Sci-Fi Storm

Put simply, Wonder Woman is a spectacular movie. It is likely the best superhero movie DC and Warner Bros has yet put out. And now it heads to [asin=B0714QRG4Z]Blu-ray[/asin], [asin=B072M856GW]Blu-ray 3D[/asin], [asin=B0714QRG51]Ultra 4K Blu-ray[/asin] and [asin=B074JS9QJB]DVD[/asin] this Tuesday, September 19th! And the Blu-ray releases include a special bonus scene not seen in theaters!

Like any superhero action movie, Wonder Woman is laden with action scenes and visual effects, but they are done so well and don’t detract from the character story, which delves into the origin of Diana, Princess of Themyscira, who we all know as Wonder Woman, although it starts off where Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice had left with Bruce Wayne wondering about where she came from in a photo taken 100 years earlier.

The visual effects were simply amazing. To me, extensive use of “bullet time” effects can get annoying, but their use here was not only not distracting but incredible. Combine that with some of the spectacular location shots, and it makes for a beautiful movie. There were only a couple of visual issues I picked up on, and only on viewing the Blu-ray…the early wide shot of the Amazon training felt composited where it seems like some of the fighters were overlaid on the scene. And the glowing of the lasso rope felt too cartoonish…a light glow only to enhance the color would have been better.

The cast was excellent as well.

Gal Gadot was awesome. Aside from her appearance in Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice (which as a movie I didn’t care for), this was the first movie I actually saw her in. I think she was perfect in the part as a fish-out-of-water superhero, both fierce and beautiful simultaneously.

Chris Pine as Steve Trevor…Pine for some reason always makes me feel like he’s somehow going to charm his way out of every situation with his smile…and I still like him. His charm I think works for the spy character.
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The summer blockbuster hit for DC and Warner Bros. starring Gal Gadot arrives before the summer is out…and it will include a bonus scene not shown in theaters!

It will be available first on [sfs=1618]Digital HD[/sfs] on August 29th, followed by the [sfs=1617]Blu-Ray[/sfs], [asin=B072M856GW]Blu-Ray 3D[/asin] and [asin=B0714QRG51]4K Ultra HD[/asin] discs on September 19th.

Additionally, all of the special features, including an all-new bonus scene, interviews with filmmakers, featurettes, and extended scenes, can be experienced in an entirely new, dynamic and immersive manner on tablets and mobile phones using the Warner Bros. Movies All Access App, available for both iOS and Android devices. When purchased digitally and redeemed on UltraViolet, the Warner Bros. Movies All Access App allows users to watch the movie and simultaneously experience synchronized content related to any scene, simply by rotating their device. Synchronized content is presented on the same screen while the movie is playing, thus enabling users to quickly learn more about any scene, such as actor biographies, scene locations, fun trivia, or image galleries. Also, users can share movie clips with friends on social media and experience other immersive content. The Movies All Access app is available for download on the iTunes App Store and Google Play Store.

See the trailer again below!

At last! The first official trailer to Wonder Woman! In theaters June 2nd, 2017

I hope everyone enjoyed Halloween! Some quick tidbits as I attempt to get caught up on all the great programs I’m trying to follow these days…

Timeless is one of the shows I am enjoying so far, although the implications of the show are mind-boggling…but the show will get a little extra time to play out, with an additional three episodes ordered by NBC for a total of 16. It also seems that NBC is calling this a “full season” order now, compared with the typical 22-26. I’m not sure what a “season” really means any more…

Now while Marvel appears to rule the roads of cinema release schedules, DC still seems to be having trouble getting off the starting line. Last year, the Wonder Woman movie had a false start when director Michelle MacLaren departed the project over creative differences, and now the feature version of The Flash is seeing the same thing happening. Director Rick Famuyiwa is walking away for “creative differences” as well, and this time the project’s start date is in jeopardy. And this isn’t the first time for this film. Original director Seth Grahame-Smith left the film earlier this year over – you guessed it – “creative differences”.

Lastly, the Seth MacFarlane sci-fi dramedy set up at Fox still doesn’t have a name, but it does have some more cast members. In addition to MacFarlane and previously announced members Adrianne Palicki (Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.), Scott Grimes (ER, Party of Five), Peter Macon (Friendship!) and J Lee (Family Guy), Halston Sage (Crisis, Goosebumps) and Penny Johnson Jerald (Castle, 24) have now signed on as regulars. Still no idea what any of the characters are yet though…

We will be attending Rhode Island Comic Con this November for the third year in a row (the kids are already working on their costumes), and we always look forward to it. Sometimes I get to see friends and people I’ve met before, like Eddie McClintock and Saul Rubinek from Warehouse 13 or the various people from Ghost Hunters, and sometimes its meeting idols from my childhood, like last year meeting Henry Winkler and Kent McCord, or just generally cool people like Alex Kingston and Karen Gillan, David Prowse, Peter Mayhew and Colin Baker.

This year, we were already excited that Stan Lee – yes, STAN FREAKIN’ LEE – is making his last appearance in New England there. And since we already had a picture with ER‘s Dr. Corday (Kingston) we couldn’t wait to get a picture with Dr. Carter, Noah Wyle, this year. And the Fresh Prince of Bel-Air reunion of Alfonso Ribiero, Tatyana Ali and Karyn Parsons. Plus newcomers Billie Piper and Anthony Mackie, and far far more…I mean, as a wrestling fan, who doesn’t want to see Ric Flair and Ricky Steamboat side by side?!?

But recently the stakes were raised as RICC scored some really hot people at the moment (not that STAN FREAKIN’ LEE isn’t still tops on my list), but when you add the new Wonder Woman Gal Gadot, the mysterious yet mean bat-wielding Negan from The Walking Dead Jeffrey Dean Morgan, or queen of the Underworld Kate Beckinsale, you are really raising the bar – and draining my wallet!

Gal Gadot is an Israeli actress and model who won the title of Miss Israel in 2004. She made her film debut in the fourth film of the Fast and the Furious franchise, Fast & Furious as Gisele. Her role was expanded in the sequels Fast Five and Fast & Furious 6 in which she performed her own stunts. Most recently, Gadot was cast as Wonder Woman in Batman vs. Superman: Dawn of Justice. The film is part of the DC Extended Universe in which Gal will also play the role in the solo film Wonder Woman and the ensemble film Justice League, both due out in 2017.

Jeffrey Dean Morgan, also known for his role as Denny Duquette on Grey’s Anatomy, John Winchester on Supernatural, and the Comedian in the 1990 film Watchmen, is the newest antagonist on AMC’s The Walking Dead. As he starts the new season as Negan, he will be appearing at the fifth annual Rhode Island Comic Con. Joining Morgan from The Walking Dead are Alexandra Breckenridge, Michael Cudlitz, Jeremy Palko, Josh McDermitt, and Christian Serratos.

Known for her leading role as Selene in the Underworld franchise, Beckinsale has also appeared in Van Helsing, Total Recall, Click, Pearl Harbor, and the voice of Queen Ayrenn in the game Elder Scrolls. Joining Beckinsale from the Underworld movie franchise is Kevin Grevioux, who is known for his role as the Lycan Raze.

Come join me at Rhode Island Comic Con on Veterans Day Weekend at the Providence Civic Center/Dunkin’ Donuts Center and say hi!

So many trailers out from Comic Con…here is just a dump of a bunch of them…

Doctor Strange

Dirk Gently

Legion

Star Trek Discovery
(I’m not yet digging the new ship design…)

Fantastic Beasts And Where To Find Them

Wonder Woman

It appears there was some unrest over at Warner Bros. production of Wonder Woman, with director Michelle MacLaren’s sudden departure over what is described as “creative differences” on Monday (rumors from sexism to MacLaren wanting to include a tiger sidekick), but it appears that the production won’t remain rudderless long – Monster director Patty Jenkins is taking over.

Wonder Woman has had a long history of troubles…NBC shot down a 2011 TV series after the pilot starring Adrianne Palicki was received poorly. The David E. Kelley script had even been rejected earlier that year by the network but was picked back up when Bob Greenblatt took over. And back in 2007, Joss Whedon tried to take the superhero to the big screen, but couldn’t agree with Warner Bros. or Joel Silver’s Silver Pictures over the setting of the script.

Gal Gadot is still attached to star as the Amazonian hero, and it is still scheduled for a 2017 release.

Warner Bros is very busy the next several years, announcing today it’s release slate. And it features both dipping back in the well that works as well as trying to out-superhero Marvel.

Warner Bros.’ Chairman and CEO Kevin Tsujihara spoke at the Time Warner shareholder’s meeting and laid out a lot of their studio plans for 2016-2020.

First up is the expected Harry Potter spinoff, Fantastic Beasts And Where To Find Them, which is currently being set at three separate films, set to release in 2016, 2018, and 2020.

Next, after the HUGE success of The LEGO Movie, the already-announced sequel has been set for 2018, but it will be preceded by two others: Ninjago (2016), based on the Cartoon Network series, and The LEGO Movie: Batman (2017), a spin-off that follows the rather stuck-up (and not to mention, blocky) take on the character from the first movie.

And then there is the world of DC Comics…we’re already waiting for Batman vs. Superman (2016) and Justice League (2017), but Wonder Woman will indeed get her own standalone movie before Justice League (starring Gal Gadot, who will be introduced in BvS), 2018 will see The Flash (starring Ezra Miller, and apparently not connected at all to the just-started TV series) and Aquaman (with Stargate Atlantis and Game of Thrones Jason Momoa finally confirmed).

2019 will give us Shazam and a second Justice League movie, and in 2020 Warner Bros will try and get Green Lantern off to Oa again with a reboot after the disappointing Ryan Reynolds effort.

Shuffled in are two other titles, Suicide Squad in 2016 and Cyborg in 2020. And apparently this isn’t even ALL of the planned DC movies. Yikes!

DC finally appears to be gearing up to go head to head with Marvel. According to the returning Nikke Finke, DC has set a release plan that explains the delay of Batman vs. Superman – to better launch the upcoming Justice League, DC’s answer to The Avengers. It also includes a few new items, such as Shazam (a.k.a. Captain Marvel), the long-gestating Wonder Woman, and a Flash/Green Lantern crossover that reportedly will NOT feature Ryan Reynolds (honestly, I think it gets a bad rap…I enjoyed it) and not sure how it will deal with the upcoming WB series.

The reported schedule is:

May 2016 – Batman vs. Superman
July 2016 – Shazam
Xmas 2016 – Sandman
May 2017 – Justice League
July 2017 – Wonder Woman
Xmas 2017 – Flash and Green Lantern team-up
May 2018 – Man Of Steel 2

In addition, Justice League will feature cameos that will launch further standalone movies, but those are still being negotiated with potential stars.

We know Henry Cavill will be back as Superman. And we know that Ben Affleck has been tapped for the Caped Crusader…but now we know who is playing Wonder Woman – not that we knew Wonder Woman was going to be in Batman vs. Superman – well, at least I didn’t.

Warner Bros. has decided on Gal Gadot, who has starred in three of the Fast & Furious films and Knight and Day, to play the top female comic book hero in the film. It is felt that the appearance of Wonder Woman is helping plant additional characters for the future Justice League film, trying to compete with The Avengers for superhero organization supremacy.