Fantastic Four Director Just Keeps Trashing His Movie

Fantastic Four Director Just Keeps Trashing His Movie

Sometimes a reboot manages to successfully bring a superhero back onto the big screen and portray them in a new light while still staying true to the source material. And then there’s Fantastic Four, which was a critical and commercial bomb to the point that it killed 20th Century Fox’s future plans for this iteration of Marvel’s First Family. Four years after Fantastic Four’s release, director Josh Trank has no issue with trashing his own movie, as evidenced by this latest tweet.

This past weekend saw the release of Jordan Peele’s Us, and like many moviegoers, Josh Trank decided to check it out. Unlike most moviegoers, though, Trank has a movie that was not well-received by the public, and evidently the passage of time has allowed him to poke fun at his time helming Fantastic Four, as he’s quite comfortable declaring on Twitter that Us is the complete opposite of his 2015 movie. That’s not saying much, although Us has indeed been met with critical acclaim and made over $174 million worldwide so far. If you have a choice of watching one of these two movies, it’s pretty clear which one you should pick.

This comment follows a couple of weeks after Josh Trank responded “hold my beer” to a tweet declaring that no superhero movie fails. It is true that for the most part nowadays, superhero movies are usually at least commercially successful, with a good portion of them also doing well among critics. Fantastic Four was not one of those movies, and while much of the blame was placed at Trank’s feet for its poor performance, the director wrote in a tweet deleted shortly thereafter that the final cut of the movie was not the one he’d planned on giving to audiences, indicating studio interference. In any case, Trank appears to have made peace with Fantastic Four and doesn't have a problem making fun of himself for it, though it doesn’t sound like we should expect more self-deprecating comments from him anytime soon.

Originally the plan was for Fantastic Four to kick off a new film series, with the sequel coming out in June 2017. However, following the movie’s disappointing performance, Fantastic Four 2 was later removed from the calendar and eventually cancelled. While Fargo showrunner Noah Hawley has been working on a Doctor Doom movie, with Fox now under the Disney banner, it’s unclear if that project will still move forward or if Marvel will put its own Fantastic Four movie into development that better fits within the Marvel Cinematic Universe mythology. As for Josh Trank, his next movie is Fonzo, which stars Tom Hardy as Al Capone as he wrestles with dementia following his stint in prison.

Stay tuned to CinemaBlend for any major updates concerning the next chapter of the Fantastic Four film franchise, but in the meantime, you can look through our Marvel movies guide to learn what’s coming down the pipeline in Phase 4, as well as our 2019 release schedule to plan your trips to the theater later this year accordingly.

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Watch Paul Rudd's Hilarious Failure To Get Avengers: Endgame Spoilers

Watch Paul Rudd's Hilarious Failure To Get Avengers: Endgame Spoilers

Over the years, the MCU has gained a legendary reputation for secrecy with even the stars of the universe often being kept in the dark as to the whole story. This can be stressful, especially when you are being asked to divulge a film’s secrets on a constant basis, as the case for this week’s(!!!) Avengers: Endgame. Well, Paul Rudd has seemingly had enough of the secrecy and attempted to extract spoilers from the Russo Brothers. Take a look:

It was a valiant effort and he gets points for trying, but maybe Paul Rudd should have taken more cat burglar lessons from his character and placed that cellphone in a less conspicuous location, because he failed spectacularly here. He starts off strong though, switching from secrecy and frustration to charming and affable Paul Rudd as soon as the Russo Brothers come in.

Paul Rudd apparently got the script for Avengers: Endgame, but not the ending, which the Russos let him know was for his own safety. This is where we get the first of two digs at notorious spoiler Mark Ruffalo, who they say got a fake script to prevent further cringe-inducing slips of the tongue. Poor guy, you screw up one, two… you screw up a few times and suddenly nobody trusts you and you’re the butt of everyone’s jokes.

In the Twitter video, Paul Rudd comes super close to getting the goods from Anthony Russo, who is about to reveal who dies in Endgame when Joe Russo discovers that they were wrong to trust the Ant-Man actor. Ominously, Anthony Russo says, “Here is the list of people who die” before getting ready to count them off on his fingers. That he needs a numbered list would be quite devastating if this jokey video turns out to be prophetic.

After being caught, Paul Rudd hilariously tries to save face after this calamitous failure by scapegoating Mark Ruffalo, which all things considered, isn’t the worst strategy in the world. Maybe Tom Holland will help carry some of that shame load, and by Phase 6, Mark Ruffalo can be trusted again.

Although Paul Rudd ultimately failed to get the goods from Joe and Anthony Russo here, unfortunately there are spoilers for Avengers: Endgame that have leaked. Even with the incredible efforts to prevent such a thing from happening, there are no guarantees. So stay frosty on the interwebs and beware of spoilers if you want the purest experience possible and not some trash cellphone video.

Paul Rudd doesn’t have much longer to wait to find out what happens in Avengers: Endgame, and neither do we. Avengers: Endgame arrives in theaters this weekend. Check out our 2019 Release Schedule to keep track of all the big movies headed to theaters this summer movie season.

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Chris Hemsworth Was ‘Underwhelmed’ With Thor Franchise Before Ragnarok

Chris Hemsworth Was ‘Underwhelmed’ With Thor Franchise Before Ragnarok

Thor has been a major player in the Marvel Cinematic Universe since 2011, both leading his own film series and being one of the founding Avengers. However, the character received his biggest surge in popularity yet with Thor: Ragnarok in late 2017, and Chris Hemsworth credits the threequel with refreshing his character, as going into it, he wasn’t excited about having to play the God of Thunder again. In Hemsworth’s words:

When we came into Ragnarok, I was sort of exhausted of what I’d been doing and a little sort of underwhelmed by what I was putting out there, you know?

Thus far the Thor film series is the only one where each movie was directed by someone different, with Taika Waititi following in the footsteps of Kenneth Branagh and Alan Taylor for Ragnarok. There’s no question that tonally speaking, Ragnarok was significantly different from its predecessors, but that shift paid off, as it’s the most critically well-received of the Thor movies and made $854 million worldwide.

Chris Hemsworth admitted last year that he found Thor: The Dark World to be “meh” (it’s the lowest-rated of the MCU movies on Rotten Tomatoes’ Tomatometer), but in his recent interview with Yahoo, he clarified that his issues with the Thor of it all pre-Ragnarok weren’t due to any of the people he had worked with, but his own dissatisfaction with the character. As he put it:

That was no fault of any director or writer, that was me personally. It felt like I’d put myself in a box with what the character could do. So on Ragnarok, it was about breaking all the rules, and kinda going ‘as soon as it feels familiar, do something different’, and Taika [Waititi] – the director – had the same vision, and the same, I guess, guts to just roll the dice and [do the] ‘anything goes’ kind of thing. That was so liberating and freeing, you know, to sort of break away who the character was prior.

Mission accomplished! Not only did Thor: Ragnarok take full advantage of Chris Hemsworth’s comedic skills, but it also put shook up Thor’s world by killing his father, destroying his hammer, gouging out his eye and annihilating Asgard. Granted, the lost eye isn’t really an issue anymore since he was given a bionic replacement by Rocket Raccoon in Avengers: Infinity War, but otherwise Thor is definitely out of that box Hemsworth was worried about and has arguably hit his stride.

MCU fans can look forward to Chris Hemsworth’s Thor returning next week for Avengers: Endgame, but beyond that, the character’s future is shrouded in secrecy. Hemsworth seems open to playing the Asgardian hero again and Tessa Thompson said that a Taika Waititi-directed Thor 4 has been pitched, but for now, Marvel’s upcoming slate of films is, with the exception of Black Widow, focused around brand-new and more recently established characters.

Should there be any major update concerning Thor’s future in the MCU, we here at CinemaBlend will let you know about it. For now, the next chapter of his journey unfolds with the release of Avengers: Endgame on April 26, and you can browse through our Marvel movies guide to learn what else this superhero franchise has coming down the pipeline.

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The Lion King’s Mufasa Is Barely Being Changed For The Remake

The Lion King’s Mufasa Is Barely Being Changed For The Remake

Disney is moving through the “circle of life” with its remake slate this year and using new talent to tell their familiar stories. However, for The Lion King, director Jon Favreau enlisted the original Mufasa, James Earl Jones, to voice Simba’s father among a fresh cast including Donald Glover as Simba, Beyoncé as Nala and Seth Rogen as Pumbaa.

While Jon Favreau recently promised that the remake won’t be a shot-for-shot of the original and will surprise audiences, when it came to Jones reprising his iconic voice role, fans should expect the Mufasa they know. In Favreau's words:

So many of his lines have not actually changed that much, because that’s the one role where it really didn’t feel dated at all. All of the speeches Mufasa makes during the film are timeless and apply to each age, whereas with the humor, the music, some of those other aspects, there were opportunities to update. But with him, that role stayed as close to the original as any.

Why would they? James Earl Jones’ Mufasa is perfection. It's a voice seared into many of our brains since childhood and holds up really well! There’s not much room for growth or change in a performance such as this. Just take a look and listen at this scene from the 1994 original and tell me what’s missing:

Chills! Jon Favreau made a good call casting James Earl Jones again for the role, but the director did admit in his Entertainment Weekly interview that he was surprised he agreed to take it on again 25 years later. Mufasa has the legacy of being one of the most recognizable and treasured cartoon character voices of all time and certainly brings in nostalgia from the ‘90s. The director felt this during their recording sessions too. Here’s what he said:

He would do a take and then he would ask me for direction and I honestly couldn’t give an answer! I was like, ‘You’re Mufasa.’ Far be it from me… Everything he said sounded perfect because it was him saying it.

How does one give notes to Mufasa? While fans can expect a lot of the same performance for Mufasa, perhaps there are a few extra lines here and there the “live-action” version builds upon before the character receives his fate from Scar.

On the other paw, it may feel off-putting to hear James Earl Jones’ Mufasa and not hear Jeremy Irons’ Scar, as this new version of the character will be voiced by Chiwetel Ejiofor. Some have already voiced their distaste with the new take on the movie’s villain after the first full trailer dropped a couple weeks ago.

It looks like the new Lion King will tread the line between doing justice to the beats we all hold dear from the original and offering something fresh and new to the story that will hopefully make the movie’s existence feel earned. Jon Favreau is a huge fan of the classic animated feature who still feels like it holds up well, but wants to deliver on expectation on this version and astonish audiences when it comes to theaters on July 19.

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Avengers: Endgame Made Even More In Its Opening Weekend Than We Thought

Avengers: Endgame Made Even More In Its Opening Weekend Than We Thought

It's hard to believe, but Avengers: Endgame is officially running in theaters, and blowing minds of the collective Marvel fandom. The Russo Brothers crafted an absolutely massive story, which was truly the cumulation of the last 21 movies ahead of it. Because of the high stakes and Marvel's long history in theaters, moviegoers have been running to theaters to see Endgame, and hopefully avoid any spoilers that might come first.

Since its release, Avengers: Endgame has been breaking box office records left and right, despite only being in theaters for less than a week. One of those records include the biggest opening night and weekend, as the masses assembled in theaters and some theaters included round the clock screenings. And it turns out the opening weekend made even more millions than we thought.

Originally, it was reported that Avengers: Endgame took home a whopping $350 million during its first weekend of showings, already recouping the cost of the massive blockbuster's budget. But turns out that Endgame made a few more millions, ultimately capping out at over $357 million in a matter of days.

This new numbers from Box Office Mojo further shows just how much moneymaking power Avengers: Endgame has. Every single installment in Phase Three has been a critical and box office success, and anticipation over Infinity War drove cinephiles to theaters. And when Josh Brolin's Thanos managed to snap half of all life out of existence, fans could barely stand the year-long wait before Endgame.

Avengers: Endgame's box office run should be a long one, as it's a dense movie that seems to invite multiple showings. The Russo Brothers included everything and the kitchen sink, including surprising cameos, references to past Marvel films, and a ton of breathtaking action. With so much in play, it's easy for you to miss moments on the first screening. So fans will be going to multiple screenings, and shelling out even more money over the next few weeks.

Related: Man Reportedly Beaten Outside Cinema For Shouting Avengers: Endgame Spoilers

The Marvel Cinematic Universe is great at serialized storytelling, but the massive franchise is even better at making money at the box office. And given the finale of Endgame, it should be interesting to see what the future has in store. There are certainly fans who will be eager for any/all new content, especially given Endgame's wild ending.

As for Marvel Studios' plans for the future, much of that currently remains a mystery. Spider-Man: Far From Home will arrive in theaters next, but the schedule for Phase Four hasn't been released. As such, it's unclear when the next movies will arrive in theaters, and give the House of Mouse the opportunity to make even more money at the box office.

Avengers: Endgame is in theaters now, and Spider-Man: Far From Home will follow up on July 5th. In the meantime, check out our 2019 release list to plan your next trip to the movies.

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Netflix's Wine Country Trailer Reunites SNL's Funniest Ladies For Day Drinking

Netflix's Wine Country Trailer Reunites SNL's Funniest Ladies For Day Drinking

Whenever you get together with a group of friends for a day of drinking, there are bound to be some laughs. In Netflix’s new original movie Wine Country, those friends just happen to be played by some of the funniest women in showbiz, so the laughs are going to flow even more freely than the alcohol. The trailer for Wine Country reunites Saturday Night Live’s funniest ladies for some day drinking in Amy Poehler’s directorial debut. Take a look:

With a cast like this, you would expect to find a lot of laughs in Wine Country, and fortunately this first trailer provides just that. The basic premise of a group of old friends coming together to celebrate one of their own turning 50 by planning a trip to Napa is ripe with comedic possibility. We quickly see that you don’t have to be in your 20s to be a sloppy and entertaining drunk.

In addition to the physical comedy, which actresses like Maya Rudolph do so well, on display in this trailer, it also has some really funny lines. The bit about the “lavender popping corn” is great and really highlights some of the absurdity and pretentiousness that you might find at a fancy restaurant. With a script from SNL writer Emily Spivey and The Last Man on Earth writer Liz Cackowski, there should be plenty of smart comedy in this movie.

It was also a fun wink (intentional or not) to Parks and Recreation fans to see Amy Poehler’s character in this film, Abby, handing out itineraries for the wine country trip. They were just folders, but you can’t help but think of Amy Poehler’s Leslie Knope, who was a huge fan of planning everything out and micro-managing with massive binders full of information.

While there will clearly be plenty of great humor from this cast, it is evident from this trailer that Wine Country will also have plenty of heart. The drunken falling down, wine-fueled shenanigans and debauchery is only the surface level stuff, and as Tina Fey’s blunt Tammy warns, the alcohol will let out plenty of truthful confessions and that will put a strain on their friendships.

The characters in Wine Country are enjoying a vacation, but they are also dealing with some of the real issues people encounter as they get older and discover how old friendships are both difficult to maintain, but also hugely important. Those emotional beats should help give Wine Country something heartfelt to say in addition to the good laughs.

Amy Poehler has assembled many of her old friends and put together a positively stacked cast of actresses for Wine Country. Joining SNL actresses Ana Gasteyer, Rachel Dratch, Maya Rudolph and Amy Poehler onscreen are two SNL writers that have helped make everyone so funny over the years, Paula Pell and Emily Spivey. Naturally these two writers have some of the trailer’s funniest lines. Plus, former SNL writer and cast member Tina Fey is briefly in the trailer, but looks to have a fun role.

Wine Country arrives on Netflix and in select theaters (Netflix may soon have its own!) on May 10. Check out our 2019 Release Schedule to see all the biggest movies headed to theaters this year, and for all the joys of day drinking with none of the consequences, stay tuned to CinemaBlend.

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7 Moments From The Sonic The Hedgehog Trailer That Had Us Saying 'What?'

7 Moments From The Sonic The Hedgehog Trailer That Had Us Saying 'What?'

The first trailer for Sonic The Hedgehog has arrived, and long-time fans and the general public at large are a bit confused. That's understandable given the sheer amount of things that happen that are both foreign to those who played the video games and those who are experiencing the blue hedgehog for the first time. To highlight a lot of those confusing moments, here's a breakdown of the moments from the Sonic trailer that had me saying "what?"

Sonic The Hedgehog Is Fast, But Not As Fast As He Should Be

The trailer opens with officer Tom Wachowski hiding in a speed trap, hoping to pull over inattentive drivers going over the speed limit. Instead, he clocks Sonic The Hedgehog, who blazes by at 760 miles per hour. His immense speed causes a minor break in the sound barrier, which is actually weird considering he's going seven miles per hour under that threshold.

Now, no one is stating this is Sonic's top speed quite yet, but it's worth mentioning past video games have brought up that he is much faster than the speed of sound. Some games have alleged he'll travel at speeds exceeding 1,000 MPH, while others say exceeding 2,000 MPH is no problem. Is this a nitpicky issue? Absolutely, but it's still weird to highlight a character's immense speed by showing him traveling just under a speed record that's been broken.

Sonic's Electric Quills

Sonic The Hedgehog introduced many elements to the franchise that aren't in the video games, but none were more glaring than his electric fur. Sonic conducting electricity isn't a power he's typically capable of, nor is it the source of his super speed. In SEGA canon, his power shoes are actually the source of the speed, which doesn't seem to be the case here due to all those worn out sneakers in his den.

More likely than not, the electricity is a way of introducing that Sonic's power can be examined and replicated by Dr. Robotnik. It's a bit silly considering the character's original canon already established Robotnik was a scientist who gave Sonic his shoes. It seems these two aren't familiar with each other from the sound of the trailer. Why mix things up?

Jim Carrey's Bizarre Portrayal Of Dr. Robotnik

At first, Jim Carrey seemed like the perfect actor to portray Dr. Robotnik. The character's over the top bravado and intensity seemed perfect for the man who brought that to the Grinch, and yet, the trailer footage doesn't show that. Instead, we're given a more Ace Ventura-type performance which, while still funny, isn't exactly the type of villain Robotnik is.

Of course, there's a chance this all gets turned around by the end of the movie, as the final seconds show Carrey's character looking a lot more like the Dr. Robotnik folks are familiar with. One would assume this happens near the end of the movie, but with the implication that Sonic is from another world, perhaps this is another Robotnik entirely.

The Trailer's Song Choice

In what may be the most baffling decision made for this trailer, the entire thing rolls along while Coolio's "Gangsta's Paradise" plays in the background. There's a reason why that song hasn't been used in a lot of movies since Dangerous Minds, because one would assume, there's very little that it goes to. Sonic The Hedgehog is no exception, as the iconic hip-hop track just feels like a bad song choice.

The logic, I'm assuming, is that the trailer team wanted to choose a song that invoked '90s nostalgia. Hilariously enough, "Gangsta's Paradise" was released a year after Sonic The Hedgehog 3, so it doesn't even have any real significance to the character. That is, unless it was meant as a subtle nod to the spinoff game Knuckles' Chaotix, which is doubtful.

Sonic The Hedgehog's Unsettling Human Teeth

Fans have had a lot to say about Sonic The Hedgehog's appearance, as the new look is a radical departure from the various designs of the character over the years. In those designs, he's always had an astonishing set of teeth, despite the fact that hedgehogs typically have teeth similar to dogs, but this franchise was never about realism.

Sonic's teeth might actually be the most accurate thing about his portrayal, so then why is it so damn weird to look at? Perhaps it's because he's proportioned like a human child, yet has a massive head and adult teeth? I can't put my finger on it, which has me questioning so many other things about the design.

Sonic The Hedgehog Is An Alien?

Did anyone else catch that line when Sonic told James Marsden's character he's there to save "your planet"? He meant what he said, as we've known for a while that Sonic is not of this Earth, which could very well mean he's not technically a hedgehog either.

Which might be the most ridiculous part of this entire movie if true. Retconning Sonic's hedgehog origins to make him an alien is a sin even the most casual viewer may not forgive. You know, because this movie is literally called Sonic The Hedgehog. Sure, he doesn't actually look like a hedgehog, but Robotnik isn't literally a robot and they had him act like he was one, so if this is retconned, people really have their priorities twisted.

Sonic's Rings Work Like Doctor Strange's Magic?

In one of the more bizarre parts of the preview, a ring appears in which Sonic throws to send his friends to what looks like another location. It's weird, and almost feels like a direct lift from Doctor Strange. Are the rings some type of alien tech that allows him to teleport to various places?

That's not how they are in the games, with one glaring exception. Sonic does have the ability to jump inside a giant ring. which transports him to another world where he can collect more rings. That doesn't appear to be what's happening here, but it's not difficult to understand where the premise came from, and perhaps a little unfair to say it's a straight mimic of Doctor Strange. Still, he also uses rings to stay alive, so where are those?

Do you have a moment from the Sonic The Hedgehog trailer that stuck out as weird? Feel free to share in the comments below and stick with CinemaBlend for more entertainment news in movies, television, and pop culture.

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New DVD And Blu-ray Releases Coming In May 2019

New DVD And Blu-ray Releases Coming In May 2019

It’s finally May and rather than pelt you with Justin Timberlake memes, we’re bringing you the full list of the best and the brightest home entertainment releases this month. It’s not quite as catchy as a long-running meme, but we promise it’ll be more rewarding.

This month, we’re really finally starting to get into new 2019 movies in earnest. It usually takes about three months for a movie to transition from theaters into our homes, so look for early 2019 hits like How To Train Your Dragon: The Hidden World to dazzle and What Men Want to make you laugh a lot.

If you are looking for the flicks that came out last month, we have you covered. In the meantime, you can check out what’s coming in May below. Per usual, Digital releases are the same day as the Blu-ray and DVD release, unless otherwise noted in the early Digital column!

New Blu-ray And DVD Releases May 7, 2019

First off this month are a slew of unconnected titles for different fandoms. The comedy What Men Want is finally coming into homes, as is the latest season of the Breaking Bad spinoff and a movie just for families.

What Men Want

Better Call Saul: The Complete Fourth Season

The LEGO Movie 2: The Second Part

The Prodigy

Bundy and the Green River Killer

Blaze

Everybody Knows

My Scientology Movie

They Shall Not Grow Old

Liar: Season 1

The Head Hunter

Early Digital Releases Week Of May 7, 2019

Liam Neeson's Cold Pursuit didn't make a huge splash at the box office, but if it's something you want to purse, you'll be able to do so very soon.

Cold Pursuit (May 3)

Climax

Peel

New Blu-ray And DVD Releases May 14, 2019

Happy Death Day 2U did decently at the box office, but it didn't attract the notice the first movie in the franchise did, which is a shame, considering it's a fun movie and plans for the third installment may not go through now. Do check this one out on DVD or Digital.

Happy Death Day 2U

Cold Pursuit

Fighting With My Family

Apollo 11

Never Look Away

Power: The Complete Fifth Season

Triple Threat

Ashes In The Snow

Backdraft 2

Never Grow Old

Early Digital Releases Week Of May 14, 2019

The Upside to nabbing a copy of The Upside is that it's a fun, funny and sometimes even uplifting buddy comedy about a paraplegic man and his caretaker. That may not sound like a bundle of joy, but it's worth checking out.

The Upside

Greta

New Blu-ray And DVD Releases May 21, 2019

Like the first week of the month, there are a lot of different and interesting titles out this week in the realm of TV and movie theaters, from indie's to big budget animated titles. Take a look.

The Upside

How To Train Your Dragon: The Hidden World

13 Reasons Why: The Complete Second Season

Call The Midwife: Season Eight

Isn’t It Romantic

Drunk Parents

A Dark Place

Trading Paint

Early Digital Releases Week Of May 21, 2019

Madea's final installation -- unless that prequel happens -- is out this week.

A Madea Family Funeral

The Man Who Killed Don Quixote

New Blu-ray And DVD Releases May 28, 2019

No droughtlander here! Outlander fans can relive favorite moments while we wait for Seasons 5 and 6 to come together.

Outlander: Season Four

South Park: The Complete Twenty-Second Season

Greta

Climax

Lords of Chaos

A Vigilante

As we head into the busy summer movie season, the number of Blu-ray, DVD and Digital releases should only grow. So, stay tuned to CinemaBlend for more on the latest titles that are coming out. In addition, if you're more interested in what's coming to theaters, take a look at our 2019 movies release schedule.

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Apparently China Is Really, Really Into Green Book

Apparently China Is Really, Really Into Green Book

This year’s recent Oscars ceremony may have ended in shock for many when Green Book took home Best Picture, but the movie's Oscar success has definitely been beneficial. Since the win, Green Book has seen been showing off its “Oscar halo” in 63 markets – including a 121% boost at the domestic box office and has just become No. 1 in China.

That’s right, China loves Green Book! The 2019 Best Picture opened at an impressive $17.2 million opening weekend behind How to Train Your Dragon: The Hidden World (which made $33 million) and Alita: Battle Angel ($24 million) before rising to the top spot on Monday with an overall $25 million by Wednesday, per The Hollywood Reporter. Green Book is now the country’s second highest-grossing Best Picture winner, behind Titanic.

The movie is also scoring seriously high reviews from Chinese critics and moviegoers. For example, the movie received a 9.6 out of 10 rating on Maoyan, a Chinese ticketing app. But wait… Green Book is an all-American story about race relations in the deep South. What about that screams an instant hit for China? There are a few reasons why.

The answer is timing. The Academy Awards are well-followed in China and the Best Picture winner opened in theaters across the country just three days after the telecast. The award show created some effective buzz for Green Book, since the film took home three Oscars out of five nominations – including a second Supporting Actor win for Mahershala Ali and Best Original Screenplay.

Additionally, the richest man in China, tech tycoon and CEO of Alibaba Pictures, Jack Ma, was an investor on Green Book and made it well known to Chinese media. The film studio has also had a hand in investing Mission: Impossible – Fallout and Star Trek Beyond which made $181 and $65 million in China, respectively.

Another contributing factor to Green Book’s success in China is the same reason why the film was met with backlash and controversy over from American audiences. Many have criticized the movie for its mediocre approach in presenting the complexity of race relations and its use of the tiresome “white savoir” trope.

Green Book was also called out by the family of Don Shirley (played by Mahershala Ali), who called out the movie for being “full of lies” and the film is based off one of the film’s writers Nick Vallelonga recalling his own memories from his father (played by Viggo Mortenson). One important perspective of the race relations movie may seem to be missing due to this.

Many moviegoers in China don’t have intricate understanding of America’s complicated ties with racism, just as with Americans, many of us don’t claim to understand the history of the Chinese people. So what might have seemed “uninspired” to many in Green Book, may have been just China’s speed ­– as they needed little background knowledge to follow along.

Factors such as these is a good reminder of why some Hollywood movies become hits in unexpected markets and Green Book is the latest example.

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How A Sons Of Anarchy Hiatus Led To Charlie Hunnam Landing A Gig With Guy Ritchie

How A Sons Of Anarchy Hiatus Led To Charlie Hunnam Landing A Gig With Guy Ritchie

Charlie Hunnam has successfully transitioned from TV to the big screen following his lead gig on FX’s Sons of Anarchy, but while appearing ahead of the release of his new Guy Ritchie collaboration The Gentlemen, the actor revealed that it was only thanks to a Sons of Anarchy hiatus that he had the opportunity to work with the longtime director.

I worked with Guy on King Arthur and he absolutely did not want to hire me for that. So, I was shooting a TV show that I was doing at the time, Sons of Anarchy. He was casting this right at the time and he was taking a week of meetings right at the time that I coincidentally had my hiatus.

Speaking at an STX panel at CinemaCon 2019, Charlie Hunnam and fellow The Gentlemen star Henry Golding both revealed how their respective first meetings with longtime director Guy Ritchie went. While Golding was taking meetings for The Gentlemen just ahead of the premiere for his massive global hit Crazy Rich Asians, Hunnam previously worked with Guy Ritchie on King Arthur: Legend of The Sword.

Charlie Hunnam then revealed that although Guy Ritchie wasn’t actually interested in him for the King Arthur role, he talked his way into a 3 ½ hour meeting that ended up working out for both parties involved.

So, although he said he wasn’t really interested in meeting me, I said, ‘Fuck that, I’ll fly myself over and can we just have a cup of tea together,’ because I felt if I got into a room with him I could sort of ‘wow him’ with my insight and passion for the script.

Sons of Anarchy finished out its epic run on FX back in 2014, so Charlie Hunnam was certainly looking around for a new gig around the time that project was ending. It’s just lucky the show happened to be on hiatus the week Guy Ritchie was meeting potential actors for the role.

It took a few more years for King Arthur: Legend of the Sword to actually premiere in theaters in 2017, but even though that movie only went on to make a little over $148 million worldwide (on a reportedly $175 million budget), it led the actor and director to consider working together again, this time on the STX production The Gentlemen. (Previously this project was known as Toff Guys or Bush.)

As for Henry Golding, the whole process of both meeting and filming with Guy Ritchie ended up being very different, as that actor shot The Gentlemen simultaneously while filming a holiday movie. He said of the experience:

It was sort of waking up in this [sic] gangster role. There were some days I would do [The Gentlemen] in the morning and then report to set for a Christmas movie with Emilia Clarke, so it was a very sort of strong contrast.

That movie is about drug lords, drugs and (sometimes comedic) moments of violence and it sports an all-star cast, including Charlie Hunnam and Henry Golding, but also previous collaborator Hugh Grant, Matthew McConaughey, Colin Farrell, Michelle Dockery and Jeremy Strong.

The Gentlemen doesn’t have a release date yet, but if you missed or weren’t fond of King Arthur, the footage looks to be a very different type of movie, yet still with Ritchie’s signature pacing and style. We’ll bring you the trailer as soon as it drops, but for now the very least you can do is throw on episode of Sons of Anarchy or throw on your own "cup of tea" to toast Jax.

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Stephen King’s 'Salem’s Lot Is Finally Being Made Into A Movie, And James Wan’s Involved

Stephen King’s 'Salem’s Lot Is Finally Being Made Into A Movie, And James Wan’s Involved

The work of Stephen King is as hot a property now as it has ever been. In just the last couple years we've seen adaptations of IT, The Dark Tower, and a remake of Pet Sematary. Now, one of the author's earliest works 'Salem's Lot is set for its first big screen adaptation and modern horror master James Wan is on board the project.

James Wan is set to act as a producer of the new 'Salem's Lot while Gary Dauberman, the writer of several installments of Wan's Conjuring franchise, as well as the recent Stephen King adaptation of IT, and the upcoming IT: Chapter 2, will pen the script. According to THR, the film is currently without a director, though Wan could certainly fill that void if his schedule permits, and Dauberman's directorial debut, Annabelle Comes Home, is about to bow, so he could take the chair as well, especially if that movie is well received.

'Salem's Lot was Stephen King's second published novel after Carrie and it's essentially King's version of Dracula. It follows an author (go fig) who returns to the small Maine town he lived in as a boy, Jerusalem's Lot, shortened by the residents to 'Salem's Lot, only to discover that the residents are turning into vampires. These new vampires have a source of course, which the author, named Ben Mears, finds himself at odds with.

The book has never been adapted as a theatrical feature before, though it has twice been made for television. First, in 1979 as two-part miniseries, then again as TV movie starring Rob Lowe in 2004.

While Stephen King is a go to source for theatrical inspiration these days, the results have certainly been mixed. IT was a massive hit, that much is true. However, the recent Pet Sematary remake has had a lukewarm reaction by both audiences and critics. The less said about The Dark Tower the better.

Having said that, this 'Salem's Lot adaptation is certainly starting out on the right foot. You can't new much better in the horror genre right now than James Wan. While he's still riding high on the success of Aquaman, horror is Wan's home and he clearly still loves it. While Wan has a number of projects in the pipeline as a producer, he hasn't signed on to his next directing job yet, so it's certainly possible this could be it.

The book is also one of Stephen King's personal favorites of his own work, so you can be sure he'll be watching this project closely.

This is certainly a lovely time to be a movie fan if you're also a Stephen King fan. Hopefully, with this strong pedigree behind 'Salem's Lot, this one will turn out a lot more like IT and less like The Dark Tower.

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First Look At James McAvoy’s Bill Denbrough In IT Chapter 2

First Look At James McAvoy’s Bill Denbrough In IT Chapter 2

2017 brought us the first installment of director Andy Muschietti’s adaptation of Stephen King’s legendary novel IT. It also brought the suspense of having to wait for the second half of the story, as the doorstopping length of that source book inspired Muschietti to split the story into two parts.

The first chapter delivered the childhood portion of the story, and now with a brand new photo from the director himself, we have our first look at the adult form of Bill Denbrough in IT: Chapter 2, played by James McAvoy:

While it’s not a full-body shot of McAvoy’s adult incarnation of the character originated by Jaeden Lieberher in IT, it looks like we’re seeing Bill indulging in one of his old habits. As the posture of James McAvoy’s body in the photo suggests, it looks like Bill’s riding a bike, more than likely his childhood steed Silver.

Bill is certainly going to need that bike, and any other support from his childhood memories he can get, as he and the entire Loser’s Club gang are reuniting in Derry to take on the evil known as Pennywise The Clown once again. After thirty years of relative peace, with his group of friends being scattered all over, it’s going to take more than just a slingshot to defeat the greatest fears of Bill and the rest of the gang.

With Andy Muschietti previously confirming that a lot of detail went into finding actors that could look and feel like their childhood incarnations, we’re starting to see that work really pay off. See for yourself, by comparing the photo of James McAvoy above with this photo of Jaeden Martell’s version of Bill from IT:

While we’ll have to wait until later this year to see how McAvoy’s performance captures the essence of Lieberher in IT: Chapter 2, there’s certainly a strong resemblance between the two actors in this photo from Andy Muschietti’s Instagram. This isn’t the first we’ve seen when it comes to the adult versions of The Losers Club, as we were treated to some footage of another scene at this year’s CinemaCon.

Through the clips shown to us from IT: Chapter 2, it sounds like James McAvoy isn’t the only example of adult actors sticking the landing on their aged portrayals of their younger counterparts. With a lot of that particular look at the film showing us Jessica Chastain’s Bev, and a few snippets of other Losers being shown, it feels like the fires of hype surrounding this momentous finale are starting to be stoked higher than ever.

IT: Chapter 2 invades our dreams, nightmares, and local theaters, on September 6; but if you want to see what else is heading our way in the months prior to the return to Derry, head over to the 2019 release schedule for further information.

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T2 Trainspotting Actor Bradley Welsh Is Dead At 42, And Now There’s An Investigation

T2 Trainspotting Actor Bradley Welsh Is Dead At 42, And Now There’s An Investigation

Bradley Welsh, an actor, trainer and former boxer most known internationally for his work in T2 Trainspotting, has died at 42. Welsh was allegedly found by an Edinburgh emergency services division after allegedly being shot on April 17th. The actor later died of his injuries and an investigation is underway.

Reports on the scene indicate that Bradley Welsh had been shot (possibly in the head) following some sort of incident on Chester Street in Edinburgh Scotland at about 8 p.m. on Wednesday. Police have not confirmed his death came from a shooting, but other outlets are also reporting it was a shot that killed the actor and boxer. Armed police were allegedly on the scene for hours after Welsh's death.

According to police in Edinburgh, the death is being treated as suspicious and an investigation is underway. The direct comment given on Facebook was as follows:

His death is being treated as suspicious and inquiries are continuing. Officers will continue to provide a high-visibility presence in the area to engage with the public, offer reassurance and gather information that can assist with this investigation.

Anyone who believes they have any relevant information should contact police immediately.

So details are still scarce regarding what series of events led to Welsh’s untimely passing.

In T2 Trainspotting, Welsh had played a character named Doyle, a businessman owning a rival brothel who catches wind of a scheme coming from the main characters’ and bullies them into walking home from the country to Edinburgh in the buff. T2 Trainspotting also starred Ewan McGregor, Ewen Bremner and Jonny Lee Miller.

Trainspotting writer Irvine Welsh has already responded about Bradley Welsh’s death, sending his condolences to his friend.

Bradley and Irvine Welsh are not related.

The boxer also owned a gym, Holyrood Boxing Gym, and per Variety was involved in charities that helped keep kids from getting into trouble on the streets. Welsh was also once the champion of the Amateur Boxing Association of England.

He’s a fairly well-known figure in his area, and many have commented on social media about Bradley Welsh’s passing.

We’ll update as more details come to light, but in the meantime, our thoughts go out to Welsh’s family and friends at this time.

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Alita: Battle Angel Probably Won't Make Enough To Get A Sequel

Alita: Battle Angel Probably Won't Make Enough To Get A Sequel

Alita: Battle Angel has been in theaters for four weekends now. During that time, the movie has capably exceeded box office expectations, both domestically and internationally. It recently even hit $350 million at the worldwide box office, trailing only two other movies internationally so far this year, How To Train Your Dragon: The Hidden World and the Chinese hit The Wandering Earth. Yet, it probably won’t be enough for Alita: Battle Angel to earn a sequel.

Nearing the end of its fourth weekend at the box office, Alita: Battle Angel has raked in over $380 million worldwide. Domestically, it has earned nearly $75 million, while the rest of the intake comes from the worldwide box office. The movie allegedly cost $170 million to make, per Box Office Mojo, and therein lies the problem.

First and foremost, production budgets on movies don’t factor in the cost of advertising that studios also pay to get ads onto Internet sites and regular TV screens, so the overall cost of Alita: Battle Angel is somewhat higher than its production budget. Factor in all of the costs Fox put in with the fact the studio only gets to keep a percentage of box office intake and elsewhere in the world it’s a much smaller percentage than in domestic theaters and it becomes easier to see how we got to this conclusion.

To be clear, Alita: Battle Angel has exceeded early box office expectations. Prior to its release, the expectation was that the movie would only make $25 million domestically during opening weekend and eventually go on to make $45 or $50 million in theaters. Because it opened during a 5-day weekend near the Valentine’s Day holiday, the film ended up making closer to $42 million domestically, which was a decent start.

Worldwide, it’s also been saved quite a bit by the international box office, although it hasn’t opened to huge numbers in places like China. The flick will likely break even for the studio or get close to it, all things considered. The situation is much better than it could have been, yet it would be a shock if it was enough to make Alita 2 happen. (In fact, James Cameron has already said he hasn't planned an Alita sequel yet.)

This is sort of a problem similar to the one Solo: A Star Wars Story faced last year when it made quite a bit of money worldwide, but had a large (too large) budget to recoup costs.

The movie should be in theaters for some time after, and it’s possible when all is said and done that Alita: Battle Angel could even make a little money at the box office. However, even if the flick does come out ahead, another big budget gamble of that ilk is likely a hard sell to the powers that be who are greenlighting these sorts of projects. So, despite the open-ended way Robert Rodriguez ended his big budget action film, we are not likely to get the opportunity to see what comes next. Note I'm saying "not likely" rather than impossible, but it's certainly a tough sell.

That’s especially true given Alita: Battle Angel is also coming from Fox at a time when Fox is selling to Disney. If it’s not a huge hit, there’s not really an incentive for the latter studio to sign on for more later, especially when James Cameron is so busy with Avatar 2 and the subsequent movies.

It’s a bit of a shame, though, for a movie that was already a flick James Cameron wanted to make way back when Robert Rodriguez was filming Sin City and landed an A- CinemaScore.

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New Aladdin Trailer Teases Way More Action Than The Original

New Aladdin Trailer Teases Way More Action Than The Original

Disney is swinging big this year on the live-action remake offerings. While Dumbo was a bit of a disappointment for the studio in comparison to its other recent re-imaginings, it may be all uphill from here as Aladdin and Lion King soon approach theaters. Aladdin is a beloved musical comedy from Disney Animation’s Renaissance Era, but it also looks like the upcoming version will also be packed with fun action sequences as well. Check it out in the new trailer:

Exciting! While the previous trailer for Aladdin highlighted the lively musical numbers for “Friend Like Me,” “Prince Ali” and “A Whole New World,” this recent TV spot, titled “Rags to Wishes,” showcases some thrilling elements of the live-action movie. The trailer starts off with Aladdin (Mena Massoud) and Princess Jasmine (Naomi Scott) sharing a cute exchange about how he managed to get into the palace (that is, if breaking and entering can be considered cute). It’s a new bit from the couple not found in the movie as shots from what looks to be “One Jump Ahead” flash in between.

The trailer then moves to Aladdin’s dealings with Jafar (Marwan Kenzari), who leads him to the Cave of Wonders where he finds the magic lamp and meets Will Smith’s Blue Genie. The trailer then transitions to quick cuts from various points in the movie, including recognizable musical numbers and moments such as Aladdin asking Jasmine “Do you trust me?” before taking her on a magic carpet ride, and new ones like Aladdin running from Iago.

The TV spot concludes with some quips between Aladdin and Genie as our hero critiques his top knot hairstyle to which Will Smith says “That’s my little cherry on top!” Overall, the new look at Aladdin seeks to show another side to the upcoming fantasy film by showing a mix of new dialogue among the characters with the highly-anticipated musical numbers many people are excited to see and some action to look forward to.

It’s looks to be trying to set itself apart from the original a bit so audiences don’t feel like they have a rerun in store for them, which is a good move for the studio to take after the last trailer was primarily a nostalgia trip for the 1992 animated original. Early on in the film’s marketing, Will Smith’s Blue Genie look received some backlash as well, but with each new preview, fans are seeing a better picture of the character.

While Dumbo had a debut of just under $46 million in its first weekend, early tracking for Aladdin shows it will be a much more popular release for the studio as it is expected to make between $70 to $95 million during its opening during Memorial Day weekend.

Aladdin comes out on May 24 alongside James Gunn’s Brightburn, comedy Booksmart and the Brad Pitt-led Ad Astra. Will you be seeing it opening weekend? Let us know in the comments below.

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The Russo Brothers Suggest Watching Two MCU Movies Before Avengers: Endgame

The Russo Brothers Suggest Watching Two MCU Movies Before Avengers: Endgame

We are T-minus 22 days until Avengers: Endgame hits theaters, and that gives fans just enough time to rewatch the 21 movies of the Marvel Cinematic Universe to date before The Infinity Saga comes to a close. You could do one movie a day, binge them, or you could take part in AMC’s epic 59-hour marathon. But if you don’t have time for that or you’re already committed to rewatching Game of Thrones (seriously, how awesome is April?) the Russo Brothers have suggested two MCU movies you should check out before Endgame. According to Anthony Russo:

It's a great question, and I will say we do work hard to make sure that the story works in a way that even people who haven't seen any thing [can still enjoy the movie] because we feel like that's very important. I think you see this movie after movie, the audience keeps growing for these films. So what that tells us is that people are seeing these movies who haven't seen the previous ones. So it's important that we are speaking to an audience that is perhaps seeing these stories for the first time. That being said, there's certainly an interconnected story being told. I would say, certainly, Civil War and Infinity War are probably the two biggest lead-ins to this movie in the sense that Civil War created the situation where the Avengers were divided.

Speaking to Fandango, Anthony Russo explains that he, his brother and Marvel endeavor to make sure that the MCU movies are accessible and can bring in new fans and they have been successful in that. The hope is that you could theoretically come in to watch Avengers: Endgame cold, why you would do that is a mystery but the idea is that you could.

Nevertheless, this is obviously a story many films in the making and if you wanted to only hit the bullet points to enter this world or refresh your memory before Endgame, you should watch Captain America: Civil War and Avengers: Infinity War. These picks make the most sense, as they are the last two MCU films the Russo Brothers directed. And that makes them natural primers for Avengers: Endgame.

That you should rewatch Avengers: Infinity War is obvious. These two films were originally conceived of as two parts of a giant film and Infinity War set up the cliffhanger that will need to be resolved in Endgame. You need to know or refresh your memory on Thanos, the Infinity Stones, how they Avengers fought and how and who they lost.

Anthony Russo also says that you should watch Captain America: Civil War because that was the movie that divided the Avengers. That was the first film out of the gate in Phase 3, and it set up the fractured nature of the heroes that continued through Avengers: Infinity War. When Bruce Banner came back to Earth in Infinity War he found out that the Avengers were no more.

The various teams in Infinity War weren’t the product of a divide and conquer strategy, they were the natural result of the heroes no longer communicating with one another and working together. Consider that they might have had more time to save Vision and destroy the Mind Stone if Cap and Co. weren’t in exile and knew about the threat sooner.

To defeat Thanos for good the Avengers must truly assemble and that means healing the deep wound suffered in Captain America: Civil War. We’ve already seen Cap and Tony reuniting in the trailers for Endgame, so that schism will clearly be addressed and if you don’t remember exactly how it happened in the first place, rewatching Civil War is a sound idea.

Tickets are now on sale for Avengers: Endgame, hopefully you’ve managed to get yours during the website-breaking frenzy that took place yesterday. Avengers: Endgame hits theaters on April 26. Check out our 2019 Release Schedule to keep track of all this year’s biggest movies.

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5 Reasons Godzilla (2014) Is Better Than You Probably Remember

5 Reasons Godzilla (2014) Is Better Than You Probably Remember

With Godzilla: King of the Monsters stomping, hopping, smashing and crashing its way into theaters around the world this week, I have a confession to make: I like Godzilla (2014). I like it a lot, in fact, and I don't think it deserves the flack it gets.

Gareth Edwards' assured, commanding sophomore film is a fire-breather of a Godzilla movie, one that surprisingly isn't afraid to bide its time and make the monster movie beats worth the while. It's a carefully-crafted B-movie with A-grade special effects, an expensive genre beauty that fills the big screen at choice moments. It produces a loud, roaring triumph of Spielbergian craftsmanship, complimented beautifully by its boisterous score, with a diligent desire to make the explosive finale a towering inferno of epic-ness. In short, it's a lot of fun, and it's a lot better than people give it credit.

The film does have its flaws — many of them, in fact. For instance, Aaron Taylor-Johnson's character is a soggy bread of a protagonist, lacking any real depth or nuance to make him worthy of being our central human character. The story structure can be a bit haphazard, favoring set pieces over a firm narrative streamline, and the lack of monster fights in the first two-thirds can be odd — to say the least — for a major American studio Godzilla movie. But its strengths far outshine its weaknesses, in my view, and I believe there's a lot worth celebrating in this big-budget remake. Here's my reasoning.

Godzilla Has Excellent Use Of Build-Up

Perhaps the biggest — and, in my view, most rewarding — surprise found in Godzilla (2014) is that it is an unexpectedly patient film. With Hollywood blockbusters, particularly in an era of massive superhero movies, we're used to seeing a lot of whizz-bang early and often. Blockbusters will jam-pack as many action beats as possible to keep easily-distracted eyeballs focused squarely on the big screen in front of them. You need to bring the masses, and the masses want something that keeps their attention spans stimulated, even if — or especially if — their brain is left unrewarded in the process.

There is nothing wrong with a good popcorn flick. I love them as much as the next guy. But Godzilla (2014) accomplishes something that is a little more dexterous in terms of its plotting and execution. It intentionally teases the audience, keeping the title character at a distance until it's time for the big, famous kaiju monster to make a hell of an impression. The result is a Godzilla movie with fewer action beats than you might anticipate, but one that is, nevertheless, deeply satisfying because the pay-off is so explosively enjoyable that you feel rewarded for being strung along for the last hour or so.

Godzilla Has Amazing Special Effects

With blockbusters today, we often take the wizardry of special effects for granted. Nearly every blockbuster released in theaters this weekend is filled with spectacles galore, often the work of computer animators trying to meet tight deadlines and massive expectations. Nevertheless, the VFX effects in Godzilla (2014) are truly incredible, not merely for a big-scale Godzilla movie (particularly with other Godzilla movies relying on people in rubber suits to do the job), but for a major Hollywood blockbuster such as this one.

Gareth Edwards made a beautiful looking movie, one that is complimented throughout with strong cinematography and commendable direction. But it is the lavish special effects from the movie's heavy $160 million budget that really make the visual pops in this action flick. Particularly with the very dated special effects found in Roland Emmerich's ill-fated 1998 Godzilla remake, Godzilla (2014) is the first time the big mean radioactive monster was given the proper Hollywood treatment. And he is as beautiful as he's ugly — if that makes sense.

Impressively massive and commendably fleshed-out, Godzilla looks more believable and photorealistic than he's ever looked before, and the reptilian badass is truly a sight to behold. It's a damn shame that Godzilla (2014) didn't even get a nomination for Best Visual Effects. Quite an egregious snub.

Godzilla Has Nice Set Pieces

While people are often quick to lament about the lack of monster-based action sequences in Godzilla (2014), the blockbuster does contain a wide array of impressive set pieces. Whether it's Hawaii, Las Vegas, San Francisco or the Philippines, Godzilla gets around in this new movie, and we follow him through a nice assortment of different scenic backdrops. Though Godzilla is a big, imposing, menacing dude, the skyscraper-sized creature sure knows how to get around the world in a short amount of time.

As a result, Godzilla (2014) is as expansive as it is expensive, providing audiences with a glorious blockbuster with the budget and means to jump from location-to-location. It provides moviegoers with a chance to see all kinds of locations, even if many — if not all — of them fall victim to widespread destruction in the grasp of Godzilla's fire-breathing reign. Gareth Edwards' first film, the micro-budgeted Monsters, showcased a rising filmmaker with a knack for making the most out of sparse and/or visually-dynamic locations. That filmmaking tradition continued with his next film, Godzilla (2014).

Godzilla Has A Great Sense Of Perspective

One thing that really makes Godzilla (2014) exceptional is that this major movie tends to prefer the small opposed to the big. While the film is filled with major overtures in the right key moments, it's a film that like to keep the focus on the ground floor. Picking up from the tradition of 2008's Cloverfield, it imagines the citywide destruction and global mayhem of the kaiju attacks from a view that is often closer to the floor than the sky. The result is a huge, gigantic motion picture that knows how to dish out action in a human level — even if it's human characters can often, unfortunately, be a bit lacking.

It's hard to say that Aaron Taylor-Johnson brings a lot to the lead role. And it's even harder to remember much of anything about his character or personality. But through his eyes, we are often witnessing the chaos that springs worldwide in these monsters' wake. The result is a movie that knows how to bring perspective in the fold, and one that constantly keeps the action investing by never being afraid to reveal its hand too early into the game.

The Cast Is Notable

Now, listen, I won't say the humans in Godzilla are richly fleshed-out, three-dimensional characters with rich backgrounds and layered personalities. You'd be hard-pressed to find many Godzilla-focused movies with the same high pedigree of actors. Bryan Cranston and Ken Watanabe are excellent in in their supporting roles, while Sally Hawkins, Juliette Binoche, David Stratharian and Elizabeth Olsen are always dependable talents. Unfortunately, most of the cast is given little to work with, as the humans are often a means to the end, and that end is monster-on-monster action.

Nevertheless, while most of these actors aren't given awards-caliber performances, there are only a few truly underwhelming performances. Everyone is doing the best they can with their often paper-thin characters, and Aaron Taylor-Johnson often gets the worst of it. He's a talented actor who has proven his talents in a variety of different films, including Kick-Ass, Nowhere Boy and Nocturnal Animals, to name a few noteworthy examples of late.

Sadly, however, like I said in the introduction, his character in this film is a wet blanket who isn't as much fun as his title co-star. Nevertheless, most of these actors do commendable work to sell the gravitas in this otherwise campy genre exercise, and their hard work and talents can be under-appreciated.

Will I call Godzilla (2014) a perfect movie? No. Because it's not. Like I said, it has its flaws, and it has its shortcomings. While Godzilla: King of the Monsters seems like it will be providing the non-stop, wall-to-wall monster action that hungry fans were expecting from this much-anticipated remake, I don't think it's fair to give this Godzilla movie the cold shoulder in the process.

On its own merits, Gareth Edwards made a well-crafted, exhilarating monster movie with Godzilla (2014), one that should be admired much more than it is. And I hope I provided some compelling reasons for why that should be the case.

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Every Marvel Movie To Date, Ranked

Every Marvel Movie To Date, Ranked

Growing and expanding since 2008, Marvel Studios has managed to create the most successful franchises of all time. Year after year they manage to release hit after hit, and it doesn't look like they will be slowing down any time soon. With the release of Avengers: Endgame there are now 22 films in canon -- but that begs the question: how do they rank against each other?

Well, I've done my part in answering that question. I've taken a look back at the entirety of the big screen Marvel Cinematic Universe and as you will see below and on the next few pages, ranked them from worst to best. Read on and see where the various films place!

22. Thor: The Dark World

If Marvel Studios has had any one consistent issue with their films, it's that the villains for the most part have been small-time and forgettable. Perhaps the best example of this is featured in Alan Taylor's Thor: The Dark World, as Christopher Eccleston's Malekith never manages to get interesting, and it's a shame because the entire plot is dictated by his actions. The movie definitely has one of the best spectacle-driven third acts in the MCU, but the movie still can't really be called one of Marvel's best, and to date it's really the franchise's worst.

21. The Incredible Hulk

While it didn't hit the bottom of our rankings, there definitely is a degree to which The Incredible Hulk is the forgotten sibling in the Marvel Cinematic Universe family. For years, the only actor from the movie to actually reprise their role in a second film was Robert Downey Jr. On beyond that, though, the 2008 movie is really the only title in the catalogue that doesn't have the trademark tongue-in-cheek humor and sense of fun that has made Marvel so popular. It's not a bad movie, but Marvel would go on to do much better work.

20. Iron Man 2

When looked at from the macro perspective, Jon Favreau's Iron Man 2 honestly serves as a key piece of the puzzle in building the Marvel Cinematic Universe, and it has some great things going for it (the Monaco Historic Grand Prix sequence in particular is memorable and cool). All by its lonesome, however, it is a bit of a mess. It's also very jumbled plot-wise (trying to do way too much), has a poor villain in Mickey Rourke's Whiplash, and it never really properly hangs together.

19. Thor

Given its origins in Norse mythology, and a fantasy-esque element not really seen before in comic book movies, Kenneth Branagh's Thor in many ways felt like the first big risk that Marvel Studios took (beyond just the launch of the MCU). That being said, it wound up paying off in a great way, and established both Chris Hemsworth and Tom Hiddleston as bona fide stars. It strikes the perfect Marvel tone, and introduces some great new concepts to the world -- and while it has its flaws (pacing is too fast, not enough Asgard,etc.), it ultimately holds up.

18. Ant-Man

Peyton Reed's Ant-Man works on a much smaller scale than many of the other titles in Phase 2 of the Marvel Cinematic Universe, and is a bit more straight-forward than you want it to be -- but boy, is it a hell of a lot of fun. The 2015 movie succeeds by featuring a handful of fantastically entertaining performances and characters, with the most important piece of the puzzle being Paul Rudd -- who will surely keep MCU fans entertained for years to come.

17. Doctor Strange

From a visual standpoint, director Scott Derrickson's Doctor Strange is unlike anything audiences have ever seen. Interdimensional travel and magic create some absolutely gorgeous and bombastic set pieces that audiences will remember for a very long time, and the triumvirate of Benedict Cumberbatch (Dr. Strange), Tilda Swinton (The Ancient One), and Chiwetel Ejiofor (Mordo) is fantastic. Unfortunately it's all weighed down by a standard origin story and an underdeveloped villain, but it's definitely an exciting introduction for the future Sorcerer Supreme.

16. The Avengers: Age Of Ultron

Joss Whedon carried some incredible weight bringing The Avengers: Age of Ultron to the big screen, working under immense pressure and scrutiny. While the final product isn't as good as its predecessor, it's still an impressive, epic blockbuster that honestly feels like a major Marvel Comics event brought to life. The stakes are big, some great new characters are introduced, and it sets an interesting table for the events that transpire in Phase Three.

15. Captain Marvel

With Anna Boden and Ryan Fleck's Captain Marvel, audiences everywhere have the chance to meet one of the most powerful heroes in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, and it's definitely one of the most exciting debuts we've seen thus far in this franchise. It is a bit dragged down by the familiar aspects of its origin story, but it also has a number of unexpected twists, and provides fans with is plenty of exciting new looks at the expanded continuity - such as events from the MCU in the 1990s, the Kree-Skrull War, and even a bit more of the Tesseract. Of course, at the center of it all is also a badass new protagonist who has tremendous potential for awesome cosmic and Earthbound stories in the future.

14. Guardians Of The Galaxy Vol. 2

As will be discussed later, James Gunn totally changed the Marvel game with 2014's Guardians of the Galaxy, but in doing so set the most ridiculous of high bars for its sequel to reach. The bad news is that Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 isn't quite as good as its predecessor, but the great news is that it's an incredibly fun intergalactic romp. It smartly sacrifices scope in favor of character, and it's a legitimate cinematic treat to see Star-Lord, Gamora, Drax, Rocket and Groot back up on the big screen.

13. Iron Man 3

Shane Black's Iron Man 3 is unquestionably the most underrated Marvel movie. While some audiences complained about the Mandarin twist and lack of Iron Man screentime, the other way to look at those two things is the power of the movie's ability to defy expectation, and the way in which it enriches Tony Stark as a character outside of his armor. It's a fun piece of noir storytelling, and a great comeback after the mediocre Iron Man 2.

12. Ant-Man And The Wasp

There is an argument to be made that first sequels in the Marvel Cinematic Universe have a specific advantage over their predecessors. After all, origin stories are essentially fixed expositional vehicles used to establish key characters; but once those introductions are made, what's left is the purely creative opportunity to craft a wholly original, specific story natural to those heroes. Peyton Reed's Ant-Man And The Wasp is a perfect example of this. The movie beautifully capitalizes on everything we loved about the first Ant-Man (Paul Rudd and Evangeline Lilly are genuinely perfect together), putting its wonderful ensemble through an expertly-molded comedic thrill ride in the vein of After Hours and Midnight Run - ultimately coming together as a romp that is hilarious from beginning to end.

11. Captain America: The First Avenger

Landing right in the middle of this list is Joe Johnston's Captain America: The First Avenger: another origin story, but one that takes the audience back in time to the days of World War II. There is a rightful complaint in that the third act of the film doesn't have quite the punch of Marvel's better titles, but it's also one of the studio's best introductory tales, and features some perfect performances from both Chris Evans and Hayley Atwell (performances that would completely change their individual careers).

10. Thor: Ragnarok

The Thor movies have never been one of Marvel's strongest series - as evidenced by their rankings on this list. That's why Marvel had director Taika Waititi rebrand the whole thing with Thor: Ragnarok, and the results are fantastic. The tone is not only much lighter than its predecessors, resulting in one of the funniest titles in the franchise to date, but the character work is just phenomenal. It's the most compelling arc we've seen for Chris Hemsworth's God of Thunder, Mark Ruffalo is phenomenal as a Hulk who can finally have a conversation, and their thrust together in one of Marvel's most vibrant and fun adventures.

9. Spider-Man: Homecoming

As a big screen character, Spider-Man was at big risk of reboot fatigue going into Jon Watts' Spider-Man: Homecoming, but nothing dissipates audience apprehension quite like quality - and boy, did this one bring it. In his second Marvel Cinematic Universe appearance, Tom Holland perfects both being Peter Parker and the wall-crawler, and the film succeeds by actively differentiating itself from anything that's come before - skipping the overdone origin story and fully embracing the new movie's position in MCU continuity with a strong supporting role for Robert Downey Jr.'s Tony Stark. It's a crazy fun adventure, full of youthful energy that gets us excited for the web-slinger's franchise future.

8. Iron Man

Jon Favreau's Iron Man, of course, was the film that kicked off the Marvel Cinematic Universe, but while that's a significant feat, it's only part of the larger reason why we have it ranked so high. It's also the film that brought the amazing Robert Downey Jr. back to us, the actor doing his part to create what has become a truly iconic character, and the movie in and of itself is a fantastic story of redemption and facing down demons. It's a superhero blockbuster that will go down in history -- which makes it actually kind of impressive on Marvel's part that it's only number five on our list.

7. The Avengers

Marvel's Phase One films are, on the whole, enjoyable pieces of entertainment, but Joss Whedon's The Avengers was when the Marvel Cinematic Universe truly became the Marvel Cinematic Universe. Not only one of the greatest event movies of all time, it also beautifully, dazzlingly,, and unexpectedly delivers on a four year long promise of bringing some of comics' greatest heroes together on the big screen for the first time ever. For the longest time the whole thing just seemed like an impossible dream, but Whedon and Marvel delivered in the biggest way imaginable, and it's a finished product that can be rewatched endlessly with enjoyment

6. Black Panther

After 10 years of franchise-building and 17 films, you'd think that Marvel Studios would struggle at this point putting together effective introductory solo films. The truth, however, is that they'll keep being successful so long as the studio continues to hire filmmakers with vision - and that's exactly what they did bringing in writer/director Ryan Coogler to make Black Panther. The movie is not only a remarkable exercise in world-building - introducing audiences to the remarkable land of Wakanda - but also very much has something important to say, and says it compellingly. The narrative regarding the African nation's relationship with the rest of the planet is impressively sophisticated in a blockbuster package, and Michael B. Jordan's Erik Killmonger, equipped with understandable and powerful ideology, is arguably Marvel's greatest villain to date.

5. Avengers: Infinity War

To paraphrase Marvel Studios President Kevin Feige, Joe and Anthony Russo's Avengers: Infinity War was built on the idea of it being the capstone for every Marvel Cinematic Universe film that preceded it. A full decade was spent watching Infinity Stones be revealed, and Thanos being teased, and it seemed like there was just far too much pressure on the blockbuster for it to actually be any good. Boy, did they prove us wrong. Finally getting his chance in the spotlight, the Mad Titan proves to be an absolutely terrifying force of nature, and the film is filled with too many shocking, disturbing and amazing moments to count. Its in every way the movie fans were promised.

4. Captain America: The Winter Soldier

For Phase Two, Marvel Studios made a point of not just making superhero movies, but making complex genre films that happen to feature superheroes. For Captain America: The Winter Soldier, directors Joe and Anthony Russo infused the blockbuster with the structure and spirit of a 1970s conspiracy thriller, and the result is absolutely stunning. No other feature in the Marvel Cinematic Universe features fight choreography that is as visceral, and the character dynamics between Cap, Black Widow, and Falcon are thoughtful, unique, and fun.

3. Guardians Of The Galaxy

James Gunn's Guardians of the Galaxy is a legitimately special movie. Only tangentially part of the Marvel Cinematic Universe, the film is unlike any comic book feature we've seen -- even in the modern era -- and has everything a person could want from a summer blockbuster. It's hilarious, with not just star Chris Pratt getting fantastic laugh-out-loud lines; it's action-packed, with a third-act spectacle that will boggle the mind; and it's even emotional, creating amazing bonds between characters. It stood as Marvel's best work for a couple years... but then 2016 rolled around.

2. Captain America: Civil War

As ridiculously huge as the first two Avengers blockbusers were, directors Joe and Anthony Russo somehow managed to up the ante even further with Captain America: Civil War. The third Captain America movie is shockingly emotional (particularly in the showdown between Cap and Iron Man), stunningly action packed (the Leipzig Halle Airport fight is among the best we've ever seen), and gives us some amazing new characters in Spider-Man and Black Panther. It's spectacularly crafted storytelling with a real gut-punch ending, and to date the best film in the MCU.

1. Avengers: Endgame

Joe and Anthony Russo's Avengers: Endgame is a film that really shouldn't be as phenomenal as it is. It should be impossible to make a blockbuster that is able to perfectly capitalize on the 21 blockbuster in the series that preceded it. And yet that's exactly what this movie does. It starts with the fallout from Avengers: Infinity War, with the surviving heroes picking up the pieces of their lives following their battle with Thanos and massive defeat, but where it goes from there coalesces as one of the most bombastic, jaw-dropping, and remarkable big screen experiences we've ever seen. It may not technically be the end of Phase Three, but it's still the perfect ending for the first three phases of the Marvel Cinematic Universe.

How do you personally rank the films of the Marvel Cinematic Universe? We want to hear from you, so hit the comments section below with your thoughts on the last decade-plus of Marvel Studios titles.

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