Say what you will about Hawkeye, but ever since we last saw him up on the big screen – which was in 2016’s Captain America: Civil War, for those keeping track – things haven’t exactly been smooth sailing for Earth’s Mightiest Heroes, which tells us that the guy with the bow and arrow may actually be more important to the team than many of us realize. Fortunately, then, Clint Barton’s set to return next month in Avengers: Endgame, and when he does, he’ll be sporting a whole new appearance.
Indeed, the film’s trailers have more or less confirmed the popular theory that Jeremy Renner will be suiting up in the Ronin persona, and while they haven’t given us a great look at his outfit just yet, we have seen glimpses of it. Thanks to this new toy, however, we now get our best look at Ronin’s appearance to date, with several images showing off the character’s costume and weapons in a lot of detail.
Avengers: Endgame Toy Gives Incredibly Detailed Look At Ronin's Costume
While Kevin Feige and co. are being characteristically stingy with their Clint Barton material, and it remains to be seen what exactly inspired the hero’s change in style in Endgame, it’s become a common prediction that all or at least some of Clint’s family was killed in the universe-wide Decimation that we witnessed back in Infinity War.
Chalk that up as speculation for now though as again, Marvel are remaining tight-lipped in regards to Hawkeye/Ronin’s arc in the upcoming film. Thankfully, then, we don’t have too much longer to go until we find out for certain what put Clint in such a bad mood, as Avengers: Endgame hits theaters next month, on April 26th, and will forever change the Marvel Cinematic Universe.
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At the moment, things aren’t looking too promising for Neil Marshall’s reboot of Hellboy. After a wildly disappointing first trailer, coupled with the fact that the film has to follow on from Guillermo del Toro and Ron Perlman’s beloved take on the character, box office projections are forecasting an underwhelming theatrical run for the movie. Whether you’re on board with the project or not though, it seems that the producers are still holding out hope that things will turn out alright in the end.
Speaking with Collider during a set visit, producer Lloyd Levin noted that the team is already planning for sequels in a “very very vague sense.” He was quick to note though that nothing is set in stone just yet and it isn’t a “this is happening in Hellboy 2-type scenario.” Instead, they just have a kind of roadmap of where sequels would go based on the comic book source material.
“Not in a No. 2 will be this and No. 3 will be that,” Levin teases. “But you can tell yourself. If this starts with The Wild Hunt, the track is laid from there in the comic books where you could go.”
What the producer’s saying here certainly makes sense, but the question remains of whether or not Hellboy will perform well enough to earn another outing. After all, it’s facing the daunting task of opening under the shadow of Avengers: Endgame, so it’s hard to imagine it being able to carve out an audience of its own when it hits theaters next month. Especially since the buzz surrounding it right now isn’t too positive.
That being said, we’re still hoping that Hellboyat least does aright, since if it flops, then that’s probably it for the character on the big screen for the foreseeable future. Both del Toro films underperformed and if this one underwhelms, too, it’s unlikely that anyone will be running to fund any sequels or future projects for Big Red.
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Tomorrow, Apple will unveil its strategy for services in an event that is expected to reveal its Apple News subscription and its television streaming platform. According to a lengthy report from The Wall Street Journal, it sounds like the company has been negotiating with premium channels HBO, Showtime, and Starz to offer a standardized $9.99 monthly subscription each, will reportedly charge $9.99 for its news service, and will likely charge for access to its original content, which had been widely reported that it would make free to Apple users.
Apple is widely expected to unveil its original content efforts tomorrow, and the WSJ says that it will show off footage from some of its forthcoming TV programs at its event, and that sources...
Tomorrow, Apple will unveil its strategy for services in an event that is expected to reveal its Apple News subscription and its television streaming platform. According to a lengthy report from The Wall Street Journal, it sounds like the company has been negotiating with premium channels HBO, Showtime, and Starz to offer a standardized $9.99 monthly subscription each, will reportedly charge $9.99 for its news service, and will likely charge for access to its original content, which had been widely reported that it would make free to Apple users.
Apple is widely expected to unveil its original content efforts tomorrow, and the WSJ says that it will show off footage from some of its forthcoming TV programs at its event, and that sources...
Welcome to Cheat Sheet, our breakdown-style reviews of festival films, VR previews, and other special-event releases. This review comes from the 2019 SXSW Interactive Festival.
It’s hard finding new ways to haunt a house. And Girl on the Third Floor, a horror film that premiered at 2019’s SXSW Interactive Festival, doesn’t make a point of trying. It hits the classic beats of the genre, largely established by Shirley Jackson’s The Haunting of Hill House: a protagonist with a troubled past moves into a grand but dilapidated old home with a dark secret, then finds a malevolent force dredging up his personal demons.
Instead of trying to push narrative limits, Girl on the Third Floor uses predictability to generate suspense. It draws the...
After David F. Sandberg became WB’s golden child post-Lights Out and Annabelle: Creation successes, superhero property Shazam! seemed an “inspired” choice for a follow-up project. “Why give a scream machine the reins to DC’s lovable manchild in tights?” Simple: Sandberg displays a surgeon’s precision by balancing snarly demonic darkness with playground superpower maturation. Don’t fret: Shazam! proves that the DCEU has a sense of humor, can execute on it and *deliver* an electric punch of uber-fun comic book action, too. Heart, humor and heroics – can I get a hell yeah?
Meet Billy Batson (Asher Angel), a 14-year-old boy who’s spent most his life escaping step-parents and searching for his blood mother. His laundry list of offenses doesn’t paint him as The Wizard’s (Djimon Hounsou) “pure of heart” successor, but with the seven deadly sins loose – thanks to evil Dr. Thaddeus Sivana (Mark Strong) – he’ll have to do. After grasping “The Wizard’s” staff (lol) and uttering the name “Shazam,” Billy transforms into an all-powerful savior without any teaching (played by Zachary Levi). Thus initiates a quest to unlock potential, defeat Sivana and keep Philadelphia safe all before bedtime – but can a delinquent schoolboy with unpredictable outbursts serve as the next Superman?
There’s a juvenile immaturity to Shazam! that might first be vexing, but generic setups are integral. As much as Billy’s beginning is cut-and-expected, once Shazam appears, the DCEU finds its beating pulse. Like Tony Stark once sat atop Randy’s Donuts contemplating his powers, so does Shazam sip a convenience store drink. Ingesting the reality forthcoming. Imagine Big but with invincibility and nemeses. Shazam is our conduit to discovery and wonderment on an inter-dimensional level of entertainment. An unsupervised problem kiddo granted lightning fingers and flight with no instruction manual – Sandberg refuses to waste befuddled setups.
Full disclosure, Shazam! doesn’t kick into overdrive until Levi’s “better imagining” appears. Before then, Billy’s foster care and Thaddeus’ upbringing are cut-and-paste understood. As Billy dodges foster homes and a glasses-wearing boy fails his opportunity to become the universe’s almighty savior, themes of envy drive revenge. Shocking, I know, since one of the film’s all-powerful villains is, indeed, the grossified sin of “Envy.” No bother. Generic bullied-at-school setups give way to an unexpectedly meaningful self-rebuilding then fight against rigid DCEU stuffiness (although, that’s not been a problem of late).
Divulging the sky-cracking power of Shazam! that thunders throughout Sandberg’s final act would be a disservice. Understand that no Marvel film has moved me to misty-eyed swipes since Guardians Of The Galaxy Vol. 2 (Gunn’s first attempt previous), and no DCEU entry better utilizes canon. Between Billy’s early inadequacies as an ultimate champion to “understanding” as an underage protector of worlds, Shazam! is only ever atop its superhero game (think Deadpool but PG-13 and less masochistic, honestly).
Superman and Batman are the serious ones – Billy’s role is to don a rightfully questioned white cape and save the day while quipping goofish one-liners. Trust my words: there’s no letting down in this sense. From Billy’s early work as a Pennsylvania internet celebrity – blasting bolts of energy to “Eye Of The Tiger” for street performer tips – to ultimate realizations of growth, he does so as expectedly hilarious with foolish yet genuine results.
Without missing a beat, Sandberg wastes not Billy’s foster care upbringing. Shazam! is an ode to the “outcasts,” song for the left behind and exemplification that families can be who we choose. Did this spandex wearin’, beef jerky munchin’ bad guy punch-em-up reduce me to weepy tears on more than one occasion? Straight up. Such is Cooper Andrews and Marta Milans’ orphan housing, Dalia’s hug-a-minute optimism and Billy’s reclamation of humanity. Baton’s story is not unique – raised by a rotating door of caretakers after mommy left him – but what starts with Hallmark beats ends on such a euphoric high. As exciting and enthusiastic a Justice League demo tape Shazam! is, Sandberg’s most significant achievement may be Christmas themed discovery of selfless storylines that unite an unlikely cast of “forgotten” children. What a perfect place for my favorite quotation: the “underrated but undeterred.”
Shazam! Confronts His One True Nemesis In New HD Photo
Sandberg’s horror sensibilities aren’t to be forgotten in this otherwise sunny Philadelphia flyboy caper. As bright and plasmatic as Shazam’s powers are, Thaddeus’ icky glowing eye imprisons seven beastly representations of disgusting creatures who hold no reservations over decapitations or brutal pummeling. This isn’t just an excuse for Annabelle cameos (anyone catch an essential Lights Out nod I missed?). Shazam! balances pitch-nasty underworld possession beats with Billy’s superhero-for-hire gig surprisingly well, sticking to influences while showcasing Sandberg’s filmmaking prowess outside of (brilliantly maniacal) jump scares and Conjurverse revitalization. Mark Strong’s performance an obvious additive as the film’s glassy-eyed antagonist.
Kudos to Warner Brothers for casting a relative “unknown” in Asher Angel, who never steals from Levi’s made-for-print “adult” form. Whether Shazam’s slugging back Dr. Peppers, testing skills in a warehouse, or saving Santa from unsightly creatures amidst “Chilladelphia” wonderland festivities, Levi is the embodiment of do-it-yourself heroism. Curious, cocky and childish in that his core is still that of a teenage boy. He’s not the *only* scene stealer though – as you’ll find come a dynamite Act III – but Levi’s Chuck background sets the stage for fish-out-of-water humor that resonates given Billy’s newfound abilities. As fitting a placement as Jack Dylan Grazer’s disabled Freddy Freeman – Billy’s fanboy Mr. Miyagi – or Faithe Herman as the adorably innocent Darla Dudley (not mentioning *those* perfectly casted additives) are.
Shazam! may begin predictably slow, but all is forgotten and forgiven once Zahary Levi’s Red Cyclone, or Mr. Philadelphia, or Captain Sparklefingers (depending on which YouTube video you watch) starts dishing out justice. He’ll flick industrial containers with a single finger, (almost) leap skyscrapers in a single bound and battle the mystic forces of Sloth, Gluttony, etc. while cracking wise for good measure. He’s just a kid, as we’re reminded over and over again. Shockingly, screenwriter Henry Gayden’s gimmick never wears thin. Dare this critic state that Shazam! is the most fun you’ll have with a superhero film this year? Even with Captain Marvel behind us and Avengers: Endgame on the way (Spider-Man: Far From Home still coming), there’s an excellent goshdarn chance.
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Welcome to Cheat Sheet, our breakdown-style reviews of festival films, VR previews, and other special-event releases. This review comes from the 2019 SXSW Interactive Festival.
It’s hard finding new ways to haunt a house. And Girl on the Third Floor, a horror film that premiered at 2019’s SXSW Interactive Festival, doesn’t make a point of trying. It hits the classic beats of the genre, largely established by Shirley Jackson’s The Haunting of Hill House: a protagonist with a troubled past moves into a grand but dilapidated old home with a dark secret, then finds a malevolent force dredging up his personal demons.
Instead of trying to push narrative limits, Girl on the Third Floor uses predictability to generate suspense. It draws the...
The Wall Street Journal reports that the Federal Aviation Administration has “tentatively approved sweeping software and pilot-training changes” for Boeing’s 737 MAX jet, a fix that could allow pilots to exert more control over an automated system that is thought to have been the cause of a deadly crash in Ethiopia last week, and could allow carriers to being flying the grounded aircraft once again.
The WSJ says that the software updates will scale back the Maneuvering Characteristics Augmentation System (MCAS) redesigning it “so it won’t overpower other cockpit commands or misfire based on faulty readings from a single sensor,” and will only activate once, for a short duration in the event that there is an issue. The FAA has...
The Wall Street Journal reports that the Federal Aviation Administration has “tentatively approved sweeping software and pilot-training changes” for Boeing’s 737 MAX jet, a fix that could allow pilots to exert more control over an automated system that is thought to have been the cause of a deadly crash in Ethiopia last week, and could allow carriers to being flying the grounded aircraft once again.
The WSJ says that the software updates will scale back the Maneuvering Characteristics Augmentation System (MCAS) redesigning it “so it won’t overpower other cockpit commands or misfire based on faulty readings from a single sensor,” and will only activate once, for a short duration in the event that there is an issue. The FAA has...
Ming paces the store floor, careful to avoid eye contact with any shoppers. He rustles through his too-tight jean pockets for his vape pen. Minutes go by, until a whole hour has passed. He moves to check his Android smartwatch for what must be the hundredth time, but thinks better of it and checks his phone instead, in case the radio silence he’s experiencing is due to his messages not syncing.
The very last message he sent Avery was: will u go out with me? He had been cute about it, sending her a cheesy meme attached to it, which was also a backup plan of sorts: if things went wrong, he could say it had all been a joke.
But this silence is too much. Ming reorganizes the sock drawer for a fifth time. He wishes he could flip over his...
Ming paces the store floor, careful to avoid eye contact with any shoppers. He rustles through his too-tight jean pockets for his vape pen. Minutes go by, until a whole hour has passed. He moves to check his Android smartwatch for what must be the hundredth time, but thinks better of it and checks his phone instead, in case the radio silence he’s experiencing is due to his messages not syncing.
The very last message he sent Avery was: will u go out with me? He had been cute about it, sending her a cheesy meme attached to it, which was also a backup plan of sorts: if things went wrong, he could say it had all been a joke.
But this silence is too much. Ming reorganizes the sock drawer for a fifth time. He wishes he could flip over his...
In the post-credits of Captain Marvel, Carol Danvers is briefly seen sporting a brand new costume as she introduces herself to Earth’s Mightiest Heroes. But while the heroine has since appeared in the latest Avengers: Endgame trailer, as well as various posters for next month’s release, her latest design has yet to show up again in any of the promotion.
That changes with this new piece of promo art, which shows Captain Marvel sporting some golden shoulders to match Iron Man’s. Since the post-credits of her solo movie showed Carol arriving at the Avengers Compound in this outfit, it’s unclear why she’s then seen wearing some more down-to-earth attire in the recent Endgame trailer. Could her black top and jeans be the product of altered promotional footage? After all, Marvel seems pretty shy about giving us a proper look at her new costume, and even has her sporting her old getup in the Endgame posters. It seems possible, but then again, maybe she has a good reason for putting on street clothing for a while.
Avengers: Endgame Promo Art Shows Off Captain Marvel's New Suit
In any case, we’ve yet to find out why Carol felt the need to give her old costume an update, but given the two-decade-plus gap between Captain Marvel and Endgame, maybe she doesn’t need a specific reason for the change in style. At the same time, Marvel Studios head Kevin Feige has previously hinted that Captain Marvel2 might take place between the two movies, so perhaps her altered outfit is a story for another time.
But regardless of when and why Captain Marvel started sporting this new look, Earth’s Mightiest Heroes will likely be glad to have her on board as they seek to turn the tide against Thanos. We’ll find out if the team fares any better in this mission than they did last year when Avengers: Endgame hits theaters on April 26th.
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Tesla says that it has begun to roll out a new feature for Autopilot called Autosteer Stop Light Warning, which is included in the latest vehicle software update. The feature is as it sounds: divers using the Autosteer feature will get a warning if they’re about to run a stop light.
The company says that the new safety feature is designed to help improve safe driving around stop lights, and is rolling out in a new software update, 2019.8.3. The notification pops up for drivers that are using Autosteer, and if they’re driving fast enough that they might run a red light. The feature won’t apply the car’s brakes, but it will provide a visual and audible signal that lets the driver know that they need to resume control of the car and slow...
Last summer, a former Apple employee was charged by the FBI for allegedly stealing trade secrets related to the company’s secretive self-driving car project. This week, Tesla sued a former employee for allegedly stealing trade secrets related to Autopilot. While they happened many months apart, both sets of allegations have something in common: the employees were each allegedly trying to get information to a Chinese electric car startup called Xiaopeng Motors.
Xiaopeng Motors, or XPeng, isn’t well-known in the West, but has rapidly grown its profile in China despite an overly crowded field in the EV startup space. Now it finds itself close to the heart of these two major trade secret dustups. So it’s worth taking a step back and...
