Comic-Con 2015: Feature Film Highlights

[For a blast from the past, check out:

http://sdmoviemaven.blogspot.com/p/comiccon-wondercon.html]

[For preview night, check out:

http://sdmoviemaven.blogspot.com/2015/07/comic-con-2015-preview.html]

Last year was an epic year where I attended multiple daytime film panels at Hall H and press conferences, capped with a night of television superheroes.   Benedict Cumberbatch, John Malkovich, Jeff Bridges, Megan Fox, Matthew McConaughey, Dylan O'Brien, Zachary Quinto, Channing Tatum, Colin Firth, Samuel L. Jackson are among the many stars who were present, not to mention the 33 stars assembled on stage for the nighttime panel. 

This year, with Marvel, Sony and Paramount skipping Comic-Con and no press conferences, it was looking to be a lighter year for me, but as it turns out, there's plenty to marvel and celebrate.

Here are some of the memorable highlights: (please note that TV-pilots will be covered in a separate article later) 

"Rock the Kasbah" (October 23, 2015)

In attendance: writer Mitch Glazer and star Bill Murray

Bill Murray rocked the room in character as Richie Lanz, unexpectedly walking through the aisles with rock-and-roll music playing in the background. 

While this was Murray's first-ever appearance at the convention, he mentioned about how comfortable he was as he felt the passion and excitement from the fans.  He briefly talked about his experience filming in Morocco, showered praises on his co-stars (Bruce Willis, Kate Hudson), and made a point about the importance of being (completely) present onscreen and making others feel good.

Mitch Glazer mentioned that he spent a lifetime being around rock-and-roll promoters and that the movie was based on a true story, with a message of empowerment for women and the ability of culture to change. 

***

"The Hunger Games: Mockingjay Part 2" (November 20, 2015)

In attendance: producer Nina Jacobson, director Francis Lawrence, stars Jennifer Lawrence, Josh Hutcherson, Liam Hemsworth and Willow Shields

One of the most anticipated panels, stars Jennifer Lawrence, Josh Hutcherson and Liam Hemsworth represented Katniss, Peeta and Gale for the last time as the last installment of the series will conclude this November.  Elevating the excitement, Conan O'Brien, who's hosting the late night talk show from San Diego for the duration of the convention, showed up to moderate the panel. 

The presentation started off with the drumbeats of war.  Live; with performers appeared on stage and in the middle aisle.  Then the room went dark and a teaser rolled with soldiers dressed in white from head-to-toe conducting a military drill formation.  Among a sea of whites, a shadowy figure comes into focus, and when the cape falls open, Katniss emerges in a striking red outfit.  A blazing message accompanies, "Freedom is worth fighting for.  Stand with us."  It's followed by a sizzle reel of an all-out war; all 13 districts, inspired and led by Katniss, rising up and uniting against the Capital and its tyrannical leader, President Snow.  The intense scenes are intercut with lovely celebratory moments, which include dancing. 

After getting sidelined in 'Mockingjay Part 1,' Katniss would be back in action in this last installment, taking control and making decisions to set her own course and no longer decided by other parties. 

The panel discussed how strenuous the filming of the movie was, how emotional the last day of the shooting, and how the experience of being in the series had changed their lives. There's a lot of love and camaraderie among the cast. Lawrence made a humorous admission about holding one another "like puppies" the last night of the shooting.

I continued the "The Hunger Games" ride by attending the live taping of the Conan O'Brien show at the historic Spreckles Theater.  I had attended the Jimmy Kimmel show in Hollywood and I must say this was decidedly a more relaxed experience.  As far as audience responses go, no written signs held up with different kinds of expected reactions, and better yet, cameras and cell phones were allowed. 

For a late night show, the stars glammed up and were ready to roll with abandon.  Lawrence took up the challenge of continuously swearing with O'Brien dropping cash into a "swearing jar" for charity because "swearing is caring."  The actress also belted out a rendition of Cher's "Believe."  There's possibly an inadvertent moment of revelation when Hutcherson replied without hesitancy that there would be more movie(s) after 'Mockingjay Part II," but then tried to backtrack and cover up the response with his co-stars looking on. 

Among the funniest acts during the show was a spoof of the "origin story" of Conan.  One was mimicking Kal-El/Superman and the other Bruce Wayne/Batman. 

***

"Maze Runner: The Scorch Trials" (September 18, 2015)

In attendance: author James Dashner, director Wes Ball, stars Dylan O'Bryan, Ki Hong Lee, Thomas Brody-Sangster, Rosa Salazar and Giancarlo Esposito

"The Maze Runner" is one of those movies that turned out much better than expected.  The footage of 'Scorch Trial,' which features even more terrifying creatures, more running and hanging-on-for-dear-life scenes, showed a conflicted Thomas.  As the "Chosen One," he was the motivator to get them out of the trap maze of a world, but now he feels responsible for personal losses suffered at the end of the last movie, and feels unsure if he has led the group of survivors to the right place. The panel promises that the second movie will be filled with humanity, guts and glory and that there's a realness and grounded feeling to it.

***

"Fantastic Four" (August 7, 2015)

In attendance: producer Simon Kinsberg, writer-director Josh Trank, stars Miles Teller, Kate Mara, Michael B. Jordan, Jamie Bell and Toby Kebbell

The panel discussed that the movie took a different route than the previous two movies.  It's grounded, emotional, dramatic, character-driven story and more 'science' than science-fiction.  We would get to know the characters before their life-changing transformations and how they would react thereafter.  The core of the movie is about a family torn apart and pushed to the brink, how far apart they're torn, and how they would come back together.  While the past couldn't be  changed, they could change the future.  The villain, led by ego, is Dr. Doom. 

***

"Deadpool" (February 12, 2016)

In attendance: director Tim Miller, stars Ryan Reynolds, Morena Baccarin, Gina Carano, Brianna Hildebrand, Ed Skrein and T.J. Miller

Having been stalled for years and almost didn't get made, it was still a shocker that "Deadpool" was a surprise hit.  Ryan Reynolds poked fun at himself for only having played a (not) proper superhero (referring to the derided "Green Lantern").  The crowd ate up what the raunchy and raucous panel dished out and grew wild after the sneak preview was shown.  It's said to be the most faithful adaptation.  The panel was genuinely taken aback by the chanting from the audience, "One more time!  One more time!"  It's a no-holds-barred trailer, hitting all the marks for an R-rated, antihero movie.  Insanely irreverent, profane and violent, the preview showed slice-and-dice, headshots and foul-mouthed humor.  It's a lot more "Kickass" than your usual Marvel superheroes. 

***

"X-Men: Apocalypse" (May 27, 2016)

In attendance: writer-producer Simon Kinberg, director Bryan Singer, stars Hugh Jackman, Jennifer Lawrence, James McAvoy, Michael Fassbender, Nicholas Hoult, Olivia Munn, Lana Confor, Ben Hardy, Evan Peters, Kody Smit-McPhee, Tye Sheridan, Alexandra Shipp, Lucas Till and Sophie Turner

"X-Men" is where the rise of superheroes began.  This mega-panel is one that die-hard fans camped out for.

Hugh Jackman took center stage for a heartfelt farewell to fans for his longtime role as Wolverine.  The upcoming "Wolverine" movie would be the last time he'd ever put on the claws.  The star of the seven movies of the franchise was quick to admit that Wolverine had been the greatest part of his life.  He remarked how much he had aged when his audition tape in 1999 played onscreen and made a reference to "Old Man Logan."  A montage of "X-Men" scenes were thrown in for good measure. 

Then the stars came out in full force, both from "X-Men: FirstClass" and "X-Men: Days of Future Past" and the next movie, "X-Men: Apocalypse."  James McAvoy came back after his previous appearance with Daniel Radcliff for the "Victor Frankenstein" panel.

'First Class' was phenomenal and DOFP successfully restarted the series, thanks to the magic of time-travel.  The  original characters getting the reboot include Cyclops, Jean Gray and Storm. 

In the next installment, Professor X is finally sporting a dome-head and Magneto is letting go of his evil ways and trying to live a normal life, falling in love and having a family. Professor X, wearing a helmet and his eyes turning solid black, exclaims that he has never felt power like that before.  10 years after the event of DOFP, mutants are accepted and embraced, yet, Jean Gray has nightmares about a future filled with death and destruction, and Mystique voicing her concern about mutants getting hunted.  CIA is tracking down a mutant who's lived for thousands of years, Apocalypse.  One of Apocalypse's powers is persuasion, as he's able to enlist Angel, Psylocke, Storm and Magneto to join his team.

***

Other hits coming out of the convention include a lengthy trailer of "Batman v. Superman: Dawn of Justice" and behind-the-scenes look of "Star Wars: The Force Awakens."  'Batman v. Superman'  explains a great deal about the reason behind the battle between Batman and Superman, which is linked to "Man of Steel" (the collapse of Wayne Tower and the loss of lives during Superman's duel with General Zod).  The trailer also provides glimpses of Wonder Woman during the superhero war, along with appearances from her alter ego, Diana Prince.  'Star Wars' was among one of the most talked-about panels, which concluded with a star-studded outdoor concert and fireworks. 

***

Part of what Comic-Con such an experience is because of the whole package.  Exclusive previews and pilots, stars and star-struck fans, comics and cosplays, games and exhibits, and a decked out downtown. 

Among the exhibits were life-sized figures of Superman, Wonder Woman and Batman from the upcoming "Batman v. Superman: Dawn of Justice" and CW network's Arrow, Arsenal, Ra's Al Ghul and Canary. 

Continuing the trend from last year, virtual reality (VR) was all the rage.  Legendary offered a mobile VR experience in a "to-go" cardbox, which can be used with any VR app from a smartphone.

I also tried my hand on Star Wars Force Trainer, a toy-machine that senses brain signals where your "power of concentration" could command hologram images.

Among the varied offsite attractions, "Heroes Reborn" and "Point Break" stood out.  "Heroes Reborn" was an interactive VR where you could steer a game through body movements, with the "human scanning" feature showing a superhuman ability of shooting flames.  At the end of the game, they took your picture and converted it into the show's animated poster.  You're standing with flames shooting out of your hands and feet surrounded by fire.  It's a cool-looking poster. 

"Point Break" had a giant trailer converted into a mobile cinema with 91 seating, showing a preview of the upcoming remake.  The second part of the preview was in 3-D; a sequence where the characters jump off a cliff, fly with wingsuits, navigate mountainous terrains, and land safely on their feet.  One impressive fact - instead of CGI or stuntmen, the extreme sport activities in the movie were performed by the world's top athletes.  You could get your picture taken skydiving or surfing with the a scene from the movie as a backdrop, which made a memorable souvenir.

It's hard to believe that we'd have to wait for another year for Comic-Con.  What an experience and looking forward to 2016!

Stay tuned for TV panels!

http://www.sdentertainer.com/movies/comic-con-2015-feature-film-highlights-2/

[click to enlarge pictures]

 

 

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"Jurassic World"

22 years since "Jurassic Park" (based on a best-selling novel by Michael Crichton) made its memorable entry into the forefront of technical magic and captured our imagination, executive producer Steven Spielberg ("Lincoln") brought back the nostalgia with "Jurassic World" and introduced it to the new generation under the helm of an indie director, Colin Trevorrow.

The paradise island of Isla Nublar is now a world-class theme park and luxury resort, privately owned and commercially operated by billionaire Masrani (Irrfan Khan, "Life of Pi") and managed day-to-day by a corporate drone, Claire (Bryce Dallas-Howard, "Hereafter").  Think Universal Studios in Kauai, Hawaii, with living, breathing dinosaurs as attractions.

The adventurous park looks vividly real and unbelievably cool, fulfilling the vision of the famed founder of InGen, the bioengineering company who brought back the prehistoric creatures from extinction all those years ago. Visitors can travel around in monorails, walk past dinosaur holograms at the innovation center, pet baby dinosaurs, enjoy thrills and splashes from a Shamu-like show, kayak in a jungle river, take a safari ride, and roll along wide open fields inside gyrospheres.

Divorcing parents (Judy Greer and Andy Buckley) send off their young boys, Zach and Gray (Nick Robinson and Ty Simpkins) to the island for a holiday with their aunt, Claire. Although being a workaholic, Claire has mostly handed the boys to her personal assistant (Katie McGrath), who soon loses sight of them.

While the park is still doing well, corporate has mandated the creation of a new attraction in an effort to support increasing operating costs.  These days, no one is impressed with regular  dinosaurs anymore, so the park will have to continue to innovate and come up with something that carries a 'wow' factor with the public.

That something is Indominus Rex, cooked up in the lab headed by Dr. Henry Wu (BD Wong).  Bigger, badder and toothier than its counterparts.  A genetically enhanced hybrid creature composed of DNAs sliced from T-Rex and other mysterious species.

This monstrous creation concerns an ex-military man, dinosaur behaviorist and raptor trainer, Owen (Chris Pratt, Marvel's "Guardians of the Galaxy").  Sparks fly between the swaggering, laidback Owen and uptight, all-business Claire, who simply views the creation as an 'asset.'  He also butts head with the head of security, Hoskins (Vincent D'Onofrio), who would like to utilize these trained raptors for military purposes.

When Indominus escapes from its isolated paddock, it wreaks havoc and sets of a chaotic chain reaction.  Extremely smart and terrifyingly ferocious with camouflage capability, the bloodthirsty beast mercilessly chases and viciously kills every moving thing in sight.  Not only humans are in grave danger, other dinosaurs are too, leading to jaw-dropping, jump-out-of-your-seat action sequences.

When Claire realizes that her nephews are left on their own and lost in the woods, she and Owen team up to find them.  Even when they eventually reunite, threats and rampages remain at every turn.  Owen and the security force embark on a hazard-filled hunt to take down the Indominus.  Thankfully, Claire defies the high-heeled damsel-in-distress image, showing her true, courageous colors, playing a pivotal role in ending the indomitable Indominus' reign of terror.  A pretty neat final act.  And as far as character arc goes, she is it in this bare bones story.

What distinguishes the "Jurassic Park" franchise from being another monster movie is a genuine sense of wonder, showing us a world where these glorious dinosaurs return to life and live side by side with humans.

While no sequel can capture the magic of the original, an instant classic, there is a plethora of edge-of-your-seat,  prehistoric wonders in "Jurassic World."

http://www.sdentertainer.com/movies/jurassic-world-movie-review/

DVD: http://tinyurl.com/jurassicworlddvd
DVD: http://tinyurl.com/jurasssicworldbluray

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Upcoming Movies: September 2015

[Originally posted on 8/29/15]

September 4
"The Transporter Refueled" (http://www.thetransporterrefueled.com/) - In the south of France, a former special-ops mercenary enters into a game of chess with a femme-fatale and her three sidekicks who are looking for revenge against a sinister Russian kingpin.

"Before We Go" - A young woman in New York City races to catch the 1:30 Train to Boston. On the way she is robbed.

September 11
"The Visit" - A single mother finds that things in her family's life go very wrong after her two young children visit their grandparents.

"Sleeping with Other People" - A good-natured womanizer and a serial cheater form a platonic relationship that helps reform them in ways, while a mutual attraction sets in.

September 18
"Everest" (http://www.everestmovie.com/) - A climbing expedition on Mt. Everest is devastated by a severe snow storm.

"Maze Runner: The Scorch Trials" (http://mazerunnermovies.com/) - After having escaped the Maze, the Gladers now face a new set of challenges on the open roads of a desolate landscape filled with unimaginable obstacles.

"Black Mass" (http://www.blackmassthemovie.com/) - The true story of Whitey Bulger, the brother of a state senator and the most infamous violent criminal in the history of South Boston, who became an FBI informant to take down a Mafia family invading his turf.

"Pawn Sacrifice" - American chess champion Bobby Fischer prepares for a legendary match-up against Russian Boris Spassky.

September 25
"The Intern" - A 70-year-old widower has discovered that retirement isn't all it's cracked up to be. Seizing an opportunity to get back in the game, he becomes a senior intern at an online fashion site.

"99 Homes" (http://www.99homesmovie.com/) - A father struggles to get back the home that his family was evicted from by working for the greedy real estate broker who's the source of his frustration.

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"No Escape"

[Originally posted on 8/29/15]

An intense family survival story, caught in a bloody coup in a foreign land upon their arrival for a new life.  The filming is executed for maximum suspense every step of the way.   The child-tossing sequence (partially seen in the trailer) is particularly unnerving, as well as the gun-to-your-head involving one of the children.  And in general, a family being shown what merciless means with nowhere to hide.  It's a pit-in-your-stomach action thriller with terrifying savage realism.

DVD: http://tinyurl.com/noescapedvd
DVD (blu-ray): http://tinyurl.com/noescapebluray

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Comic-Con 2015 Preview

[Originally posted on 7/09/15]

For a blast form the past, check out: 

http://sdmoviemaven.blogspot.com/p/comiccon-wondercon.html

Just sharing initial pics from Comic-Con preview night.  Like in previous years, the first day is always "TV pilot" night for me.  If "The Flash" was the breakout show last year, "Supergirl," while it won't topple its speedy counterpart, it should fly high as well.  Another show with intrigue is "Blindspot," with intriguing elements of mystery, crime procedural drama and action.  Other pilots shown at preview night are "Containment" (not my cup of tea) and "Lucifer" (skipped in favor of exhibit halls).

This year is a lighter year for me as the timing just about coincides with my moving to a new place (so much to do!) and three major studios skipping (Marvel, Sony and Paramount).  But if tonight is any indication, there will still be plenty to enjoy.  Will be back for more.

Stay tuned!

[click to enlarge pictures]

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"Tomorrowland"

From 5/18/15 press screening:

Is your future predestined?

Amidst prequels, sequels and remakes, "Tomorrowland" offers something intrinsically exciting; an original story.  An uplifting story about a future that is not veiled under the gloom and doom of dystopian societies commonly portrayed in sci-fi YA adaptations ("The Hunger Games," "Ender's Game," "Divergent," "The Giver," "The Maze Runner").  

At the New York World's Fair in 1964, an exceptional young boy, Frank Walker (Thomas Robinson), submitted his invention for a science competition, a jetpack, or more like a prototype.  Even though the jetpack didn't exactly fly, with an innocence of a child, Frank made a positive case to the head scientist (Hugh Laurie) about the importance of being inspired and thus making the world a better place.  He attracted the attention of an intelligent android, Athena (Raffey Cassidy), who snuck him into a magical, parallel world... Tomorrowland.  Bright-eyed with wonder, Frank found a hopeful place where the impossible became possible.  

At the present time, Casey Newton (Britt Robertson), a spirited, optimistic tomboy with a bright scientific mind, gets arrested when she causes troubles at a NASA launch site.  She has the best intention to help her soon-to-be-unemployed NASA engineer dad (Tim McGraw).  When she collects her belongings at the police station, she finds a decorative pin emblazoned with a "T" symbol and is confounded when she is transported to a world beyond imagination.  The same Tomorrowland young Frank landed on decades ago.  A futuristic metropolis gleaming with glass spheres, spiraling roadways, hover trains and multileveled pools, occupied by the best and brightest and brimming with endless possibilities.

Possessing the pin leads to tribulations back in the real world.  Eventually, the ageless Athena tracks down Casey and brings her to meet Frank (George Clooney, "Up in the Air," "The Descendants," "The Ides of March"), now a middle-aged man.  The former young inventor is a bitter loner.  Although it's obvious that inventions are in his veins, as proven with his high-tech home, equipped with cool gizmos and secret entryways.

Something happened to Frank at Tomorrowland that he does not want to have anything to do with Casey or Athena.  Cranky Frank doesn't have a choice but to work together with Casey and Athena, however, once they're hunted down by mysterious figures in suits who will stop at nothing to eliminate them.  Frank also has a change of heart once he notices something special about Casey.

The  trio's interactions, filled with wit and heart, are among the highlights of the movie.  Robertson plays Casey with gusto and doesn't take a backseat to Clooney, a supporting character here.  Cassidy steals the scenes, imparting Athena with a precocious personality that is poignantly human and at the same time performing dead-on mechanical movements.  While there's a smidgen of uneasy undertone in Frank and Athena's relationship, it doesn't distract from the experience.  

The set pieces and action scenes are visual standouts.  The pristine design of Tomorrowland, bizarre robot pursuit and attack at the toy shop and home invasion, and awe-inspiring antique rocket launch in the heart of Paris.

Watching "Tomorrowland" is like immersing yourself in a children's mystery adventure book.  While the last stage of the journey is a bit wonky and preachy, it is fun to get there and the destination is worth traveling to.

Directed by Brad Bird ("Mission: Impossible - Ghost Protocol"), "Tomorrowland" appeals to the dreamers, explorers and discoverers in us.  Exuberant adventures and boundless buoyancy makes it a dazzling and delightful trip.

https://www.thecoastnews.com/tomorrowland-is-a-destination-worth-traveling-to/

http://tinyurl.com/tomorrowlandsoundtrack

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"Avengers: Age of Ultron"

The all-star superheroes team is back!  And it's as grand as ever.

It's as if Marvel struck a vibranium mine in 2008 when it introduced "Iron Man" to the world.  And it marched on with "Thor" and "Captain America."  Three years ago, director Joss Whedon attempted to do what no man had done before, assembling the iconic superheroes of the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) in "The Avengers."  It was a marvelous success.

"Avengers: Age of Ultron" starts off with an action-packed sequence, earth's mightiest heroes engaging in a forest battle and storming a Hydra fortress, with the goal of getting a prized scepter (Loki's) out.

The team, consisting of Tony Stark/Iron Man (Robert Downey Jr., "The Judge"), Steve Rogers/Captain America (Chris Evans), God of Thunder/Thor (Chris Hemsworth, "Rush"), scientist Bruce Banner/Hulk (Mark Ruffalo), superspy Natasha Romanoff/Black Widow (Scarlett Johansson, "Her") and  master archer Clint Barton/Hawkeye (Jeremy Renner, "Mission Impossible: Ghost Protocol"), is able to walk out with the scepter, but they run into Pietro Maximoff/Quicksilver (Aaron Taylor-Johnson) and Wanda Maximoff/Scarlet Witch (Elizabeth Olsen, "Oldboy"), surviving humans of Hydra's experiment.  Pietro has a superspeed ability and Wanda mind-control and force field-manipulation.

The eclectic ensemble, who got off on a rocky start in "The Avengers," has found its stride here.  Teamwork and camaraderie are apparent during and outside of battles.  One of the most enjoyable scenes is where the team gathers around and each pokes fun at one another, trying to lift Thor's hammer.  Although the lighthearted air turns chilly when Ultron (voiced by James Spader) makes its surprising presence known and they realize the gravity of the threat.  Ultron was created to be a peacekeeper around the world, but the artificial intelligence has a mind on its own and interprets peacekeeping duty differently.  It believes that mankind creates destruction and thus must be exterminated.

The sentient being has taken a physical form and multiplied in robots.  It is up to the Avengers to stop Ultron and save the human race.  The mighty task is not made easy with Wanda wrecking havoc with our superheroes' minds.  Inner fears about the past and future are exposed and they must overcome them, work together and win the war.

Whedon achieves a superheroic feat.  There's a mechanical sense in the first part of the movie since the story dives right into the action business, but at the same time, the movie would never hold the same magic as the previous one, seeing all those superheroes together for the first time.

And in a movie overstuffed with these many main characters, not to mention supporting characters (S.H.I.E.L.D director Nick Fury, agent Maria Hill, Falcon, War Machine), it's commendable that they're able to perform their roles sufficiently and dole out one zinger after another.  Hawkeye, who only appeared in the first installment and has never had his own solo movie, unexpectedly reveals a softer side to him that helps with the progression of the story.  Tony and Bruce, as "mad scientists," bond together and interact more with each other.  And Bruce and Natasha, while we've never seen their romance develop from the very beginning, have something here.

If you think destruction scenes are in epic scale in "Man of Steel," wait until you see this.  A populated  city uprooted, flying and hanging in the balance, with Ultron minions crisscrossing on murderous paths.  Some of the most memorable scenes involve Captain America and Black Widow, with their acrobatic moves with the Cap shield and motorcycle stunts.  Funniest are smashing moments between Iron Man and the Hulk, where Iron Man, with a bulked-up Hulkbuster armor and weaponry, tries to tame the green monster under a telekinetic influence.

J.A.R.V.I.S, Iron Man's A.I. system, is now a vision.  It evolves in the form of cool-and-collected Vision (Paul Bethany, "Transcendence"), instantly stealing a scene with the Mjolnir and delivering the best one-liner to Ultron towards the end of the movie. He becomes a part of the Avengers, along with a few other familiar faces as new members.

The movie touches on the Infinity Stones, unique objects that, if possessed together, will provide the holder unlimited power to do absolutely anything with the universe.  Gems sprinkled in 'Age of Ultron' set up not only the final installments, "Avengers: Infinity War - Part I" (2018) and "Avengers: Infinity War - Part II" (2019), but likely sequels "Captain America: Civil War" (2016), "Thor: Ragnarok" (2017) and "Guardians of the Galaxy 2" (2017), and new solos, "Doctor Strange" (2016) and "Black Panther" (2018).

Other MCU plans include "Ant-Man" this summer, "The Spectacular Spider Man" (2017), "Captain Marvel" (2018) and "Inhumans" (2019).

http://www.sdentertainer.com/movies/movie-review-avengers-age-of-ultron/

DVD: http://tinyurl.com/avengersageofultrondvd

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"The Age of Adaline"

“You've lived... but you've never lived a life.”

What if you could remain forever young? Would you want to live forever?

Adaline Bowen (Blake Lively, “Green Lantern,” “The Town”) looks like any other young woman, except that she's 107 years old. At age 29, she was in a car crash and practically died. Her car plunged into a river in a snowstorm, but due to a bizarre lightning phenomenon, her heart was revived. Not only she survived, it froze her in time and since that day she has never aged a day.

A widow with a small child, Adaline had managed through the earlier decades until she realized that she couldn't go on without arousing suspicions. After all, genetics, cosmetics, diets and exercises could only do so much. Reluctantly, she left her grown-up daughter, although they have remained in touch over the years. The mother-daughter bond remains, as clearly seen in her interaction with her now elderly daughter (Ellen Burstyn).

Adaline moves to a new place every decade and establishes a new identity. By and large, she never allows herself to be attached to anyone or anything, except her dog.

But life has other plans. Love strikes when she meets a princely philanthropist, Ellis Jones (Michiel Huisman) at New Year's Eve event. He ignites romance through their common passions for literature, history and adventure. Adaline ends up agreeing to meet his parents, William (Harrison Ford, "Ender's Game") and Kathy (Kathy Baker), for their 40^th year anniversary celebration. William turns out to be a man with ties to her past and their exchange would change the course of her eternal life.

Lively is lovely. With praises to the costume designer and makeup artist, she's refined in style. She carries herself with an old-fashioned elegance and air of mystery. There's a saturnine tinge, as a soul who experiences a long life of solitude and sadness for not being able to live normally, getting close to anyone, or growing old with loved ones. But she also manages to appear natural when she feels affection or shares laughter.

Adaline is fascinating by nature and it's a shame that the filmmaker did not explore more about her experiences and develop her as a character. Instead, she looks like gliding from one scene to another and her life is shown like a montage with minimal milestones. The movie also chooses to use lengthy expository voice-overs to explain the supernatural occurrences, which would have been better off toned down, or having the consequence discovered or experienced first-hand.

Other films with similar theme, “Tuck Everlasting” and “The Curious Case of Benjamin Button,” and on television, “Forever” show (season 1 on ABC, currently playing), delve deeper. They make you think or question your perspectives about youth and aging, humanity and mortality, life and living.

“The Age of Adaline” is a plushly packaged and has its fantasy charms, but it could have been infinitely more impactful.

http://www.sdentertainer.com/movies/movie-review-the-age-of-adaline/

http://tinyurl.com/theageadaline

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Upcoming Movies: August 2015

[Originally published on 8/04/15]

August 7
"Fantastic Four" (http://www.fantasticfourmovie.com/) - Four young outsiders teleport to an alternate and dangerous universe which alters their physical form in shocking ways. The four must learn to harness their new abilities and work together to save earth from a former friend turned enemy.

"Ricki and the Flash" - A musician who gave up everything for her dream of rock-and-roll stardom returns home, looking to make things right with her family.

August 14
"The Man from U.N.C.L.E." (http://manfromuncle.com/) - In the early 1960s, CIA agent Napoleon Solo and KGB operative Illya Kuryakin participate in a joint mission against a mysterious criminal organization, which is working to proliferate nuclear weapons.

"She's Funny That Way" - A screwball comedy featuring the interconnected personal lives of the cast and crew of a Broadway production.

August 21
"Hitman: Agent 47" (http://www.foxmovies.com/movies/hitman-agent-47) - An assassin teams up with a woman to help her find her father and uncover the mysteries of her ancestry.

August 28
"Regression" - A father is accused of a crime he has no memory of committing.

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"Ex Machina"

From 4/16/15 press screening:

Ava, the AI in “Ex Machina,” may be fictional, but the progress of artificial intelligence (“Her,” “Transcendence”) in the real world is accelerating at a rapid pace. So much so that Stephen Hawking (“The Theory of Everything”), a world-renowned astrophysicist, has recently warned that artificial intelligence poses a threat and could spell “the end of the human race.” This sentiment is echoed by Elon Musk, founder of SpaceX and Tesla, as well Microsoft founder, Bill Gates. Earlier this year, AI experts signed a letter issued by the Future of Life Institute, pledging that they would safely and carefully monitor such progress so that its growth doesn't go beyond our control.

In “Ex Machina,” a directorial debut by writer Alex Garland, a young coder, Caleb (Domhnall Gleeson), wins an office prize for a weeklong retreat with Nathan (Oscar Isaac), the company's reclusive CEO and inventor of the world's most popular search engine, Blue Book. Reachable only by helicopter, the mountain cabin surrounded by pristine nature of remote Alaska, is actually a custom-built research facility. Nathan has been working on a secret project, artificial intelligence in the form of humanoid-robot named Ava (Alicia Vikander).

Caleb learns that he's the human component in the Turing Test ('Turing' from Alan Turing, “The Imitation Game”), where he's tasked not only to evaluate Ava's advanced capabilities, but also human-like consciousness. The method is simple. Caleb is to engage Ava with get-to-know-you conversations. They're separated with a transparent wall and their interactions are monitored by Nathan. With every session, Caleb and Ava learn more about each other and develop a relationship.

Alarmingly, during recurring power outages where the monitors are out, Ava reaches out to Caleb and tells him that Nathan cannot be trusted. She provides tidbits that seems to support her pleas. It doesn't help that Nathan is arrogant, controlling, eccentric and sardonic. Parts of his interactions with Caleb are unintentionally, creepily humorous. It becomes clear why Caleb is chosen for the experiment.

You'd feel things are not what they seem and something sinister is going to surface, but you don't know what, when or how. It's tantalizingly thrilling. The removed and austere ambiance of the glass-and-stone, sprawling facility adds to the undercurrent tension. The only other person there is a housemaid (Sonoya Mizuno) who doesn't speak English.

Vikander is a wonder, walking a fine line between human and machine. Her Ava, partially translucent with wires and circuits and partially covered in human skin, is both mechanically perfect and surrealistically human. Brilliantly and elegantly designed, she's intellectually and emotionally intelligent, independent, intuitive, beautiful and powerful. But there remains a question whether her emotions are real or simulated.

The reveals come in pieces and they boggle the mind. Ethical quandaries of identity, humanity, freedom, life and mortality. If you could create a machine with human consciousness, would you... just because you could? What if artificial intelligence goes beyond artificial? Does it have the right to exist? How would it be integrated to society? What are the implications? What will become of mankind?

Strikingly compelling, cerebrally cool and eerily suspenseful, “Ex Machina” delivers on the futuristic visual and philosophical level and ceases with an ending that lingers in your mind.  

https://www.thecoastnews.com/movie-review-ex-machina-is-a-thrilling-look-into-artificial-intelligence/

DVD: http://tinyurl.com/exmachinadvd

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WonderCon 2015

The 2015 WonderCon was TV-heavy, and while it's great for certain members of the audience, one would typically have to be fans of the shows to enjoy the panels.  There's barely any movie presence - studios, exhibits or panels alike (with minor exceptions, see below).  Panels were dominated by TV or industry professionals and exhibits ruled by comics. 

*** 

The feature films segment, presented by Warner Bros, was initially planned for an hour, but cut down in half at the last minute. 

As lackluster as it was, here are the highlights:

"Mad Max: Fury Road"

The opening scene, with a lone figure standing in a wasteland, is the calm before the storm. A man with a partial steel mask rising from the sands trying to free himself from the chain that ties him to another man.  And this other man, presumably dead, is trapped in a vehicle buried in the sandstorm.  He tries to shoot off the chain and bite the other man's hand to no avail, so he carries that man with him.  He encounters several scantily-clad beauties in white, washing themselves off with water, and also a one-arm woman, appearing to be the leader, first eying him warily and then ferociously charging at him.  It turns into a frenzied fight; hard-hitting beating, kicking, punching, rolling, bashing and dragging.  Then a desert battle shown in rapid-fire scenes; firefights, explosions and chases (although not clear who's chasing who or for what) with road-bikes, tankers and war rigs. 

Wildly kinetic and viscerally brutal, that was one heck of a footage!

"San Andreas" - in attendance: director Brad Peyton, stars Carla Gugino  and Alexandra Daddario

It's been said that California is due for "The Big One."  Here viewers got a devastating taste of what possibly could happen if the massive earthquake struck.  It's special effects-galore with lands cracking and splitting, skyscrapers crumbling and slamming down, ships blown up, tidal waves rolling and swallowing up everything in its destructive path.  It reminded me of "2012," but the footage also zoomed in on one family and its struggle to survive. 

The director would like to build a ride and put the actors on it, presenting the worst-case scenario (although it's unlikely that every chain of event would happen at the same time), but also ground it in the realm of possibilities. It's a story about honest reactions of a family under attack and what these people are going through - not from aliens, dinosaurs or monsters - but from something that could possibly be real.  The actresses mentioned about tons of stunt work, such as getting dropped several floors down and being immersed in the biggest water tank possible for the underwater scenes. 

It looks like the movie goes for big, both on the action and emotion. 

***

Highlight of TV pilots:

"The Messengers" (CW; April 17, 2015) - in attendance: executive producer Trey Callaway and co-executive producer/creator Eoghan O'Donnell, stars Shantel VanSanten, Jon Fletcher, J. D. Pardo, Joel Courtney, Diogo Morgado, Anna Diop and Craig Frank

After an extraterrestrial object crashes into earth and explodes, five ordinary strangers fall dead and come back to life.  They will soon realize that they're connected and destined for a greater cause.  They're now bestowed with supernatural gifts and are known "Angels of Apocalypse."  Each character has a dire moment on the show where illuminated wings can be seen sprouted from his or her shoulder.  Their paths will cross and choices must be made.  They must unite and prevent the impending apocalypse. 

This is a story about the hope we hold in the end and the people we love the most.  It's also a story about faith; finding faith in ourselves, and sometimes putting our faith in strangers, and in things greater than ourselves.  Lucifer, "Prince of Death," makes an appearance and plays a role in tempting and testing humanity.  And finally, it is a story about good and evil, right and wrong, and how our choices affect everything and everybody around us. 

I'm not a fan of angsty teenage supernatural shows on CW in general and the execution wasn't the best.  But the premise appeals to me, so I will give this a try.

"American Odyssey" (NBC; April 5, 2015) - in attendance: executive producers/writers Peter Horton, Adam Armus and Kay Foster, and star Peter Facinelli

A U.S. Special Forces team, which successfully killed an Al-Qaeda leader, is ambushed and murdered in Mali.  These heroes are not massacred by Islamic extremists, rather, an American private military group, purportedly sent by corrupt entities to cover up some criminal, for-profit dealings.  The sole survivor, coincidentally saved by the virtue of timing, is the only female soldier, also a wife and a mother.  She happens to be the one retaining suspicious evidence in a flash drive, a large money transfer document between a local bank there and a U.S. corporation.  She must use everything in her power to remain alive, find the right allies, and make the long, arduous journey home. 

Back in the States, a corporate litigator (formerly a U.S. attorney) gets wind of the shady conspiracy and starts digging.  But before he could go deep, the investigation claims its first casualty.  There's also a political activist, in communication with a computer hacker and reporter, trying to prove that the soldier is indeed alive and to uncover the truth behind the story fronted by the U.S. government. 

The panel discussed the shooting of the show, initially set to be in Toronto, but moved to Morocco for authenticity.  The studio found a Morrocan boy, who had no acting experience, a block from their office.  He plays a character who is imperative for the soldier's early survival. The lead actress (who wasn't present at the panel) was said to be drawn to the show because of the physical, mental and emotional challenges.  And for Facinelli, he would like to do dramatic and enjoys conspiracy thrillers.  The show is about a soldier, lawyer and protester trying to set the truth free at all costs and make a difference. 

I found the pilot to be dramatic and bleak, but engaging.  I hope the show will connect the dots soon and don't drag them out so that it won't be one too many players or extends its welcome.  At the same time, the show has a tough task balancing out the layers so that it will last as a series.  For now, the show has promise and I will make it into my initial viewing schedules.

***

I also attended a writers panel of some of the most popular TV shows.  Discussions include writers creating a blue print for their series, and story break, where a writer pitches an idea and breaks things down beat by beat, either show how each character would act and move forward or go for the big moments and merge them into one story.  Writers pay attention to chemistry among actors and how they grow, and they do adjust scenes based on what they see on set.  A TV pilot, said to be the captain of the series, could be changed.  For example, a pilot might be shot in New York and when the series gets picked up, the shooting might be moved to Los Angeles due to tax credit.  As a result, the audience might not see the exact same sets in subsequent episodes as they appeared in the pilot.

***

WonderCon is getting more popular every year, as proven this year by sold-out tickets and growing attendance (now topping at 60,000).  Even with minimal programming this year, it's  enjoyable as ever (just check out some of the cosplays!).  While nothing comparable to Comic-Con, it is  an entertaining alternative for pop-culture fans.  A word of advice, buy your ticket early next year!

http://www.sdentertainer.com/tv/wondercon-2015/

[click to enlarge pictures]

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Upcoming Movies: July 2015

[Originally published on 6/30/15]

July 3
"Terminator Genysis" (http://www.terminatormovie.com/) - John Connor sends Kyle Reese back in time to protect Sarah Connor, but when he arrives in 1984, nothing is as he expected it to be.

"Magic Mike XXL" (http://www.magicmikemovie.com/) - Three years after Mike bowed out of the stripper life at the top of his game, he and the remaining Kings of Tampa hit the road to Myrtle Beach to put on one last blow-out performance.

July 10
"Minions" (http://www.minionsmovie.com/) - Minions Stuart, Kevin and Bob are recruited by Scarlet Overkill, a super-villain who, alongside her inventor husband Herb, hatches a plot to take over the world.

"Self/less" (http://selflessmovie.tumblr.com/) - An extremely wealthy man, dying from cancer, undergoes a radical medical procedure that transfers his consciousness into the body of a healthy young man. But all is not as it seems when he starts to uncover the mystery of the body's origin and the organization that will kill to protect its cause.

July 17
"Ant-Man" (http://marvel.com/antman#) - Armed with a super-suit with the astonishing ability to shrink in scale but increase in strength, con-man Scott Lang must embrace his inner hero and help his mentor, Dr. Hank Pym, plan and pull off a heist that will save the world.

"Mr. Holmes" - An aged, retired Sherlock Holmes looks back on his life, and grapples with an unsolved case involving a beautiful woman.

July 24
"Pixels" (http://www.sonypictures.com/movies/pixels/) - When aliens misinterpret video feeds of classic arcade games as a declaration of war, they attack the Earth in the form of the video games.

July 31
"Mission Impossible: Rogue Nation" (http://www.missionimpossible.com/) - Ethan Hunt and team take on their most impossible mission yet, eradicating Syndicate, an international rogue organization as highly skilled as they are, committed to destroying the IMF.

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