It's an amazing time to be a Star Trek fan in 2016, especially one that grew up watching "The Original Series" and its sequel-esque film series that includes the epic cult classic "Star Trek II: Wrath of Khan" and the political conspiracy driven finale that is "Star Trek VI: The Undiscovered Country". The Trek franchise celebrates 50 years come September 8 this year, and much has come past the voyages of the original starship Enterprise - including a "Next Generation" manning a new legacy ship, the exploits of a space station called "Deep Space 9", and the journey of a lost ship called "Voyager". These are just some of the well-known spin-offs that have turned Gene Roddenberry's small science fiction idea into a mega popular franchise - which is honored with the timed release of a new installment in the semi-rebooted "Alternate Reality" film series that began with 2009's "Star Trek".
When Paramount Pictures pushed for production of what would eventually become "Star Trek Beyond" to meet the deadline of 2016 - the franchise's 50th Anniversary, there was plenty of changes and moves that began to make fans wonder how the film would fare under the command of a new director. J.J. Abrams, who directed the 2009 film and its 2013 sequel "Star Trek Into Darkness", would not return as director since he was helming Star Wars Episode VII: The Force Awakens. Instead, he and his production Bad Robot would serve as producers for the new sequel. Eventually, directorial duties would fall on the hands of Taiwanese American director Justin Lin - best known for his involvement in the Fast and Furious film franchise.
Production soon went as schedule, and when the first teaser arrived - it was met with mixed reactions from the fanbase. Eventually better suited trailers (like the one embedded below) were released and felt more appropriate for a "Star Trek" film... But the question was would Beyond meet expectations and serve to catapult more interest for new fans as well as honor longtime Trekkies at the same time? Check after the jump for my thoughts!
Most of us know the story of Tarzan - the wild man raised by the apes in the jungle and who has the ability to communicate with the animals of the wild. Created by Edgar Rice Burroughs, the character has seen so many adventures and adaptations since his first appearance in the early 1900's that he is considered one of the first "heroes" of fiction to date. Several film adaptations of Tarzan have also been made, varying to a degree on presenting his origins as well as assimilating back into civilization, marrying his true love Jane Porter, and eventually returning to his jungle roots following his disillusionment with mankind.
Now comes a film that dares to take a look into possibly expanding the mythos and pursuing the further adventures of the man who's birth name is John Clayton in "The Legend of Tarzan". Directed by David Yates of Harry Potter films fame as well as the upcoming spin-off film "Fantastic Beasts and Where To Find Them", The Legend of Tarzan is the kind of film that doesn't linger around the premise that it needs to retell Tarzan's origin story - rather we are propelled forward to a time when he has already been educated, returned to civilization, and is happily married to Jane Foster. Unfortunately, Tarzan once again gets called to the wild when an expedition at the Congo leads to the discovery that slavery is prevalent and the Belgium Government is seeking rich minerals to pay off their immense debts. What follows is an adventure that exposes conspiracies, reignites rivalries, and sees a hero reasserting his reputation as lord of the jungle.
THE LEGEND OF TARZAN - Official Trailer 2
Straightforward and action-packed in every way possible as well as combining a good mix of drama, comedy, and epic storytelling, The Legend of Tarzan features quite an ensemble cast that includes Alexander Skarsgard in the titular role, with Margot Robbie playing his lady love Jane Porter. Samuel L. Jackson provides the excellent action comedy relief as American envoy George Washington Williams, while Christoph Waltz plays the big bad henchman of King Leopold named Leon Rom. All these talents give level to the playing field in this movie, and the narrative is constructed well enough to give brief flashbacks of Tarzan's primal life while still maintaining focus on the present day adventure.
Ultimately, I'd recommend this film to Tarzan fans - especially those who grew up reading the books and watched the Disney animated movies and cartoons. It's the kind of film that feels on step with the mythos, and could potentially expand into a franchise if they decide to revisit this storybook hero's life again. Special Thanks again goes to Warner Bros. Philippines for bringing this to our shores! Go catch it now!
It's been a good few weeks since the latest installment of 20th Century Fox's X-Men Movies franchise hit theaters internationally, but now that X-Men: Apocalypse has finally opened in theaters in the US, I can give my thoughts on this newest chapter in the franchise that takes place 10 years after the events of 2014's "X-Men: Days of Future Past" and features the continuing adventures of the younger Professor X, Magneto, Mystique, as well as the introduction of the new versions of Cyclops, Jean Grey, Nightcrawler, and the other X-Men, as they encounter one of the biggest and most anticipated villains in the merry mutant group's rogues gallery - the titular baddie "Apocalypse" himself.
Once again directed by Bryan Singer and set in the edgy and synthesizer decade of the 80's, X-Men: Apocalypse sees Charles Xavier, better known as Professor X, fully establishing his school for gifted youngsters and continuing his dream for peaceful coexistence between mutants and humanity. Unfortunately this period also happens to be the perfect time for "En Sabah Nur" to awaken - a powerful and ancient mutant from the past who was betrayed and put into hibernation by his followers only to awaken and see the world "lost" and in need of cleansing. To set about his rule, the man who is known to comic book people as "Apocalypse"gathers four mutants to be his "Horsemen" - among them a disillusioned Erik Lehnsherr who tragically loses his family and reassumes his identity of "Magneto". With the entire world in peril and a series of events that sees Mystique resurfacing and new mutants rising for both sides, it will take a new generation of X-Men to put a stop to Apocalypse and his horsemen before the entire world and humanity see total destruction.
X-Men: Apocalypse | Final Trailer
Dubbed the final chapter of the "X-Men Prequel Trilogy" that started with 2011's X-Men: First Class and was completely given a clean slate with the timeline altering events in X-Men: Days of Future Past, X-Men: Apocalypse has everything going for it that should make it a fresh start and unique entry into the franchise dedicated to Marvel's Merry Mutants. Unfortunately it's not a perfect adaptation of what has been read and seen countless times in classic X-Men storylines, and Apocalypse is just barely the intimidating villain most fans will remember him to be from the comics. Oscar Isaac (who played Poe Dameron in Star Wars: The Force Awakens) does a stellar job playing this version of En Sabah Nur, but I would have expected more from the titular villain rather than being an evil mutant prophet seeking to reclaim his former glory. The Four Horsemen used in this film were also a gathering of well-known X-Men characters rather than a unique assemble of villains - with Storm, Psylocke, Angel, and Magneto representing that cause due to promises of power and retribution in the part of Apocalypse. That's not to say that those parts were not played well, and special shoutout goes to Olivia Munn, who gave quite a decent and comic book accurate performance as the fan favorite ninja like telepath and mutant.
As far as the younger versions of the X-Men go, fans will pick up and accept the new talents playing Cyclops, Jean Grey, Nightcrawler, and Storm in this film. Game of Thrones own Sansa Stark actress in Sophie Turner is the new actress playing the powerful telepath under Xavier's tutelage, while Tye Sheridan plays a pretty uncertain and coming of age Scott Summers, who just gains his uncontrollable optic blasts and quickly becomes one of the gifted thanks to his older brother Alex (aka Havoc, and yes the Summers siblings have switched positions on who is the eldest and youngest). Nightcrawler is just adorable and played hilariously by Australian actor Kodi Smit-McPhee, and Alexandra Shipp just nails the younger and circa 80's inspired mohawk version of Storm, who is a Horseman first in this film before becoming an X-Man proper. Also, Evan Peters returns as the brash and speedy mutant known as Quicksilver - which I find a bit overpowered in this film thanks to his ability to "run and stop time" per se. It's honestly a better depiction of the character compared to what is seen in Avengers: Age of Ultron, but then again Singer gives him a lot of scenes to showcase his powers and that's been done enough in DOFP.
Also, a certain fan-favorite mutant makes a cameo appearance in the film's third act. By the Final Trailer's footage alone, you know it's Hugh Jackman back as Wolverine. How that plays out though is best seen personally, and will entertain fans who have seen Logan's feral side unleashed thanks to experimentation.
Overall X-Men Apocalypse isn't the greatest entry in the franchise's history, but it certainly does entertain and put the spotlight on a new generation of actors and actresses who will become the new faces behind Marvel's famous band of mutants. The film suffers from having too many characters to work with, and some of the ones that needed the air time more (i.e Jubilee and Psylocke for example) get overshadowed by the major characters. Apocalypse could have played out better like his comic book counterpart, and the final battle felt rushed and messy rather than a proper conclusion. It makes one miss X-Men: First Class and how that film was presented without relying so much on special effects and more on emotional content. Still, this installment wraps up the "Prequel Trilogy" and sets up the next generation of films - with the next one reportedly set in 90's. That, along with DOFP fixing the timeline allows new stories to be told and integrated properly into this cinematic universe. We can only hope that the future will be bright for Xavier, Magneto, and the rest of the mutants moving forward.
