Though definitely not in the same league as Superman, Batman, Wonder Woman, Green Lantern or The Flash, Blue Beetle has all the ingredients to be a nice addition to DC’s movie universe. The character is getting his own DC movie and it will all come down to how well he’s handled. The brand new trailer for “Blue Beetle” dropped yesterday and it shows some real potential. At the same time, it also looks like a pretty standard superhero origin story. Hopefully it has enough of its own special sauce to set it apart.
Xolo Maridueña plays Jaime Reyes, a teenager who gains superpowers after he is “chosen” by an alien Blue Beetle scarab. Of course what follows (in the trailer) is Jaime learning his new powers (hijinks ensue) and eventually becoming a true hero. There’s some cool history with the Blue Beetle character (his comics debut was waaay back in 1939) which (again) leads to a lot of fun potential. Hopefully screenwriter Gareth Dunnet-Alcocer and director Angel Manuel Soto have more up their sleeves than just following a well-worn blueprint. I’m really looking forward to seeing more.
“Blue Beetle” lands in theaters on August 18th. Check out the trailer below and let me know if you’ll be seeing it or taking a pass.
Apple Original Films, working in partnership with Sony Pictures Entertainment, dropped an exciting bit of news today. Ridley Scott’s historical epic “Napoleon” will be receive a worldwide theatrical release on Wednesday, November 22nd. The film stars Joaquin Phoenix, Vanessa Kirby, Tahar Rahim, Ben Miles, Ludivine Sagnier, Matthew Needham, Youssef Kerkour, and Phil Cornwell. “Napoleon” will stream globally on Apple TV+ following its exclusive theatrical release. Along with the special announcement came a striking new image (see below) from the upcoming film.
Here’s the official press announcement:
Apple Original Films announced today that the epic historical drama “Napoleon” from acclaimed director Ridley Scott will first be released exclusively in theaters worldwide, in partnership with Sony Pictures Entertainment, on Wednesday, November 22, before streaming globally on Apple TV+.
Directed by Scott from a screenplay by David Scarpa, “Napoleon” stars Joaquin Phoenix as the French emperor and military leader. The film is an original and personal look at Napoleon’s origins and his swift, ruthless climb to emperor, viewed through the prism of his addictive and often volatile relationship with his wife and one true love, Josephine, played by Vanessa Kirby. The film captures Napoleon’s famous battles, relentless ambition and astounding strategic mind as an extraordinary military leader and war visionary. An Apple Studios production in conjunction with Scott Free Productions, “Napoleon” is produced by Scott, Kevin Walsh, Mark Huffam and Phoenix, with Michael Pruss and Aidan Elliott serving as executive producers.
Momentum around the Apple Original Films slate continues to grow since the debut of Apple TV+ just over three years ago. In addition to Apple making history as the first streaming service to land the Academy Award for Best Picture with “CODA,” Apple Original Film “The Boy, the Mole, the Fox and the Horse” also recently earned the Academy Award for Best Animated Short. “Napoleon” will premiere alongside upcoming Apple Original Films including the broadly praised “Tetris,” which stars Taron Egerton and recently held its world premiere at SXSW; acclaimed documentary “STILL: A Michael J. Fox Movie”; feature documentary and Sundance selection “Underrated: Stephen Curry”; “Ghosted,” a high-concept romantic action adventure film starring Chris Evans and Ana de Armas; “Killers of the Flower Moon,” the upcoming film starring Academy Award winners Leonardo DiCaprio and Robert De Niro, as well as newcomer Lily Gladstone, from Academy Award-winning director Martin Scorsese; the star-studded spy thriller “Argylle,” with Henry Cavill, Sam Rockwell, Bryce Dallas Howard, Bryan Cranston, Catherine O’Hara, John Cena, Dua Lipa, Ariana DeBose and Samuel L. Jackson, and more.
Sony Pictures’ distinct commitment to exclusive theatrical windows has driven significant box office returns including that of hit films “Spider-Man: No Way Home,” “Venom: Let There Be Carnage,” “Uncharted,” “Where the Crawdads Sing,” “Bullet Train,” “The Woman King,” and “A Man Called Otto.”
Continuing their year-long celebration of their 100th anniversary, Warner Bros. Discovery Home Entertainment has announced “Rebel Without a Cause” 4K resolution with High Dynamic Range (HDR). This beautifully packaged release also includes the film on standard Blu-ray and digital. This landmark coming-of-age drama features James Dean’s most celebrated role and was originally released less than one month after his tragic death. This handsome new edition is a must for long-time fans and collectors.
The 4K Ultra HD, Blu-ray, and Digital edition of “Rebel Without a Cause” hits shelves April 4th, 2023. See below for a full synopsis and features breakdown of this brand new combo-pack.
Year: 1955
Rating: NR
Runtime: 111 Minutes
Director: Nicholas Ray
Starring: James Dean, Natalie Wood, Sal Mineo, Jim Backus, Ann Doran, Corey Allen, William Hopper, Rochelle Hudson, Edward Platt, Marietta Canty, Dennis Hopper, Virginia Brissac.
James Dean stars in a movie that shocked the United States with a performance that still electrifies the screen twenty-five years after his untimely death prior to the film’s release. In this archetypal drama of teenage angst and rebellion, three high school students who should lead idyllic lives in their stable, comfortable suburban families explode with a violence and sexuality that their parents cannot understand. This film–which ripped the façade from the post-war American dream to expose the rage of the country’s youth–resonates with an energy that has made it a modern classic and a powerful coming-of-age story.
The 1955 film is directed by Nicholas Ray from a story by Ray, a screenplay by Stewart Stern and an adaptation by Irving Shulman. It is produced by David Weisbart and James Dean, Natalie Wood, Sal Mineo, Jim Backus, Ann Doran, Corey Allen, and William Hopper.
In 1990, “Rebel Without a Cause” was added to the Library of Congress’s National Film Registry as being deemed “culturally, historically, and aesthetically significant”.
BONUS FEATURES
Rebel Without a CauseUltra HD Blu-ray contains the following previously released special features:
Commentary Douglas L. Rathgeb
“James Dean Remembered” (1974 TV special)
“Rebel Without a Cause: Defiant Innocents” (featurette)
“Dennis Hopper: Memories from the Warner Lot” (featurette)
Screen Tests
Wardrobe Tests
Deleted Scenes
Ultra HD Blu-ray Languages: English, Spanish, French
Ultra HD Blu-ray Subtitles: English SDH, Spanish, Parisian French
I won’t pretend to know much about Dungeons & Dragons other than it has been an immensely popular tabletop role-playing game for nearly five decades. That’s pretty much all I know about the game itself. I do know it has spawned several novels, some not-so-great feature films, a Saturday morning cartoon, and a number of video game spin-offs. To say it has impacted popular culture would be an understatement.
Still for me, seeing the name Dungeons & Dragons attached doesn’t exactly grab my attention. That was especially true when the new film “Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves” was announced. But this turned out to be one of those cases where the trailers and TV spots slowly won me over. Before long I had gone from “thanks but no thanks” to “show me where to buy my ticket”. So I checked it out. And wouldn’t you know it, “Honor Among Thieves” is one of the bigger surprises of the movie year so far. It’s not without issues, but it makes for a good time.
Directed by Jonathan Goldstein and John Francis Daley, “Honor Among Thieves” is a fantasy action adventure comedy and a needed franchise reboot. And it’s no B-movie cheapie. The film has a reported $151 million budget which thankfully is put to good use – from its wonderful visual effects, exciting locations, fantastic action set pieces, and an immensely fun cast. That’s an overload of adjectives, but in these cases they fit.
Image Courtesy of Paramount Pictures
What drew me most to the trailers was the comedy, and for the most part the movie delivers the humor. Maybe not as much as I had hoped, but it’s there. It’s just goofy enough to not take itself too seriously which is a good thing. And you’ll find some genuinely funny gags scattered all throughout the 134-minute runtime. But what can I say? I was hoping it would be even sillier. But that’s a small quibble for a movie that’s actually a lot of fun.
In the mystical land of Faerûn, a doltish bard named Edgin Darvis (Chris Pine) and an exiled Barbarian named Holga Kilgore (Michelle Rodriguez) are serving time in a remote icy prison for “grand larceny and skullduggery”. During what amounts to their parole hearing, we learn that Edgin’s wife was killed by a Red Wizard leaving him to raise their daughter Kira (Chloe Coleman). He befriended Holga and the two became thieves, along with their friends – a cut-rate sorcerer named Simon (Justice Smith) and a cheeky con-man named Forge (Hugh Grant). The foursome swipe from the wealthy with Edgin using his part of the spoils to help better Kira’s life.
But when one particular risky heist goes bad, Edgin and Holga are trapped while their cohorts escape. Before leaving, Edgin charges Forge with taking care of Kira and keeping her safe until he can return. That was two years ago. Now Edgin and Holga are pleading their case before the prison “parole” board. But before they can hear a verdict, the two bust out of jail and head back home so Edgin can reunite with Kira. But wouldn’t you know it, a lot has changed in two years.
Edgin discovers that Forge has become the Lord of Neverwinter, living lavishly and ruling with the help of the mysterious wizard named Sofina (Daisy Head). Even worse, since taking over as Kira’s guardian, Forge has turned her against Edgin, filling her head full of lies. So Edgin and Holga hatch a plan to rescue Kira, first reuniting with Simon and then adding a shape-shifting tiefling druid named Doric (Sophia Lillis) to their ranks. They’re even joined a dashing paladin named Xenk Yendar (a scene-stealing Regé-Jean Page who unfortunately leaves far too early).
Image Courtesy of Paramount Pictures
Some may be wondering how much they need to know about Dungeons & Dragons in order to get “Honor Among Thieves”. I can say from personal experience – not much. The story (penned by Goldstein, Daley, and Michael Gilio) is pretty straightforward and easy to follow. I’m sure there are numerous nods and winks scattered throughout that fans of the game with pick up on. But they’re nothing that the uninitiated (like me) would see as egregious.
The performances are all spot-on starting with Chris Pine whose charisma allows him to be brazenly silly but also believably warm-hearted. Page is a lot of fun, right up until he vanishes. And Rodriguez, who’s no stranger to tough-girl roles, really shines. Then of course there’s Hugh Grant, so perfectly cast as the film’s roguish yet delightfully goofy antagonist. There’s even one particularly great cameo that everyone should enjoy.
Admittedly, while I liked “Honor Among Thieves”, I wasn’t as into its overall story as I wanted to be. That said, much of the enjoyment comes from simply hanging out with this ragtag group as they bop along to fantastical locales, encounter creatures of all kinds, and learn to work together in the process. Along the way we’re treated to some good laughs, some exciting action, and some fun camaraderie. It makes this a considerably more entertaining experience than I first expected. And it’s one worth catching on the big screen – where all its visual flourishes and flavor really stands out. “Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves” is in theaters now.
As part of the year-long celebration of Warner Bros. Studio’s 100th anniversary, Warner Bros. Discovery Home Entertainment has announced “The Maltese Falcon” for the first time in 4K resolution and High Dynamic Range (HDR). This Humphrey Bogart film noir classic originally released in 1941 and marked the memorable directorial debut for the great John Huston. The film still holds up extremely well, and this beautiful new edition highlights many of the reasons why. Read my full review of the film HERE.
This 4K Ultra HD, Blu-ray, and Digital edition of “The Maltese Falcon” hits shelves April 4th, 2023. See below for a full synopsis and features breakdown of this brand new combo-pack.
OFFICIAL SYNOPSIS
Year: 1941
Rating: NR
Runtime: 101 minutes
Directors: John Huston
Starring: Humphrey Bogart, Mary Astor, Gladys George, Peter Lorre, Sydney Greenstreet, Peter MacLane, Lee Patrick, Ward Bond, Jerome Cowen
Academy Award winner Humphrey Bogart stars in this classic film noir as tough San Francisco private detective Sam Spade in the classic, convoluted story of Spade’s involvement with a deadly band of international thieves who will lie, double cross and murder to obtain a small, jewel-encrusted statue known as The Maltese Falcon. Sam Spade’s (Bogart) partner, Miles Archer (Jerome Cowan), accepts a job protecting a young woman (Mary Astor). Neither Spade nor Archer believe the woman or the story she tells them, but they do believe her money. Then, when Archer is murdered, Spade’s search for the killer drags him in the web of lies and death spun by the desperate people seeking The Maltese Falcon.
The 1941 film is directed by John Huston in his directorial debut. The screenplay is by Huston and is based on the 1930 novel by Dashiell Hammett. The film stars Humphrey Bogart, Mary Astor, Gladys George, Peter Lorre, Barton MacLane, Lee Patrick, and Sydney Greenstreet.
The Maltese Falcon was nominated for three Academy Awards for Best Picture, Best Supporting Actor (Sydney Greenstreet) and Best Adapted Screenplay (John Huston). Considered one of the greatest films of all time, it was one of the first 25 films selected by the Library of Congress to be included in the National Film Registry for being “culturally, historically, or aesthetically significant.”
BONUS FEATURES
The Maltese FalconUltra HD Blu-ray contains the following previously released special features:
Commentary by Eric Lax
“Warner Night at the Movies”
“Sergeant York” Trailer
“New Highlights of the Roosevelt Churchill Parley” (newsreel)
“The Gay Parisian” (1941 WB short)
“Meet John Doughboy” (1941 WB cartoon)
The Maltese Falcon: One Magnificent Brid
Becoming Attractions: The Trailers of Humphrey Bogart
Breakdowns of 1941 (WB short)
Make-up Tests
2/8/43 Lux Radio Theater Broadcast
9/20/43 Screen Guild Theater Broadcast
7/3/46 Academy Award Theater Broadcast
Trailers
1936 “Satan Met a Lady”
1941 “The Maltese Falcon”
Ultra HD Blu-ray Languages: English, Spanish, French
Ultra HD Blu-ray Subtitles: English SDH, Spanish, Parisian French
It can be a little challenging to understand Netflix’s metrics for what constitutes a financial success on their platform. To my knowledge the streaming leader hasn’t really opened up about their formula. But rather than box office ticket sales, they seem to mostly rely on viewer counts, click rates, and (of course) revenue, specifically new subscribers coinciding with an original film’s release. And most certainly production budgets have to figure in.
Some believe reviews play a part, which is funny considering Netflix signed and extended a lucrative development deal with Adam Sandler’s Happy Madison Productions whose films are routinely hammered by critics. Obviously it’s because Sandler’s films are (by some measure) profitable. Take his 2019 comedy “Murder Mystery”. While I don’t think Netflix ever formally announced the film’s production budget, they did share that it broke a number of the platform’s streaming records at the time despite a pretty tepid reception from critics.
But whether on the big screen or a streaming service, we live in an age of sequels which leads to “Murder Mystery 2”, the latest lightweight Sandler concoction that sees him and several of his friends enjoying more vacation time on Netflix’s dime. This time it’s to the Caribbean and Paris. That means we’re guaranteed some gorgeous sun-soaked island vistas and the beautiful sites of the City of Lights. Unfortunately that’s about all we get.
Image Courtesy of Netflix
“Murder Mystery” wasn’t a great movie, but it wasn’t a terrible watch either. In fact, it had its moments and was significantly more tolerable than much of what has come out of the Happy Madison camp. But nothing about its slack and uninspired sequel clicks. It feels as if Sandler and company are simply cashing checks and coasting. There’s no doubt the cast is having a good time. Unfortunately the fun they seem to be having doesn’t exactly carry over to us.
Following the events of the first film, husband and wife Nick (Sandler) and Audrey (Aniston) Spitz have quit their jobs and gone into the private detecting business. But unfortunately for them, business hasn’t been good. Audrey thinks they need to be officially licensed if they want to make it as private dicks. Nick thinks all they need is better marketing. It never occurred to them that maybe they simply aren’t very good at it. Regardless, their struggles has led to some tension in their marriage.
Then they get a call from The Maharajah (Adeel Akhtar), a billionaire Indian businessman and wannabe rapper from the first film. He tells them he’s about to get married to a French woman named Claudette (Mélanie Laurent – how did she get involved in this?) and invites them for an all expenses paid stay on his private island to attend their wedding. Mutually agreeing that they need a break from “work”, Nick and Audrey take his offer and are whisked away on their posh tropical getaway.
Image Courtesy of Netflix
Things seem to be going great until the night of the bride and groom’s extravagant rehearsal dinner. A bodyguard is murdered and the Maharajah is kidnapped and taken off the island. Without much thought, Nick and Audrey immediately deduce that someone on the inside is working with the kidnappers. Their list of suspects includes the soon-to-be married Claudette, the Maharajah’s antisocial sister Saira (Kuhoo Verma), a womanizing former soccer player Francisco (Enrique Arce), and a snooty rich countess named Sekou (Jodie Turner-Smith).
Returning screenwriter James Vanderbilt attempts to give each suspect some semblance of a motive. But he and director Jeremy Garelick (replacing Kyle Newacheck) spend so little time on developing their characters (and even less on their story) that it’s impossible to invest much into any supposed mystery. Things only get worse when Nick and Audrey jaunt off to Paris, working with SAS Agent Miller (Mark Strong in a thankless role) to lure out the kidnappers.
After inundating us with lazy gags, lame stereotypes, and unoriginal plot turns, everything culminates in a hopelessly silly action sequence at the Eiffel Tower where the very few pieces of the mystery come together in the most unimaginative way possible. And if that wasn’t enough, the movie ultimately ends with a shamelessly cheap cliffhanger that turns out to be a fitting nail in the coffin of this paper-thin and woefully unfunny whodunnit. “Murder Mystery 2” premieres today on Netflix.
Keith & the Movies 