Sony is seemingly asking Lionsgate, “Whatcha gonna do? Whatcha gonna do now that Bad Boys 4 is coming for you?” It was recently reported that the John Wick spin-off, Ballerina, starring Ana De Armas, will be undergoing extensive reshoots, which will push the release date back from June 7, 2024 to June 6, 2025. According to John Wick star Ian McShane, “They’re new-shooting for Ballerina. You know, it’s like, they’ve gotta protect the franchise. […] And they wanna make it better cause they have to protect [the franchise].” However, Lionsgate, in need of a summer release, would move The Crow reboot, which comes from filmmaker Rupert Sanders and stars Bill Skarsgård, into Ballerina‘s original release date.
Deadline now reports that Sony is gunning for the same release date for their Will Smith and Martin Lawrence buddy-cop action-comedy sequel. Bad Boys 4 was originally slated for a premiere on June 14, but after the news of The Crow being moved up, they decided to release the film a week earlier on June 7 to go toe-to-toe with Lionsgate. Bad Boys 4, which is still the working title, is a higher-budgeted, higher-profile summer release that will be getting IMAX and other premium screen showings. It follows two Michael Bay-directed entries and a recent third film that drove its worldwide box office total to $841 million at the global box office. The action sequel is assumed to be big enough to win out its weekend release, so moving up to become a direct competitor to a movie like The Crow is a curious move.
Bad Boys for Life filmmakers Adil El Arbi and Bilall Fallah have returned to helm the film after their Batgirl debacle. This latest installment in the series comes from a screenplay by Chris Bremner. The producers on Bad Boys 4 include Jerry Bruckheimer, Smith and Doug Belgrad. Executive producers on board for this entry are Lawrence, James Lassiter, Chad Oman, Mike Stenson, Barry Waldman and Jon Mone.
The plot for Bad Boys 4 has not yet been officially revealed. However, it would most likely see Mike and Marcus working on a new case with AMMO with a side-plot of Mike mending/working on his relationship with his son. Fans will remember that the last movie ended with Mike and Marcus being put in charge of AMMO with Mike visiting his son, Armando, in prison and offering him a chance at redemption, so this plot would follow up on those loose ends. Again, this is all speculation, but it would be odd for the previous movie to give such heavy leads and them completely dismiss them.
Dune: Part Two is coming to theaters later this week and is already receiving rave reviews, but some online communities can only focus on one thing: the now-infamous sandworm-shaped popcorn bucket. The internet, being what it is, took the joke and ran so much further with it than anybody really ought to when it first…
Dune: Part Two is coming to theaters later this week and is already receiving rave reviews, but some online communities can only focus on one thing: the now-infamous sandworm-shaped popcorn bucket. The internet, being what it is, took the joke and ran so much further with it than anybody really ought to when it first…
PLOT: Connor is out of prison and working as a janitor at a community center, having cut ties with his former criminal associate Garrett. Connor’s attempt at staying out of trouble is destroyed when he’s forced to help 14-year-old Pav escape from a pack of corrupt officers led by Sergeant King. King uses the newly launched robotic K9’s to track Pav down, while Connor finds himself once again reaching out to Garrett and his crew for help, but can he trust the man who landed him in prison in the first place?
REVIEW: Back in 2016, Arrow star Stephen Amell and his cousin, Robbie Amell, crowdfunded the science fiction filmCode 8, based on a short film of the same name. Directed by Jeff Chan, Code 8 was released theatrically in 2019 followed by a Netflix debut in 2020. During the start of the pandemic, Code 8 became a success on the streaming platform, and a sequel was greenlit the following year. Code 8 Part II picks up several years after the conclusion of the first film, set in a world where humans have developed various superpowers and live on the outskirts of modern society as lower-income workers. Where the first film was presented as a heist drama focused on Robbie Amell’s Connor Reed turning to a life of crime where he partnered with Stephen Amell’s Garrett Kelton, the sequel changes the dynamic and embraces a more rebellious underdog versus the system tale reminiscent of Gareth Edward’s The Creator but with a more street-level point of view. With solid pacing and special effects, Code 8 Part II is an improvement over the first film in every way and poised to kickstart a franchise.
At the end of Code 8, Connor Reed (Robbie Amell) failed to save his mother’s life after turning to a life of crime alongside criminal Garrett Kelton (Stephen Amell). With the ability to harness electricity, Connor took the fall for Garrett and spent the last five years in prison. Upon his release, Connor cuts all ties with Garrett and takes a job as a janitor. Garrett, meanwhile, has aligned himself with Seargent Kingston (Alex Mallari, Jr), a Lincoln City cop who supports the transition from android police, known as Guardians, to the no-kill dog robot K-9 units. As Kingston aims to win a prestigious leadership role in the LCPD, he is also secretly supporting Garrett dealing the superpower drug Psyche for a cut of the profits. When someone tries to steal his money, King has him killed. The victim’s sister, Pavani (Sirena Gulamgaus), witnesses the murder using her abilities which sends King and his team after her. Pavani must then rely on Connor to protect her which sets them opposite not only King but Garrett as well. This sets up the requisite double-crosses, triple-crosses, and more in a fairly straightforward story that turns the original film’s anti-hero story into a true hero’s journey.
Code 8 Part II opens with a brief explanation that the title refers to the illegal use of superpowers in the fictional Lincoln City and then uses an almost identical open credit sequence to the first film. Aside from that feeling of deja vu, Part II feels like an improvement over the first film in every way. Running just about five minutes longer than Code 8, Part II wastes little time in pairing Connor with young Pav. Pav has a target on her back due to what she has seen and Connor initially goes to Garrett for help seeing as the criminal owes him a favor for the prison stint. I expected the two Amells to have a closer relationship in this film than the first, but thankfully they are still reluctant to work together since Connor has a good core and wants to help Pav rather than use her to secure protection from Kingston and the cops. Stephen Amell, who was a solid anti-hero for years on The CW’s Arrow, is reliably good here and rarely strays from doing what is beneficial for him rather than what is right. The bulk of the screen time is taken by Robbie Amell who is a bit more seasoned five years after the first movie and plays Connor as less naive and more worn down by his time behind bars.
The other returning actor from the original film is Alex Mallari Jr. Mallari previously played Kingston in a single scene at the opening of Code 8 in a role that had zero consequence to the story. Bringing him back for an expanded role helps bridge the fact that Sung Kang does not reprise his role as Detective Park. Mallari, with a deep voice and intense presence, echoes some of the great sci-fi and action movie villains from 1980s flicks. Young Sirena Gulamgaus also holds her own opposite the adult cast of the movie with a very expressive range of emotions on her face. The story also benefits from shifting the robotic villains from human androids to dog-like bots which adds some more dimension to the chases beyond gunfights. The special effects are very good, especially when the characters use their powers. Relying on some creative CGI in their eyes, the range of powers here adds some cool moments to the numerous action sequences throughout Code 8 Part II.
Jeff Chan returns as director and co-wrote the film alongside the first film’s scribe Chris Pare and new writers Sherren Lee and Jess LaVercombe (Float). The script feels more nuanced this time around with the characters having more to do than repeat the same cliched actions again and again as they did in the first movie. None of the characters feel as two-dimensional this time around despite the film hitting many familiar notes. Each time the story tries to employ a twist, it feels telegraphed and expected. This is even more true when they try to twist a twist to keep us on our toes. While that may sound negative, the script tropes work thanks to the well-shot action sequences and the improved special effects. Code 8 Part II does a better job of world-building and that comes from the fact that the story gets away from the criminals versus the cops and turns it more into a disenfranchised versus authority tale. The idea of the powered minority being a thinly veiled allegory for racial intolerance is pretty on the nose, but it never feels forced. Because the cops here are legitimately bad, it helps the story feel propulsive even though it is very familiar.
With a better story, better special effects, and better character development, Code 8: Part II builds on the core concept of the original film and expands the action. Stephen Amell and Robbie Amell deliver on characters they have come to know well for a movie that is reminiscent of late 1980s/early 1990s sci-fi action movies. Code 8 Part II is familiar and fairly formulaic but still delivers a solid collection of action sequences that keep the pace moving from beginning to end. With a setup for a third film, Code 8 Part II could kickstart a solid genre franchise that would be worth revisiting every few years for new tales. The first movie was a good heist tale and this sequel works as a protect-the-youngster yarn which could position the third film to take things in another direction entirely. Code 8 Part II is not going to blow away the Hollywood competition but it shows what a passionate group of filmmakers and actors can do when given the platform.
Ah, yes, the age-old question: Are movies too long? Actually, it’s a far more modern concept to ponder. Sure, epic films have been a staple of Hollywood since the silent days, but it does feel like movies have in fact gotten longer (and most studies support this). But from the perspective of Dune director Denis Villeneuve, audiences crave longer films, so why not make more?
Speaking with The Times, Villeneuve – whose Dune: Part Two clocks in at just under two hours and 50 minutes, while the 2021 “original” was 155 minutes – cited Christopher Nolan’s Oppenheimer, which, at 180 minutes, is well on its way to being one of the longest Best Picture winners ever. Putting it into perspective and analyzing modern crowds, he said, “It is a three-hour, rated-R movie about nuclear physics that is mostly talking. But the public was young — that was the movie of the year by far for my kids. There is a trend. The youth love to watch long movies because if they pay, they want to see something substantial. They are craving meaningful content.”
Last year, we asked our readers what they thought about modern movie lengths, with many of you encouraging longer movies provided the story justifies it. That’s part of what Villeneueve is saying here; and while “meaningful content” is subjective, there are billions of dollars worth of numbers to back it up. Take a look at the top 10 all-time highest-grossing movies worldwide and what do you notice? Sure, there are a lot of franchise movies, but something else in common is their length, with the vast majority around two and a half to three+ hours. And no, they didn’t need intermissions…
But Villeneuve doesn’t exactly want to be inspired by Oppenheimer, at least when it comes to dialogue, suggesting it can spoil a movie. “I don’t remember movies because of a good line, I remember movies because of a strong image. I’m not interested in dialogue at all. Pure image and sound, that is the power of cinema, but it is something not obvious when you watch movies today. Movies have been corrupted by television.” So, yes, he would make a completely silent Dune Messiah…But would you see it?
Do you agree with Denis Villeneuve that audiences “love” long movies? Does a film’s length play a factor in whether you see it in theaters or not? Share your thoughts below.
When Ken Leung was brought in to audition for the role of Commander Zhao in Avatar: The Last Airbender, Netflix kept everything so secret that the actor didn’t even know what he was auditioning for. But when he found out it was for Avatar, he confessed that he thought it was for James Cameron’s Avatar sequels.
“When I first heard it was Avatar, I thought I as going to be blue,” Leung told Deadline, adding that he wasn’t aware of the original animated series at all, but considered it a good thing for his performance. “Looking back, I kind of love that I came in blank,” he said. “Because when you have ideas, you can kind of… corrupt a pure process. When you come in blank, things will come into it that will inform your playing of it, in a way that it might not if you come in with preconceived ideas or plans. So I was grateful for that.” With a few more Avatar sequels on the way, maybe Ken Leung will also get to join that franchise.
“Water. Earth. Fire. Air. The four nations once lived in harmony, with the Avatar, master of all four elements, keeping peace between them. But everything changed when the Fire Nation attacked and wiped out the Air Nomads, the first step taken by the firebenders towards conquering the world,” reads the official description. “With the current incarnation of the Avatar yet to emerge, the world has lost hope. But like a light in the darkness, hope springs forth when Aang, a young Air Nomad — and the last of his kind — reawakens to take his rightful place as the next Avatar. Alongside his newfound friends Sokka and Katara, siblings and members of the Southern Water Tribe, Aang embarks on a fantastical, action-packed quest to save the world and fight back against the fearsome onslaught of Fire Lord Ozai. But with a driven Crown Prince Zuko determined to capture them, it won’t be an easy task. They’ll need the help of the many allies and colorful characters they meet along the way.“
Avatar: The Last Airbender has received mixed reviews, but our own Steve Seigh was a big fan of the live-action series, saying, “I had the pleasure of previewing the first seven episodes of Netflix’s Avatar: The Last Airbender for JoBlo.com and I’m thrilled to say that it’s fantastic! It’s full of outstanding performances, one-to-one shots from the original, and new elements to get excited about! I say this as a die-hard fan of the original animated series. I wholeheartedly love this version of the show. If you’re nervous about it, don’t be! Get excited, show up, and enjoy the ride!” You can check out Seigh’s review right here.
Avatar: The Last Airbender stars Gordon Cormier as Aang, Kiawentiio as Katara, Ian Ousley as Sokka, Dallas Liu as Prince Zuko, Daniel Dae Kim as Fire Lord Ozai, Paul Sun-Hyung Lee as General Iroh, Ken Leung as Commander Zhao, and Elizabeth Yu as Princess Azula. The first season of the live-action series is now streaming on Netflix.
I never thought I would say it, but I’m really looking forward to the upcoming Road House reboot. With less than a month to go until the release of Road House, Total Film has dropped a few images featuring Jake Gyllenhaal and Conor McGregor in the midst of one hell of a battle. Check them out below!
As seen in the trailer, Road House will feature some fantastic fights, and Gyllenhaal told Total Film that director Doug Liman wanted to do them in a way never before seen. “[Director Doug Liman] always does action in a different way, and he came to me and said, ‘I want to do fights in a way that has never been done before,’” Gyllenhaal said. “He became pretty much obsessed with how the punches would land, and the kicks would land. He didn’t want them to be performed in the way that we have for audiences in the past with that kind of fighting.“
Per the official logline: “In this adrenaline-fueled reimagining of the ’80s cult classic, ex-UFC fighter Dalton (Gyllenhaal) takes a job as a bouncer at a Florida Keys roadhouse, only to discover that this paradise is not all it seems.” In addition to Gyllenhaal and McGregor, Road House stars Daniela Melchior, Billy Magnussen, Jessica Williams, and Joaquim De Almeida. The film aims to pay homage to the original while providing its own unique and exhilarating spin to introduce Dalton, the roadhouse, and all its chaos to a new generation.
While I am looking forward to Road House, it is disappointing that the film won’t be released in theaters. In fact, Doug Liman has criticized that choice, saying he would be boycotting the movie’s premiere at SXSW. Road House reportedly tested higher than any movie in Liman’s career, more than Mr. and Mrs. Smith and The Bourne Identity, and Liman feels that it could be a smash hit in theaters if Amazon would allow it. “Contrary to their public statements, Amazon has no interest in supporting cinemas,” Liman said. “Amazon will exclusively stream Road House on Amazon Prime. Amazon asked me and the film community to trust them and their public statements about supporting cinemas, and then they turned around and are using Road House to sell plumbing fixtures.“
Road House will debut on Prime Video on March 21st in more than 240 territories worldwide.
Prior to the WGA and SAG-AFTRA strikes, Andor season 2 was previously reported to be on track for an August 2024 release, but the delays caused by the strike obviously pushed that back. So, when will we get to see the second season of Andor? Unfortunately, longer than you might want.
Stellan Skarsgård recently spoke with GamesRadar+ while promoting Dune: Part Two, and the actor revealed when he believes Andor might be returning. “It will probably be out towards the end of the year or early next,” he said. As disappointing as it might be that Andor season 2 might not be released until 2025, I have a feeling that the wait will be worth it.
Skarsgård, who plays Luthen Rael in the series, seems to think that the second season will be just as good as the first. “It’s the last season of it. It ends where Rogue One starts so it’s up to that point,” he said. “I think it will be very good as already the first one was satisfying for me because it’s sort of Star Wars for grown-ups – it’s a more realistic and complicated society that they’re living in and the claustrophobia of the fascist regime is palpable. I think we have a good season ahead of us.“
Although the release of Andor season 2 is still a ways off, we do have another quality sci-fi project featuring Stellan Skarsgård just a few days away — Dune: Part Two. The first reactions to the sequel have been extremely positive, with our own Chris Bumbray giving the film a rave review. “In this day of assembly line blockbusters, it’s a miracle that director Denis Villeneuve has managed to get not one but two incredible, uncompromised epics like this through the studio system,” he wrote. “It works as a tentpole blockbuster, but Dune Part Two is also filmmaking at the highest level. It’s a real cinematic event everyone owes it to themselves to take in and hopefully won’t be forgotten come Oscar time. It’s a masterpiece.” You can check out the rest of Bumbray’s review right here.
Dune: Part Two will “explore the mythic journey of Paul Atreides as he unites with Chani and the Fremen while on a path of revenge against the conspirators who destroyed his family. Facing a choice between the love of his life and the fate of the known universe, he endeavors to prevent a terrible future only he can foresee.” The film will hit theaters on March 1st.
Here’s something odd: Pentiment, a previously Xbox-exclusive narrative-focused game from Obsidian, currently runs better on PlayStation 5 than it does on Xbox Series X/S. It’s apparently a bug that will be fixed, but the whole situation has set off a firestorm in the never-ending console war.
Here’s something odd: Pentiment, a previously Xbox-exclusive narrative-focused game from Obsidian, currently runs better on PlayStation 5 than it does on Xbox Series X/S. It’s apparently a bug that will be fixed, but the whole situation has set off a firestorm in the never-ending console war.
