatrical release starting May 27 and will most likely have streaming capabilities on Paramount+ following its theatrical run time.
The award-winning documentary titled YOUTH v GOV premiered globally on the streaming platform Netflix Friday as the youth plaintiffs featured in the film await a decision that could put their historic climate lawsuit on a path to trial.
“In under two hours, you get an inside look at nearly seven years of Juliana v. United States,” said Julia Olson, executive director and chief legal counsel at Our Children’s Trust, in a statement about the independent film. “And it’s not over. We are determined to get to trial because our young clients deserve to take the stand and have their evidence heard by a judge.”
The documentary—directed by scientist and filmmaker Christi Cooper—focuses on the federal suit filed in 2015 and its 21 plaintiffs. The Our Children’s Trust legal team, which represents the young people, argues that by contributing to the climate emergency, the U.S. government is violating their clients’ constitutional rights to life, liberty, and property, and failing to protect essential public trust resources.
Shortly after settlement negotiations between the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) and attorneys for the Juliana youth ended without resolution last November, federal lawmakers and advocacy groups sent President Joe Biden and other leaders in his administration letters in support of the plaintiffs.
“The question now is whether the Biden administration will keep fighting tooth and nail to keep them silenced, and whether our courts will stand up for their constitutional rights,” Olson said Friday. “After 50 years of the government—both Democrats and Republicans—knowingly making the climate crisis worse, I’m not betting on partisan politics. But I do have faith in the judiciary.”
The plaintiffs—now ages 14 to 26—are waiting for a court to rule on a motion to amend their complaint, which could put the case on track for a trial.
Take a peek at the stories of the youth who sued the U.S. government through a campaign supported by @youthvgov and WITNESS!
Since talks with the DOJ concluded, climate scientists have reiterated warnings about the need for systemic changes on a global scale, Congress has failed to pass a package containing key climate measures, and Biden has facedcriticism for not taking executive action to address the planetary emergency.
“I think for a lot of young people right now, life is really scary, because we’ve never seen a moment like this in history, and our feelings about our life and our future [are] all because of choices that we had no participation in,” says 26-year-old Kelsey Juliana—the named plaintiff in the case—during the first two minutes of the film.
“And so the plaintiffs joined this case,” Juliana adds, “because we all know who’s to blame and what needs to be done.”
The Netflix release of the film—which has won over two dozen awards at film festivals worldwide—was met with excitement by climate action advocates.
“Put this on your must watch list this weekend!” tweeted the Wisconsin Environmental Health Network. “Let’s get this important documentary into Netflix’s trending now category!”
Noting that one of the plaintiffs—21-year-old Xiuhtezcatl Martinez—is based in Boulder, Matt Benjamin, a member of the Colorado city’s council, also highlighted the doc on Twitter.
“Make sure to check out this film streaming tonight on Netflix,” he said. “It’s inspirational. It’s emotional. It fills me with hope that our younger generations will take control of their future.”
Originally published on Common Dreams and republished under a Creative Commons license (CC BY-NC-ND 3.0).
“The Northman” is a bloody Scandinavian Viking’s tale of revenge. The film follows Prince Amleth (played by Alexander Skarsgård) who vows to avenge his father’s death at the hands of his uncle.
While, perhaps, not everyone waits with baited breath for the next bloody Viking saga, this particular outing might have a shot at a wider audience due to the elevated filmmaking and stunning visuals.
The trailer (below) will give you a taste of this, and based on how you feel once having viewed it you may have a better idea of why you might want to visit a theater (later this month, only in theaters) to get the full treatment.
Along with Skarsgård comes a hard-hitting cast including: Nicole Kidman, Ethan Hake (plays King Aurvandil), Anya Taylor-Joy, Claes Bang and William Dafoe (witch).
Reviews for the film, directed by Robert Egger, are coming out now, since the theatrical release of the film will hit screens at the end of the month. Rotten Tomatoes calls it “bold, unflinching and visually breathtaking”. Eggers is known for the historical fables / period setting pieces that push the genre, such as in his previous films, for example, “The Lighthouse” and “The Witch”.
“The Northman” is set for theatrical release starting April 22.
Two new Marvel heroes have been brought to the big and small screens that may be quite new to many people. The first is the titular character in the Disney+ series Moon Knight, starring Oscar Isaac, which is set in the main Marvel Cinematic Universe. The other is Morbius, an unlucky vampiric doctor, played by Jared Leto, who is the newest villain-turned-good-ish guy in the Sony Spider-Man Universe to get a film, after Venom.
These are stories featuring violent male anti-heroes – who are also characters fairly unknown to the general public. When the first Venom was released, The Hollywood Reporter noted: “The MCU makes it easy to be a Marvel fan without having ever read the source material”.
Morbius has not fared so well, bringing in the lowest box office numbers compared to its Spider-Man counterparts. Critics suggest that this might be due to the character’s “relative obscurity”. On the other hand, Moon Knight has garnered good reviews.
Like it or not, the Marvel Cinematic Universe is expanding and there are a whole host of new heroes making their way from the more obscure corners of the comic universe onto the screen. Here are five such characters who will be headlining new films and TV series as part of numerous forthcoming Marvel projects, from Disney’s Marvel Studios, and Sony.
1. Ms Marvel
The world’s first female, teen, Muslim superhero, Ms Marvel received a lot of praise when she made her debut in 2013 in a Captain marvel comic. Critics praised the character as a positive representation of a young Pakistani American woman who is also Muslim. This outing was so successful, the teen got her own comic the following year. She will also officially be joining Marvel’s Cinematic Universe in June 2022 with her own series on Disney+. https://www.youtube.com/embed/m9EX0f6V11Y?wmode=transparent&start=0
The series revolves around a young woman called Kamala Khan, who is a is a huge fan of superheroes. When she mysteriously gets powers, Khan is inspired by Captain Marvel to become a hero herself. Ms Marvel will be appearing alongside Captain Marvel and Photon in the 2023 film The Marvels.
Werewolf by Night will be MCU’s first horror outing. Marvel
Following the cinema release of Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness, this will be the Marvel Cinematic Universe’s first horror themed TV show. Featuring the somewhat prosaically named Jack Russell, Werewolf by Night ran for four years in the 1970s, following a relaxation on censorship of horror comics, which allowed for the creation of Marvel’s vampire characters Blade and Morbius in the first half of the decade.
Kraven is the orphaned son of Russian aristocrats with a penchant for hunting big game. While hunting in Africa, he ends up drinking a potion that gives him superhuman strength, speed and the instincts of a jungle cat. Bored of hunting animals he sets his sights on larger prey, Spider-Man.
Kraven first appeared in comics as Spider-Man’s foe in 1964. The maniacal hunter will be the third villain to lead a live-action Spider-Verse film. However, unlike Venom and Morbius before him, Kraven is not known in the comics for performing good deeds, so it will be an interesting challenge for Marvel to make an anti-hero of the artistocrat.
Kraven The Hunter is not a nice guy in the comics but is set to be an anti-hero in his first outing in the Spider-Man Sony universe. Marvel
Kraven rarely appears without Spider-Man in the comics so Sony have set themselves a challenge to flesh out the hunter in a film where his nemesis doesn’t appear. Kraven will be played by Aaron-Taylor Johnson, who is no stranger to a tight suit, having previously played the low-rent superhero Kick Ass in two films.
5. Silk
The first Spider-Man Sony universe TV show will feature Cindy Moon, a female student bitten by the same radioactive spider that gave Spider-Man his abilities. However, unlike Peter Parker who was left to swing around New York and discover his new powers, Moon was kidnapped and held in a bunker for 13 years.
Silk was turned by the same spider as Spider-Man. Marvel/Wikimedia
With Sony’s films only apparently allowing for Spider-Man to be shown or discussed in their end credit scenes, it will be interesting to see how Silk deals with the heroine’s creation without any mention of Spidey – unless given permission by Disney to do so. There has been speculation that Sony may revive Andrew Garfield’s incarnation of the character in the future, so time will tell how Silk proceeds.
Nicolas Cage is an actor and in his next role – which is to say, he also plays as an actor, a fictional one who just-so-happens to go by the name of Nick Cage, yes, extremely meta.
In the film, Cage is an unfulfilled actor that is on the brink of financial ruin (familiar, right?). The actor is propositioned with an offer he can’t refuse, $1 million to attend a super-fan named Javi’s (played by Pedro Pascal) birthday party.
Then things get ever-more-stranger when Cage is approached by a CIA operative (played by Tiffany Haddish) and asked to go on an unusual mission. The trailer is packed with expletives and outrageousness and looks like a buddy slash comedy slash Nick Cage-style action movie. In order to do so, Cage finds himself channeling his most iconic characters (referencing to his real life movies he’s played including: “Face/Off”, “The Rock”, “Leaving Las Vegas” and “The Wicker Man”) he’s played to save himself and those he loves.
The film was met with major praise during the South by Southwest festival (SWSW) and has already generated a 100% Rotten Tomatoes score. The action comedy has also attracted major buzz ahead of its theatrical release on April 22.
Six years ago a terrorist in Vienna took hundreds of hostages and the rescue attempt was totally botched. Veteran Henry Pelham (played by Chris Pines), a CIA operative learned that one of its agents may be the reason behind the attack via leaking sensitive information. Pelham along with his college Celia Harrison (played by Thandiwe Newton), also former lover are assigned to figure out who the mole is.
The movie is based on the 2015 spy novel by author Olen Steinhauer. Director Janus Metz adapted his screen from the book. In addition to Pines and Newton, the film also features Laurence Fishburne and Jonathan Pryce.
The movie will be released April 8 on the Amazon streaming platform globally and also in select theaters.
Jujutsu Kaisen 0 is a prequel to the extremely popular anime series Jujutsu Kaisen which held #1 slot in Japan for six weeks after its release in December 24 of last year. The Japanese blockbuster is headed for release in the U.S. and its not too late to jump on the anime train for this upcoming action fantasy film.
Jujutsu Kaisen has been a household name in the manga world since 2018. So when the anime series hit it was quickly named “Anime of the Year” in 2021 and was a trending topic on Twitter for weeks after its release.
Jujutsu Kaisen 0 takes place 1 year earlier from Season 1 of the Jujutsu Kaisen anime series. The story follows Yuta Okkotsu a high school who gains control of an powerful evil cursed spirit named Rika. Yuta attempts the dual existence as a regular teenage and also having extreme physical powers that he is unable to control.
Yuta agrees to enter the Tokyo Prefectural Jujutsu High School in order and be trained by sorcerers after he continues to unintentionally harm people because of the Rika spirit.
Yuta must learn to control his power and only use for the greater good. Jujutsu Kaisen 0 gives good fundamental context to the anime series, which again is perfect if you want to start the journey. The second season of Jujutsu Kaisen is said to return later in 2023.
Jujutsu Kaisen 0 will be released in theaters starting March 18 with the option to watch dubbed in English or in Japanese with English subtitles.
Jared Leto plays WeWork cofounder Adam Neumann and Anne Hathaway plays his wife Rebehak in the new Apple TV+ drama “WeCrashed”. The series will chronicle of how the company’s skyrocketed towards a $47 billion valuation in less than a decade, then quickly and dramatically plummeted.
Neumann, who served as CEO for the company from 2010 to 2019 and later resigned was well known for his megalomania and wild pronouncements of ambition. Becoming ‘King of the world’ was not beyond his imagination. According to reports at the time, his “eccentric behavior” was one of the main reasons he was pressured to step down.
The series is part drama for the entertaining over-the-top reenactments of the antics and impulses of Neumann (Leto) and part exploration of the era of insane exploits at start-ups, as well as part love story, showing their crazy ups, downs, best and worst of times while WeWork is being built.
Not the first to tackle this subject matter, after 2021’s WeWork: Or The Making and Breaking of a $47 Billion Unicorn, which was a documentary feature, this star driven Apple TV+ series is clearly aimed at being entertaining first, but still is a thoughtful exploration of the excesses and the era that produced them.
Along with the recent trial of Elizabeth Holmes who was found guilty on four out of 11 federal charges relating to her own megalomaniacal fraud spree at billion dollar start-up Theranos, there’s a building oeuvre of film work, such as HBO’s: The Inventor: Out for Blood in Silicon Valley chronicling the era of excess that is still ongoing.
Apple TV+ is also getting in on the Theranos action. In an upcoming release Jennifer Lawrence will again team up with director Adam McKay (Don’t Look Up, also with JLaw), for Bad Blood. Release date is not yet known, only that it will be based on Bad Blood: Secrets and Lies in a Silicon Valley Startup by Pulitzer Prize-winner John Carreyrou.
“WeCrashed: The Rise and Fall of WeWork” will debut its first three episodes on Apple TV+ starting March 18 with new episodes airing every week on Friday.
Loretta Sage (played by Sandra Bullock) is a best-selling author, known for her popular romance novels. Most of her writing career has been spent behind closed doors, alone, creating love stories about her hero character named “Dash”.
All of her book covers have Dash portrayed by model Alan (played by Channing Tatum). During a book tour to promote her latest release, Loretta brings Alan alongside, although she really can’t stand him and thinks he’s just a dumb male model but her female fanbase love him.
On the tour, Loretta is kidnapped by an eccentric billionaire (played by Danielle Radcliffe) who thinks she may have the secrets to ancient lost city’s treasure as she’s written in her book. Alan who wants to prove he is not just the cover model for the character Dash, but can be a real life hero sets out to rescue Loretta.
If you are wondering why Brad Pitt is not mentioned in the plot summary, he is, alas, in a cameo appearance that came about in an amusing way, according to the quote from Sandra Bullock:
“He and I have the same hairdresser and she told him to do my movie and she told me to do his movie. That is — honest to god — the truth. We went through a whole litany of people. He was like the eighth choice.”
– Sandra Bullock on casting for ‘The Lost City’
What comes next is what you can expect from a gold ole treasure hunt in the jungle: snake pits, explosions and a heroine in distress. Just like Netflix’s “Red Notice” although its not an Academy Award winner, it is a guilty pleasure, escapist piece of entertainment.
“The Lost City” will be released in theaters March 25.
The new sci-fi action film debuted at SXSW’s opening night. The title says its all “Everything Everywhere All At Once” deals with the chaotic adventure of an exhausted Chinese American woman, Evelyn who is struggling to finish her taxes. But that’s not all she’s dealing with: a marriage on the fritz, her strained relationship with her daughter, and oh yea, the universes (multi) that are collapsing on each other.
Actress and veteran action star Michelle Yeoh plays Evelyn. Yeoh is best known for her work in “Croching Tiger, Hidden Dragon” yet has been in over 40+ movies including “Shang Chi”, “Crazy Rich Asians” and “Guardians of the Galaxy”.
While at a tax appointment, something strange happens (with her crazed tax auditor played by the iconic Jammie Lee Curtis), she finds herself experiencing alternate selves – versions of Evelyn that has bad-ass martial art skills, one that can speak English fluently, and strangest of all, one where she has hot dogs for fingers!
A full fledged multiverse that’s collapsing and only can be stopped with the help from all of her alt-world counterparts keeps the action and visual stimulation at peak levels with the story, though twisted, still present and accounted for.
The film will be released March 25 and stars Michelle Yeoh, Stephanie Hsu, Ke Huy Quan, Harry Shum Jr., Jenny Slate with James Hong and Jamie Lee Curtis. Produced by the Russo Brothers of Marvel’s Avengers fame, initial release is for theaters and no streaming platform has been announced at this date.
The Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) is revealing new content to be released via Disney+, this time introducing the youngest superhero, Kamala Khan played by Iman Vellani, AKA Ms. Marvel.
At just under 2 minutes, the first trailer showcases some of the type villains a typical high school girl would presumably face, bullies at her high school. She gets picked on in particular because she’s an extreme comic book fangirl who idolizes Captain Marvel (aka Carol Danvers played by Brie Larson).
The original Marvel comic “Ms. Marvel” was first created in 2013, and if the comic is an indicator of the upcoming series story arc, there will be a focus on Kamala’s coming of age struggles (puberty, homework and yes, boys), becoming a superhero, and navigating teenage life with her Pakistani American Family.
“Ms. Marvel” will debut Kamala Khan as the first Muslim teenage superhero. The new series will be available to Disney+ subscribers starting June 8 with new episodes airing weekly. We will also see the young actress later next year sometime in 2023 reprising her role in the sequel to “Captain Marvel” called “The Marvels” which will feature Brie Larson’s Carol Danvers / Captain Marvel, alongside Vellani.
Watch the first official trailer of “Ms. Marvel” below:
Film release cancellations in Russia added to boycotts in response to invasion
Just days ahead of the highly anticipated theatrical release of “The Batman”, Warner Bros. made the swift and necessary decision to cease any distribution plans in Russia. A spokesperson for the studio said in a statement, “In light of the humanitarian crisis in Ukraine, WarnerMedia is pausing the release of its feature film ‘The Batman’ in Russia”.
While getting a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, British actor, known for his latest roles in “Spider-Man: No Way Home” and “The Power of the Dog” also called specifically for action to bring the assault on Ukraine to an end, when he emphasized in his speech that “This is no longer a time for avarice or sloth or inactiveness or ineptitude. We need to act.”
Walt Disney Co. and Sony Pictures also have plans to pause any releases of their films in Russia which includes the previously scheduled release of the Pixar film “Turning Red” for March 10, as well as Sony’s “Morbius” which is currently slated for release early April.
The Ukrainian Film Academy called for an international boycott of the Russian film industry. The Motion Pictures Association also condemned Russia for its attack and made the statement that it “stands with the international community in upholding the rule of law and condemning Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.”
SPIDER-MAN: NO WAY HOME – Special Features Preview-
Photo / Sony Pictures
Tom Holland’s third time around in the Marvel Franchise, ‘Spider-Man: No Way Home’, dominated box office numbers, smashing all time box office records. Not surprisingly, used on all the success, there’s a general attitude to say ‘why not just keep it ‘a-coming?‘.
The rumors of Tobey Maguire and Andrew Garfield making an appearance, that generated major buzz, appear to finally be coming to fruition on the big screen. Now, Sony Pictures is back again quelling more rumors that an extended cut will be available.
The studio took to social media to reveal they are indeed dropping “over 80 minutes” of new and behind the scene footage. They also dropped the gem below, the finger-pointing meme of the 3-generations of Spider-Man.
The Extended cut of Spider-Man: No Way Home will come in digital format for release starting March 22 and a little layer the 4K Ultra HD and Blu-Ray will be available for fans on April 12.
Ghost Rider just celebrated its 50th anniversary. As a way to commemorate the date, Marvel Comics released a brand new on-going series from Benjamin Percy (responsible for works including Wolverine and X-Force) and artist Cory Smith (who has worked on Captain Marvel and Conan the Barbarian comics). The first installment of there series is now available for purchase as of February 23, 2022.
The date also coincides closely with the 15th anniversary and 10th anniversary of the theatrical releases of Ghost Rider and Ghost Rider: Spirit of Vengeance both played by actor Nicolas Cage.
The first page insert of the comic teases “When innocent blood is spilled, a spirit of vengeance is born and JOHNNY BLAZE finds himself transformed!” An official trailer previewing the comic was also released for readers that includes plenty of violence, twisted demons and raring flames:
There have been rumors that the main character, Johnny Blaze, would make his MCU debut in the upcoming sequel of Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness. Time will tell, as it is slated for a theatrical release in May 2022.
The 30 second teaser trailer from Sony Pictures starring Brad Pitt has just been released. The video clip comes off as an advertisement for the Nippon Speed Line (NSL), a (fictional) new and fast mode of transportation, with beautiful scenery of Japan alongside soothing and tranquil music. Yet, it appears anything but as we are left with the last frame of battered face Brad Pitt (who plays a character name Lady Bug).
The tag line “Get on Board March 2” is presumably when we can expect the official trailer to be released. The action thriller is based on the international best selling book by Japanese author Kotaro Isaka.
The film follows a group of assassins that are traveling together on a bullet train, soon coming to realize that their individual missions are, in fact, connected. High Speeds, violence and chaos will naturally follow.
Brad Pitt isn’t the only big name within the cast, there are also Sandra Bullock, Joey King, Michael Shannon and Logan Lerman, to name a few. And that’s not mentioning director Leitch who’s onboard, best known best for his work in “John Wick”.
“Bullet Train” is currently scheduled for theatrical release July 15, 2022.
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