Pokémon TCG Pocket is absorbing hours (and dollars) by the thousands since it came out, but it’s not always great about highlighting the features that can make your time with it better. We’ve got a good example waiting for you in this roundup. Also, we’ll help you bypass a potentially frustrating limitation you’ll…
Some cliche somewhere said that ‘a picture is worth a thousand words.’ This has proven to be the case for me and especially when it comes to fan art. I have always sought out great fan art and have wanted to share it with as many people as possible. “Awesome Art We’ve Found Around The Net” is the outlet for that passion. In this column, I will showcase the kick-ass artwork of some great artists, with the hopes that these artists get the attention they deserve. That’s the aim. If you have any questions or comments, or even suggestions of art or other great artists, feel free to contact me at any time at theodorebond@joblo.com.
The Batman by John Dunn
The Crow by Jack C. Gregory
Dune by Tom Lathom-Sharp
Gladiator II by Jean-Baptiste Roux
Life of Pi by Mark Levy
Scream 4 by Alex Neuhedel
The Substance by Huan Do
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles by Tom Walker
The Thing by Jared Boyer
X-Men’97 by Amaury Filho
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Earlier this week, I predicted that the Glicked phenomenon would pay off handsomely at the box office. That seems to be the case, with Deadline reporting that Wicked is on its way to a $120 million opening, which is exactly the number I pegged it as coming in at. Gladiator II is doing a bit better than I thought it would, with it on track for a $61 million opening, more than the $50 million I called.
The $61 million bow for Gladiator II would mark Ridley Scott’s best stateside opening ever, ahead of the $58 million made by Hannibal back in 2001 (a massive opening if adjusted for inflation). It would also mark Denzel Washington’s best stateside debut, ahead of American Gangster (also with Ridley Scott), which made $43 million on its first weekend. The CinemaScore rating for Wicked is superb, with it scoring an A, while Gladiator II’s is a more disappointing (but not disastrous) B.
Last week’s champ, Red One, which opened pretty soft for a Dwayne Johnson movie, will likely score a third-place finish with $13.5 million, which would be a steep 58% decline. Fourth place is a bit of a surprise, with Angel Studios having a bit of a sleeper hit with their historical drama Bonhoeffer. Pastor. Spy. Assassin, which should make just under $5 million for the weekend. Venom: The Last Dance should slip to fifth place with a $4 million weekend and a $133 million domestic total.
Of course, all those numbers could change today. Wicked could soar even higher, given that it’s targeting a family audience, who will turn out in droves at the matinees. Both movies seem well positioned to rake in high grosses at the Thanksgiving box office next weekend, which is especially important for Gladiator II given its big budget (although it will likely make a mint overseas).
Are you planning on seeing either Wicked or Gladiator this weekend? Let us know in the comments!
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This week Geoff Keighley graced our phones and laptops to reveal which games will compete for honors at this year’s Game Awards. Games like Astro Bot and Black Myth: Wukong were among those earning several nods, while Dragon Age: The Veilguard saw itself almost entirely locked out (though there’s likely a pretty good…
This week Geoff Keighley graced our phones and laptops to reveal which games will compete for honors at this year’s Game Awards. Games like Astro Bot and Black Myth: Wukong were among those earning several nods, while Dragon Age: The Veilguard saw itself almost entirely locked out (though there’s likely a pretty good…
With Gladiator II now in theaters (read our review), many folks have been asking themselves that inevitable question – will Ridley Scott be doing a Director’s Cut, and how much footage will he be adding? Suffice it to say, Scott is truly a pioneer in this regard, as before he started adding footage back into his films and releasing director’s cuts, it was pretty rare. Indeed, his director’s cut of Blade Runner began the trend, especially when the radically different cut became a significant hit on home video and helped the film get rediscovered as a classic.
While not all of Ridley Scott’s Director’s Cuts have been necessary (the one for Alien messes with the mythology established by the sequels), some of the new cuts have been revelatory. Here are five great ones:
When Kingdom of Heaven hit theatres in 2004, many thought it was paled next to Gladiator, feeling scattershot and unfinished. The Director’s Cut reinstated forty-five minutes, and the extra running time was crucial. One of the things many people complained about in the original was Orlando Bloom’s turn as the hero, Balian, and in the new cut, his character is fleshed out, with so many great scenes involving him you wonder why Scott ever agreed to trim the movie in the first place. He even (initially) cut the final climactic sword fight between Balian and the movie’s main villain. If you’ve only ever seen the shorter version of the film, do yourself a favour and check it out (as well as the Best Movie You Never Saw episode we did on it!).
In terms of running time, there wasn’t a ton added to Blade Runner, but rather it was about what Ridley Scott removed – namely the narration by Harrison Ford’s Deckard and the tacked-on happy ending. By removing these two things, Blade Runner became much more atmospheric, introducing doubt about whether or not Deckard is even human or if he’s a replicant like the ones he’s hunting. Like Kingdom of Heaven, this is one of the most necessary Director’s Cuts ever.
The Director’s Cut of Legend differs hugely from the one Universal put in theatres in 1986. It is half an hour longer and has an entirely different score, with Jerry Goldsmith’s soundtrack reinstated (it was cut for a rock-driven score by Tangerine Dream). However, unlike other movies, some prefer the shorter, more action-driven U.S. cut. It all comes down to taste.
When American Gangster hit theatres, many complained that it moved a little too quickly and that the ending was abrupt. For the home release, Scott reinstated nineteen minutes of footage, the most crucial being an epilogue in which Denzel Washington’s Frank Lucas is picked up from jail by his adversary turned friend, Russell Crowe’s Richie Roberts. This gives both actors more to do onscreen and ends the film on a somewhat more elegiac note.
When it came out, The Counselor, Ridley Scott and Cormac McCarthy’s bonkers drug smuggling drama, was met with a divisive reaction. Many thought the film was ultimately too excessive and silly. The extended cut doubles down on everything some folks hated about it, but if you’re a fan of the film and McCarthy’s dialogue, the twenty-minute Director’s Cut is a must-see.
Which Ridley Scott Director’s Cut is your favorite? Let us know in the comments!
The post The 5 Best Ridley Scott Director’s Cuts appeared first on JoBlo.
Idris Elba is ready to live the journey, as he has been cast as Man-at-Arms aka Duncan in the upcoming live-action version of Masters of the Universe.
Idris Elba follows in the footsteps of past Duncans Alan Oppenheimer (the mid-’80s animated series He-Man and the Masters of the Universe), Jon Cypher (1987’s live-action flick with Dolph Lundgren), Liam Cunningham (Netflix’s Masters of the Universe: Revelation), and more. He will be joined in the cast by Nicholas Galitzine as He-Man, Alison Brie as Evil-Lyn and Camila Mendes as Teela.
Obviously there are still a handful of key roles that need to be cast (chiefly Skeletor – is Willem Dafoe too obvious?), but this news comes as welcome, as Idris Elba always brings top-tier work to every project he takes on – come on, the guy is crushing Knuckles right now! It’s also a bit of a surprise pick, but one that will no doubt enhance the movie.
Here is the official synopsis for Masters of the Universe: “The film will follow 10-year-old Prince Adam who crashed to Earth in a spaceship and was separated from his magical Power Sword—the only link to his home on Eternia. After tracking it down almost two decades later, Prince Adam is whisked back across space to defend his home planet against the evil forces of Skeletor. But to defeat such a powerful villain, Prince Adam will first need to uncover the mysteries of his past and become He-Man: the most powerful man in the Universe!” Bumblebee’s Travis Knight directs, while his longtime writing collaborator Chris Butler handles script duties.
Another live-action version of Masters of the Universe has been in development hell for ages now, so much to the point that it seemed like it would never come to be. But now that we’ve been hearing casting news throughout the year, we can expect Amazon-MGM to hit their target June 5th, 2026 release date – or at least somewhere around then…Personally, I think the property works better in the animated format, but if the team can stick the nostalgia then it could end up being fairly fun.
How do you feel about Idris Elba being cast in Masters of the Universe? What are you expecting from it? Chime in with your thoughts below.
The post Idris Elba to live the journey as Man-at-Arms Duncan in Masters of the Universe appeared first on JoBlo.
Poetry Comics Month, Day 23: Simple
Hot on the heels of the Meowth and Chansey Wonder Pick events, Pokémon TCG Pocket has launched a new reason for you to keep opening up your phone in the relentless pursuit of more digital cards. The Fire Pokémon Mass Outbreak Event doesn’t give you new single player challenges to overcome, so don’t worry about putting…
Hot on the heels of the Meowth and Chansey Wonder Pick events, Pokémon TCG Pocket has launched a new reason for you to keep opening up your phone in the relentless pursuit of more digital cards. The Fire Pokémon Mass Outbreak Event doesn’t give you new single player challenges to overcome, so don’t worry about putting…