Universal Pictures has dropped the poster and first trailer for their 2024 action comedy “The Fall Guy” (see both below). Loosely based on the 1980’s television series starring Lee Majors and Heather Thomas, this remake (of sorts) is helmed by stuntman turned director David Leitch. The film was definitely on my radar due to its fun 80s connection and its stellar cast. But the first trailer may make me temper my expectations just a bit.

Ryan Gosling plays a past-his-prime stuntman named Colt Seavers while Emily Blunt plays his ex-girlfriend Jody Moreno. She’s all set to direct her first film. But when her hunky star, Tom Ryder (Aaron Taylor-Johnson) disappears, she tasks her old flame Colt with finding him (or something like that). The trailer shows us an unapologetically goofy film full of over-the-top set pieces. It shows Gosling continuing his move away from somber to silly and Blunt doing what she can with what looks like a pretty flimsy role. The cheap and incessant use on Bon Jovi’s “You Give Love a Bad Name” doesn’t exactly help. We’ll see.

“The Fall Guy” hits theaters March 1, 2024. Check out the trailer below and let me know if you’ll be seeing it or taking a pass.

20th Century Studios and Disney have released new details for their upcoming action-adventure film “Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes”. Today we got our first in-depth look at the feature via a new trailer, new poster, and several new images from this long-awaited next chapter in the epic “Planet of the Apes” saga. The film is set to premiere exclusively in theaters on May 24, 2024. Here’s all the information from today’s announcement.

From the Studio:

Director Wes Ball breathes new life into the global, epic franchise set several generations in the future following Caesar’s reign, in which apes are the dominant species living harmoniously and humans have been reduced to living in the shadows. As a new tyrannical ape leader builds his empire, one young ape undertakes a harrowing journey that will cause him to question all that he has known about the past and to make choices that will define a future for apes and humans alike.

“Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes” is directed by Wes Ball (the “Maze Runner” trilogy) and stars Owen Teague (“IT”), Freya Allan (“The Witcher”), Kevin Durand (“Locke & Key”), Peter Macon (“Shameless”), and William H. Macy (“Fargo”). The screenplay is by Josh Friedman (“War of the Worlds”) and Rick Jaffa & Amanda Silver (“Avatar: The Way of Water”) and Patrick Aison (“Prey”), based on characters created by Rick Jaffa & Amanda Silver, and the producers are Wes Ball, Joe Hartwick, Jr. (“The Maze Runner”), Rick Jaffa, Amanda Silver, Jason Reed (“Mulan”), with Peter Chernin (the “Planet of the Apes” trilogy) and Jenno Topping (“Ford v. Ferrari”) serving as executive producers.

Martin Scorsese’s Western crime drama “Killers of the Flower Moon” has been out for over two weeks and the reactions have been fascinating. The three-and-a-half-hour, $200 million epic has received widespread critical acclaim while making a modest but expected $90 million at the box office so far. But it has also received criticisms, the most prevalent involving Scorsese’s choice to tell so much of his story from the perspective of the white villains rather than the Native American victims.

To be clear, there’s certainly nothing “unfair” about wanting to see this story told from the Native American perspective. I would watch that movie in a heartbeat. But it is a bit unfair to criticize Scorsese for not being the one to tell that story. There are a number of reasons. Here are just a few…

1. This is Scorsese’s Story.

The most basic defense is also one of the more reasonable ones. Simply put, Martin Scorsese is the storyteller here. He’s the creator, the author, and the artist. We have to be careful when we begin making such demands on art. Part of what makes art of any kind special is the freedom of individual expression. Obviously in cinema it takes more than one person to create. But most of the time it’s driven by a filmmaker’s vision. And as critics, we should judge their execution of their vision rather than the story we would rather hear/see.

2. Is He the Right Person to Speak From Their Perspective?

As mentioned, there is nothing wrong with longing for a film that shows these events from the Native American perspective. Whether a documentary or a narrative feature, it’s a movie I’d love to see funded and distributed. But is Martin Scorsese the person people want representing such a meaningful and intensely personal perspective? It’s not hard to predict the criticisms (many of them legitimate) that would immediately arise if he were to try. And who knows, maybe Scorsese didn’t feel he could do the indigenous perspective justice. That’s a reasonable and admirable position.

3. There’s Nothing Wrong with the Perspective He Chose.

Scorsese is a smart filmmaker and storyteller therefore his use of perspective isn’t done without consideration or purpose. In the case of “Killers of the Flower Moon”, it’s a decision made with a very distinct goal in mind. His aim wasn’t just to show the faces of evil. He intended to show us how evil operates, often in plain site. He shows the machinations of unbridled power and the poisoning effects of unconstrained greed. And he vividly does so through the eyes of the purveyors of such evil. I found it to be extremely effective.

There is the broader question of whether or not a Native American filmmaker would be given the same resources to tell this story from their perspective. I have a hard time believing that studios would invest as much as they would for an established big name director. That’s a meaningful conversation to have. But that’s certainly not Scorsese’s fault. He has earned his reputation and his legacy speaks for itself.

Scorsese’s approach to “Killers of the Flower Moon” combines a gritty realism with an earnest sensitivity. Those are essential ingredients to the story he’s telling – one that fits his vision, passion, and convictions. And those things are what make the film uniquely his. That gets to the heart of artistry. And once we start judging art on what we want it to be rather than what the artist intends, it slowly begins to lose its power. And that’s something we should never let happen.

It’s Halloween and what better time to revisit my Phenomenal 5: The Horror Classics edition. The horror genre goes way back to the silent movie era and it has kept audiences fascinated ever since. While you won’t find any films that old on my list, these are still true horror classics that everyone should see (especially on Halloween night). Of course considering how broad of a subject, I wouldn’t call this the definitive list. But you can’t deny that these 5 horror movie classics are nothing short of phenomenal.

#5 – “Psycho”

Alfred Hitchcock’s 1960 masterpiece “Psycho” sports what is arguably the most well-known scene in horror movie history. But there’s so much greatness beyond that memorable murder in the shower at the hands…err, knife of Norman Bates. Anthony Perkins is unforgettably creepy and you know something is off with Bates from the first moment you see him until that final unnerving grin. And of course there is his macabre relationship with his dear, dear mother. “Psycho” still holds up brilliantly and it’s the perfect mix of mystery and horror presented with the sharp style of a master filmmaker.

#4 – “Halloween”

Oh there are so many things I love about “Halloween”. The great John Carpenter gives us a host of special ingredients that has made this movie both influential and timeless. “Halloween” gives us the quintessential scream queen Jamie Lee Curtis. It gives us the frightening Michael Myers. It gives us Donald Pleasence’s wonderfully goofy prophecies of doom. And how can you forget the simple yet haunting piano score by Carpenter himself. Working with an incredibly small budget, the movie still broke new ground and invented many of the genre tropes that are still imitated today.

#3 – “The Evil Dead”

In 1981 two young new filmmakers Sam Raimi and Bruce Campbell made what would become one of the scariest horror movies of all time. “The Evil Dead” is another example of how to create a great horror film with the tiniest of budgets. It’s a highly influential picture that spawned two uniquely great sequels. It tells the story of five college kids who spend spring break in an isolated cabin in the woods. They accidentally release demonic spirits who begin possessing the friends one by one. “The Evil Dead” is a genuinely creepy experience and everything from its wicked concept to the unsettling makeup effects contribute to it. And of course it introduced us to Campbell’s wonderful character Ash. Nuff said.

#2 – “The Texas Chainsaw Massacre”

For years I thought “The Texas Chainsaw Massacre” was based on a true story. That belief made the movie all the more frightening. Once I learned it was largely fictional I was surprised to find it still had the same effect on me. Tobe Hooper directed, produced, and co-wrote this classic film, making it for under $300,000 and casting a group of unknowns. The story of five friends who encounter a cannibalistic family in rural Texas didn’t rely on buckets of blood and gore for its frights. Instead Hooper creates a disturbing sense of unease with this material alone. Throw in Leatherface and pinches of dark comedy and you have one of the greatest horror movies of all-time.

#1 – “Night of the Living Dead”

George Romero’s classic “Night of the Living Dead” was the first horror movie that really affected me. Culturally speaking, this is the film that put zombies on the map and inspired the insanely popular horror sub-genre. As with some others on this list, Romero uses a small budget and no-name actors yet develops a horror film that truly broke new ground. Expertly crafted and wonderfully unsettling, “Night of the Living Dead” sets its creepy tone and sustains it through smart and crafty filmmaking. I love everything about Romero’s classic. Not only is it my favorite horror movie, it’s one of my favorite movies of all time, period.

So there you have five phenomenal horror movie classics to curl up with tonight. They’re also five films that prove if you’re creative and skilled you don’t need loads of money and a big backing to make a great horror picture. So what did I miss? What would you have included on your list? Please take time to let me know in the comments section below.

Warner Brothers Home Entertainment is bringing “Blue Beetle” to home video on crisp 4K Ultra HD. This standalone feature film marks the first time the titular DC Comics superhero has appeared on the big screen. Despite underperforming at the box office the movie earned itself many fans among critics and audiences who praised it for its smaller contained story and diverse cast. So for anyone who missed it in theaters now is your chance to give it a watch. Read my full review of “Blue Beetle” HERE.

This 4K Ultra HD plus Digital Copy edition of “Blue Beetle” releases October 31st. See below for a full synopsis and release information.

About the Film:

Year: 2023

Runtime: 127 Minutes

Director: Ángel Manuel Soto

Screenwriter: Gareth Dunnet-Alcocer

Cast: Xolo Maridueña, Adriana Barraza, Damían Alcázar, Elpidia Carrillo, Susan Sarandon, Geroge Lopez, Bruna Marquezine, Raoul Max Trujillo, Belissa Escobedo, Harvey Guillén

Rating: PG-13 for Sequences of Action and Violence, Language, and Some Suggestive References

From the Studio:

Recent college grad Jaime Reyes returns home full of aspirations for his future, only to find that home is not quite as he left it. As he searches to find his purpose in the world, fate intervenes when Jaime unexpectedly finds himself in possession of an ancient relic of alien biotechnology: the Scarab. When the Scarab suddenly chooses Jaime to be its symbiotic host, he is bestowed with an incredible suit of armor capable of extraordinary and unpredictable powers, forever changing his destiny as he becomes the Super Hero Blue Beetle.

Starring alongside Maridueña (“Cobra Kai”) are Adriana Barraza (“Rambo: Last Blood,” “Thor”), Damían Alcázar (“Narcos,” “Narcos: Mexico”), Elpidia Carrillo (“Mayans M.C.,” the “Predator” films), Bruna Marquezine (“Maldivas,” “God Save the King”), Raoul Max Trujillo (the “Sicario” films, “Mayans M.C.”), with Oscar winner Susan Sarandon (“Monarch,” “Dead Man Walking”), and George Lopez (the “Rio and “Smurf” franchises). The film also stars Belissa Escobedo (“American Horror Stories,” “Hocus Pocus 2”) and Harvey Guillén (“What We Do in the Shadows”).

Soto (“Charm City Kings,” “The Farm”) directs from a screenplay by Gareth Dunnet-Alcocer (“Miss Bala”), based on characters from DC. John Rickard and Zev Foreman are producing, with Walter Hamada, Galen Vaisman and Garrett Grant serving as executive producers.

The director’s creative team behind the scenes includes director of photography Pawel Pogorzelski (“Midsommar,” “Hereditary”), production designer John Billington (“Bad Boys for Life”), editor Craig Alpert (“Deadpool 2,” “The Lost City”), Oscar-nominated costume designer Mayes C. Rubeo (“Jojo Rabbit,” the “Thor” films), visual effects supervisor Kelvin McIlwain (“The Suicide Squad,” “Aquaman”) and composer Bobby Krlic (“Midsommar,” the “Snowpiercer” series).

Special Features:

“Blue Beetle” Premium Digital Ownership, 4K UHD and Blu-ray contain the following:  

• “Generations: Blue Beetle” – 4-part documentary
  • Told in distinct chapters, explore the journeys of actors and filmmakers bringing “Blue Beetle” to the big screen for the first time ever. Audiences will be immersed in the POV of filmmakers who showcase their experiences on set and in their creative studios making the story of this DC character a reality.
• Nana Knows Best – featurette
  • Witness Nana’s transformation from an adorable ‘abuelita’ into a machine gun-wielding revolutionary, and stop in for a few of her most fun moments on set throughout production.
• Scarab Vision – 2-part featurette
  • Xolo Maridueña hosts this series of scene study walk throughs that showcases how the scarab works and the role it plays in some of Blue Beetle’s most epic moments.

Sony Pictures Home Entertainment is releasing a new limited edition steelbook of Roland Emmerich’s 1998 big budget creature feature “Godzilla”. This handsomely packaged combo-pack features the film in 4K Ultra High Definition. It also includes a Blu-ray and digital copy. Based on the character owned and created by Toho Co. Ltd., “Godzilla” 1998 was the 23rd film in the popular monster franchise and the first to be completely Hollywood produced.

This 4K Ultra HD limited edition steelbook of “Godzilla” releases TODAY, October 24th. See below for a full synopsis and release information.

About the Film:

Year: 1998

Runtime: 138 Minutes

Director: Roland Emmerich

Screenwriter: Dean Devlin & Roland Emmerich

Cast: Matthew Broderick, Jean Reno, Maria Pitillo, Hank Azaria, Kevin Dunn, Michael Lerner, Harry Shearer, Arabella Field, Vicki Lewis, Lorry Goldman, Doug Savant, Malcolm Danare, Ralph Manza, Glenn Morshower

Rating: PG-13 for Sci-Fi Monster Action/Violence

Synopsis:

Following French atomic bomb tests in the South Pacific, an unknown creature is spotted passing through the Panama Canal. Scientist Niko Tatopoulos is called in to investigate the matter, and he quickly arrives at the conclusion that a giant, irradiated lizard has been created by the explosions. Godzilla then makes its way north, landing in Manhattan to begin wreaking havoc in the big city.

Special Features:

4K ULTRA HD DISC

• Feature presented in 4K resolution with Dolby Vision
• Dolby Atmos + 5.1 audio
• 4K Ultra HD Feature Picture: 2160p Ultra High Definition, 2.40:1
• 4K Ultra HD Feature Audio: English Dolby Atmos (Dolby TrueHD 7.1 Compatible) | English 5.1 DTS-HD MA, French (Doublé au Québec), Spanish 5.1 Dolby Digital
• Special Feature:
  • Theatrical Trailers

BLU-RAY DISC

• Feature presented in High Definition
• 5.1 audio
• Special Features:
  • Visual Effects Commentary
  • Behind the Scenes of Godzilla^® with Charles Caiman
  • All Time Best of Godzilla^® Fight Scenes
  • “Heroes” Music Video by The Wallflowers