Disney is handing Sony the reins of its physical media business over after striking a deal to outsource most of its home entertainment division. According to the agreement, Sony Pictures Entertainment will manufacture, distribute, and market Disney’s DVDs, Blu-ray discs, and other physical media. The pact includes plans to distribute all Disney’s new releases and catalog titles on physical media to audiences, retailers, and distributors in the United States and Canada. Disney’s digital media arm remains untouched after the deal, with the company maintaining control over its streaming platform, Disney+, and premium video-on-demand releases.
Disney won’t say if the pact will result in layoffs, though an internal investigation into the studio’s physical media divisions and functions is forthcoming. Layoffs have hit the entertainment industry hard in a post-pandemic arena, with video game developers laying off thousands of workers in 2024 alone. Disney recently invested $1.5B in Epic Games, the makers of Fortnite, to build a new social gaming space alongside plans to “interoperate” Disney intellectual properties with the always-online multiplayer shooter Fortnite.
Physical media sales like DVDs and Blu-rays have declined for quite some time, with hardcore collectors keeping hope alive one disc purchase at a time. According to data from trade association DEG: The Digital Entertainment Group, revenue for physical media in the U.S. dropped 28%, to $754 million in the first half of 2023, compared with $1.05 billion in the prior year.
The decline in physical media sales has prompted retail outlets like Best Buy to discontinue sales of Blu-rays and DVDs in their brick-and-mortar stores and online. Mail-in DVD and Blu-ray services are also going the way of the dodo, painting a grim future for consumers who wish to add their favorite films to a shelf.
The future of DVDs and Blu-rays remains to be determined. It will be interesting to see if handing responsibility over to Sony yields positive results for Disney or if this is simply a way to avoid dealing with a dying form of media.
What do you think about the state of DVDs and Blu-rays? Do you prefer physically owning your films and video games, or have you fully converted to digital libraries? Let us know in the comments section below.
Emma Stone first worked with director Yorgos Lanthimos on his 2018 film The Favourite – which went on to rack up ten Oscar nominations, including one for Stone’s performance in her Supporting Role. (The film’s one Oscar win went to Olivia Colman for her Leading Role performance.) Stone and Lanthimos re-teamed on the short film Bleat in 2022, then made the feature Poor Things together. That one has been nominated for is nominated for eleven Oscars, including one for Stone in her Leading Role. While we wait to find out whether or not Poor Things is going to win any Academy Awards, Variety reports that Stone is now in talks to join the cast of the latest Lanthimos project: an English language remake of the 2003 South Korean cult film Save the Green Planet.
Almost four years have gone by since it was announced that CJ ENM, the production company behind Bong Joon Ho’s Parasite, was teaming with Ari Aster’s Square Peg to produce the Save the Green Planet remake. The original film was directed by Joon-hwan Jang, and at the time it was said that Jang would be at the helm of the new take on the concept as well, but it was announced just yesterday that Lanthimos will be taking the helm. With Lanthimos signed on, the Save the Green Planet remake is now expected to head into production this summer, with filming locations in New York and the U.K.
Described as an eccentric black comedy, the original Save the Green Planet followed a disillusioned young man who captures and tortures a businessman whom he believes to be part of an alien invasion. A battle of wits ensues between the captor, his devoted girlfriend, the businessman and a private detective.
Here’s a longer synopsis: Joon-hwan Jang imagines the fate of the human race hinging on Byun-gu, a bitter, paranoid and eccentric beekeeper who, with the help of his tightrope walker girlfriend, Sooni, kidnaps a powerful and successful businessman, Man-sik. Byun-gu believes that Man-sik is an alien from the planet Andromeda, one of many hiding among us and plotting to destroy the Earth in a few days. Amphetamine-popping Byun-gu sees himself as the planet’s last hope, and sets about torturing Man-sik with relish, trying to convince him to contact the “Royal Prince” and call off Armageddon. A battle of wits and wills ensues, with Man-sik trying to convince his captors that he’s human and attempting to escape. Man-sik recognizes Byun-gu as a disgruntled former employee whose comatose mother suffers from a mysterious illness. It begins to seem that Byun-gu’s true motivation may be personal, but he’s still ruthlessly determined to get Man-sik to confess and cooperate, even if he has to risk killing him. Meanwhile, a dishevelled detective, Chu, and his young acolyte, Inspector Kim, discover that the person who kidnapped Man-sik may have struck several times before, always with deadly results.
When the Save the Green Planet remake was first announced, it was said that the screenplay was being written by Will Tracy, a writer on HBO’s Succession and Last Week Tonight with John Oliver. Since that announcement, Tracy has also co-written the genre film The Menu.
Ed Guiney and Andrew Lowe at Element Pictures are producing the new film alongside CJ ENM and Square Peg.
Variety says that Stone would most likely play a supporting role in the Save the Green Planet remake. Going by the synopses, it sounds like the role of the devoted, tightrope-walking girlfriend would be a good one for her.
Are you excited to hear that Emma Stone and Yorgos Lanthimos are reuniting on the Save the Green Planet remake? Let us know by leaving a comment below.
This isn’t even the next Stone/Lanthimos collaboration we’ll be seeing, as they have already wrapped production on another film, an anthology called Kinds of Kindness. That one will be released sometime later this year and might premiere at the Cannes Film Festival in May.
We’ve been tracking the progress of the upcoming Killer Klowns from Outer Space video game since it was first announced a couple years ago. Several months ago, we learned that IllFonic had replaced Good Shepherd Entertainment as the publisher of the game and were co-developing it with Teravision Games. Now, it has been revealed that the wait for the game is almost over! Killer Klowns from Outer Space: The Game will be released for PC, Playstation 5, and Xbox Series X|S on June 4th.
We're sending in the Klowns!
Killer Klowns from Outer Space: The Game is invading Xbox Series X|S, PS5, and PC on 6/4!
— Killer Klowns from Outer Space: The Game (@klownsthegame) February 20, 2024
Killer Klowns from Outer Space (the movie) was directed by Stephen Chiodo from a screenplay he wrote with his brother Charles Chiodo. Stephen and Charles also produced the film with their other brother, Edward Chiodo. It has the following synopsis: When teenagers Mike and Debbie see a comet crash outside their sleepy small town, they investigate and discover a pack of murderous aliens who look very much like circus clowns. They try to warn the local authorities, but everyone assumes their story is a prank. Meanwhile, the clowns set about harvesting and eating as many people as they can. It’s not until they kidnap Debbie that Mike decides it’s up to him to stop the clowns’ bloody rampage.
Here’s the information on the video game:Killer Klowns from Outer Space: The Game is a crazy, fresh take on asymmetrical survival horror experience. Based on the iconic 80s movie, the three-versus-seven multiplayer game brings back the unique, over-the-top mix of horror and comedy. In the battle between Killer Klowns and the citizens of Crescent Cove, team up and harvest humans or save the world from an alien invasion! The game was first announced at Gamescom in 2022 and immediately drove huge buzz and excitement that spread across the globe.
Celebrating its 35th anniversary this year, Killer Klowns has become a true pop culture phenomenon with scary-good products from a wide range of licensees for costumes, apparel, accessories, interactive, location-based entertainment and home and beauty, and MGM continues to grow the program into new categories.
Crescent Cove is a sprawling arena for these unique multiplier fights between Klowns and humans—boasting various locations, and various tactical opportunities for both teams. Killer Klowns from Outer Space: The Game provides a unique approach to hide-and-seek gameplay, customization and respawn systems, player-versus-player-versus-environment, and dynamic objectives leading to multiple match results. This game evolves the online horror formula in new ways.
Gameplay
Take on the Role of the Iconic Killer Klowns – Cooperate in a team of three players, utilize unworldly abilities, hunt humans with zany weapons, and plan your alien invasion to harvest the population of Crescent Cove successfully.
Fight Back as a Team of Seven Brave Citizens of Crescent Cove – Explore the city for valuable loot and weapons, avoid getting captured by Klowns, and try to survive the alien invasion.
Are you looking forward to playing the Killer Klowns from Outer Space video game in June? Let us know by leaving a comment below.
If you weren’t already hyped up enough for Dune: Part Two, co-star Josh Brolin (Gurney Halleck) has just about the most wild pitch to get you into theaters. And it involves Elvis, a sexy cyborg and everyone’s favorite chocolatier.
Taking to Instagram ahead of Dune: Part Two’s March 1st wide release, Brolin offered the following take on the highly anticipated sequel, rattling off a fever dream that plays off of the cast’s most famous characters and Zendaya’s eye-catching outfit from the movie’s premiere.
“DUNE 2 release is less than TWO WEEKS!!! Robot Lady and Wonka fall in love. Then Elvis tries to fuck it all up while his bad dad floats in a pool of pond scum. The WWE dude from Gardians gets super pissed while Midsomer hottie puts the eyes on Wonka Obi Wan just after his Mom gets caught taking LSD in a sandy bathroom. Chigurh still doesnt like the guy from The Goonies. I mean who doesn’t want to see all that on IMAX??? The pandemic is over. Strikes have come and gone. Fuck it. It’s time to commune again and experience that amazing feeling of when the lights go down, you have your hand deep in your Popcorn worm, and DUNE 2 consumes you. HAVE FUN.”
Early reactions for Dune: Part Two have been strong even without Brolin’s spin, but he no doubt has added to the anticipation. Sure, it’s not actually Willy Wonka on a desert planet or Anton Chigurgh clashing with the older Walsh brother or Batista delivering a Batista Bomb to Florence Pugh, but that is one hell of a way to imagine the movie. And now we can’t help but picture this Super Smash Bros.-esque spin on the plot.
Here is perhaps a more accurate and grounded – that is, anti-Josh Brolin – description of Dune: Part Two: “[The film 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.”
Are you looking forward to Dune: Part Two? How do you think it will fare at the box office and during awards season compared to the 2021 film? Share your thoughts below.
How are you now? Letterkenny and The Changeling actor Clark Backo is ready to swing alongside Venom in the character’s forthcoming sequel, Venom 3. Hoping to take a big bite out of the box office on November 8, Sony‘s Venom 3 stars Tom Hardy as Eddie Brock, aka Venom, alongside Juno Temple and Chiwetel Ejiofor in roles that remain a mystery. Backo’s role is also under wraps, so let the speculation begin!
In the Great White North, Clark Backo is famous for playing Rosie in the Canadian sitcom Letterkenny. Introduced in the sophomore season of Letterkenny, Rosie is Gail’s cousin and Wayne’s (Jared Keeso) on-and-off partner for most of the 12-season series. The Canadian-Cameroonian actress also stars in The Changeling opposite LaKeith Stanfield. Backo plays Emma in the Apple TV+ limited series, the wife of Stanfield’s Apollo and the new mother who vanishes without explanation.
Kelly Marcel is the third director to helm a movie in Sony’s Venom franchise after Ruben Fleischer (Venom) and Andy Serkis (Venom: Let There Be Carnage). Reports indicate Marcel has a great working relationship with Hardy, and the duo has plenty of great ideas for Venom 3. Both creatives have been driving forces in bringing Venom’s adventures to screens, not to mention securing boatloads of cash for Sony and Marvel.
Venom and Venom: Let There Be Carnage earned $1.36 billion worldwide. Sony’s Spider-Verse could use a handful of Venom dollars after Morbius and Madame Web failed to connect with audiences. Son’y’s Spider-Man-less Spider-Verse is in rough shape, especially with Sony likely to scrap plans for a Madame Web franchise after the film’s dismal box office launch. Thankfully, there’s something about Tom Hardy’s Venom films that puts asses in seats, whether it’s Hardy and the symbiote’s Odd Couple chemistry or the franchise’s off-the-wall comic book-inspired action.
Part of Venom‘s success lies in the idea that the movies don’t take themselves too seriously. They’re not going to set the world on fire, but they’re harmless fun, and Hardy always gives his all to the character.
What do you think about Clark Backo joining the Venom 3 cast? Do you think Venom 3 can earn more than Morbius and Madame Web combined? Let us know in the comments below.
The Shudder streaming service is owned and operated by AMC Networks, which is why we’ll occasionally get a special episode of The Last Drive-In with Joe Bob Briggs, hosted by legendary movie host / drive-in critic Joe Bob Briggs, where Joe Bob presents an episode or two of one of AMC’s The Walking Dead shows. There was a special where Joe Bob showed the first two episodes of The Walking Dead, another where he showed the premiere episode of the spin-off series The Walking Dead: Dead City, and one where he showed the premiere episode of the spin-off series The Walking Dead: Daryl Dixon. Another spin-off series, The Walking Dead: The Ones Who Live, is scheduled to begin airing on AMC on February 25th… and yes, of course, they’re going to have Joe Bob show the premiere episode of this one as well. Shudder has just announced that the special The Last Drive-In with Joe Bob Briggs: The Walking Dead: The Ones Who Live will be streaming live on their service on March 1st. The archived special will then be available to watch on Shudder as of March 3rd.
Here’s the synopsis: Joe Bob dives deep into the epic love story of two people changed by a changed world in The Walking Dead: The Ones Who Live.
The Ones Who Live is a limited series that will be catching up with The Walking Dead characters Rick, played by Andrew Lincoln, and Michonne, played by Danai Gurira. Gurira co-created the mini-series and is also one of the writers on the show. Consisting of six episodes, The Walking Dead: The Ones Who Live will present an “epic love story of two characters changed by a changed world. Kept apart by distance. By an unstoppable power. By the ghosts of who they were. Rick and Michonne are thrown into another world, built on a war against the dead… And ultimately, a war against the living. Can they find each other and who they were in a place and situation unlike any they’ve ever known before? Are they enemies? Lovers? Victims? Victors? Without each other, are they even alive — or will they find that they, too, are the Walking Dead?“
Gurira worked on the mini-series with Scott M. Gimple, Chief Content Officer of the Walking Dead Universe. Lincoln, and Gurira are joined in the cast by Lesley-Ann Brandt (Lucifer) as a character named Pearl Thorne, Terry O’Quinn (Lost) as Beale, newcomer Matt Jeffries as Nat, and Pollyanna McIntosh, reprising her The Walking Dead and The Walking Dead: World Beyond role of Jadis.
Are you a fan of The Last Drive-In with Joe Bob Briggs, and will you be watching the The Walking Dead: The Ones Who Live special? Let us know by leaving a comment below.
The show is produced by Matt Manjourides and Justin Martell, and directed by Austin Jennings. Joe Bob is joined on each episode by Darcy the Mail Girl (a.k.a. Diana Prince).
With movies like Always Be My Maybe, Anyone But You, and Red, White & Royal Blue putting romantic comedies back in the spotlight, Lindsay Lohan returns to the genre to show everyone how to own the genre in Netflix‘s Irish Wish trailer. Falling for Christmas director Janeen Damian gets behind the camera for the lighthearted and often funny film, set to make hearts go pitter-pat on Netflix on March 15, 2024.
Damian directs from a screenplay written by Kirsten Hansen (Christmas on My Mind, Cross Country Christmas, Love Under the Rainbow), with Amanda Phillips, James Townsend, Janeen Damian, Galen Fletcher, Steve Berman, Bryan Bordon, Kirsten Hansen, Bader Shammas, and Lindsay Lohan executive producing.
Lindsay Lohan stars as Maddie Kelly in the Irish Wish trailer, a woman whose dream partner is engaged to her best friend. When Maddie wishes she could be the bride instead of a bridesmaid, the universe grants her wish but also teaches her a valuable lesson.
Here’s the official synopsis for Irish Wish:
“When the love of her life gets engaged to her best friend, Maddie puts her feelings aside to be a bridesmaid at their wedding in Ireland. Days before the pair are set to marry, Maddie makes a spontaneous wish for true love, only to wake up as the bride-to-be. With her dream seeming to come true, Maddie soon realizes that her real soulmate is someone else entirely.”
Lindsay Lohan (Mean Girls, Freaky Friday) leads Irish Wish, with Ed Speleers (Star Trek: Picard, Downton Abbey), Alexander Vlahos (Watchtower,Lola), Ayesha Curry (Love For Sale, Gary Unmarried), Elizabeth Tan (Emily in Paris, Top Boy), Jacinta Mulcahy (Much Ado About Christmas, Nature Unleashed: Earthquake) and Jane Seymour (Live and Let Die, Somewhere in Time) rounding out the cast.
“I wanted to be a part of this story because, for one, I love classic rom-coms, and this is just the epitome of that,” said Ayesha Curry. “I’m excited to be a part of something I hope will become a classic staple in people’s households that they’ll watch more than once. I also got to do it with my friend, and who doesn’t want to work with their friend?”
“This world, this sphere of filmmaking comes very naturally for [Lindsay Lohan],” said Ed Speelers. “She has a great approach to the work and is very much in tune with her comedic bones. This was my first out and out rom-com, and to team up with Lindsay and film in the stunning Republic of Ireland felt like the perfect way to venture into this genre.”
Are you excited to see Lindsay Lohan getting back in front of cameras for a romantic comedy with a classic fairytale setup? The locations and sets in this film look gorgeous, and there are certainly a few chuckle-worthy jokes in the Irish Wish trailer. It’s a little messed up that Maddie would wish to steal her best friend’s husband-to-be, but magic has a way of teaching valuable lessons before the spell wears off.
Irish Wish comes to Netflix on March 15, 2024. Will you walk down the aisle with Lindsay Lohan? Let us know in the comments section below.
DC Studios‘ last gasp before James Gunn reboots the DCU is coming to the Max streaming service later this month. Swimming onto the platform on February 27, Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom debuted in theaters last year during the Christmas holiday stretch. Unfortunately, the James Wan-directed Aquaman 2 floated on the surface of the box office like a dead fish, with $123 million domestically and $433 million worldwide. In contrast, Aquaman netted $335M in the United States and $1.1B worldwide. The difference in dollars earned between both films is staggering, with multiple culprits to blame for the film’s failure, including wild on-set rumors, Amber Heard’s legal battle with ex-husband Johnny Depp, and DC jumping the gun on its plans to reboot the DCEU.
“Having failed to defeat Aquaman the first time, Black Manta, still driven by the need to avenge his father’s death, will stop at nothing to take Aquaman down once and for all,” reads the official synopsis for Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom. “This time Black Manta is more formidable than ever before, wielding the power of the mythic Black Trident, which unleashes an ancient and malevolent force. To defeat him, Aquaman will turn to his imprisoned brother Orm, the former King of Atlantis, to forge an unlikely alliance. Together, they must set aside their differences in order to protect their kingdom and save Aquaman’s family and the world from irreversible destruction.”
Jason Momoa stars as Arthur Curry/Aquaman, now balancing his duties as both the King of Atlantis and a new father; Patrick Wilson is Orm, Aquaman’s half-brother and his nemesis, who must now step into a new role as his brother’s reluctant ally; Amber Heard is Mera, Atlantis’ Queen and mother of the heir to the throne; Yahya Abdul-Mateen II is Black Manta, committed more than ever to avenge his father’s death by destroying Aquaman, his family, and Atlantis; and Nicole Kidman as Atlanna, a fierce leader and mother with the heart of a warrior. Also reprising their roles are Dolph Lundgren as King Nereus and Randall Park as Dr. Stephen Shin.
JoBlo’s Editor-in-Chief, Chris Bumbray, felt like he was drowning while watching Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom, saying in his review, “Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom feels like a dull slog, with action sequences that lack any bite and a complex mythology that’s hard to invest in as it feels tacked on. It seems to be placing a bow on the DCEU with an ending that seems a bit like a farewell to this era of DC movies, but it ends with a whimper rather than a bang. This is a disappointing follow-up to a pretty excellent superhero movie. Hopefully, Wan licks his wounds and returns to making quirky, weird horror movies – a genre he seems much happier in.”
Still, it’s essential to make your own opinion about these things. So, you can do just that when Aquaman 2 comes to Max on February 27. I’ve yet to see Aquaman 2, but I plan to do so when the movie hits Max, for better or worse. DC Studios is poised to enter a new era with James Gunn and Peter Safran taking the reins, and I speak for many fans when I say we’re excited and hoping for the best! Let’s go!
Plot: Based on a remarkable true story, centers on Sharon, a fierce but struggling hairdresser in small-town Kentucky who discovers a renewed sense of purpose when she meets Ed, a widower working hard to make ends meet for his two daughters. With his youngest daughter waiting for a liver transplant, Sharon sets her mind to helping the family and will move mountains to do it. What unfolds is the inspiring tale of faith, everyday miracles, and ordinary angels.
Review: When I first saw the trailer for Ordinary Angels, I wrote it off without a second thought as another faith-based drama designed to tug at the heartstrings and reinforce the unlimited power of God. In recent years, there has been a surge in movies like this; few have risen above the minimal viable bar for them to be considered watchable by mainstream audiences. To my surprise, the film is not an overt case for Christ, like many of director Jon Gunn’s previous projects. By tackling a tale that was news three decades ago, this film retells a story that is likely unfamiliar to most today. Rooted in an inspirational true story that happens to be tangentially connected to religion, Ordinary Angels is a fairly by-the-numbers effort elevated above the quality of Lifetime and Hallmark original productions thanks to solid performances from Hilary Swank and Alan Ritchson.
Set in 1994, Ordinary Angels opens with a flashback to the birth of Michelle Schmitt (Emily Mitchell) to Theresa (Amy Acker) and Ed (Alan Ritchson). Not long after, Michelle dies, leaving Ed to care for his two young daughters, including the eldest, Ashley (Skywalker Hughes). With the help of his mother, Barbara (Nancy Travis), Ed barely makes ends meet as a roofer. At the same time, local hairdresser Sharon Stevens (Hilary Swank) awakens after yet another alcohol-induced bender. Her friend and coworker Rose (Tamala Jones) takes Sharon, begrudgingly, to an Alcoholics Anonymous meeting despite Sharon’s insistence that she does not have a problem. When Sharon notices a newspaper article about Michelle’s death and Michelle’s need for a liver transplant, she trades in one addiction for another and makes it her mission to raise funds for the ill little girl. Ed is reluctant to accept help from the loud and proud Sharon, but the girls like her, while Barbara considers her a gift from above. Ed, a tough and silent type, butts up against the brash Sharon even though her fundraising helps bring in thousands of dollars. Eventually, Ed softens a bit but still does not feel good about taking charity.
What follows for the next hour-and-a-half is a blend of Sandra Bullock’s accent and flashy wardrobe from The Blind Side coupled with the in-your-face tactics of Julia Roberts in Erin Brockovich. Hilary Swank unapologetically plays Sharon as an intrepid and laser-focused advocate for Michelle, never once giving in when a challenge is put in her way. We learn more about Sharon through the film, including how her addiction cost her a relationship with her now-adult son, Derek (Dempsey Bryk). At the same time, we see Ed internalizing all of the pressure to protect his daughter despite her waning health and increasing medical costs. Every time a dent is made in the mountain of bills they face, a new challenge presents itself and makes it seem impossible to overcome. But, just like any movie like this, there is always a way to overcome. The story brings in a relapse for Sharon and the eventual challenge of a monumental blizzard that occurs on the same day that a donor becomes available for Michelle, giving Ed less than twelve hours to get his child hundreds of miles with every road closed and no feasible way to get there.
Make no mistake if you think Ordinary Angels is going to let you down and feature the death of a precious little child. A cursory Google search will reinforce the obvious happy ending on the way. Ordinary Angels banks on the appreciation for the journey, much of which is a showcase for Hilary Swank delivering a charming performance as a woman who will never quit. Seeing how Sharon Stevens can sweet-talk bankers, executives, hospital administrators, and everyone in between is more than enough to put a smile on your face. It seems unbelievable that this story is true, but Swank makes it all seem effortless for Sharon despite her demons behind closed doors and under her facade of positivity. Equally good here is Alan Ritchson as the stoic Ed Schmitt, a man of few words. Unlike his performance as Jack Reacher, Ritchson is much more emotive here as he is a giant teddy bear for his daughters. Ritchson also plays Ed as a strong alpha type who has to go behind closed doors to shed a tear, but it works as Ritchson and Swank begin to warm up to each other as the film goes on.
Written by actress Meg Tilly, Are You There God? It’s Me, Margaret director Kelly Fremon Craig, Ordinary Angels employs every single trope you would expect from a story like this. But Tilly and Craig never mined the tale for unwarranted melodrama or fabricated moments of tension. There is not much to this story outside the fundraising leading to the eventual final act race to the hospital. That third act centerpiece takes on added tension mostly from the fact that this story happened in the mid-1990s without regular access to cell phones or the internet, which makes the coordination that happens all the more impressive. Director Jon Gunn, whose films include the less than-subtle The Case for Christ and Do You Believe?, tells this story with only a few passing references to God and faith. While two scenes are set in a church, almost none of the story focuses on religion. That alone helps this film work as an inspirational tale about human beings being decent to one another without hitting the audience over the head like the recent barrage of Super Bowl commercials shoving it in our faces. Gunn keeps the story aimed at the characters, none of whom are perfect, but all of whom want to do something good.
Ordinary Angels does not reinvent the inspirational genre or offer anything new, but it boasts two competent and enjoyable lead performances from Hilary Swank and Alan Ritchson. As the end credits roll, news footage of the real Michelle Schmitt and the community rallied together to help save her life. Watching it, I was struck by the dramatic license taken in making this film. Not just in the sense that none of the actors remotely look like their counterparts, but their timing, scope, and drama around the event itself are very different in the movie. Even a powerful story like this needs a boost to make it into a movie that people will see, I guess. Ordinary Angels is an ordinary movie, but one that is far better than I was expecting it to be.
The influence of Todd McFarlane can be felt wherever you look in current entertainment. Whether it’s the phenomenal toys that bear a striking resemblance to their real-life counterparts or characters like Venom appearing in his third film venture, it’s hard not to take note. McFarlane created some of the best characters of the 90s in both Venom and Spawn. Heck, his design of Spider-Man is still one of the most memorable out there. And with his proposed Spawn film starring Jamie Foxx and Jeremy Renner languishing in development hell, you better believe we asked him about that!
It was an absolute pleasure to be able to talk with McFarlane about his varied career. While he was pretty reserved in regard to his future projects, he was a wealth of knowledge when it came to toys. We discussed how his company was able to improve toys as a whole, forcing others to raise their standards to meet his. And we did get into a bit of Spawn news, with how much the film is really reliant on the success of Joker: Folie A Deux. So, while I didn’t have much invested in that film prior, I’m really hoping for its success. We need a good Spawn film, dammit!
A little about McFarlane Toys:
Collaborating with influential figures across various industries, such as Tim Burton, Ozzy Osbourne, KISS, and multiple stars from the NFL, NBA, NHL, MLB, and WWE, McFarlane Toys has forged partnerships that showcase its dedication to innovation, design excellence, and its fans. McFarlane Toys has expanded by partnering with industry giants like DC Comics, Disney, James Cameron’s Avatar, Warner Brothers, HBO’s Game of Thrones, Adult Swim’s Rick and Morty, AMC’s The Walking Dead, and Five Nights at Freddy’s.
