Thursday, February 27, 2014

Fans Treated To Brand New Captain America Footage

Originally published on For Your Excitement.  27 February  2014.
It seems I was once again not in the right audience at the right time. Fans that turned up to see Marvel’s latest one-shot, All Hail the King, Monday night were treated to the first ten minutes of Captain America: The Winter Soldier.

All Hail the King stars Ben Kingsley, reprising his Trevor Slattery role from Iron Man 3. A special screening of the 13-minute short as well as a Q&A with Kingsley, producer Kevin Feige and screenwriter Drew Pearce was held at Hollywood’s Arclight theater. The short will also appear on the Thor: The Dark World blu-ray and digital download.

About the short films, which, like after credits scenes, have become an expectation from Marvel fans, Pearce said simply, “The Marvel one-shots are honestly just a labor of love.”

As for Captain America: The Winter Soldier, as Entertainment Weekly says, “it definitely packs a punch.”

Warning: minor spoilers to follow.

The film begins with Steve Rogers (Chris Evans) training in Washington, D.C. where he repeatedly laps Sam Wilson (Anthony Mackie). The two strike up a conversation when their respective workouts are finished and Rogers jots down a record that Wilson suggests he listen to. Cap is keeping a lengthy list of pop culture bits to catch up on, everything from Steve Jobs to Star Wars, which he’s already watched (it’s crossed off the list). Their chat is cut short when Natasha Romanoff (Scarlett Johansson) pulls up in a sleek black Corvette and then she and Rogers are off on a covert mission.

The footage now picks up where audiences at the D23 Expo saw it, with Romanoff and Rogers on a plane above the Indian Ocean. They joke about Cap’s nonexistent love/social life and he shuts the conversation down by jumping out of the plane. Without a parachute. He lands in the water and climbs aboard a ship where he begins their rescue op by taking out every guard in sight in increasingly badass ways. Eventually, Romanoff and their team join Rogers on the ship and head off to rescue some hostages.

Co-director Joe Russo described the action sequence this way on Slash Film, “This is a more brutal Captain America — a one-man black ops squad. There’s no dialogue in this sequence; just fighting. Cap’s fighting techniques are way more modern than the last time we saw him. He’s learned new moves; the action in general is much more hard-hitting and intense.”

By all accounts, this footage points toward the Captain America sequel being a strong addition to Marvel’s continuing line of Avengers films. The Winter Soldier hits theaters April 4.

Wednesday, February 26, 2014

Time To Say Goodbye: SyFy Cancels Being Human

Originally published on For Your Excitement.  26 February  2014.

Syfy’s Being Human will end with its fourth season. The network announced the show’s cancellation on Tuesday, noting that all of the final episodes will air.

“Showrunner Anna Fricke and the talented producers, writers, cast and crew have done an amazing job bringing this show to life over the past four seasons and we sincerely thank them and the series’ production company Muse Entertainment for their hard work,” Syfy said in a statement. “They’ve saved the best for last with the final six episodes that revisit the story’s beginning, leading to a not-to-be-missed send-off for Aidan, Sally, Josh and Nora.”

The cast responded to the news with a heartfelt thank you to fans.

An American remake of the UK show of the same name, Being Human will finish just one season shy of the five its UK predecessor ran before ending last year. Ratings for the US version, which premiered in 2011, started out at 1.8 million, making it one of SyFy’s most successful series. Recent ratings have hovered around 1 million, though Entertainment Weekly reports the number is closer to 1.8 million when DVR viewings are accounted for. The supernatural series will conclude on April 7.

The news about Being Human comes on the heels of announcements of the cancellation of two other Syfy original dramas, Warehouse 13 and Alphas. The Hollywood Reporter notes that Being Human’s cancellation comes at a time of reorganization at SyFy. Several top executives, including the Executive Vice President of Original Content, have departed and been replaced in the last three months.

The final episodes of Being Human begin airing on March 3 at 9 p.m.

Entourage Movie Set for June 2015 Release

Originally published on For Your Excitement.  26 February  2014.


Hey bros, the Entourage movie is coming to theaters on June 12, 2015. The HBO comedy will hit the big screen nearly four years after the series finale.

Original cast members Adrian Grenier, Kevin Connolly, Jerry Ferrara, Kevin Dillon and Jeremy Piven are all returning. They will be joined by Liam Neeson, Billy Bob Thorton and Haley Joel Osment in the film. No plot details have been made available, but series creator Doug Ellin will be directing based on his own screenplay.

The June release date for Entourage pits Vince, E, Ari, Turtle, Drama and the gang against Universal’s Jurassic World, starring Chris Pratt. Start picking sides now: Bros or dinosaurs?

Tuesday, February 25, 2014

A Surprise Visit From the Doctor: Capaldi Appears in Costume

Originally published on For Your Excitement.  25 February  2014.

Decked out in his Twelfth Doctor costume, Peter Capaldi appeared at the BBC Worldwide Showcase in Liverpool on Monday. Or should we say, The Doctor made a surprise appearance.

With his dark blue, red-lined Crombie coat, dark blue trousers and waistcoat, white shirt and Doc Martens boots, Capaldi looked much more like his Time Lord alter ego than himself. The delighted audience certainly thought so, as the newest Doctor took the stage. This is the first time Capaldi has been seen in the costume since the BBC released an official picture of the outfit in January. At the time the actor remarked on the clothes saying, “Simple, stark, and back to basics. No frills, no scarf, no messing, just 100 per cent Rebel Time Lord.”

Following the event on Monday, Capaldi spoke briefly about the upcoming series 8. “I’ve always been a fan of the show and I love that it’s now a global success,” he said. “I’m excited, and slightly daunted, about how far the new series is going to travel.”

Doctor Who returns later this year.

Friday, February 21, 2014

First Look At Rupert Friend As The Super Assassin Agent 47

Originally published on For Your Excitement.  21 February  2014.


The first look of Rupert Friend as Agent 47 has been revealed. IGN posted the picture from the video game adaptation’s set of the Homeland star, who looks every bit like his digital counterpart.

Agent 47 is a follow up to The Hitman, which starred Timothy Olyphant and was based on the video game of the same name.

Last month, Friend replaced the late Paul Walker in sequel’s the titular role as the genetically-engineered super assassin. Plot details for the film have yet to be released officially but ScreenRant notes previous reports that had 47 protecting a young waitress from a group called the Syndicate.

Full production on Agent 47, which also stars Zachary Quinto and Hannah Ware, begins next week in Berlin and will then move to Singapore.

Thursday, February 20, 2014

The Doors Will Re-Open For A Third Season Of ITV Hit “Mr Selfridge”

Originally published on For Your Excitement.  20 February  2014.

ITV’s Mr. Selfridge has been picked up for a third season. The Radio Times is reporting that ITV has ordered more of the period drama starring Jeremy Piven and Amanda Abbingdon.

The show documents the real life story of department store owner Harry Gordon Selfridge and his employees. Having revolutionized the shopping industry with his decadent store, Mr. Selfridge must now contend with a Britain that is on the brink of WWI. With a large ensemble cast, the series also stars Aisling Loftus, Polly Walker and Samuel West.

In the promo on PBS, Selfridge tells his staff, “It may be my name on the door, but you are the ones that matter.” He may as well have been talking straight to viewers.

Mr. Selfridge has struggled to lure viewers away from BBC1’s The Musketeers, which airs in the same 9 p.m. slot on Sunday nights. However with the BBC’s recent decision to cancel the rival show The Paradise and with season two set to premiere on PBS on March 30th, viewers may be starting to shop at Selfridge’s after all.

Mr. Selfridge airs on ITV Sundays at 9pm and will begin airing on PBS’ Masterpiece on March 30th at 9 p.m.




First Photo From 24: Live Another Day And Jack Might Return For Another Day

Originally published on For Your Excitement.  20 February  2014.


Jack is back and he’s bringing his friends and frenemies along for maybe more than just one extra day. If the above first photo from the season is an indication of what’s in store for us this May, I already want more.

In an interview with IGN, 24’s Executive Producer, Howard Gordon, said the show could continue beyond the recently announced 24: Live Another Day in a second limited-run series or even a feature film. However, that depends on the success of the newest installment and having more story to tell.

Live Another Day picks up four years after the end of series 8. While some of the 12-episode season will feel familiar (political unrest, plenty of shooting, Jack Bauer being a complete badass, etc), new elements are also coming in to play. The limited-run series will not document every hour like each previous season did and the setting has switched to the U.K. rather than America.

Anticipation is high for the return of Jack (Sutherland), Chloe (Mary Lynn Rajskub) and the brand of counterterrorism only 24 can offer, but Gordon feels they are up to the task.

“Look, [Jack] has a lot of scorched earth behind him as a character,” he said. “But we sort of embraced the mythic aspect of Jack’s character. The idea of him being a fugitive and also being somewhere else and wanting to come home felt like an emotional framework that we could work inside.” The four years haven’t been kind to Chloe either. Gordon describes her as now a cross between Lisbeth Salander and Edward Snowden, having spent the past years working for a WikiLeaks-type organization.

”I’m more hardened,” Rajskub told EW. ”I’ve seen more of the world. When you pick up with me, I’ve completely turned against the government.” Explaining her new Lisbeth-inspired look, she said, ”It’s a very dark, very damaged look. It’s a bit of an FU to the world.”

Joining Sutherland and Rajakub are 24 newcomers Yvonne Strahowski (who has espionage experience from her stint on Chuck), Stephen Fry, Benjamin Bratt, Tate Donovan, Michael Wincott and Michelle Fairley. We’ll also see the return of Kim Raver as Jack’s damaged former love, Audrey Raines, and her father, played by William Devane. There’s also the potential to see fan favorite, Glenn Morshower as the beloved Agent Aaron Pierce.

24: Live Another Day premieres May 5 at 8 p.m. on Fox.

Official ‘Avatar’ and ‘Korra’ Merchandise Coming This May

Originally published on The Flickcast.  20 February  2014.


At long last, Avatar: The Last Airbender fans can indulge in collectibles. Dark Horse Comics and Nickelodeon have announced plans for brand new products based on Avatar as well as The Legend of Korra.

Soon you can show off your Water, Earth, Air or Fire Nation pride with an array of merchandise including figurines, drinkware, coasters, magnets, playing cards, lunch boxes (pictured below), pins, plush, and limited-edition statues.

Avatar: The Last Airbender and The Legend of Korra are some of the finest animated television shows ever created,” David Scroggy, Dark Horse Vice President, Product Development, said. “We feel a strong responsibility to bring forward the creators’ vision as accurately as possible in the style they have established, and we are excited to bring these products to fans.”

Dark Horse and Nickelodeon have already been enjoying a successful partnership with the two series created and produced by Bryan Konietzko and Michael Dante DiMartino. The books and graphic novels based on the shows have become some of Dark Horse’s best sellers.

The new merchandise will debut at the International Toy Fair in New York this month and will be available for purchase in May.


Wednesday, February 19, 2014

IDW Launches ‘Kill Shakespeare’ Board Game on Kickstarter

Originally published on The Flickcast.  19 February 2014.

Friends, Shakespeareans, gamers, lend me your ears! IDW Games has launched aKickstarter campaign for a Kill Shakespeare board game, based on the graphic novel series.

With a goal of $25,000, Kill Shakespeare is the first joint venture between IDW Games and Pandasaurus Games. The campaign includes perks such as lithographs, posters, custom dice and of course the game itself, at a deeply discounted rate. Stretch goals are also in place to expand game content to include additional characters and quests.

The game itself is a semi-cooperative board game where players are one of Shakespeare’s heroes battling against his villains while completing quests from the Bard himself.




“We’re excited to give fans – both old and new – this early-bird opportunity to check out the board game,” Anthony Del Col, co-creator of the Kill Shakespeare comic series, said. “This is the first game from IDW Games, and we’re blown away by how amazing it’s shaping up to be – they’ve done a fantastic job of adding to our already-expansive world. We’re glad that this Kickstarter campaign will allow audiences to get copies before anyone else, and we look forward to hearing back from everyone throughout the campaign.”


Chief among the backer perks is the option for the first 250 people to get the game itself for $40, a $20 discount from the suggested retail price. Beyond that, backers can still get the game for at least $10 off SRP as well as additional content such as the full Kill Shakespeare comic series on digital download and a 22-page booklet, “The Art of Shakespeare.” A Deluxe version of the board game, packaged to look like a antique Shakespeare book with a leatherette case and gold foil, is also available.

“Kickstarter offers us a platform to truly connect with the fans,” IDW Games Director, Jerry Bennington, said. “We invite backers to take an in-depth look at the game we’re delivering and to comment on what we can do to deliver the best possible tabletop gaming experiences.”

Visit the Kill Shakespeare Kickstarter campaign to check out additional perks and details about the game.

Sunday, February 16, 2014

Filming on Avengers Sequel Delayed By Flooding

Originally published on For Your Excitement.  16 February  2014.


Thor may be the God of Thunder but he can’t do anything about rain. Thus The Avengers: Age of Ultron shooting schedule has been delayed by flooding in the UK.

Actors were supposed to head in to Shepperton Studios in Surrey, England for camera tests and costume fittings, Hollywood.com reported. Due to the particularly heavy rain, the day was cancelled. The town of Shepperton has been one of many places in the U.K. devastated by the past two days of strong rainfall throughout the country.

As for the Avengers sequel, filming has already started in South Africa. The delay due to flooding in the U.K. is not expected to cause any major issues with the rest of the shoot. Set to hit theaters in 2015, The Avengers: Age of Ultron features the heroes from the first film reprising their roles. Joining them as the titular villain is James Spader, along with Paul Bettany (who also voices Iron Man’s J.A.R.V.I.S.) as Ultron’s henchman, The Vision.


Friday, February 14, 2014

For Your Love, SHIELD Style: Why We Ship Coulson And May

Originally published on For Your Excitement.  14 February  2014.

It’s Valentine’s Day and that means everyone deserves a little love, even tough as nails S.H.I.E.L.D. agents.

Marvel’s Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. is one of those shows that doesn’t need a main “ship” to make it function. It gets along more than fine without two characters’ will they/won’t they at the center. But! If we were to play some speculation ball, the ship to get on board with is CoulMay aka Phil Coulson and Melinda May. Here’s why.

They have a history. Maybe they were just partners. Or maybe they had a secret relationship that was torn apart by the intensity of their work and S.H.I.E.L.D. regulations. May’s cheeky offer to “lay out the mats” and “go a few rounds with him” in “The Girl in the Flower Dress” could indicate either. This is for sure, knowing each other’s past makes it easier to build a future. Together.

Skye and Ward. We know that on some level S.H.I.E.L.D. is driving us toward this pairing. While this doesn’t work for me on a number of levels and mostly because I think they have no chemistry, what it means is Ward and May is doomed to fail (for many reasons). This leaves plenty of time for Coulson and May to happen.


Thursday, February 13, 2014

No Jedi Mind Tricks Here: The Force Is Strong On Netflix And We Love It

Originally published on For Your Excitement.  13 February  2014.


Last year, Star Wars fans felt a disturbance in the Force when Disney cancelled the popular Star Wars: The Clone Wars animated series. But now the sixth and final season, called “The Lost Missions,” will be available on Netflix for instant streaming on March 7.

Star Wars: The Clone Wars fills the gap between the live-action films, Attack of the Clones and Revenge of the Sith. The Emmy-award winning show follows Jedi Knights Obi-Wan Kenobi (James Arnold Taylor), Anakin Skywalker (Matt Lanter) and young apprentice, Ahsoka Tano (Ashley Eckstein) as well as various Jedi, Sith, and clones warriors.

The 13-episode sixth season will specifically deal with Ahsoka’s leaving the Jedi order. Yoda (Tom Kane) will also explore the nature of the Force and get a visit from Liam Neeson’s Qui-Gon Jinn. In addition to “The Lost Missions,” all other episodes, including director’s cut versions, and the feature film will be uploaded to the streaming service.

March 7 will mark the first time any Star Wars content has been available for instant viewing on Netflix but it is only the beginning. Thanks to a deal between Disney, who owns Lucasfilm, and Netflix, in 2016 first-run, live-action and animated movies from Disney properties will be available for streaming exclusively on the subscription service. This means Netflix will be home to Pixar, Marvel Studios, Disney and Lucasfilm productions.

Star Wars is one of the most iconic franchises of all time,” Netflix chief content officer, Ted Sarados, said. “This series joins a long line of Disney content that Netflix members are and will continue to enjoy for years to come.”

Tuesday, February 11, 2014

Spoilers, Sweetie: Doctor Who Alums Join Cast of New British Crime Drama

Originally published on For Your Excitement.  11 February  2014.

Crime drama Chasing Shadows has three of their primary cast members set. ITV announced the addition of Reece Shearsmith, Alex Kingston and Noel Clarke to the four-part series, which will follow a missing persons unit hunting a group of serial killers.

Shearsmith plays DS Sean Stone, a brilliant investigator whose obsession with the deciphering codes and patterns of behavior comes in handy when pursuing serial criminals. However, his intensity and eccentric manner often lead him down the path to self-destruction.

Enter his level-headed partner, Ruth Hattersley, played by the always cool Alex Kingston. Ruth is assigned to work with Sean and though he first shirks her help, he finds that they make a great team. Whereas he lacks social skills, she connects with people easily, adding a new element to their investigations. Rounding out their team is Clarke as DI Prior.

Shearsmith’s credits include Psychoville and League of Gentlemen, which he co wrote with Who and Sherlock legend Mark Gatiss. He was also seen portraying Patrick Troughton in the recent Adventure in Space and Time, and Kingston is instantly recognizable as River Song on Doctor Who. Clarke is also Doctor Who alum famously playing tin dog Mickey Smith, more recently seen on the big screen in Star Trek Into Darkness. He is also a highly successful movie director with credits such as Kidulthood and 4,3,2,1.

ITV’s Director of Drama, Steve November, said of the production ”It’s a crime drama, but not a typical one as it is based around a missing persons unit. And it introduces two very individual and exciting new characters who we’re very much looking forward to seeing.”

Filming for Chasing Shadows begins this month. It is clear that ITV are looking for another highly successful drama after the worldwide success of Broadchurch, which starred The Doctor himself, David Tennant. Either Doctor Who is seen as a prime picking ground for awesome talent, which it is obviously, OR someone in the casting office is a Whovian.

Time will tell if the success of Broadchurch will be repeated, however so far the cast looks brilliant, and let’s hope the spoilers are kept to a minimum, sweetie!

Grant Gustin, Get Ready: Tom Cavanagh To Play Harrison Wells In The Flash

Originally published on For Your Excitement.  11 February  2014.
Photo: Paul Drinkwater/NBC
Photo: Paul Drinkwater/NBC
The man who has a hand in creating the Scarlet Speedster has been cast. Producers of The Flash have added Tom Cavanagh to the pilot episode as physicist Harrison Wells. Harrison Wells is the man who causes the particle accelerator explosion that transforms Barry Allen into The Flash.

Described as both the brains and the money behind S.T.A.R. Labs Particle Accelerator, Wells soon finds himself an outcast in his own community. The explosion will rip apart his reputation but he finds a glimmer of hope when Barry (Grant Gustin) is discovered to have super speed.

A spinoff of the CW’s Arrow, The Flash was introduced in two episodes during the DC show’s second season. Producer Greg Berlanti says the new series will be more science heavy, in contrast to Arrow’s crime focus.

“We’ve talked a lot on Arrow about the particle collider and Harrison Wells and S.T.A.R. Labs and so you’ll see S.T.A.R. Labs as an active part of the show,” he said on Digital Spy.

Cavanagh is best known from his lead role on Ed and his recurring guest role on Scrubs. He joins cast members Jesse L. Martin, Danielle Panabaker, Candice Patton, Carlos Valdes and Rick Cosnett. The Flash pilot is still in development by Arrow’s Berlanti and Andrew Kreisberg along with Geoff John, Chief Creative Office of DC Entertainment. If picked up by the CW, the show would likely air in Fall 2014.

Sunday, February 9, 2014

Best and Worst Women of Downton Abbey

Originally published on For Your Excitement.  9 February  2014.
With only three episodes left in Downton Abbey series 4, American audiences are in full period drama mode. Having already listed the best and worst men of the series, it felt only right to also do the same for the ladies of Downton Abbey. Who is the finest and foulest of them all? Warning: spoilers through series 4, episode 6.

So let’s begin with the best of the Abbey

5. Sybil Crawley
Photo: PBS
We all know that she was the best sister. Sybil was unfailingly compassionate to all, confident and beautiful. She stood up for her beliefs and her man, even when her own family was (wrongly) opposed to both. We cheered for her and loved her like she was our own sister and her loss is still deeply felt.

4. Anna Bates
Photo: PBS
Whether it’s her adorable smile or her persistent yet sweet (and successful) pursuit of Bates, everyone has always had a soft spot for Anna. She makes us all feel as though she is our friend, which made her being attacked this season especially heartbreaking. There is no kinder, gentler and more loving soul in all of Downton, and I sincerely hope she gets her much-deserved happy ending.

3. Mary Crawley
Photo: Daily Mail
The eldest Crawley daughter has the kind of sarcastic demeanour that we all secretly admire. Plus, her determination, confidence and passion make her relatable to us 21st century women. While she’s had her momentary lapses, especially when it came to men, Mary has never failed to garner our respect, sympathy and highest regard.

Wednesday, February 5, 2014

Get Caught Up With The Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. In “Tracks”

Originally published on For Your Excitement.  5 February  2014.
Photo courtesy of ABC
Photo courtesy of ABC
Greetings Agents! Last time we saw our beloved Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D., we had learned some shocking and heartbreaking details about Coulson’s death/resurrection. Also, Skye found out she was an 0-8-4 when she was a baby, and Mike Peterson is alive but has been forced into the Clairvoyant’s service via an eye implant. Oh and Ian Quinn is a big baddie funding evil technology. Got all that? Wheels up!

Quinn is moving a VIP (very important package) by train so naturally the team is going undercover to intercept it. This is mostly important because everyone is paired up including Simmons and Coulson. She immediately calls him her dad and it’s adorable. Elsewhere, Ward changes into a conductor’s uniform and May gets in position atop the moving train. Because she’s a badass.

Skye and Fitz sneak into the luggage compartment. Getting ready to be a distraction to Quinn’s Cybertek security team, Simmons launches into her character’s backstory. She goes into hysterics about daddy Coulson being too busy with his work and prostitutes to be there for her and her mum. Stan Lee pops up for a great cameo to chastise Coulson, and following straight behind him are the Cybertek men. Simmons spills her “mom’s” ashes to slow them down, and Coulson takes moment to say, “Prostitutes? Plural?”

The Team Takes A Tumultuous Train Ride On This Week’s Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.

Originally published on PopWrapped.  5 February 2014.
Hello Agents! Long time no see. When we left our favorite Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. peeps last we had learned some horrifying and heartbreaking details about Coulson’s death and resurrection. Also, Skye was revealed to be an 0-8-4 when she was a baby and Mike Peterson was kidnapped and given an eye implant to do the Clairvoyant’s bidding. Lastly, Ian Quinn is a big baddie funding evil technology. All set? Wheels up! 
The team is en route to intercept a package Quinn is transporting by train and under guard from private security team, Cybertek. Going undercover to get close to the goods, everyone is paired up, most adorably, Simmons and Coulson. She immediately labels him as her dad and it is perfection. Alone with May, Ward notes that Skye is more focused than before and wonders what changed. He’s concerned something personal might get in the way of her work. “We both know that personal urges can affect tactical decisions,” he says. May agrees, replying, “That’s why I don’t have any.” Heh. 
In their compartment, Skye and Fitz pickpocket the conductor’s keys in order to gain access to the luggage area. Elsewhere, Simmons has created an entire backstory for her character and her absentee father. Just as she goes into hysterics about how daddy Coulson was never there for her mother because he was busy with his work and prostitutes, Stan Lee pops up for a great cameo to chastise Coulson. Following behind Stan and his ladies are the Cybertek men. Simmons spills her “mom’s” ashes all over them to distract them. Coulson takes the opportunity to get in this line: “Prostitutes? Plural?” 

Tuesday, February 4, 2014

Are Your Spidey Senses Tingling? Amazing Spider-Man 2 Adds BJ Novak as Another Villain

Originally published on For Your Excitement.  4 February  2014.

B.J. Novak’s role in The Amazing Spider-Man 2 has finally been revealed thanks to an offhand tweet from director Marc Webb. Novak is Alistair Smythe, owner of the deadly Spider-Slayers.

For those of you who do not have an encyclopedic knowledge of Spider-Man canon or, more importantly (and sadly), Spider-Man: The Animated Series, Alistair inherited his robots and hatred for the Webslinger from his father, Spencer. The Spider-Slayers are made specifically to hunt, capture and kill Spider-Man, solidifying Smythe’s villain role.

But with three baddies (Electro, Rhino and Green Goblin) already in the film, how much with Smythe figure in? A viral Daily Bugle article that mentions Smythe’s invention seems to hint that Alistair will be more central to The Amazing Spider-Man 2 than we thought.

The number of villains in the sequel is reaching extravagant terms but this may all be set up for the rumored Sinister Six film that is coming. Adding fuel to this fire are the appearances of Doc Octopus’ arms and Vulture’s wings in the film’s first trailer.

Coming back to Smythe though, Novak looks like a great choice to play the young corporate evildoer. If the film series decides to follow Smythe’s transformation into the Ultimate Spider-Slayer (where he encases himself in armor), that could pit the supervillain directly against our hero in future installments. The third and fourth films already have release dates in 2016 and 2018, respectively.

First up though is The Amazing Spider-Man 2, which hits theaters May 2, 2014.

Monday, February 3, 2014

London Calling, Jack is Back in 24: Live Another Day Superbowl Advert

Originally published on For Your Excitement.  3 February  2014.

Better by far than most of the commercials during the Super Bowl was the trailer for 24: Live Another Day. The limited run series revives TV’s greatest counterterrorism agent, Jack Bauer (Kiefer Sutherland), as well as his go-to partner and tech support, Chloe O’Brien (Mary Lynn Rajskub).

The 12 episode series puts Bauer in London four years after 24’s series finale wherein he, once again, had to go on the run. In a show of incredibly clever marketing, Fox aired four 15-second clips for the series throughout the Super Bowl. These clips gave away nothing, not even hinting at the link to 24, aside from the distinctive clock ticking heard briefly at each clip’s end. This amped up audiences and kept them glued to the screen when the trailer itself was finally revealed.

The trailer is impressively riveting in its 34 seconds. Starting with shots of a London street, the action slowly reveals itself as gunshots and explosions rain. The quiet music culminates as we get our first glimpse of Bauer carrying a very Girl With the Dragon Tattoo Chloe and a gun (of course). As Bauer starts to fire at an unseen enemy, 24 fans everywhere knew without a doubt that Jack was back.


Set to air on Fox on May 14, 24: Live Another Day began shooting, er, filming in London last week. The series also stars Benjamin Bratt, Yvonne Strahovski, Tate Donovan, and Stephen Fry.

Saturday, February 1, 2014

For Your Consideration: The Five Best and Worst Men of Downton Abbey

Originally published on For Your Excitement.  1 February  2014.

For those of us in the States, Downton Abbey is rocketing toward the end of Series 4 with more drama and intrigue than ever. Mary’s list of suitors continues to shuffle about while the other men of Downton deal with lady’s maids who seduce them and having to converse with internationally renowned singers. The world of Downton Abbey is certainly filled with all types of characters and some of the most dapper men on TV these days. But who are the best and worst men of the show? Read below to find out. (Spoilers through episode 5 of series 4)

BEST

5. Lord Grantham

The patriarch and protector of Downton has a tough job. He has opinionated daughters, a strong-willed mother, and an outspoken wife. Throughout the series he’s had to deal with tragically losing his heir (twice) and his daughter as well as a whole heap of drama. While he’s made some boneheaded decisions, he has never not loved his family (both upstairs and down), often surprising them with the depth of his affection. Prime examples include his heartwarming response to learning about Mary’s tryst with Mr. Pamuk and hiring and continually supporting his valet, the crippled Mr. Bates. This leads nicely to…

4. Mr. Bates

I struggled with this one but ultimately couldn’t bear not to include him. The valet stole our hearts with his gentle demeanor and somehow became one of the most desirable men on the show thanks to his sweet relationship with Anna. He has protected those upstairs and down from the machinations of people like Thomas and has come through prison and life as a cripple with his capacity for love and empathy intact. He even helps save Thomas, the guy who has routinely tried to ruin Bates’ life. That alone earns him a spot on this list.

3. Mr. Carson

Carson is like an amusingly stuffy grandfather. He puts on an air of propriety and duty yet underneath it all, he’s got a big heart. He may be a tough on his staff but when someone threatens them, he jumps into protective mode without missing a beat. The constancy of his loyalty and love for the Crawleys, and especially Lady Mary, has even pushed him to set aside his well established boundaries. He became the best voice of reason in bringing Mary out of the depths of grief caused by Matthew’s death, effectively helping to save the estate as well.

2. William Mason

I can already hear the protests about the sympathy vote and I don’t care. William was good and noble to the very last. He steadfastly loved Daisy, wanting her to be taken care of even when he had died. In marrying her, he also helped ensure that his father would not be alone either. Plus he saved Matthew’s life in the war, an act for which everyone in the fandom was very grateful because…

1. Matthew Crawley

There’s really no other option here. Matthew was sweet, handsome, kind and generous. He may have started out a bit self-righteous and reverted back during the whole Lavina debacle but on the whole he was perfect. In addition to saving Downton from ruin and serving heroically in the war, he also tamed Mary’s prickly heart and brought out the best in her, a feat arguably more difficult than any of his other achievements.

Honorable mentions: Dr. Clarkson and Tom Branson

Clarkson is intelligent, sympathetic and humble. He is unfailingly sweet to Isobel (just get together already!) and never passes up an opportunity to help those in need. Plus if he’d been allowed, he probably could have saved Sybil’s life.

Branson’s helped bring Downton and the Crawleys back from the brink of bankruptcy and eternal snobbery, and he is utterly adorable with little Sybbie. However, he also slept with Edna (albeit after she got him drunk) and once abandoned his pregnant wife to go on the run after some political protesting went wrong.



WORST

5. Sir Anthony Strallan

He may not measure up to the rest of the men on this list but Sir Anthony does deserve to be here. Not only did he twice spurn the already unlucky-in-love Edith, but the second time he did it by abandoning her on their wedding day. He may have been significantly older and therefore presumably wiser than Edith but his refusal to fight for their relationship in the face of critics (cough Robert cough) made him wholly unworthy of her. Still, no girl deserves to be jilted at the altar.

4. Richard Carlisle

Temperamental and power hungry, Carlisle sees everyone as a means to an end. He uses Mary’s secret about Mr. Pamuk to force her into an engagement and only helps others when it exponentially benefits him. Sure you can argue that Mary treated him poorly but the guy still lived and breathed blackmail. He preyed on the vulnerable in order to get ahead and was so dreadful, even Carson’s love for Mary could not persuade the butler to move to the couple’s planned estate and work for Carlisle.

3. Lord Grantham

For all of you who railed when you saw his name on the “Best” list, here’s your justice. Despite having many good qualities, Robert also nearly has an affair with a maid, almost lost the estate several times, is persistently snobbish and superior, and regularly too afraid of change to make the right decision. He was also likely, though not purposefully, a major cause of Sybil’s death. If it weren’t for people like Cora, the Dowager Countess, Matthew and Mary, Downton and the family would be in ruin because of Robert. It’s his ability to be such a good man one minute and disappointingly idiotic the next that gives him places on both lists.

2. Thomas Barrow

It is not just Thomas’ general nastiness but rather his absolute refusal to ever change his ways that makes him so awful. He has lied, cheated, stolen and even let himself get shot in the hand to get what he wanted. He is so reviled that when he was nearly cast out from Downton for mistakenly making a move on Jimmy, no one truly came to his aid except for Mr. Bates. Thomas’ response? To go back to being as spiteful as ever, including causing trouble for the Bateses. The resident prince of smirks nearly made the top spot if not for…

1. Mr. Green

This should go without saying. The valet to Lord Gillingham attacked and raped Anna downstairs while the rest of the household was enjoying a concert upstairs. Prior to that, he deliberately bated her into spending time with him, later using those instances as justification for his attack against her. He caused the eternally sweet Anna to feel “dirty” and viewers to feel consumed with rage and sadness. While some will argue that his lack of screen time disqualifies him from consideration, the severity of his actions make him an exception and earn him the number one slot on the “Worst” list.

Honorable mention: Kemal Pamuk

It felt unfair to list him in the top five because, well, he dies right after he’s introduced. But he’s worth a mention because in the brief span we knew him he seduced Mary and blackmailed Thomas (which might actually work in his favor, come to think of it). In his death, Mr. Pamuk was a frequent obstacle between the union of Matthew and Mary before she finally came clean and Matthew, charmingly, didn’t forgive her (he said there was nothing to forgive). If the Turkish diplomat had just kept his fly zipped much of the drama of the following seasons could have been avoided, and we might have gotten much more time with a happily together Matthew and Mary.

Do you agree with my list? Who do you think are the best and worst men of Downton Abbey?

Why You Should Catch up on Once Upon a Time in Wonderland

Originally published on For Your Excitement.  1 February  2014.
It has been a bumpy trip down the rabbit hole for Once Upon a Time in Wonderland. The spinoff to Once Upon a Time has received mixed reviews from critics and viewers and the ratings have been slowly declining. But that’s no reason count the fantasy/romance/adventure series out. After all, Veronica Mars only pulled 2.5 million viewers its first season and it has a highly anticipated feature film coming out next month.

The basic premise of the ABC show is this: Alice travels back to Wonderland to search for her lost love, genie Cyrus. The Knave of Hearts and the White Rabbit help her against the land’s many creatures and villains, including Jafar and the Red Queen. Just like on Once proper, we get flashbacks and bits of backstory as we progress as well as ties to classic fairytales and the writings of Lewis Carroll. Seems interesting enough right?

Whether you are already a Oncer, a Wonderer, or are uninitiated in either world, Wonderland is worth your time. Here are five reasons why:

1. It Gets Better

This is important to clarify right off the bat. I know some of you watched the pilot episode and were underwhelmed at best. It’s true that Wonderland’s first outing does not grab you the way its parent show did. At first glance Wonderland is clunky and exasperating but let’s recall that many of us initially felt this way about little shows like The Office. Keep with Wonderland through the slow moments and you’ll be rewarded with stellar episodes like “Forget Me Not” (Ep. 3) and “Bad Blood” (Ep. 7).

2. The Knave of Hearts

Arguably the most entertaining character on the show, the Knave aka Will provides most of Wonderland’s humor and action. As Alice’s partner and guide in searching for Cyrus, he routinely saves the day and the episode with his cleverness and charm. Michael Socha, with his delightfully thick accent, plays Will as a fighter, lover, smartass and all around adorable rogue. As we slowly learn Will’s backstory, I found I only loved him and his puppy dog eyes even more.

3. The Red Queen

It would have been easy for Wonderland’s creative team to just make their own Evil Queen aka Regina. Instead they opted for a character who you think is a mindless pawn but slowly unfolds to reveal an emotional depth and intelligence that downright surprised me. Thanks in large part to Emma Rigby’s controlled, simmering performance, by the midseason finale it was the Red Queen’s story I most looked forward to (sorry Alice).

4. The Laughs

I love a show that makes me laugh even if it’s unintentional. Sure there are funny moments when Will cracks a joke or the Red Queen delivers a snappy insult. But there are also moments like Jafar (Naveen Andrews) surfing away on his magic carpet like he’s catching a gnarly wave. Whether I am supposed to be as amused by this show as I am, I’m not sure. I do know that I thoroughly enjoy snickering and giggling through each episode and that’s enough for me.

5. The Excellent Midseason Finale

If you’re going to convince skeptics to stick with your show when it returns three months later you need a fantastic midseason finale. Wonderland delivers in spades, tying up some loose ends and providing us with the hint of fantastical new adventures ahead. For a show that often felt artificial in its sentimentality and poignancy, I was unexpectedly moved during the finale. I credit this mostly to a knockout performance by Emma Rigby (see above). While you could watch “Home” without seeing any other episodes and you would probably get along just fine, you’d be missing out on the true emotional punch it delivers.

So do yourself a favor and binge watch all eight of Wonderland’s episodes before the show returns on March 6th. Then tune in here for weekly recaps by yours truly.