2013 Movies January to December

Check out this list of movies that will be coming out this year... 

I see some potential Box Office Hits in the making!!

Very interesting!! I already see a few things on my list of MUST SEE!! 

What about you?!!

"The Avengers"...Now that's a Superhero Team!!!

Two words for ya…Epic Proportions!! That is how I would describe the new summer Marvel hit The Avengers. I have been waiting on this movie since the first Iron Man came out in 2008. You just knew it was going to happen… just because!!

The Avengers was a flick that I was excited and nervous about all at the same time. Excited for the obvious reason (comic book nerd) and nervous because not every comic book movie has been successful, especially when there are multiple big name character involved. This is one of THE best adventure movies I've seen in a good while!! I mean the movie is pure AWESOME. To have such comic book giants (in some cases literally) as Iron Man, Captain America, Thor, and The Hulk in one film and it work speaks volumes. 

Director Joss Whedon, who is most known for the television series Buffy The Vampire Slayer, studies the foundation that was built in the prior films and transports to the big screen “the greatest team of superheroes in film history”…The Avengers: Iron Man/Tony Stark (Robert Downey Jr.), Captain America/Steve Rogers (Chris Evans), Thor (Chris Hemsworth), Hulk/Bruce Banner (Mark Ruffalo), Black Widow (Scarlett Johansson), and Hawkeye (Jeremy Renner) as "amassed" by Nick Fury. Whedon's whose scripts typically include clever banter, spellbinding action sequences and an “air of mystery” and this is no different with The Avengers. It is quite clear that Whedon has an utter love for comic books, and it is evidently displayed with this movie.

Perfect Chemistry…That’s what each one of these characters brought to the film. One could not ask for a better cast.  Not only did they blend together, but they were essentially working together sweet harmony!! Everyone was able to get his or her fair share without it feeling like it was all about one person. Now I must admit I was not initially on the wagon with Mark Ruffalo playing Bruce Banner/The Hulk, but he convinced me with his performance! The Hulk showed up and showed out in a big way. And to know surprise, Downey plays Stark almost effortlessly, delivering lines with ease allowing his charisma, charm and smugness to gleam through; there is not a doubt in my mind Robert Downey Jr. is Tony Stark! Chris Evans' congeals himself in the role of Captain America, and further assures us that he is America’s hero. He truly holds his own standing alongside Iron Man and Thor. Then you have Chris Hemsworth's Asgardian god Thor who has some extraordinary battle scenes and indirectly provides one of the film's most hilarious moments. Clearly after being seriously underutilized in Iron Man 2, we get to see full development of Scarlett Johansson's Black Widow, this helps in developing the character and provides an opportunity to prove she is much more than just a pretty face; she's physically dangerous along with being psychologically deadly. Even Hawkeye brings an element to the team as a force to be reckoned with at all times. Don’t let the bow an arrow fool you now. And finally, Nick Fury is more than just a surprise appearance. Fury is finally able to maximize his potential and stretch his legs some, Jackson actually fits the role quite easily.

And I can’t forget Agent Caulson (Clark Gregg) [love this guy…dry wit, humor and all] along with Cobie Smulders who makes her Marvel films debut as Agent Maria Hill, and she is definitely a welcomed addition. Also what’s a comic book hero without a villain…Thor's adopted-brother Loki (Tom Hiddleston) brings an excellent dynamic as he is able to hold his own in the midst of some huge heavyweights. Each character may have their egos and big guns, but when it came to saving the world they some how seem to create a diamond mine out of a junkyard. That was what I feared most but they did not disappoint. They held it together with “style and grace”.

If I had any issues with the film it was just the fact that Hawkeye being the character that he is got a little too much “face-time” for my liking, but at least the performance was good though. And my other minor gripe was with the development of Bruce Banner and The Hulk.  Now this may seem like I am nit-picking but it would have been nice to see how Banner was able to control over The Hulk (that seems like a vital piece to the puzzle. And let me make note it was not all serious, but plenty of humor as well. This is what made it a well-balanced film.

I will admit the movie is over 2 hours but its worth every minute. This movie on so many levels brings out the best in everything from the characters, to the plot, the cinematography, the action, it just all works. In a weird and unique kind of way it draws on all of your emotions in one single sitting. To be honest films like Star Trek and Transformers could learn a lesson from a film like The Avengers. How you ask? Pull from every angle and go deeper, you can’t just scratch the surface and it be ok!

***As usual with most if not all Marvel films, make sure to stay around for the post credit sequence, which will provides a surprising reveal.

This was the perfect movie to start out the summer!! Quite impressive!! Now I am hyped and on a super high!! Bring on the next one!!

Rating: 9 out 10

"Luke Cage" Project will hit TV before the Movie Theaters...See Why?

Check out this exclusive update on the Luke Cage project from Shadow and Act ...

In an interview with Hitflix  posted today, Melissa Rosenberg (Twilight screenwriter), who, as we've been following, is reportedly writing and executive producing the Jessica Jones TV series, has confirmed that not only will Luke Cage be "worked into the series" (which Marvel Head of Television Jeph Loeb revealed at Comic-Con earlier this year), but he'll in fact be a primary series character, and will be 1 of 3 central characters in the narrative - the other 2 being Jessica Jones (of course), and Carol Danvers (better known as Ms. Marvel, one of the most powerful members of The Avengers).

For those just learning about this, here's a quickie recap...

The new series will be titled, AKA Jessica Jones, the former superhero who retires after suffering post-traumatic disorder and decides to become a private detective; Marvel is prepping a live-action TV series based on the Marvel character.

So whats the connection to Luke Cage, you ask? Jessica Jones is a white female superhero, so, why should we care here on S&A? Well, comic book geeks will know that Jessica Jones was later known as Jessica Campbell Jones Cage. The last name should give you a hint as to where this is going...

Jessica Jones eventually marries Luke Cage, the African American superhero, whose name has been mentioned quite a bit on this site in recent months, with the likes of Idris Elba, Tyrese Gibson and Isaiah Mustafa campaigning to play the character in a big screen adaptation (who knows if that'll ever happen). In the comic book series, the couple had a daughter as well.

And so my main interest here is has been just how involved Luke Cage will be in this series; if Marvel planned to focus strictly on Jones' life prior to meeting Cage, meaning he'd likely be a peripheral character.
I can now say that he'll be a central character; though the series is still be called AKA Jessica Jones, so...

From Hitfix:

 

Based on Brian Michael Bendis comic series "Alias," the TV show would center on Jessica Jones a former superhero under the code name Jewel who has decided to give up tights and spotlight. Rosenberg confirmed the show would also have principal parts for Luke Cage (also known as Power Man and her eventual husband in the comics) as well as Carol Danvers (better known as Ms. Marvel, on of the most powerful members of The Avengers). The former "Dexter" scribe and producer confirmed the potential TV series would absolutely take place in the larger "cinematic" Marvel Universe that has been established by films such as "Iron Man" and "Thor,"" but admitted they can't reference everything. "It's very tricky navigation there. You can't mention one guy because Fox has the rights to that guy and Universal has the rights to the other one. There are a lot of boundaries on who you can and can't use," Rosenberg reveals. "I had Jessica Jones and Luke Cage and Carol Danvers [for the pilot script]. Basically, I wanted those three guys -- then I would have a series."

Rosenberg added that the series is very real, the pilot script is done, and now they're just waiting for a green light to shoot it.

I already know a few people who will be interested to see this! Kudos to Shadow and Act for this updated inside scoop!!