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Category: Lists
SHERLOCK: The Top 6 Episodes Ranked
Posted on February 11, 2017 February 11, 2017 by Nick Doll in Benedict Cumberbatch, Featured, Lists, TV Shows
A hero is only as compelling as his villains. In the case of the Series Sherlock, a great villain has to be as brilliant as the titular consulting detective. The 6 Best Episodes of Sherlock offer the most genius, psychotic, and diabolical adversaries challenging Sherlock Holmes (Benedict Cumberbatch) to his greatest mysteries (or "Games").
If you missed Part 1, Sherlock: Every Episode Ranked #13-#7, you can read that HERE.
SPOILERS through the final episode of Sherlock follow.
Now… On to the Top 6 Episodes of Sherlock!
6. 'His Last Vow '- Season 3, Episode 3 Charles Augustus Magnussen (Lars Mikkelsen) is the first strong villain to follow the death of Moriarty, which took place 3 episodes (or a whole season) earlier than 'His Last Vow.' Magnussen is a master of due to Applegate, his luxurious compound where he keeps compromising material on everyone from members of the British Government to John Watson's (Martin Freeman) new wife Mary (Amanda Abbington). Why Mary? Well, because she's actually a Super-Spy with a dark past that threatens to unravel her marriage with John. The twist comes when Sherlock and John finally arrive at Applegate, only to learn that Magnussen keeps all his blackmail material in his head; his "mind palace," the same device Sherlock uses to catalog all the information necessary to solve any case. This doppelganger aspect is a valiant attempt to create a strong villain in a post-Moriary world. In the end, Magnussen's biggest threat to Sherlock becomes the blood on the great detective's hands following his shooting Magnussen in the head to protect Mary's secrets.
5. 'The Lying Detective' – Season 4, Episode 2 'The Lying Detective' (a play on Arthur Conan Doyle's story, 'The Dying Detective') presents a villain, Culverton Smith (Tobey Jones), who shares little more than a name with the source material. In the story, Smith is a killer, but expanded to a philanthropist serial killer for the episode . Separated from John after Mary's death in the previous episode, 'The Six Thatchers,' Sherlock is brought a mystery by the "daughter" of Culverton Smith. She recounts the time her father drugged her and his closest colleges in order to tell them he wanted to kill "Somebody." Said mystery is solved in the most entertaining and visual manor since 'His Last Vow,' recognizing Sherlock's strengths. It turns out "Somebody" means "Anybody" and Sherlock, while literally dying due to a drug-bender brought on by boredom, decides to confront Culverton directly, in public. A glorious, verbal game of cat-and-mouse ensues right in front of unknowing, innocent people without them realizing Culverton and Holmes are discussing the fact Smith is a serial killer. Very formidable and clever, indeed.
4. 'A Scandal in Belgravia' – Season 2, Episode 1 In Arthur Conan Doyle's stories Irene Adler (Lara Pulver), aka "The Woman," leaves the most lasting impression on Sherlock's life, aside from Dr. Jim Moriarty. First appearing in the short story 'A Scandal in Bohemia' (hence the name of this episode), Adler is the only woman to "beat" Holmes. Adler is the closest thing Sherlock has to a lover or significant other, using her sexuality as a weapon before eventually warming up to him as just in time for Sherlock to exploit her affection to outsmart her. Let's just say the never consummate the relationship. Of course, when her password is "I Am SHER-Locked," there is certainly some sort of sparks between the two master-minds. Great mysteries with fantastic deductions speckle the episode, with Moriary makes a fleeting, yet very welcome and classic appearance.
3. 'The Final Problem' – Season 4, Episode 3 Though the title comes from the original story where Moriarty and Holmes fall to their "death" from the Reichenbach Falls, the episode of the same name features the beyond terrifying Eurus Holmes (Sian Brooke), sister to MyCroft (Mark Gatiss) and Sherlock, and invention of Gatiss and Steven Moffat. Eurus was locked away at such a young age that Sherlock can't remember his sister/blocked all memories of her, due to a heinous crime relating to another of the series' long-standing mysteries, "Redbeard." The most brilliant (and most disturbed) of all three Holmes siblings, Eurus has been locked away nearly her entire life, but manages to trick Sherlock, Watson, and even Mycroft to confirm her incarceration by coming to her at the super-secret, isolated, extreme security prison of Sherrinford. Eurus has set a trap, with the help of Moriarty, five years previous, subjecting the unlikely trio to a maze of mysteries within the maximum security prison at a pace only matched by 'The Great Game.' These challenges serve as Moriarty's "Final Problem," testing Sherlock's deductions, relationships, and even emotions. Andrew Scott gets to reprise Sherlock's greatest adversary, if only in flashback form, and it is glorious! I love the intensity of the episode, with the highest stakes of the series and the great challenge of Sherlock's most personal and (possibly) final villain. The reveal that Redbeard wasn't Sherlock's lost dog, but his best friend, murdered by Eurus during their childhood is heartbreaking. On the other hand, the greatest treat 'The Final Problem' delivers is watching the usually cold Mycroft interact and modify the dynamic of Sherlock and John, humanizing him in the process and proving he is actually weaker than his younger brother.
2. 'The Reichenbach Fall' – Season 2, Episode 3 Dr. Jim Moriarty. There has never been a stronger TV villain than Andrew Scott's completely unique take on one of history's most classic fictional villains. 'The Reichenbach Fall' serves as a reference to the waterfall where Moriarty and Sherlock plunged to their deaths together in the original story, 'The Final Problem.' In fact, the scene is recreated in modern times by playing out on a roof at the end of the episode. Though 'The Reichenbach Fall' offers a pretty solid mystery: How did Moriarty steal the Crown Jewels while also opening the vault at the Bank of England and all the cells at Pentonville Prison? And… does Moriarty even exist at all? As Sherlock solves a series of mysteries not unlike the next episode on the list, for the first time, he becomes a suspect and goes on the run until he can prove Moriarty is not a figment of his overactive imagination. No other episode features more Moriarty than this episode, and every frame is an absolute delight. I really do think Andrew Scott is the break-out actor of the series, even more than the amazing Benedict Cumberbatch.
1. 'The Great Game' – Season 1, Episode 3 'The Great Game,' the final of Season 1, is by far the strongest, most face paced, most clever and entertaining episode of the entire series of Sherlock. Before he even knows who is behind this ultimate "game," Sherlock rushes from case to case with much excitement, ranging from a mystery from his childhood to several in which he needs to aid of his allies who fill in the blanks that Sherlock's Mind Palace doesn't have room for. Any of these mysteries on their own would make for a great episode, but with so many in quick succession, we get to see the full of extent of what "Play Time" looks like to the world's greatest detective. Though Moriarty doesn't make an appearance until the last scene, the build-up is well worth the wait, as we get our first look at the aforementioned unparalleled performance Andrew Scott brings to the world's 1st Consulting Criminal. The essential episode of Sherlock!
That's all… for now. Moriarty will likely never return, but there is a chance that eventually, we may see more Sherlock Holmes and John Watson in a potential, but not assured, 5th season.
Tagged A Scandal in Belgravia, Andrew Scott, Arthur Conan Doyle, Benedict Cumberbatch, Charles Augustus Magnussen, Culverton Smith, Dr. John Watson, Eurus Holmes, His Last Vow, Irene Adler, Lara Pulver, Lars Mikkelsen, Mark Gatiss, Martin Freeman, Moriarty, Sherlock, Sherlock Holmes, Sian Brooke, Steven Moffat, The Final Problem, The Great Game, The Lying Detective, The Reichenbach Fall, Tobey Jones1 Comment
SHERLOCK: Every Episode Ranked – #13-#7
Posted on February 3, 2017 February 11, 2017 by Nick Doll in Benedict Cumberbatch, Lists, TV Shows
Sherlock has proven to be one of the greatest TV dramas, either domestic or from across the pond. With a unique 90-minute episode format, though there are only 3 episodes a season, each is basically a feature length movie. Sherlock recently aired the its fourth and possibly final season, for a total of only 13 episodes. This makes the series one of the easier shows to rank in its entirety, to which I have no objections!
For the uninitiated, the BBC program Sherlock takes classic stories and characters from Arthur Conan Doyle's original work and updates them for the modern world. Sherlock Holmes (Benedict Cumberbatch) uses cell phones and twitter, John Watson (Martin Freeman) blogs their adventures, and Mycroft Holmes (co-creator Mark Gatiss) is thin due to new age diets . Updating Sherlock Holmes for the 21st Century may sound like a mistake, but thanks to incredible actors, high production values, and writers nearly as brilliant as Sherlock himself, the series is certainly the most essential adaptation of the one of fictions greatest characters.
Let's explore these 13 episodes of Sherlock, ranking them from "Decent" to "Perfection."
There will be Spoilers ahead!
13. 'The Blind Banker' – Season 1, Episode 2 Sherlock grabbed everyone's attention from the very first episode in 2010. The being said, the first season is by far the weakest, starting and finishing strong, but lagging in the second episode. 'The Blind Baker' continues the fascinating updates to the characters and fun visual flairs such as the way Sherlock Holmes' deductions are visually explored, but the writing just isn't as clever as in Episode 1. The mystery is forgettable, and unlike most episodes, there is no development/evolution of Sherlock's abilities. 'The Blind Banker's only saving grace is a brief hint at Moriarty, with a simple assassination and a card that reads 'M.'
12. 'The Empty Hearse' – Season 3, Episode 1 'The Empty Hearse' is another episode with a forgettable mystery. This major flaw is partially counteracted by the 1st act, in which Sherlock reveals to John that he faked his death, only to be pummeled by the good Doctor. The plethora of ridiculous conspiracy theories for how Sherlock survived his fall also makes for some very amusing Sherlock moments. But alas, the 1st act is not enough to save the 60 minutes that follow.
11. 'The Hounds of Baskerville' – Season 2, Episode 2 'The Hound of Baskerville' starring Basil Rathbone is surely the most famous adaptation of a Sherlock Holmes novel, but in Season 2, creators Mark Gatiss and Steven Moffat decided to take another crack at it. The episode is only one of two that has supernatural elements, that is until they are revealed to be a combination of tricks and science by Mr. Holmes. The way the episode approaches the modern twist isn't my favorite, and there is no strong adversary for Holmes to face, making for what I consider to be one of the stranger and less balanced episodes.
10. 'The Six Thatchers' – Season 4, Episode 1 Though it features a game-changing moment for the series that ushers in the dark tone and high stakes of Season 4, 'The Six Thatchers' has several deficiencies that detract from the episode. It does start strong with a wonderful mini-mystery that only creators Mark Gatiss and Steven Moffat could concoct involving a burned up car with a hidden body. Unfortunately, once the six Thatcher busts are smashed, Sherlock shifts a little too far into 007 territory, losing sight of what makes the series great. Bogged down in flashbacks, 'The Six Thatchers' just isn't as clever as it thinks it is.
9. 'A Study in Pink' – Season 1, Episode 1 The episode that started it all, 'A Study in Pink,' is a fairly straight-forward adaption of Doyle's story, 'A Study in Scarlet.' Though Sherlock's opponent isn't as prolific as in the episodes that follow, this list has finally reached the episodes with memorable mysteries!
Who doesn't like an origin story? This is it; the meeting of legends Sherlock Holmes and his new flatmate and partner in Detective work, John Watson. The high functioning sociopath Sherlock slowly begins to soften through his budding friendship with the empathetic John Watson. Numerous characters that we will fall in love with are introduced, including newcomer Molly Hooper (Louise Brealey) and classic characters like Mrs. Hudson (Una Stubbs) and Greg Lestrade (Rupert Graves). The most fun is the introduction of series stand-out Mycroft Holmes, used as a Moriraty fake-out. This is also obviously the 1st time we see "Sherlock Vision;" those visual cues that define the show in every episode that follows.
8. 'The Abominable Bride' – Holiday Special (between Seasons 3 & 4) 'The Abominable Bride' is an episode of Sherlock unlike any other, set in Victorian London instead of the 21st Century. A highlight is how the origin story is quickly repeated, closer to the original text, without the twists and updates introduced in 'A Study in Pink.' Initially, this episode appears to be stand-alone and not Canon, but in the end the mystery of Moriarty's apparent "survival" after a self-inflicted bullet to the head is examined through the lens of a century old case. The most exciting scene of the episode happens at the real Reichenbach Falls, the location that Moriary and Sherlock fall to their death in Arthur Conan Doyle's original story, 'The Adventure of the Final Problem.'
7. 'The Sign of Three' – Season 3, Episode 2 In 'The Sign of Three' Sherlock solves a mystery in the most unique and fun way yet, as part of a never-ending wedding toast for Watson and his bride Mary (Amanda Abbington). It's not just the levity and humor surrounding the setting of Sherlock's deductions that I love; 'The Sign of Three' also presents Sherlock's process in the most visually pleasing and groundbreaking manor in the series. Sherlock profiles potential killers in his "Mind Palace," including a Court Room of the mind. Balancing humor with a fun mystery, 'The Sign of Three' begins the greatest episodes of Sherlock!
But, which episode will be #1? Find out now in 'The Top 6 Episodes of Sherlock!'
Tagged A Study in Pink, Amanda Abbington, Arthur Conan Doyle, Benedict Cumberbatch, Dr. John Watson, Greg Lestrade, Louise Brealey, Mark Gatiss, Martin Freeman, Mary Watson, Molly Hooper, Moriarty, Mrs. Hudson, Mycroft Holmes, Rupert Graves, Sherlock, Steven Moffat, The Abominable Bride, The Blind Banker, The Empty Hearse, The Hounds of Baskerville, The Sign of Three, The Six Thatchers, Una Stubbs1 Comment
8 (Days) Of TV's Best Christmas Specials Of The 21st Century!
Posted on November 20, 2016 November 20, 2016 by Nick Doll in Benedict Cumberbatch, Featured, Lists, TV Shows
Welcome to a very special episode of Breaking Geek: A Breaking Geek Christmas!
I'm not a very merry guy; I hate Christmas music, movies, and TV shows, though I do love getting free shit. My favorite "Christmas" movies are simply films set on Christmas, including Lethal Weapon and Die Hard. I especially hate those "Very Special Christmas" episodes nearly every series forces out every year, like a Christmas turd. I'm tired of watching families and friends coming together for a disgustingly sweet episode, all their worries and conflict gone for just one week of a Season.
These 8 Christmas Specials are more my speed; Less cheer, more cynicism and darkness. My kind of Christmas.
There are NO SPOILERS ahead, just enough info to get you excited about these very unique Christmas specials.
8. Black Mirror, 'White Christmas' (2014) – Available on Netflix Black Mirror is an anthology show, like The Twilight Zone, known for its twisted and dark interpretation of the not-so-distant future where the horrors of technology have gone awry. 'White Christmas,' is perhaps the most disturbing episode of the entire series, wrapped up in colorful paper and a pretty bow. After living in an isolated cabin for five years, Matt (Jon Hamm) and Potter (Rafe Spall) share the horror stories that drove them into isolation over a Christmas meal. I can't go into greater detail without spoiling the episode, but the gist of it is that the the two men find themselves alone on Christmas because because they were literally "Blocked" in real life. Something much darker is lingering under the surface, waiting to be revealed. Perhaps the scariest Christmas special you will ever see!
7. It's Always Sunny In Philadelphia, 'A Very Sunny Christmas' (2009) – Amazon Prime Speaking of Christmas specials that aren't so merry, 'A Very Sunny Christmas' offers the same cynicism and asshole characters you expect It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia. The gang never ends up in a happy place in any other episode, so why should Christmas be any different?
In this episode, longer and Rated R, Dennis (Glenn Howerton) and Dee (Kaitlin Olson) try to teach their father Frank (Danny DeVito) a lesson about Christmas after he ruined all their perfect Christmas gifts in childhood by keeping them for himself. Meanwhile, Charlie (Charlie Day) and Mac (Rob McElhenney) try to set things right with a neighbor who's gifts Mac's family stole during his childhood. This episode is the 1st to delve into all of the characters' history, featuring child versions of Charlie, Mac, Dee and Dennis! 'A Very Sunny Christmas' has Charlie brutally attacking a Mall Santa Claus, due to the fact men dressed as Santa would fuck his Mom every Christmas, a gory stop-motion sequence in the vein of Frosty The Snowman, and Frank being sown into a couch, only to emerge sweaty and naked. And the gang learns nothing… not even about Christmas.
6. Sherlock, 'The Abominable Bride' (Jan 1st, 2016) – Amazon Prime Ready for a Christmas mystery? Though billed at a Christmas special, like in Die Hard and Lethal Weapon, Christmas is more of a setting than a theme in 'The Abominable Bride.' Rather than being set in modern day like the rest of the series, 'The Abominable Bride' takes place in the late 1800's, with more classic interpretations of Holmes (Benedict Cumberbatch) and Watson (Martin Freeman). Sherlock investigates the case of a Bride rising from the dead to kill her husband, relating to the modern mystery of how Moriarty (Andrew Scott) can possibly return from death after a self inflicted bullet to the head. Too dark for Christmas? Not at all! Elementary, my dear reader.
5. Curb Your Enthusiasm, 'Mary, Jospeh and Larry' (2002) There's a pubic hair stuck in Larry David's throat! Cheryl wants to buy a Christmas Tree for their Jewish household! Larry's housekeeper won't keep her mouth shut about his private plans! Larry covers for Jeff when Susie finds out about some late night phone calls! Christmas tipping goes awry when Larry accidentally tips the same guy twice at the Club and his housekeeper finds out the gardener received more Christmas money! Larry's in-laws (including Kaitlin Olsen, from Always Sunny) invade his house, bringing a ginger bread manger of which Larry eats the baby Jesus and his virgin mother Mary! It's amazing how much material Curb Your Enthusiasm can fit into the 1st 11 minutes of a 30 minute episode. As it always goes on Curb Your Enthusiasm, all these events collide and things continue to spiral out of control as Larry attempts to fix everything, only to ruin Christmas for everyone. Typical brilliant Curb episode that's more naughty than nice.
4. Arrested Development, 'Afternoon Delight' (2004) Sky rockets in flight, Afternoon Delight! Leave it to Arrested Development, my favorite TV show of all time, to tie a surprisingly dirty song and marijuana (a strain named Afternoon Deelight) to Christmas. GOB (Will Arnett), currently the president of the Bluth Company, starts wearing his father's $60,000 suit ("Come On!") and sets out to provide his depressed employees with a great Christmas party! As always happens when GOB is in charge, everything falls apart and it's up to his brother Michael (Jason Bateman) to put everything back together. Featuring Micheal singing the poorly chosen 'Afternoon Delight' with his niece, the first appearance of the Banana Suit, and a very stoned Lucille Bluth (Jessica Walters), this expertly written episode contains some of the most classic moments from the groundbreaking series.
3. South Park, 'Woodland Critter's Christmas' (2004) – Hulu, SouthParkStudios.com "Hail, Satan!"
The best of the many South Park Christmas episodes, 'Woodland Critter Christmas' features rhyming narration, in the style of Dr. Seuss, driving Stan through the story while outright contradicting his words and feelings on the matter. After killing a mountain lion to ensure the immaculate conception of the virgin Porkupiney the porkupine, Stan quickly learns these adorable animals' savior is actually the spawn of Satan. After all, who else would have sex with a porcupine? After witnessing their sacrifice of Rabbitty the Rabitt and the ensuing Blood Orgy, Stan must teach the mountain lion cubs how to preform an abortion to save us all. It wouldn't be South Park without a Blood Orgy, right? Definitely the most inappropriate Christmas episode you'll find anywhere!
2. Community, Regional Holiday Music (2011) – Hulu Community CRUSHES it with its Christmas episodes. In season 3, Community brings the Holiday Cheer with original Christmas songs, dissing the now forgotten show Glee in the process. After Jeff (Joel McHale) shuts down Greendale's Glee Club by reporting them for using unlicensed music, Glee Club Instructor Cory Radison (Taran Killam, SNL), or "Mr. Rad," recruits the study group to fill in for the Glee Club for a 2nd time (the last Glee Club died in a bus crash). Of course, none of them want to be involved, as their last experience was like "being on Ecstasy." Abed (Danny Pudi), well intentioned and always seeking a perfect Christmas, is seduced by Mr. Rad's infectious singing and goes on to spread the cheer (or glee) across the study group through songs. The songs include one about glee, a rap from Troy (Donald Glover aka the rapper Childish Gambino) about being a Jehovah's Witness that was merely pretending to be into Christmas, and Annie's (Alison Brie) sexy parody of 'Santa Baby.' As with all the specials on this list, certain revelations lead to a dark ending, without glee. And to think, "they were this close to Regionals!"
Abed: What if you were a Jehovah's witness
That was merely pretending to be into Christmas?
Gathering clues and blending in
To take down the holidays from within?
Troy: You mean like a spy investigating?
Making it seem like I'm celebrating- when actually I'm infiltrating Santa's operation?
Troy: YOIP! Going deep cover past enemy lines,
Making everybody think I'm on the christ-a-mas side,
Rockin' warm sweaters,
Hangin' big ass lights,
If the fat man could see me yo it's gotta look right
I'll watch all the TV specials that I never could,
I'll even cry during the sad ones like James Bond would
And when the big night comes it's time to set the bait,
Cold milk, hot cookies,
Decorative plates!
And he'll come down the chi-muh-ney
And it will be just him and me
But he won't know we're enemies 'cause I'll play sincere
Bring a trap, like that,
Hug him tight, get on his lap
And tell him he can come back every year.
'Cause I am Jehovah's most secret witness
So I might have to dedicate my life to Christmas
And act just like I love it 'til the day I die!
Abed: A-B-E-D
Connoisseur of Christmas
On the spectrum?
None of your business
Thoughts too fast to comprehend
Just wanna do right
By my friend
If years were seasons, this December
Would be the December
Of our December
More blueprints than Howard Hughes,
But if there are blueprints,
How do we choose?
We have to be happy to get to the end,
We have to save Christmas to save our friends–
Both: We have to save Christmas to save our friends,
We have to save Christmas to save our friends!
1. Community, 'Abed's Uncontrollable Christmas' (2010) This episode is truly the most magical Christmas special of all time! A season before 'Regional Holiday Music,' Community delivers another wholly original musical, this time in a glorious, fully animated, stop-motion episode. Paying homage to Rudolf the Rednose Reindeer and The Nightmare Before Christmas (my other favorite "Christmas" movie), 'Abed's Uncontrollable Christmas' explores the source of the mental breakdown which has Abed seeing the whole world in claymation. It includes Willy Wonka-esque songs ejecting members of the study group from Abed's dangerous hallucinations one at a time. The episode even features a remote control Christmas pterodactyl and the line, "Somewhere Tim Burton just got a boner." Sincerely dark like every special on this list, this ending does provides the most Christmas cheer.
Make haste, there's not a moment to waste! Only a little over a month to check out all these unconventional Christmas classics.
Tagged A Very Sunny Christmas, Abed's Uncontrollable Christmas, Afternoon Delight, Alison Brie, Andrew Scott, Arrested Development, Benedict Cumberbatch, Black Mirror, Charlie Day, Christmas, Christmas Special, Community, Curb Your Enthusiasm, Danny DeVito, Danny Pudi, Donald Glover, Dr. John Watson, Glenn Howerton, GOB Bluth, It's Always Sunny In Philadelphia, Jason Bateman, Jessica Walters, Joel McHale, Jon Hamm, Joseph Mary and David, Kaitlin Olson, Larry David, Lucille Bluth, Martin Freeman, Michael Bluth, Moriarty, Rafe Spall, Regional Holiday Music, Rob McElhenney, Sherlock, South Park, Taran Killam, The Abominable Bride, Troy and Abed, White Christmas, Will Arnett, Woodland Critter's ChristmasLeave a comment
5 Groovy Facts About BALANCE OF TERROR
Posted on October 24, 2016 October 23, 2016 by Nick Doll in Lists, Star Trek, Trailers
Balance of Terror is widely considered one of the best episodes of Star Trek: The Original Series (TOS for short). The 14th episode of the series, Balance of Terror aired on December 15th, 1966, involving a game of cat-and-mouse between the USS Enterprise and a Romulan Bird of Prey. The episode was the first to feature a large scale battle between two Starships; all the preceding episodes involved face-to-face encounters with aliens, viruses, and not one, but two "Evil Captain Kirks" (a robot Kirk in What Are Little Girls Made Of? and a Kirk split into good and evil halves in The Enemy Within). This space battle defined the style of engagement between the Enterprise and enemy ships, influencing everything from the finale of Wrath of Khan to 2009's Star Trek.
Balance of Terror is set to define the future of Star Trek on TV in 2017, so let's take a look at 5 GROOVY facts from 1966!
A New Threat The Romulans are a staple of the Star Trek universe, serving as the Federation's most formidable and well-known alien race, behind only the infamous Klingons, in the 23rd Century. Balance of Terror is the 1st time the audience and the human race have ever seen a Romulan (though it may have been retconned since). During the Earth-Romulan War, a century before the events of TOS, there was no visual communication between the Federation and the Romulan Empire.
Today, even youngsters who have only seen the new films kick-started by J.J. Abrams can point out a Romulan. In 2009's Star Trek, the Enterprise and her crew faced Nero (Eric Bana) and his crew, who both killed Kirk's father and destroyed Spock's home planet of Vulcan. Though their design has been updated many times since December 1966, Romulans remain a mainstay of the Star Trek universe.
Lend Me Your Ears! Romulans and Vulcans share a common ancestry, so the make-up department used the same ear prosthetic to create Romulans that was applied to Leonard Nemoy to play Mr. Spock. Did you know that due to budget and time constraints, not all the actors playing Romulans were given the distinctive pointy ears? The less prominent Romulans were given helmets instead; re-purposed Roman Helmet props from the studio's biblical movies on the 1950s. Who says you can't just redress an old prop designed to look two centuries into one that is meant to be used 2,000 years in the future?
Good Romulans Make For Better Vulcans Everyone knows actor Max Lenard went from playing the Romulan Commander in Balance of Terror to playing not just any Vulcan, but Spock's own father Sarek in the episode Journey to Babel in 1967 (Everyone knows this)! Yet, Lenard was not the only actor from Balance of Terror to go from Romulan to Vulcan… Lawrence Montaigne also went on to play a Vulcan with a personal relation to Spock; his rival Stonn in 1967's Amok Time. Fascinating. "Common Ancestry" indeed!
Max Lenard also had the chance to take it a step further, playing a Klingon Captain in 1979's Star Trek: The Motion Picture, making him the 1st actor to play all three of TOS's primary alien species. Vulcans and Klingons were not as fulfilling to Lenard, who said, "The Romulan Commander was one of the best roles I ever had on TV…In many ways, I did enjoy that role [Sarek], but I think the more demanding role and the better acting role was the Romulan Commander".
The Enemy Below Balance of Terror is based on the plot of the 1957 film, The Enemy Below. Set during World War II, the film focuses on a deadly game of "cat-and-mouse" (sound familiar?) between an American Destroyer and a German U-Boat. The Enterprise obviously played the role of the American Destroyer, with the U-Boat subbed out for the Romulan Bird of Prey; both enemy vessels able to avoid detection, whether it be submerging under the ocean having a cloaking device. As in The Enemy Below, both captains are evenly matched, with the hero having to overcome his opponent through his superior strategy.
A "Touchstone" for Star Trek: Discovery
The USS Discovery from 2017's STAR TREK: DISCOVERY
In 2017 a new series set a decade before TOS, Star Trek: Discovery (or STD… which is unfortunate), is set to air. We know little about the show besides the aforementioned time period, the fact it will be more serialized with a more connected season structure, will feature the USS Discovery, and be the 1st series told from the perspective of a female First Officer instead of the ship's Captain.
Showrunner Bryan Fuller did Tweet this interesting piece of information back in September:
A FAVORITE TOS EPISODE "BALANCE OF TERROR" IS A TOUCHSTONE FOR THE #STARTREKDISCOVERY STORY ARC#STARTREK50 #LLAP50
See? I told you Balance of Terror is a fan favorite!
What exactly Fuller is referring to remains a bit of a mystery. Some think this means the new show will feature the Earth-Romulan War, though this is unlikely as said conflict took place a century before the events of STD and TOS. Though Balance of Terror establishes that Romulans and Humans haven't made contact in 100 years, my hope is the show explores events similar to the beloved episode, with the Romulans attacking Federation outposts surrounding Earth as a prelude to a planned Earth-Romulan War II that the crew of the Discovery must prevent. Just throw in some mumbo-jumbo about the Federation covering it up as to not cause panic. Retcon! Others believe "Touchstone," in this case, implies that Fuller and his team are simply shooting to replicate the quality of Balance of Terror. Or maybe they'll just borrow the plot involving cat-and-mouse space warfare, this time drawn out over a season. Fuller has also said that the show will feature an event we've "heard referred to but have never seen." Unless the time-period we've been given for STD is wrong, we won't be seeing the Earth-Romulan War, but either way hopefully we get plenty of Romulans!
Such a strong alien opponent's existence should not be limited to simply 1966's Balance of Terror through 2009's Star Trek. Romulans will hopefully be terrorizing us for decades to come!
Tagged Balance of Terror, Bird of Prey, Bryan Fuller, Earth-Romulan War, Eric Bana, Lawrence Montaigne, Max Lenard, Nero, Romulans, Star Trek (2009), Star Trek: Discovery, Star Trek: The Original Series, The Enemy Below, TOS, U.S.S. Discovery, U.S.S. Enterprise, Vulcans1 Comment
A Layman's Guide To The Returning Characters In CIVIL WAR: #TeamIronMan
Posted on May 12, 2016 February 17, 2017 by Nick Doll in Age of Ultron, Avengers, Captain America, Civil War, Features, Lists, Marvel, Marvel's Spider-Man, MCU, Movies
If you are going to see Captain America: Civil War this weekend, or if you're trying to figure out a few Civil War moments after seeing the film, and you haven't memorized all the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) films like myself; this catch-up will help you better understand the film's many character threads and relationships!
This time it's all #TeamIronMan (Read #TeamCap Guide HERE); those that alley with Tony Stark or share his viewpoints about the Sokovia Accords. Why is Tony Stark so guilty? Haven't we seen William Hurt in these films before? What's Vision's deal again, Age of Ultron was so confusing!?!
Never fear! I'm here for you with a guide to all the returning players in Captain America: Civil War, from Iron Man to Thunderbolt Ross (Yes, William Hurt is a returning actor!). NO SPOILERS for Civil War. Many Spoilers for any earlier MCU film including the character we're discussing.
Iron Man/Tony Stark (Robert Downey Jr.) Movies He's In: Iron Man, The Incredible Hulk, Iron Man 2, The Avengers, Iron Man 3, Avengers: Age of Ultron
Powers: Super Intelligence allowing him to design weaponized suits allowing him flight, super-strength, and a wealth of weapons.
His Story So Far: Tony Stark has a lot to feel guilty for. As he admits to in the opening of Iron Man 3, he creates his own demons. He was the 1st Avenger made public in the modern age. He feels like he started it all, as he says in Age of Ultron.
Going into 2008's Iron Man, Stark Industries was mainly a weapons manufacturer; that is until Tony Stark found himself wounded by one of the weapons his company produced. With shrapnel headed toward his heart, Stark invents a small version of the Arc Reactor, which keeps the shrapnel from reaching his heart. Not content with this, Tony utilizes the power of the Arc Reactor to power his Iron Man suits, of which he's had over 45 since the 1st film. He also scrapped the weapons program at Stark Industries due to guilt over the death of American soldiers, killed with the very weapons he created.
All of Stark's enemies seem to be a creation of his actions, from those responding to his tech, to those challenging his power, or even those he screwed over in the past. We're talking his old mentor Obadiah Stane/Iron Monger (Iron Man), Ivan Vanko/Whiplash & Justin Hammer (Iron Man 2), and Aldrich Killian (Iron Man 3). And that's before we even get to Ultron!
Stark has experienced a lot since he announced to the world he was Iron Man, including great trauma following the Battle of New York in which he had to fly a nuclear bomb through an alien wormhole to save Earth (the one problem he didn't create). He's guilty over Stark Industries weapons, those he's screwed who have become enemies (like Aldrich Killian), and most importantly, his creation of Ultron; an artificial intelligence that attempts to destroy the world by using the European City of Sokovia as a meteor. His guilt runs even deeper than that, based on the vision Scarlet Witch shows him in Age of Ultron, he's convinced he will fail the Avengers, leading to their deaths and the impending invasion of Earth (Thanos is out there, ya'll).
Such guilt leads to stupid decisions like creating Ultron, who ended up destroying Sokovia with countless civilian lives lost. By the end of Age of Ultron, Tony "retires" again, hoping to live a quiet life with his girlfriend and head of Stark Industries, Pepper Potts. This after destroying all his suits in Iron Man 3 and having the Arc Reactor removed from his chest as a sign of good faith towards Pepper.
Finally, it is worth noting Tony has had a rocky relationship with his father, Howard Stark, who served along with Captain America during WWII and founded S.H.I.E.L.D. with Peggy Carter.
War Machine/James Rhodes (Don Cheadle) Movies He's In: Iron Man (played by Terrance Howard), Iron Man 2, Iron Man 3 (as Iron Patriot), Avengers: Age of Ultron
Powers: Not a scientific genius, but a well trained soldier in a suit with just as many weapons (if not more) as Iron Man.
His Story So Far: James Rhodes is a Colonel in the US Airforce and a long time friend of Tony Stark (long before Stark became Iron Man). Rhodes eventually got an Iron Man suit of his own when he stole one of Tony's in Iron Man 2, only to have it retrofitted with more weapons by Justin Hammer. Since then, he's also been Iron Patriot, assisting Stark in defeating supervillains in both Iron Man 2 & 3, no matter his suit's name. Unlike Stark, he starts as an officially sanctioned Military Weapon flying hundreds of missions for the US Government: he's a soldier at heart, like Steve Rogers (albeit, with different outlooks on modern day governing bodies). He was even given the opportunity to help the Avengers at the Battle of Sokovia in Avengers: Age of Ultron, becoming a full fledged member of Captain America's New Avengers by the end of the film.
Black Widow/Natasha Romanoff (Scarlet Johansson) Movies She's In: Iron Man 2, The Avengers, Captain America: The Winter Soldier
Powers: Perhaps S.H.I.E.L.D.'s most lethal agent, she is extremely skilled in hand to hand combat. Also has "Stingers," weapons that literally shock the enemy.
Her Story So Far: Black Widow is always the double Agent. Guilty over her past as an assassin, she has defected to S.H.I.E.L.D. after S.H.I.E.L.D. Agent Clint Barton/Hawkeye recruited her instead of killing her on a mission. She has shown loyalty to S.H.I.E.L.D. and after its collapse, Steve Rogers/Captain America. She was on the run with him after he was made a wanted man in The Winter Soldier, and she helped bring down the Hydra infected S.H.I.E.L.D. by dumping all its secrets onto the internet ("It's trending.").
Black Widow has always been a full fledged member of the Avengers, including in Age of Ultron, where she helped save the world,again, at the expense of Sokovia which was blown to smithereens. Black Widow has had close relationships with Hawkeye and Steve Rogers, but the only one she's truly shown affection for was Bruce Banner, who disappeared after the events of Ultron.
Vision (Paul Bettany) Movies He's In: Avengers: Age of Ultron
Powers: Like Scarlet Witch, his powers are hard to lock down. He's a "Synthetic," with elements of Jarvis and Ultron's psyche, powered by the "life respecting" Mind Stone on his forehead. Can phase in and out of physical forms to pass through walls and people, and can shoot a laser of sorts from his Mind Gem. Oh… and he can fly/hover.
His Story So Far: Paul Bettany started by playing JARVIS in Iron Man 1, 2, & 3, The Avengers, and even the beginning of Age of Ultron. JARVIS is Tony Stark's program (not quite artificial intelligence) that runs his lab and his suits, named after his father, Howard Stark's Butler. He's been comic relief and a sort of sidekick for Stark since Iron Man (2008), becoming a weird combo of JARVIS' personality, Ultron's intelligence, and the Mind Stone's power in the form of a "Synthetic" (robot of sorts) super being that has the already mentioned abilities.
Vision's powers come from the Mind Stone, which was originally cased in Loki's staff, also used to give Scarlet With her abilities. Based on that and his rescue of Scarlet Witch in Age of Ultron, the two share a close kinship; neither sure of the origin of their powers or their limits. Though he's the only being, besides Thor, "worthy" enough to lift that Hammer, showing his attentions are good, he struggles to fit in with his "human" counterparts and makes his decisions entirely based on the loss of life. He is even regretful when killing Ultron, only doing it because he believes in life, knowing Ultron wishes to extinguish it.
General Thunder Bolt Ross (William Hurt) Movies He's In: The Incredible Hulk
Powers: Formally a General hellbent on stopping Bruce Banner/The Hulk, now he has the political powers that come with being the Secretary of State.
His Story So Far: Yes, Thunderbolt Ross is finally back; the 1st time since 2008's Incredible Hulk. A General in that film, Ross is known for his hatred of The Hulk, especially since his daughter was dating Bruce Banner at the time of his "accident," that turned Banner into a raging green monster.
While he doesn't fight along #TeamIronMan, as you've seen in the trailers, Ross is now the Secretary of the State forcing the Sokovia Accords on The Avengers, who he sees as vigilantes now that S.H.I.E.L.D. and The World Security Council are gone.
Spider-Man/Peter Parker (Tom Holland) NO SPOILERS! Movies He's In: 0!
Powers: Does whatever a spider can!
His Story So Far: This is a new Spider-Man! Don't expect Tobey Maguire or Andrew Garfield! The MCU has a brand new Spider-Man, with none of the events in Sam Raimi's three Spider-Man films or the two Amazing Spider-Mans having any impact on this Captain America: Civil War. We all know his backstory: bit by a radioactive Spider, letting Uncle Ben die by not taking action in a robbery… that's all you need to know!
Black Panther/T'Challa (Chadwick Boseman) NO SPOILERS! Movies He's In: 0!
Powers: Wait and see!
His Story So Far: Nada! Zilch! This is a brand new character you've never seen on the screen before. So I won't say anything here, except… be prepare for something amazing!
Pepper Pots (Gweneth Paltrow) Movies She's In: Iron Man, Iron Man 2, The Avengers, Iron Man 3.
Powers: None (anymore, she was kick-ass in Iron Man 3!). Tony Stark's girlfriend and head of Stark Industries.
Her Story So Far: From Tony Stark's Personal Assistant to head of Stark Industries, Pepper Potts has come a long way. While Iron Man avoided having the two hook up, in Iron Man 2 Tony and Pepper finally kissed… and the rest is history. In Iron Man 3, Potts was bothered by Tony Stark's obsession with his suits, leading him to destroy them all at the end. But since then, he's not only came out of retirement in Age of Ultron, he created a robot that tried to wipe out the human race… you fill in the blanks…
Howard Stark (Dominic Cooper, Jon Slattery) Movies He's In: Iron Man 2 (Slattery), Captain America: The First Avenger (Cooper), Ant-Man (Slattery), Agent Carter (ABC TV Show – Cooper)
Powers: Smarter than his son? Creator of Captain America's Vibranium Shield.
His Story So Far: Neither #TeamCap, nor #TeamIronMan, just an important character from each hero's past. After helping Steve Rogers during WWII and becoming and alley to Peggy Carter even after Captain America was lost (for 70 years), Howard was a founder of S.H.I.E.L.D. And… he was kind of a dick to his son. In Iron Man 2 he is shown as a father that cared more about his work than his son, while in Ant-Man shows him as a S.H.I.E.L.D. leader who desperately wants the OG Ant-Man, Hank Pym, to join S.H.I.E.L.D./give up his technology. That's why Hank Pym instills in new Ant-Man, Scott Lang, that you never trust a Stark!
Thor (Chris Hemsworth) & The Hulk (Mark Ruffalo) Movie's They're In: Doesn't matter! They're MIA in Captain America: Civil War!
There you go, between this article and that about #TeamCap, you should know all you need to know about every returning character in Captain America: Civil War!
Tagged Black Panther, Black Widow, Chadwick Boseman, Dominic Cooper, Don Cheadle, Howard Stark, iron man, Iron Man 2, Iron Man 3, James Rhodes, Natasha Romanoff, Paul Bettany, Scarlet Johansson, spider-man, T'Challa, Thunderbolt Ross, Tom Holland, Tony Stark, Vision, War Machine, William Hurt1 Comment
A Layman's Guide To The Returning Characters In CIVIL WAR: #TeamCap
Posted on May 12, 2016 February 17, 2017 by Nick Doll in Age of Ultron, Ant-Man, Avengers, Captain America, Civil War, Features, Lists, Marvel, MCU, Movies
Captain America: Civil War is a bona fide hit! It made $179.1 Million opening weekend, Critics love it, and I love it! If you are going to see Civil War this weekend, or if you're trying to figure out a few Civil War moments after seeing the film, and you haven't memorized all the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) films like myself; this catch-up will help you better understand the film's many character threads and relationships.
We'll start with #TeamCap; those that alley with Steve Rogers or are tied to the Captain America films (like Brock Rumlow). Why did Ant-Man and Falcon have that exchange? Why is Bucky such a polarizing a figure? Who is that burned dude? Haven't I seen that Blond Agent before? What's Scarlet Witch's deal again, Age of Ultron was so confusing!?!
Never fear! I'm here for you with a guide to all the returning players in Captain America: Civil War, from Captain America to Agent 13. NO SPOILERS for Civil War. Many Spoilers for any earlier MCU film including the character we're discussing.
Captain America/Steve Rogers (Chris Evans) Movies He's In: Captain America: The First Avenger, The Avengers, Thor: The Dark World (sort of…), Captain America: The Winter Soldier, Avengers: Age of Ultron
Powers: Super strength, enhanced reflexes, fast metabolism/healing (the man can't get drunk), leadership skills, superhuman morality (I say that counts), a Shield made of the strongest metal on Earth, Vibranium.
His Story So Far: Steve Rogers was too scrawny to serve with his life-long friend Bucky in WWII, so he underwent an experiment in which a "Super Soldier Serum" not only made him the beefiest Avenger, but taller (along with the powers listed above)! After rescuing Bucky from the hands of Hydra, the two proved their bond was just as strong on the battlefield as it was growing up. Now known as Captain America, Steve Rogers receives his Vibranium Shield from Tony Stark's father, Howard, a friend of his during the Great War. During the events of The First Avenger, Steve Rogers watches Bucky plummet to his assumed death. Rogers defeats the head of Hydra, Red Skull, stopping his attempt to to conquer the planet. In the process, Captain America crashes into the Arctic and is frozen for 70 years.
Captain America is awakened in an age of superheros (or "the enhanced") in which a man with a weaponized suit of armor, a giant green monster, and an Alien with God-like powers are all known to the world. Under the direction of Nick Fury (Samuel L. Jackson), the director of S.H.I.E.L.D., the four heroes are brought together with two S.H.I.E.L.D. agents to form The Avengers, just in time to stop an alien invasion. Though the aliens are dead, New York is decimated by damage from the battle. Even in saving the world, Steve Rogers has reservations about organizations like S.H.I.E.L.D and the World Security Council which governs it.
Following the climatic Battle of New York in The Avengers, Steve Rogers finds himself as an agent of S.H.I.E.L.D., carrying out missions for Nick Fury and his bosses, Alexander Pierce (Robert Redford) and the World Security Council. While working for S.H.I.E.L.D. Rogers comes to blows with The Winter Soldier, a Hydra Agent who has been carrying out assassinations for the evil organization for years. Captain America learns that the Winter Soldier is actually Bucky, who survived the fall during WWII due to Hydra experimenting on him, was given a metal arm, brainwashed, and was frozen and then unfrozen for decades to carry out said assassinations. Cap also learns that S.H.I.E.L.D. has been Hydra all along (more or less), lead by Alexander Pierce who is himself controlling the Winter Soldier/Brain-Washed Bucky. With the help of allies including Black Widow, Sam Wilson/Falcon, Agent 13, and Nick Fury, Captain America destroys three automated Helicarriers that are targeting all of Hydra's potential enemies. In the process, his team sends all three flying ships crashing into Washington DC below, with many casualties. Pierce is brought down, but not before killing the World Security Council and leading to the end of S.H.I.E.L.D. In the finale, The Winter Soldier and Steve Rogers fight, the latter refusing to kill his old friend in hopes he will remember him. In the end, Bucky does save Rogers from drowning, before disappearing without a trace. Let's just say the whole process cemented Rogers' concerns about government organizations and their control
In Avengers: Age of Ultron, Captain America fights alongside his old teammates to defeat the evil Artificial Intelligence, Ultron, created by Tony Stark and bent on destroying the human race. Rogers and The Avengers stop Ultron, but at the expense of a European City known as Sokovia. The death toll in Sokovia is higher than ever and by the end of the film Hulk, Thor, Hawkeye, and Tony Stark/Iron Man leave the team in favor of Steve Rogers' led "New Avegners," made up of Black Widow, War Machine, Falcon, Scarlet Witch, and Vision.
The Winter Soldier/Bucky Barnes (Sebastian Stan) Movies He's In: Captain America: The First Avenger, Captain America: The Winter Soldier.
Powers: Super strength, a metal arm that can even deflect bullets.
His Story So Far: Bucky Barnes grew up with Steve Rogers before he was Captain America, being the only one there for his friend when Steve lost his parents. Enlisting without his scrawny friend, Bucky's unit is captured by Hydra. Captain America rescues his old friend, but not before Hydra's best scientist, Dr. Armin Zola, experiments on poor Bucky. Bucky serves alongside Rogers in a unit known as The Howling Commandos, until he falls from a train-car into a canyon with a freezing river.
Bucky is rescued by Hydra, who experiment on him further, replacing a limb he lost in his fall with a metal arm. Now The Winter Solider, he is brainwashed and used by Hydra as an assassin for decades, kept in cryosleep between missions. Eventually, The Winter Soldier battles his old friend, Steve Rogers/Captain America, confused when he is called Bucky. The Winter Soldier is brainwashed again and sent to prevent Captain America and his allies from crippling Hydra's Helicarriers. The two old friends fight, and with Steve Rogers refusing to kill his old friend, he is defeated and plunges into the water below. The Winter Soldier rescues Steve Rogers, and though at the end of Captain America: The Winter Soldier, we do not know what Buck remembers as we see him inspecting his own memorial in the Smithsonian's Captain America Exhibit.
Falcon/Sam Wilson (Anthony Mackie) Movies He's In: Captain America: The Winter Soldier, Avengers: Age of Ultron, Ant-Man
Powers: Special Flight Suit that resembles a Falcon, with wings that can act as a Shield, and googles which increase his eye sight.
His Story So Far: In The Winter Soldier, Sam Wilson is a Veteran who meets Steve Rogers, and the pair quickly become friends. When Captain America learns S.H.I.E.L.D. is actually Hydra, he seeks out Wilson as his number of allies are limited. Falcon more than pulls his weight, taking down one of the Helicarriers, before having his wing ripped off and being thrown from a Helicarrier by the Winter Soldier. Falcon survives the fall and fights Hydra Agent Brock Rumlow in the S.H.I.E.L.D. HQ building, winning only when the building collapses and he escapes!
In Age of Ultron, Sam Wilson is carrying on the search for Bucky following the events of The Winter Soldier. At the end of the film though, Falcon is revealed to be one of Captain America's New Avengers. Finally, in Ant-Man, Falcon is beaten by Scott Lang/Ant-Man while trying to defend the New Avengers Compound. Wilson takes note of the tiny Superhero, in case he is ever needed to assist the Avengers.
Hawkeye/Clint Barton (Jeremy Renner) Movies He's In: Thor, The Avengers, Avengers: Age of Ultron
Superpowers: Best character with a bow and arrow in the history of cinema (suck it, Legolas and Katniss!). Also has a variety of arrows for many uses.
His Story So Far: Hawkeye is a former S.H.I.E.L.D. Agent who served with the Avengers in both the 1st film and Age of Ultron. In Ultron, he is saved by Scarlet Witch's brother, Quicksilver at the cost of Quicksilver's life. For this reason and the pep talk he gave Scarlet Witch during the battle that destroyed Sokovia, he has become closer to her than perhaps anyone but Vision. Clint Barton has a secret family kept even off S.H.I.E.L.D.'s books which he retires to at the end of Age of Ultron.
Scarlet Witch/Wanda Maximoff (Elizabeth Olsen) Movies She's In: Captain America: The Winter Soldier (post-credits scene), Avengers: Age of Ultron
Powers: The true limits of Scarlet Witch's powers are unknown. She is able to move objects with her mind, create telekinetic shields, and induce crippling images of your worst nightmare.
Her Story So Far: Wanda Maximoff and her brother volunteered to be experimented on by Hydra after a bomb made by Stark Industries kills her parents. Using Loki's Staff from The Avengers, she and her brother are the only survivors of Hydra's experiment, endowed with extraordinary powers making them the newest "Enhanced." Due to their hate for Stark, "The Twins" team with Ultron until Scarlet Witch realizes his goal is to destroy the world. Siding with The Avengers, she helps defeat Ultron, but at the cost of her brother's life and her entire city, Sokovia.
Wanda shares a special relationship with Vision because their powers both come from the same place; Loki's Staff revealed to be the Mind Stone. She also sees Hawkeye as a sort of mentor after his speech to her during the Battle of Sokovia. By the end of Age of Ultron, Scarlet Witch is a member of the New Avengers.
Ant-Man/Scott Lang (Paul Rudd) Movies He's In: Ant-Man
Powers: The ability to shrink and return to normal size instantly at the push of a button, with extreme super-strength and speed when tiny. Can also "control"Ants with his helmet.
His Story So Far: Scott Lang is a known felon, recruited by the original Ant-Man, Hank Pym, to take up his mantle and save the world. Ant-Man fights Falcon and wins, when he is sent to the Avengers compound to steal some Stark Tech. Taught by Hank Pym never to trust a Stark, Lang still hears through the grapevine at the end of the film that there may be an Avenger interested in recruiting him.
Agent 13/Sharon (Emily VanCamp) Movies She's In: Captain America: The Winter Soldier
Powers: None, but a former S.H.I.E.L.D. Agent with incredible fighting skill.
Her Story So Far: Sharon aka Agent 13, was the S.H.I.E.L.D. Agent Nick Fury put in charge of watching Captain America prior to the fall of Hydra. Living across the hall from Rogers, posing as a nurse, Agent 13 is the 1st to respond when Nick Fury is shot by the Winter Soldier in Steve Rogers' apartment. After Hydra was revealed to be S.H.I.E.L.D. she was one of the primary Agents that sided with Captain America in order to take down the Hydra Agents and prevent the launch of Hydra's lethal Helicarriers. Though there was some sexual tension between her and Rogers, and Black Widow recommended to Steve that he ask her out, the pair have never even kissed.
Peggy Carter (Hayley Atwell) Movies She's In: Captain America: The First Avenger, Captain America: The Winter Soldier, Ant-Man, Agent Carter (MCU Short), Agent Carter (ABC TV Series)
Superpowers: None, strong WWII Agent and Founder of S.H.I.E.L.D.
Her Story So Far: Peggy Carter was partially responsible for selecting scrawny Steve Rogers for the Super Soldier Program. She served with Rogers and Howard Stark during WWII, the latter two being S.H.I.E.L.D.'s founding members. Peggy was in love with Steve, but she never got that dance she was promised when Steve Rogers plunged that plane into the Arctic, saving the world. She was an important Agent during the Cold War as well, being an important decision maker at S.H.I.E.L.D. through the 80's. When Steve Rogers finally catches up with her after he is unfrozen in The Winter Soldier, she is an old woman in a hospital bed, suffering from extreme dementia. At least these two have kissed (when she was young, you sicko!).
Brock Rumlow (Frank Grillo) Movies He's In: Captain America: The Winter Soldier
Powers: None, just a well trained special forces Hydra Agent who worked with Captain America long enough to know his moves and what makes him tick.
His Story So Far: This one isn't #TeamCap at all, but a villain from the Captain America film franchise. Brock Rumlow was Captain America's right hand man as leader of the S.H.I.E.L.D. team STRIKE. He ran countless missions with Steve Rogers and was the first one sent to take in Captain America when Rogers started having doubts about S.H.I.E.L.D. When Hydra was revealed, he fought to defend it, coming to blows with Sam Wilson before having S.H.I.E.L.D. HQ dropped on him. Though badly burned, at the end of Winter Soldier, we see that Rumlow has survived.
That's really all you need to know about all the characters that make up #TeamCap (more or less)! Read our Leyman's Guide to #TeamIronMan NOW!
Tagged Agent 13, Ant-Man, Anthony Mackie, Brock Rumlow, Bucky Barnes, Captain America: The First Avenger, Captain America: The Winter Soldier, Chris Evans, Clint Barton, Elizabeth Olsen, Emily VanCamp, Falcon, Frank Grillo, Hawkeye, Hayley Atwell, Howard Stark, Jeremy Renner, Paul Rudd, Peggy Carter, Sam Wilson, Scarlet Witch, Scott Lang, Sebastian Stan, Sharon Carter, Steve Rogers, Wanda Maximoff, Winter Soldier1 Comment
The Best and Worst Scenes in BATMAN V SUPERMAN
Posted on April 1, 2016 by Nick Doll in Batman, Batman V Superman: Dawn of Justice, DC, Lists, Movies
Previously on "The Best and Worst of Batman V Superman": The Cast.
This Time: The Strongest… and Weakest… Scenes!
It's time again to look at the good and the bad. Because there is good in Batman v Superman yet.
There are SPOILERS ahead for Batman V Superman: Dawn of Justice (unlike my Spoiler Free Review), so be warned!
Best: Artistic Take on the Wayne Murder My initial review was glowing when it came to the style in which Director Zack Snyder filmed the Wayne Murder. I don't want to rehash my review too much, so let's keep this brief.
The Wayne Murder has never been presented in such a visually stunning manner, from choices like breaking Martha Wayne's Pearl Necklace with the hammer of the gun, to the overall color/look of the scene. And featuring Jeffrey Dean Morgan (The Comedian in Snyder's Watchmen) playing Thomas Wayne… well, that's a slam dunk!
… if you have to show the damn scene again…
Worst: The Wayne Murder Happens Again… Again… Again The problem is that this scene never needed to be in the movie! We all know Jesus died on the Cross, Peter Parker let Uncle Ben get shot (basically), and Thomas and Martha Wayne died in Crime Alley following a showing of The Mark of Zorro.
And we don't just see the scene at the beginning of BvS, oh no! Snyder cuts back to the retread of a retread of a retread of the scene later in the film to drive home a point ("Martha…").
Warner Brothers, please don't show us the death of the Lego Waynes in next year's The Lego Batman Movie!
Best: Batman Superman (Finally) Fight The title promises one thing; Batman (Ben Affleck) will fight Superman (Henry Cavill), as ridiculous a premise as that sounds (A Man Vs a "God?"… okay… maybe the trailers and have covered that issue already).
Surprisingly, in a movie called Batman V Superman, the title players only physically fight once… and it's not until the 3 rd act. While it was wise to save the climatic fight for what should have been the end of the movie (more on that later), I'm surprised there wasn't a 2nd, less climatic clash earlier in the movie like every other superhero movie (likely even Captain America: Civil War). There was Batman's "Knightmare" which doesn't count because it was a dream(vision?) with Batman only fighting Superman's Soldiers… before Superman ripped out his heart. The only other in costume encounter was the stern warning from Superman to Batman not to go to the Bat Signal when it was next turned on. The two heroes didn't fight in that scene either. Sure, Superman crashed the Batmobile, but he did it by just standing there… By the time we do get to the long awaited fight it is as glorious as the trailer teased. In fact, it's one of the more wonderful scenes in an otherwise surprisingly action-lite two and a half hour film. The visuals are still astounding (that Frank Miller inspired "Iron" Batsuit sure looks pretty in the rain) and the strategies The Dark Knight employs against The Man of Steel are entertaining; making you believe Batman really could beat Superman as a brilliant strategist… and with some weaponized Kryptonite gas… and spear!
It's an extremely entertaining scene from the moment Superman lands to the final moment: "Martha."
Worst: Why Batman and Superman Fight Batman and Superman fighting over ideologies is enough! Writers Zack Snyder and Chris Terrio go overboard with unnecessary pressure pushing DC's two biggest characters to brawl.
Bruce Wayne doesn't trust Superman because the latter is all powerful. Clark Kent does not approve of the (murderous) Batman's methods and "reign of terror." Superman even warns Batman midway through the film that next time the Bat Signal is turned on he should stay home. So, when Batman prepares for battle and shines the Bat Signal in the sky to attract Superman's attention, that should be enough!
Why does Lex Luthor (Jesse Eisenberg) have to kidnap Martha Kent and order Superman to kill the Bat?
Answer: He doesn't. But none of Luthor's plans make sense in Batman V Superman. His characters complete lack of logic is one of the most frustrating parts of the film.
Best: Battle of Metropolis I (Zod) Everyone's least favorite part about Man of Steel has become my favorite scene in Batman V Superman: Dawn of Justice. I also covered this scene in my initial review, so I will again be brief.
For the first time ever, we're given Bruce Wayne: True Action Hero. He drives a Jeep between collapsing buildings, witnesses Wayne Finances collapse with his "family" inside, and runs into the 9/11-esque all-encompassing ash to help the surviving victims.
The destruction is on a whole new scale from Bruce Wayne's point of view, both in the amount of destruction we witness and the bigger focus on loss of life. It's really cool to see odd Spaceships without needing any sort of exposition as to why they are there and what each one does; Man of Steel covered that. Most importantly, this event is all Bruce Wayne really needed to decide to declare war on Superman.
Worst: Battle of Metropolis II (Doomsday) Just as boring and overblown as the Battle of Metropolis was at the end of Man of Steel (not to be confused with the Bruce Wayne's POV version in BvS), the finale to Batman V Superman is so bad it is mostly responsible for making what could have been a great Batman film into a measly 6 out of 10.
Everything is wrong with this scene. Even the visuals take a massive dip from what is otherwise a beautiful film. Really, the movie is a 0 out of 10 following the actual fight between Batman and Superman, with the notable exception of the amazing Bat Combat we see in the Warehouse scene when Batman rescues Martha Kent.
Doomsday looks like an Orc. The landscape is simply fire… burning rubble everywhere with no discernible landmarks. Yet we're assured multiple times by cutaways to the military that everywhere Batman, Superman, and Wonder Woman (Gal Gadot) fight Doomsday is uninhabited; a severe overreaction to the destructive finale of Man of Steel. Gone is the "realism" (as much as could be expected at least) present in Batman and Superman's fight and other action scenes. Instead, we have characters like Wonder Woman launching themselves across the battlefield (it's hard to tell how far when everything is on fire…) in what looks like a video game… or a half-assed scene tacked on an otherwise polished movie.
One of the scene's biggest crimes? Not giving Batman anything to do but distract Doomsday and run, unlike the Avengers films which give even mortals like Hawkeye and Black Widow something to contribute. Sure, there's the obligatory final moment when all three heroes must work in unison to kill Doomsday, not unlike the first Fantastic Four film (a comparison you do not want). Wonder Woman on the lasso, Superman with the Kryptonite Spear, and Batman's last Kryptonite Gas bomb! VICTORY (Sort of…)
Awful final fight. Really ruins an otherwise decent film.
I can write about Batman V Superman: Dawn of Justice for days. And I just might do so!
Tagged Batffleck, Ben Affleck, Bruce Wayne, Chris Terrio, Doomsday, Gal Gadot, Gotham City, Henry Cavill, Jeffrey Dean Morgan, Jesse Eisenberg, Lex Luthor, Martha Wayne, Metropolis, Superman, Thomas Wayne, Wayne Murder, Wonder Woman, Zack Snyder1 Comment
The Best and Worst Cast Members of BATMAN V SUPERMAN
Posted on March 30, 2016 April 1, 2016 by Nick Doll in Batman, Batman V Superman: Dawn of Justice, DC, Lists, Movies
While I didn't hate Batman V Superman: Dawn of Justice, I didn't exactly love it, giving it a measly 6 out of 10 in my review (which is more generous than most). I did, however, love elements of the film, so I thought I'd cover the best of BvS, countering with the film's worst elements for a nice and balanced 2nd look at the film.
Warning! Unlike my review, this post will contain SPOILERS!
In this edition I'll cover the cast, from the title characters down to Alfred Pennyworth and other supporting characters.
Best: Batffleck & Bruce Wayne While every review for Batman V Superman loves Gal Gadot's take on Wonder Woman, nearly as many praise Ben Affleck for presenting what most are calling the best Batman we've ever seen on the silver screen. I would agree 100%; it is possible to have the best Batman in what is far from the best Batman movie.
Actors in the past have been great at Batman but less stellar at Bruce Wayne and vice versa. Ben Affleck didn't just deliver the best Batman, but also the best Bruce Wayne (which is probably the more difficult of the two roles). This Batman may kill… and kill… and kill… but what else is new? Batman on the big screen has been a downright serial killer, from 1989's Batman to even the Nolan films. The latter tried to make his "One Rule" a thematic element… while allowing Bats to kill all the same. BvS never apologizes for this choice; the version of Batman that Snyder and co-writer Chris Terrio choose to use is a grizzled vet who has fought crime in Gotham for over twenty years, destroying his patience and reducing his faith that "Men Are Good" in the process. If man is not good, why not murder baddies? (I do someday want a Batman movie where he doesn't kill… for real). Batffleck is imposing in every way, from his stature (Affleck was partially picked because he was taller than Henry Cavill's Superman) to his terrifying voice that uses a modulator in order to avoid Christian Bale's worst Batman trait: The Bat Voice. He's gigantic, with Thor/Captain America sized muscles that make every Batman actor before look scrawny, even Bale. This Batman's fighting style is smooth, fast, yet brutal in a way that seems to emulate the amazing combat of the Arkham video games and capture the feel of the comics in a way that Batman movies never have. His training sequence looked mind-boggling difficult. And his aforementioned dark(er) outlook on life completes the package: one badass, brutal Bat. Meanwhile, Ben Affleck's Bruce Wayne has more depth than any before. He's not awkward like Michael Keaton or a half assed-cover story for his true Bat Identity like Christian Bale's version. He's charming when he needs to be, brooding like any good Bruce Wayne (but not too brooding, another poor choice made by Bale) and… a hero. Even when he's not in the Batsuit, hidden under the curtain of night, Bruce Wayne is just as much an action hero as his alter-ego, from his heroics at the opening Battle of Metropolis to perusing the criminal underground to steal data from Luthor's lead henchmen (you know, that Russian Dude). Long story short: Ben Affleck is the first actor to rock the roles of Batman AND Bruce Wayne.
Worst: Superman & Clark Kent Superman continues to disappoint, maintaining the weaknesses that made his character feel "off" in Man of Steel. In fact, Henry Cavill seems to have gotten worse at the role, making decisions that seem completely off the mark for the character, especially considering Superman is supposed to be less brooding and have more faith in humanity than Batman. Cavill's worst offense? Clark Kent is downright cocky. While Cavill said in interviews that he felt that Christopher Reeve's portrayal of Clark Kent was so downright clumsy that he would draw more attention to himself than is smart when you are a superhero by night (correction: in Goddamn daylight) who doesn't bother to wear a mask. In an effort to fix what he sees as a problem the character has had, Cavill over compensates and completely misses the mark, making Clark Kent waaaay too cocky and not the humble man he should be when he's not wearing (dull) red and blue.
It's as though Cavill forgot to leave the cockiness of Napoleon Solo on the set of 2015's The Man From U.N.C.L.E.
Best: The New Supporting Cast – Jeremy Irons, Jesse Eisenberg, Gal Gadot Batman V Superman must have had a different casting director than Man of Steel because the difference in casts are night and day, day and night (Thanks, Lex luthor, for that).
Let's start with the Batman Universe's 2nd most featured character, Alfred Pennyworth, played by Jeremy Irons this go around. With an older Bruce Wayne/Batman than ever before, and the 1st big screen Alfred without White Hair, the age gap between the damaged boy and his butler (now, more of a guardian, mechanic, and even sidekick) has never been slimmer. And while Michael Caine made a fantastic Alfred who was far less conventional/clichéd than Micheal Gough in the two Tim Burton and two Joel Schumacher films, Jeremy Irons does it even better. He's more hands on from designing/fixing up the helmet under Batman's cowl (complete with voice modulator that even makes Alfred sound terrifying) to piloting the Batwing remotely during the warehouse fight. Again, while Michael Cane's Alfred and Christian Bale's Bruce Wayne had great chemistry, it doesn't hold a candle to the relationship of Jeremy Iron's Alfred and Affleck's Bruce. They really feel like an old married couple who have been doing this crime fighting thing for 20 years, with Alfred no longer trying to talk Batman out of being Batman. But do not fear, he but is just as sarcastic about the whole situation as Caine. Though most people would disagree, I also found Jesse Eisenberg's younger, unconventional Lex Luthor just as enjoyable as Skyfall/SPECTRE's twenty-something Q; a real breath of fresh air. I love how he played the character, cocky at moments (like his introductory shot where he makes a basket 1st try), condescending (feeding a Military General a cherry Jolly Rancher or addressing Holly Hunter's Senator Finch), awkward (stumbling through that speech at his Gala), and downright psychotic (Lois Lane was right!). Unlike the usual Genius-Billionaire-Rea- Estate-Mogul we are accustomed to, Eisenberg's Luthor is not a stable man… at all. And it works!
It's not Jesse Eisenberg's fault that the script makes Luthor's plans unfollowable. Finally, while I wasn't as gaga for Gal Gadot's Diana Prince/Wonder Woman as most, the character was a welcome addition to the film. Though I know little about the character, it seems like Gadot nailed it.
Worst: The Man of Steel Returning Cast – Amy Adams, Henry Lennix, Lawrence Fishburne, Kevin Costner I hate to speak in absolutes, but NONE of the returning cast from Man of Steel brings anything interesting to the Batman V Superman. Maybe the reason isn't a different casting director, but character fatigue (already) as we've seen all these cats in Man of Steel. Of course, it's also possible (and very likely) that Luthor, Alfred, and Wonder Woman are just more complex characters than the following two dimensional place holders. Amy Adams may have been the victim of a bad script, but she didn't save the role of Lois Lane like Jesse Eisenberg did with Lex Luthor. She's the victim most the film (Superman saves her 3 times!) and her lack of investigative reporting skills make you wonder how she figured out Superman's identity in the first film! How long does it take to track a bullet back to Lex Luthor and LexCorp, really? Worst of all, her performance doesn't add any weight to Superman's death at the end of the film. Somber Bruce Wayne and Diana Prince lingering the background carry more emotion than Clark Kent's girl. Everyone else is also just so "Meh." Henry Lennix is great on NBC's The Blacklist, but is the world's most boring Military General in Batman V Superman. Lawrence Fishburne plays Daily Planet Editor Perry White as though he has never read a Superman Comic, but once watched J.K. Simmons as Daily Bugle Editor J. Jonah Jameson in Spider-Man nearly 15 years ago and said, "I'll do that!"
Worst of all is Kevin Costner who gets to appear as the figment a dream (in a movie full of them). A farmer telling a story about a farm incident that has little to do with the plot, unexplainably on the top of a mountain? This does seem to be a theme as there are a lot of stories/metaphors that don't make any sense in BvS. The role is certainly a stretch (not) for Costner , who often plays farmers and doesn't seem to realize he's in a move in which someone invested $250 million dollars. Michael Shannon as Zod is actually the best cast member to return…and he's just a corpse!
But that's not all the Best and the Worst of Batman V Superman! Yes, we all know there is a lot to cover in the "Worst" department, but there is actually more in the "Best" column as well, I swear!
Want more? Read "The Best and Worst Scenes In Batman V Superman" Now!
Tagged Alfred Pennyworth, Amy Adams, Batffleck, Ben Affleck, Bruce Wayne, Clark Kent, Diana Prince, Gal Gadot, Henry Cavill, Henry Lennix, Jeremy Irons, Jesse Eisenberg, Kevin Costner, Lawrence Fishburne, Lex Luthor, Lois Lane, Perry White, Superman, Wonder Woman1 Comment
Cinema's 8 Most Nefarious Organizations: From #8. Death Eaters to #5. S.P.E.C.T.R.E.
Posted on November 15, 2015 by Nick Doll in 007, Age of Ultron, Avengers, Captain America, Jurassic World, Lists, Marvel, MCU, Mission: Impossible - Rogue Nation, Movies, SPECTRE, Star Wars, The Force Awakens, Villains
Evil organizations are all the craze these days on the silver screen, taking center stage in at least four 2015 Major Blockbusters: Avengers: Age of Ultron, Mission: Impossible – Rogue Nation, SPECTRE (ha), and the forthcoming Star Wars: The Force Awakens.
Nothing like a whole industry of villains and evil doers, often, but not always, operating in the shadows. And though several of the "organizations" chosen are literally companies, they also fit the mold of "Nefarious Organizations." Not just any company will do, but these certainly more than your simple morally corrupt businesses.
I've gone ahead and ranked them, most effective to least.
Let's start with #8 through #5!
8. Death Eaters from the Harry Potter Franchise
Voldemort takes a cue or two from S.P.E.C.T.R.E., but instead of rings they all got matching tattoos!
I'm not even a Harry Potter fan (I've read 6 and 1/2 of the books, but never made it far enough in the film franchise to see said organization), but my roommate tells me I should look past my own interests, and the Death Eaters were the 1st Evil Organization I could think of outside my traditional Geek World (which would be mostly Marvel Comic Book Evil Organizations…).
Death Eaters definitely qualify as a Nefarious Organization, one that, like the best of them (that follow), have members at every level of government, Hogwarts, and even that weird Magical Bank with the trolls. Not a lot is scarier than a group of zealots awaiting and/or aiding the return of their evil leader: He who must not be named!
7. OSCORP Industries from The Amazing Spider-Man Films
In Sam Raimi's original films, Oscorp was simply the company that Norman Osborn (Willem Dafoe) would experiment on himself… and kill… to remain in control and keep profitable. In Marc Webb's Amazing Spider-Man films, the corporation is responsible for a man-lizard, an electricity man, a mutated head of the company, and a series of enhanced soldier suits based on animals including a rhinoceros, a vulture, and an octopus.
A little hokey, sure, but it actually makes more sense than the original 2002 Spider-Man. Think about the major superhero villains these days. Tony Stark's genius leads to Iron Monger, Whiplash, Extemis, and Ultron. The Super Soldier serum administered by the same scientist creates both Red Skull and Captain America. Batman's appearance brings the Joker into the world as a direct response to his theatrical vigilantism. But in Spider-Man, it's simply a hard to believe coincidence (even if you've bought into a man who can stick to walls and swing from webs) that Peter Parker (Tobey Maguire) was bitten by a radioactive spider the very same night that Norman Osborn accidentally turns himself into a crazy super soldier to save his company. Ridiculous!
Mending this storytelling shortfall, Oscorp is behind all the foes Andrew Garfield's Peter Parker faces, whether that be an overreaction or not. Certainly qualifying the company that Norman Osborn built a spot on this list!
6. InGen from the The Lost World: Jurassic Park & Jurassic World
InGen didn't seem like such a bad company when John Hammond was around. But since he hit his death bed, other forces within the corporation have put profits above human safety… and worse.
It starts with Hammond's nephew in The Lost World: Jurassic Park, who will stop at nothing to grab dinosaurs out of their new "natural" habitat on Isla Sorna, a.k.a. "Site B" and present them to the masses. Even when the star exhibit, a full grown T-Rex, wrecks havoc in San Diego.
Even worse, Dr. Henry Wu (B.D. Wong) and Hoskins (Vincent D'Onofiro) clearly have a real shady deal going on behind the scenes of the theme park, Jurassic World. Hoskin's obsession with military applications for carnivores and Dr. Wu's gene-splicing skills offer even more trouble than in the 1st Jurassic World film, paving the way for a trilogy of InGen's evil doings!
5. S.P.E.C.T.R.E. from the 007 Franchise
No matching tattoos here, but of course Agents of S.P.E.C.T.R.E. have matching jewelry!
S.P.E.C.T.R.E. has been on the big screen longer than any other Nefarious Organization on this list, originating in Sean Connery's days only to be revived this year in Daniel Craig's world. S.P.E.C.T.R.E. stands for Special Executive for Counter-Intelligence, Terrorism, Revenge, and Extortion (like with do-gooder organization S.H.I.E.L.D., someone just really wanted to spell SPECTRE, albeit incorrectly).
Now, if you read my review for SPECTRE, you know the film was lacking… a lot. In fact, S.P.E.C.T.R.E., the supposed ultimate Nefarious Organization of all time, doesn't get its due in the 2015 007 film. While Daniel Craig's 007 movies have improved on every aspect of the character from Casino Royale through Skyfall, S.P.E.C.T.R.E. does not live up to the organization Connery built (well, fought) back in the 60's.
Perhaps if the film SPECTRE was better, this ultimate Evil Organization would have landed on the better half of the list. After all, it is the original shadow group with tentacles in every countries government on all ends of the globe, controlling resources, governments, and intelligence rather than always seeking to start WWIII like later Bond villains.
And that's a wrap! For now… Check back later when I reveal The Top 4 Nefarious Organizations in Cinema, including H.Y.D.R.A. and The First Order, formally the Galactic Empire!
Tagged and Extrorton, Andrew Garfield, BD Wong, Captain America: The First Avenger, Casino Royale, Daniel Craig, Death Eaters, Doc Ock, Dr. Wu, Electro, Extremis, Green Goblin, Harry Osborn, Harry Potter, Hoskins, InGen, iron man, Iron Monger, Isla Sorna, John Hammond, Jurassic Park, Jurassic World, Marc Webb, Norman Osborn, Oscorp, Red Skull, Revenge, Rhino, S.P.E.C.T.R.E., sam raimi, Sean Connery, Site B, SKYFALL, Special Executive for Counter-Intelligence, T-Rex, Terrorism, The Amazing Spider-Man, The Amazing Spider-Man 2, The Dark Knight, The Joker, The Lost World: Jurassic Park, The Vulure, Tobey Maguire, Ultron, Vincent D'Onofrio, Voldemort, Whiplash, Willem DafoeLeave a comment
A Modern Guide To Movie Going (Holiday Season 2015 & Beyond)!
Posted on November 14, 2015 February 17, 2017 by Nick Doll in Avengers, Batman, Captain America, DC, Features, Jurassic World, Lists, Mad Max: Fury Road, Marvel, Mission: Impossible - Rogue Nation, Movies, Star Wars, The Force Awakens
We're falling into the Holiday Movie Season, kicked off last weekend by the mediocre SPECTRE and The Peanuts Movie. Things will start to get crazy with the release of Mocking Jay Part 2 and Pixar's The Good Dinosaur, all culminating with the biggest movie release of all time: Star Wars: The Force Awakens.
Whether Star Wars is pulling you out of your Netflix hole, or you've been going to the movies all year long enjoying hits like Mad Max: Fury Road, Jurassic World, and Mission: Impossible – Rogue Nation, you will find this Guide To Movie Going in the 21st Century! extremely useful.
Trust me. I work at a Movie Theater. And I got to a lot of Movies!
Don't use Fandango!
I have worked at two of the three major theater chains in the United States and there is one constant: DON'T USE FANDANGO!
It's almost a dirty little secret, especially since the "Pre-Show" at my chain has a Fandango commercial! But we (theater chains) don't want you to use it! It's not always accurate, for whatever reason, so you'll get stuck with tickets to a showtime that doesn't exist!
Always use the theater chains' direct website, where tickets are on sale, the surcharge is no larger than Fandango's, and the times are actually accurate! I'm talking www.cinemark.com or www.amctheatres.com. I don't know Regal's website…
I guess it's not too hard to tell which of the three chains I didn't work for!
Make sure you check Movie Times for the day you are going!!!
We no longer live in an era where Movie Showtimes are the same from Friday through Thursday. Theaters have events now. And almost all movies get an early evening release on Thursdays (gone are the days when only movies like Star Wars got midnight releases). Showtimes change day to day.
We've got Live Concerts, Classic Series Films, Live Sporting Events (including Video Game tournaments…), and Special Screenings like the Dr. Who and Sherlock Christmas Specials coming up in late December/early January. Very, very rarely will all three Weekend Days have the same showtimes, even more rare on weekdays!
Don't look up today's times if you're going to a movie tomorrow! Check the day you are going, otherwise you may show up for a showtime that doesn't exist.
And NEVER look up said showtimes on Fandango!!!
Double Check Movie Times the day you are going!!!
Unless you have tickets in hand, double check the showtime the day of the movie. Sometimes theaters will "Wild Cat" a showtime, meaning we may cancel a showtime of The Intern to make room for another showing of SPECTRE. It's very, very rare, but it does happen!
Know your Theater Chains and the Brands that fall under their Umbrella.
Let's break this down fast so you don't try to use a Gift Card at the wrong Chain:
AMC is AMC Theatres. As the company has acquired other companies like Kerasotes, they rename the theaters so it's simple. AMC Gift Cards work at all AMC locations, NOT at any theater lacking the AMC name.
Cinemark and Regal keep most the names of the theater chains they have purchased. So…
Regal is also known as United Artists Theatres and Edwards Theatres.
Cinemark also has locations called Century Theatres, Rave, Tinseltown, & CineArts.
Know where your gift cards will work by understanding the above hierarchy!
IMAX is no longer the only Big, Loud Screen in Town.
You're going to want to see Star Wars: The Force Awakens on something big!
A few years ago Regal, AMC, and Cinemark decided to make their own, "Premium Format" to compete with IMAX, which had begun incensing it's name to Theater Chains without actually delivering the full "IMAX Experience." IMAX Screens of old were 70mm format, taller than they were wide, but now IMAX is just a name plastered on screens that run floor to ceiling with incredibly large speakers. I noticed the change seeing The Dark Knight 1st on a real IMAX Screen, with the image Christopher Nolan intended, and then seeing it on one of the "fake" Digital IMAX Screens that cut most of Nolan's superior image.
Well, the three chains succeeded… partially… instead each creating their own "Premium Format" to save on IMAX licencing fees. AMC called theirs ETX, Regal went with RTX, and Cinemark features X D (have to space the letters or WordPress makes a XD face. 😦 ). All are just as good as Digital IMAX… unless it is one of the dozen or so "True" IMAX Screens left in the US.
Reserved Seating is on the way… and here to stay!
If you don't have it already, the Industry is moving toward "Reserved Seating," meaning you pick your seats when you buy your ticket. Don't fight it, don't whine, Reserved Seating will be the standard by the end of 2016, and it ain't going anywhere!
Reserved Seating is the perfect tool to buy tickets in advance. If you bought Star Wars tickets the minute they went online after that Monday Night Football trailer for my theater, then you also picked your seats, which means you can show up minutes before showtime, no waiting in a looooong line for hours, and still have the best seat in the house.
And it doesn't really change the movie going experience on a day-to-day basis. What's the difference between picking a seat at Box Office vs. when you walk into the auditorium? You're going to pick the same seats… unless they are already sold… which is no different than walking in and seeing another guest already sitting where you like to sit. In fact, picking seats at Box Office let's you see what's left in a nearly Sold Out show! Don't walk in blind, caught with only the front row. Know what's left before dropping a dime.
Don't be a Dummy. No Masks or Fake Weapons, Dummy!
Star Wars fans are whining about not being able to wear their Chewbacca, Stormtrooper, or Darth Vader (or Kylo Ren!) masks. And they can't bring in fake guns. Or Lightsabers.
Look, I'm a Fanboy who dressed as Captain America for the entirety of the 1st Avengers opening weekend as a theater manager. I was dressed like Batman the night a theater not 30 miles from my own theater was shot up. Your sadness over losing masks and Lighsabers is not nearly as severe as the sadness of losing a loved one.
Stop being a Goddamn Baby and welcome to the 21st Century!
And that's all you need to know! Here's your handy-dandy guide to movie going, still good in 2016!
Tagged 70mm, AMC Theatres, Century Theatres, Chewbacca, Christopher Nolan, CineArts, Cinemark, Darth Vader, Digital IMAX, Dr. Who, Edwards Theatres, ETX, Fandango, IMAX, Kylo Ren, Rave Cinemas, Regal, Reserved Seating, RPX, Sherlock, Stormtroopers, The Dark Knight, Tinseltown, United Artists Theatres, www.amctheatres.com, www.cinemark.com, XD1 Comment
The 5 Most Accurate Comic Book Character Castings In Film and TV
Posted on November 6, 2015 by Nick Doll in Age of Ultron, Avengers, Batman, Captain America, Comics, DC, Gotham, Lists, Marvel, MCU, Movies, TV Shows, Video Games
Everyone's a Super Hero these days… or at least a character based on a comic iteration, be they a powerless vigilante or a supporting character. Playing just "3 Degrees of Marvel" is easier than "6 Degrees of Kevin Bacon."
There are many memorable superhero performances that have redefined comic book characters. Who can imagine anyone but Hugh Jackman playing Logan / Wolverine? Is it possible to think of the Joker without conquering images of Heath Ledger? Even now that we've seen Chris Cooper as Norman Osborne in the failure that was The Amazing Spider-Man 2, who could forget Willam Dafoe from 2002's original Spider-Man film?
Sure, great performances all, but not exactly accurate depictions of the character. Wolverine is about four feet tall in the comic; Tom Cruise would actually be a more accurate portrayal of the character (not that he would be ideal either).
What I've collected, is a list of the most accurate casting choices of comic book characters, not the "best" or most "memorable." Not the biggest characters or Super Heros, necessarily, but the best characters minor otherwise. These are the castings that can't keep a Geek from smiling because he couldn't imagine a better interpretation himself when first reading a comic. And after seeing it, this actor will always become the character's voice when reading decades of comics to come.
5) Robert Downey Jr. as Tony Stark / Iron Man
Most people use RDJ as Tony Stark as the industry standard of comic book casting… and they ain't wrong! I just managed to find 4 other castings that are even more accurate.
It turns out that Robert Downey Jr. is Tony Stark… both on screen and doing interviews. He has all the charm and brilliance that defines Tony Stark, bringing the darker edge of the character into play in Avengers: Age of Ultron, in which writer/director Joss Whedon labels Stark as the villain in the film's commentary.
RDJ pulls off both sides of Stark, the hero who regrets his own and companies' past as "War Mongers" and the man so tortured by his experience bringing a Nuke through a wormhole to outer-space that he creates the greatest villain the Avengers have ever faced, and will further be driven to oppose teammate Captain America (Chris Evans) in Captain America: Civil War.
Donwey Jr. is both the perfect physical rendition of Stark as well as a man who share's Stark's darker, "less sober" past.
4) Mark Hamill as The Joker
No silver screen actor can touch Mark Hamill's interpretation of Batman's nemesis, The Joker, started in Batman: The Animated Series and lifted to nirvana in the Video Game, Batman: Arkham Knight (as well as the franchises earlier chapters, Arkham Asylum & Arkham City).
Hamill's joker just has more… fun. Hamill has worked an almost endless versions of the laugh, also bringing the Joker's voice in and out; letting the madness seep from his performance.
Though Animated, Hamill's Joker is also the most accurate; a man with a giant grin, but none of those scars the film version of the Joker mysteriously decided to use. With the exception of 1989's Batman and 2008's The Dark Knight, The Joker has never had scars (Thankfully it looks as though Jared Leto's Joker will repair this remedy… though his appearance calls to question how accurate his performance will be).
Hamill offers the most fun interpretation of the unstable Joker, with an animated face that can't be topped by any of the feature presentations of Batman's greatest nemesis.
3) JK Simmons as J. Jonah Jameson
There comes a casting every now and then, that is so legendary that not even a reboot of a franchise can top the original. In the case of The Amazing Spider-Man films, the creative talent realized that J. Jonah Jameson was so well cast by J.J. Simmons, that they didn't even attempt to offer a new take on the character.
J.K. Simmons timing is so perfect, his look so accurate, that it is impossible to read a Spider-Man comic today without hearing the actor's voice. He's Spider-Man's perfect hater, an actor I would still recommend Marvel Studios use for their 2nd "reboot" of Marvel's Webslinger.
2) Donal Logue as Harvey Bullock
Fox's Gotham is really the 1st time I've seen Jim Gordon's partner and eventual right-hand-man portrayed by a live-action actor. Even Christopher Nolan, who used the Dark Knight Trilogy to reintroduce us to lost Detective Comics characters like Lucious Fox, failed to produce Harvey Bolluck, an essential character in the comic realm.
Benjamin McKenzie was a hard sell as Jim Gordon, as his most famous role was from female teen show The O.C., but he's worked out fine. On the other hand, Donal Logue, best known from an equally "shitty" comedy Grounded For Life, lives and breaths Harvey Bolluck into existence in a way that makes the comic impossible to read without hearing Logue's voice.
A drunk with a conscience and extreme loyalty to his partner, Logue is incredible as Batman essential Harvey Bolluck.
1) Matt Ryan as John Constantine
Finally, we arrive at the best of the best; Matt Ryan as DC Comic's (formally Vertigo's) John Constantine! Forget Keanu Reeves who was terribly cast in the big-screen version of DC's best "master of the dark arts!" Matt Ryan plays the character with the coy cockiness and James Bond-esque womanizer that perfectly reflect the comic counterpart, right down to his appearance.
This is the prime example of an actor breathing life into a formally written & drawn character with no real voice. I know can't read Justice League Dark or John Constantine: Hellbazler without hearing… and even picturing Matt Ryan. I'd never enjoyed the aforementioned film… or comic until I saw Matt Ryan play Constantine. And since them, he has become one of my most favorite comic characters of all!
There you have it, the 5 most ACCURATE Comic Book Castings… of all time! It may not be the main characters you expected, but these supporting and less known-"Heroes" could not be better represented on the screen!
Tagged Batman: Arkham Asylum, Batman: Arkham City, Batman: Arkham Knight, Batman: The Animated Series, Constantine, Donal Logue, Harvey Bullock, iron man, J. Jonah Jameson, J.K. Simmons, John Constantine, Mark Hamill, Matt Ryan, Robert Downey Jr., The Joker, Tony Stark4 Comments
7 Best 007 Films #3 – #1: A New Take on Bond
Posted on October 14, 2015 October 14, 2015 by Nick Doll in 007, Lists, Movies, SPECTRE
With SPECTRE right around the corner, it's time to celebrate Bond, James Bond.
I've compiled a list of my 7 favorite 007 movies. You can check out the 1st part of the list by clicking HERE: #7 – #4. Now it's time to reveal my final 3 James Bond movies I hold in highest regard.
3. Goldeneye
Goldeneye was my favorite 007 movie until the age of Daniel Craig. Oddly enough, I'd seen several Bond movies before Goldeneye, including the more recent Tomorrow Never Dies and The World Is Not Enough, and it was the Nintendo 64 game of the same name that lead me to the movie. And though Gamers can all agree Goldeneye is a great game, it's an even better movie!
Goldeneye was released in 1995, the 1st 007 movie following the collapse of the Soviet Union… who had served as the main Bond villains since SMERSH in Sean Connery's days. The franchise had laid dormant between films for the longest period on record, returning with a new M played by Judi Dench and a new 007 for the 90's, Pierce Brosnan.
The movie doesn't age as well as Connery's films, laced with cheesy 90's music in a few ridiculous scenes; especially the car race (not chase) between Bond and Xenia Onatopp (Famke Janssen). Look, another great, cheesy "Bond girl" name!
All that taken into consideration, Goldeneye is my 3rd favorite Bond movie due to it's amazing villain (either my favorite or second favorite 007 villain… it's hard to lock it down) and just as incredible plot.
Sean Bean plays 006, Alec Trevelyn, left to die by Pierce Brosnan in the 1st scene only to return as head of a master-plan to use the Goldeneye weapons satellite with an EMP device that could cripple a city. No world domination here. As James suggests, Trevelyn is a common thief, though the former 006 has something bigger planned; erasing all the bank records and the like by turning the Goldeneye satellite on London.
Similar to Robert Shaw in From Russia With Love, 006/Alec Trevelyn is the ultimate doppelganger, a former partner of Bond's, with his skill-set, charm, and even the very same gadgets (though his watch provided by Q branch is a slightly older model). Sean Bean is one of my favorite actors due to this role and he's the perfect man to play the ultimate anti-007 (Bean was on the shortlist to play 007 when Brosnan got the gig).
2. Casino Royale
Casino Royale reinvented 007 in a way that no other new Bond actor ever did. Borrowing heavily from the Bourne franchise, Daniel Craig wasn't just the 1st blond Bond, he was the most brutal. M calls Craig's 007 "a blunt instrument," not the sophisticated Bond we were accustomed to. This darker, more realistic take on 007 was a direct response to how cheesy the Pierce Brosnan movies had gotten by Die Another Day.
In an era of dark reboots, including Batman Begins, the ruthless Daniel Craig 007 was a welcome change. We get to see James Bond become the 007 we know and love today… and get to see again on November 6th! Take this exchange for example of where Daniel Craig's Bond starts:
"Vodka-Martini."
"Shaken or stirred?"
"Do I look like I give a damn?"
The Vesper (Eva Green) origin tale is the 1st time the franchise had dabbled in 007's past (the 1st book of the franchise, Casino Royale could only be made into a movie through a partnership with Sony) and boy-howdy did it make the decades old character more interesting than ever before! We get to see why he treats women like playthings and trusts no one. Though he is not fully the 007 we know by the end of the film, he does earn the words:
"The name's Bond, James Bond."
The movie's plot is simple, but great; again, we're not talking about starting World War III or using a Nuclear Device. Plus, the idea of a shady organization that will become Quantum… and the SPECTRE is immediatly introudced and wonderfully explored: Bond doesn't even get a chance to kill Le Chiffre (Mads Mikkelsen), who is an interesting villain in his own right as he "cries" blood. Instead, Mr. White cleans up his own mess.
The groundwork is laid for great characters that carried over to Quantum of Solace (as discussed last time), including CIA Agent Felix Leiter (Jeffrey Wright), ally Rene Mathis (Giancarlo Giannini), and Mr. White. Of course, M is back as well, but she remains Dame Judi Dench… for now. Q and Moneypenny are absent, but that's why Skyfall exists!
Casino Royale also brings back the detective element from Dr. No in a way it hasn't been explored in 50 years. Though the film has excellent action set-pieces, it's really about 007 following a series of clues that lead him to a poker game with only the highest of stake. He's a true detective in this one.
1.Skyfall
I reuse this joke from Pineapple Express too often, but if Goldeneye had a baby with Casino Royale, then you've got Skyfall. (Whew, didn't have to use the part about "the result of baby fucking.")
Simply put, Skyfall is the best written, directed, and acted 007 film. It even includes a bunch of winks to old-school Bond; the film being released on the 50th anniversary of the film franchise.
Right off the bat we're treated to the greatest pre-credits sequence yet; Bond chasing down a villain with MI6 secrets, first with a motorcycle on building rooftops and ending up on top of a train with 007 being shot by Moneypenny (Naomie Harris). The movie continues at a pace somewhere between the slower Casino Royale and the non-stop action of Quantum of Solace.
Silva (Javier Bardem) is the villain I said earlier I can't decide if I like more or less than Alec Trevelyn. In fact, Silva and 006 have a lot in common; both are former agents who worked for M, though Silva never worked with Bond, so he has less in common with 007 than 006 did. Regardless, his hatred/obsession with M, a mother of sorts that betrayed him and left him to die, drives his madness, even causing him to compare 007 to himself as the other "survivor" or "rat." In fact, Silva's speech about how his grandmother rid her island of rats is one of the strongest villain monologues in recent cinema.
His rat metaphor is the delicious glue (I know… you're not supposed to eat glue…) that holds the story together. Again, we have an incredibly small plot when compared to the days of Pierce Brosnan; Silva just wants to kill M… and himself… at the same time. 007 is just the man in the way.
Through his protection of M, we learn more about Bond's past, which of course is one of Casino Royale's strengths, taking us to Skyfall, James Bond's childhood home. We get to see the grave markers of his parents including "Andrew Bond," putting to rest the silly fan theory that James Bond is a code-name like 007, not each actor's character's actual name. How silly!
by the end of the Skyfall, the final pieces of the James Bond universe fall into place with a new Q (Ben Whinshaw), the aforementioned Moneypenny, and a brand new M (Ralph Fiennes).
My only gripe, and it's a small one, is that there is no mention of Quantum or any mysterious organization, something that is present in the three other Daniel Craig starring films. But, honestly, that would have muddled the film's perfect plot and pacing
Besides, the trailer for SPECTRE suggests that Oberhauser (Christoph Waltz) and Quantum/SPECTRE have been behind all of 007's pain. So, when SPECTRE drops on November 6th here in the states, we'll know exactly what pain Oberhauser and SPECTRE have wrought!
Tagged 006, Alec Trevelyan, Ben Whinshaw, Casino Royale, Christoph Waltz, Daniel Craig, Die Another Day, Eva Green, Felix Leiter, Goldeneye, James Bond, Javier Bardem, Jeffrey Wright, Jesper Christensen, judi dench, Le Chiffre, M, Mads Mikkelsen, MI6, Moneypenny, Mr. White, Naomie Harris, Nintendo 64, Oberhauser, Pierce Brosnan, Q, Q Branch, Ralph Fiennes, Rene Mathis, sean bean, silva, Silva Cyanide Face, SKYFALL, SMERSH, The World Is Not Enough, Tomorrow Never Dies, Vesper1 Comment
The 7 Best 007 Films # 7 – # 4: Sean Connery Begins
It's mid-October, so we are merely weeks away from what will likely (hopefully?) be one of the greatest Bond movies, SPECTRE.
Don't count my chickens before they hatch, you say?
Let's start counting anyway! You have Daniel Craig, the best 007 (don't crucify me for that, just because Sean Connery played James Bond 1st, doesn't automatically make him the best), director Sam Mendes hot off Skyfall, and Academy Award Winning villain actor Javier Bardem replaced by an equally (if not more) enjoyable double Oscar Winner Christoph Waltz. What could go wrong? Hell, SPECTRE has Dave Bautista of Drax from Guardians of the Galaxy fame playing a very classic feeling henchman with some flavor.
Again, I'm counting unhatched Indominus Rexs… err… chickens before they hatch. But at least I have these seven hatch-lings: The 7 Best 007 movies from Dr. No through Skyfall.
In order to keep this post a manageable length, we'll cover my 7th favorite through 4th.
7. Dr. No
The very 1st 007 film, Dr. No sets most the pieces in place for a franchise that has gone strong (mostly… mostly) for 50 years. Sean Connery clearly establishes the tone for all the James Bond actors that followed (even Daniel Craig's less-sophisticated, more "blunt instrument" portrayal).
Dr. No's real strength is showing us the super-spy/detective side of 007, with less gadgets but a perfect Bond Girl in name and body – Ursula Andress as Honey Ryder – as well as a villain that sets the tone of all the SPECTRE and SMERSH eccentric agents that follow – Joseph Wiseman as the title character, Dr. No.
The focus on 007's skills as a spy and detective aren't featured as front-and-center again until Casino Royale. My favorite scene, which really sets up Bond's skill-set, comes when he places a hair on the door to his hotel room, allowing him to tell if his room was entered and tampered with. No film that follows has shown cool spy techniques in the same way as Dr. No, instead focusing on faster paced stories with more action, gadgets, and sexy women.
The franchise is still finding it's footing at this point, almost a rough draft of the franchise before Goldfinger established the franchise's more popular and enduring elements.
6. Quantum of Solace
I know, I know, Quantum of Solace is a pretty dumb Bond movie when it comes to the writing and overall plot; nearly a phoned in 007 film like all but one of Pierce Brosnan's adventures. I blame the writer's strike for that, though the film is still enjoyable as hell, even with its faults.
I argue Quantum of Solace is the perfect companion piece to Casino Royale; the latter serving as a slower story re-introducing the character and his origin with Vesper (Eva Green) and the former balancing it out with full-on action in every scene and the continuation of whatever Mr. White's organization was in Casino Royale. Quantum is also one of the only "direct-sequels" that references and builds off the previous Bond film, giving it an extra element of intrigue. That means we also get more character/actor carryover from one film to the next with Jesper Christensen back as the aforementioned Mr. White, Jeffrey Wright back as Felix Leiter, and even Giancarlo Giannini as Rene Mathis.
Spoiler Alert (not), the shady organization is called Quantum (hence one of the franchise's worst titles) and will eventually become SPECTRE (the studio making 007 films didn't have the rights to the name SPECTRE at the time). I love the set-up for this organization that has infiltrated every government, starting with Mr. White escaping and continuing with the reveal of Quantum at the Opera (one of the franchise's most artistic scenes).
Mathieu Amalric as Dominic Greene (yes, apparently all Quantum agents have colorful last names… literally) is an underrated villain with his eccentricities and role within the Quantum organization. The final action scene is the film's 2nd best, with Greene showing the rodent he is in the sloppy/angry battle with 007 that has him slicing his own foot with an axe. Plus, there was something weird going on between him and his #1 henchman, that was never unnecessarily explained.
5. Goldfinger
Goldfinger is the 1st Bond film to have ALL the elements in place. Q-branch gadgets like a car with an ejector seat. A Bond girl with a not-so-subtle name, Pussy Galore (Honor Blackman). Another title super-villain – Gert Fröbe as Auric Goldfinger, with a strange obsession with gold, a laser, and a ridiculously amazing evil-plan. The 1st amazing henchman, Oddjob (Harold Sakata), who throws a sharp hat (no, not a shoe… that was Random Task in Austin Powers). And that classic dialogue.
"Do you expect me to talk?"
"No, Mr. Bond, I expect you to die!"
Everything we've watched for the last 50 years that wasn't established in Dr. No, was put in place by Goldfinger; the ultimate Bond formula to stick to.
Those Goldfinger Fans looking forward to SPECTRE will likely recognize Daniel Craig's new getup on the poster is borrowed from Sean Connery in the above photo.
4. From Russia With Love
From Russia With Love has one of the greatest SPECTRE agents 007 has ever faced, Robert Shaw (of Jaws fame) playing Grant, 007's perfect doppelganger. And there is not archetype of villain I enjoy more than a doppelganger; a villain that reflects the hero in nearly every way. Robert Shaw's character really is the opposite side of the Sean Connery coin. Dashing, brutal, and just serving his "country" (or, rather, organization).
No scene in the film sticks out in my mind like the train sequence between Sean Connery and Robert Shaw, one of the most classic showdowns in 007's history.
So that's a start; my 4th through 7th favorite 007 films.
Read about Numbers 3 through 1 NOW… Not that you can't guess where the list is going…
Tagged Auric Goldfinger, Casino Royale, Christoph Waltz, Daniel Craig, Dave Bautista, Dominic Greene, doppelganger, Dr. No, Eva Green, Felix Leiter, From Russia With Love, Gert Fröbe, Giancarlo Giannini, Goldfinger, Harold Sakata, Honey Ryder, Honor Blackman, James Bond, Javier Bardem, Jeffrey Wright, Jesper Christensen, Joseph Wiseman, Mathieu Amalric, Mr. White, Oddjob, Pierce Brosnan, Pussy Galore, Quantum, Quantum of Solace, Rene Mathis, Robert Shaw, Sam Mendes, Sean Connery, silva, SKYFALL, SMERSH, Ursula Andress, Vesper1 Comment