CS Collectibles: DC Direct, Plus Batman Animated & More!

Hello and welcome to the latest edition of CS Collectibles, ComingSoon.net’s newest weekly column that brings you the best in premium collectibles! Find out all the latest on statues, figures, posters, cards, eBay deals, Amazon deals & much more below!

RELATED: CS Collectibles: DC Direct, Plus Batman Animated & More!

Sideshow Collectibles

Court of the Dead: Dark Harvest is a bidding and bluffing game (for 3-6 players) set in the dark fantasy universe of the Court of the Dead.

Trapped between the heavenly host and the demonic horde, you have been charged with harvesting the souls of mortals and dividing them evenly between these two equally corrupt celestial overlords. But the Alltaker – leader of the Underworld – has other plans. In support of the Alltaker’s covert rebellion against Heaven and Hell, you must secretly gather your forces and work to save as many souls as possible. All of your guile and wits will be put the test. For if the Dark Harvest comes up short, nothing will save you from the celestials’ wrath.

A light-weight bidding and bluffing game set in the dark fantasy world of Sideshow’s Court of the Dead. With a unique 2-currency bidding system, players use both their own political influence and the souls of the dead to win the favor of the Court and stave off celestial annihilation. Win through clever bidding or outright sabotage. There are multiple paths to victory and a variety of characters to interact with creating a highly replayable game.

Click here to purchase!

The Deadpool Bust measures 11” tall, as the Merc with a Mouth prepares to draw his dual katana blades in battle. His latest close shave might have been a bit much, though- Deadpool has been sliced through, revealing his guts for all to see. But don’t worry, he’ll be fine- they don’t call him the regenerating degenerate for nothing! Situated on top of a stone-like pillar base, the Deadpool Bust features more Wade Wilson than you ever wanted. This polyresin collectible features a fully sculpted costume detailed with shoulder pads (for whatever shoulder he has left), as well as pouches, straps, and textured black panels to complete his signature look.

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The Thor: Breaker of Brimstone Premium Format Figure measures 25.5” tall, as the God of Thunder summons the strength of Mjolnir to fight his molten foe Surtur. As Thor descends into the realm of Muspelheim, plumes of lava erupt from around the fire giant-themed base.

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The Colossus Premium Format Figure measures 21.5” tall on a Danger Room base covered in mechanical debris, with a destroyed spike ball weapon embedded in the floor.

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Sideshow’s depiction of Wonder Woman as portrayed by Gal Gadot in Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice! Expertly crafted by our in-house team and rendered with supreme movie-accuracy, she is a proud addition to our lineup of DC Comics Premium Format Figures. Standing 20” tall, this awe-inspiring new figure depicts everyone’s favorite Amazonian Princess in a suitably dynamic pose; stepping into action, sword drawn, and prepared to face any foe!

Click here to purchase!

Diamond Select

A Diamond Select Toys release! The Thor: Ragnarok movie brought us one of the most exciting Hulk looks ever, and this Marvel gallery PVC diorama captures him at his most enraged! Measuring approximately 12 inches tall, this sculpture of a fully armored Hulk wielding twin weapons is the must-have collectable from Thor: Ragnarok. Featuring detailed sculpting and paint applications, this 9-inch scale diorama comes packaged in a full-color window box and is in scale to all other gallery and Femme Fatales figures. Sculpted by Rocco Tartamella! On sale for $56.82 + free shipping, 19% off!

Click here to purchase!

Trevor Belmont, last survivor of the house of Belmont. Embittered and excommunicated, he finds himself drawn into a battle for the survival of Europe – a region that has brought doom upon itself by taking away the one thing its greatest monster loved. This PVC Diorama of Trevor Belmont is based on his appearance in the Netflix TV series Castlevania. It is made of high-grade plastic and features collectible-quality paint applications. Designed by Caesar, sculpted by Rocco Tartamella. Currently an Amazon’s Choice at $26.32 + free returns, 47% off!

Click here to purchase!

Mondo

By the Power of Grayskull, you too can have the Power! Mondo is proud to bring you the next figure in our Masters of the Universe sixth scale figure line- Man-At-Arms! Featuring over 30 points of articulation, fabric costume elements, and a lot of accessories (and we mean a lot!), this is the most powerfully man at arms figure you will ever find, from here to the government of Eternia!

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ALMOST SOLD OUT! Designed Michael Bonanno, sculpted by Tom “Thor” Thordarson, and produced with the gremlins at Tiki Farm, The Mogwai Tiki Stackers will remind you that some rules shouldn’t be broken, but can be fun if they are! This Mogwai variant of the Mogwai Tiki Stackers features a multicolored Mogwai glaze combination.

Click here to purchase!

Iron Studios

Batman Deluxe Art Scale 1/10 – By Eddy Barrows – Exclusive Version. Limited Edition in only 250 pieces. Based on original concept by Eddy Barrows.

Click here to purchase!

From Iron Studios comes the 1/10 scale Maria Hill, based on the character from Marvel’s Spider-Man: Far From Home!

Iron Studios Maria Hill Art Scale 1/10 – Spider-Man: Far from Home

Prime 1 Studios

Sideshow and Prime 1 Studio are proud to present Swamp Thing! The Swamp Thing, also known by Dr. Alec Holland is an elemental creature who shares a connection to all plant life on the planet Earth through a network called the Green. He is a mass of vegetable matter that absorbed the memories and personality of Alec Holland, a botanist who died in a swamp shortly after creating a hormonal Bio-Restorative Formula for plants.

Click here to purchase!

ALMOST SOLD OUT: Sideshow and Prime 1 present the Aliens 3D Wall Art Statue from Aliens, the 1986 Film. This 3D Wall Art sculpture, from the second installment in the Alien franchise directed by James Cameron, is mainly based on the movie itself. A new way to display your Alien collection, this hangable art features a total of 6 Alien Warriors designed in an almost symmetrical order.

Click here to purchase!

This is the Black Suit Version of Superman, without his iconic Red and Blue costume. There are three alternate heads to choose from to display: long hair, long hair with beard, and short hair with beard.

Click here to purchase!

XM Studios

EBAY DEAL: XM Studios Weapon X, $649.99 Buy It Now!

EBAY DEAL: XM Studios Lizard Bust, Marvel 35/200, $473 Buy It Now!

Good Smile Company

From “Steamboat Willie” comes a Nendoroid of Mickey Mouse! This version features the black & white coloring of Mickey shown at the time of the film’s release. While maintaining his appearance from that time, he’s been brought down to adorable Nendoroid size. Using only black, white, and grey, the figure gives off a uniquely warm appearance. Mickey comes included with a smiling standard expression and a whistling expression, allowing you to recreate famous scenes of Mickey at the ship’s wheel. The included ship’s wheel can be rotated to allow for all kinds of posing options. The Nendoroid also features both long and short arm parts as well as standard and bent leg parts, allowing you to recreate a variety of poses. The stand base features a design based on a steamboat deck. Be sure to add him to your Walt Disney collection!

Click here to purchase!

EBAY DEAL: Good Smile Nendoroid 475 +550 Disney Frozen – Elsa & Anna Set of 2, $181.50 Buy It Now + FREE SHIPPING!

PCS Collectibles

Sideshow and Pop Culture Shock Collectibles present the Soundwave Classic Scale Statue, rising up in your Transformers collection. The Soundwave Classic Scale Statue stands 9.5” tall, ready to serve the Decepticon forces along with his ally Rumble. This loyal lieutenant to Megatron has cannons ready to fire while the smaller robotic raider causes an earthquake along the earth-covered Decepticon emblem base.

Click here to purchase!

EBAY DEAL: Transformers Optimus Prime Classic Scale Statue PCS Pop Culture Shock, $169.95 Buy It Now!

Hot Toys

Wands out, everyone! From the second installment of the Wizarding World series, Sideshow and Hot Toys are extremely thrilled to present sixth scale Collectible Figure of Newt Scamander (Special Edition) from Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindelwald!

Click here to purchase!

The highly-accurate Princess Leia collectible Star Wars figure is specially crafted based on the appearance of Leia Organa in Star Wars: Return of the Jedi. It features a stunning head sculpt with astonishing likeness and new hair sculpture, Leia’s Endor outfit, a camouflage pattern poncho, helmet, blaster, watch, diorama accessories and an Endor themed figure base.

Click here to purchase!

Inspired by the action-packed video game Marvel’s Spider-Man, Sideshow and Hot Toys are thrilled to present the Spider-Man (Negative Suit) Sixth Scale Collectible Figure as an exclusive item only available in select markets! Within the game’s massive collection of suits, Spider-Man’s Negative Suit brings in more movement within the shade, implying the Negative Energy through the suit itself.

Click here to purchase!

Sideshow and Hot Toys present the War Machine Sixth Scale Collectible Figure from Avengers: Endgame. Specially crafted in Diecast material, this true-to-movie collectible figure is beautifully designed with impressive detailing based on the appearance of Don Cheadle as James Rhodes/War Machine in Avengers: Endgame. The weaponized War Machine figure with highly noticeable visual upgrade features a newly painted helmeted head sculpt and a helmet head with LED light-up function, armor suits painted in grayish black and silver with white decals, LED light-up Arc Reactor on chest and repuslors on palms, an articulated back-mounted machine gun, and a specially designed movie themed figure stand!

Click here to purchase!

Super 7

The Japanese box Skeletor 5.5-inch Vintage Figure. The packaging is based on an original Japanese prototype box that was created for MOTU in the 80’s but never used. By the Power of Grayskull! Super7 is proud to present the MOTU Vintage Collection, the original Masters of the Universe action figures re-imagined to match the character designs from the animated cartoon!

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Action Figures from Back To The Future II by Super 7. Collect all your favorite movie characters in ReAction 3 3/4-inch tall with 5 points of articulation.

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Loot Crate

From the 1920s to the 1950s, Universal Pictures redefined the golden age of horror cinema with their legendary lineup of monster movies. In the decades to follow, Dracula, The Mummy, Frankenstein, Creature from the Black Lagoon, The Wolfman and The Phantom of the Opera continue to frighten fans of these classic creatures. Now NECA and Universal Brand Development have teamed up to bring the Universal Monsters to your doorstep with the Universal Monsters Mask Series – a set of six limited-edition, collector quality, latex display masks that won’t be available anywhere else. Each highly-detailed sculpted mask – sculpted by Mortar Heads the art of Mark Enright – is an homage to the Universal mini-monster figure collection from Remco, with packaging that follows the look of the classic Remco blister card fronts.

This monstrous series of limited-edition display masks include Creature from the Black Lagoon, The Phantom of the Opera, Frankenstein, and The Mummy. Subscribers to the first four masks in the series will receive The Wolfman and Dracula bonus masks for free – they will not be sold separately! The Universal Monsters Masks will begin shipping September of 2020, with each subsequent mask flying, swimming or slowly walking towards you on a monthly basis. Each crate will contain one mask and costs $49.99 plus shipping and handling.

Click here to order!

Wizards of the Coast

Out here, everything wants you dead. Gather your party and get ready for adventure… if you’re bold enough. #MTGZendikar

Preorder Now – https://t.co/ViGx2mrP8l

Play early on @MTG_Arena starting September 17

Available everywhere September 25 pic.twitter.com/bqN9VX9DkA

— Magic: The Gathering (@wizards_magic) September 1, 2020

Click here to pre-order Zendikar Rising Draft Booster Box!

Click here to pre-order Zendikar Rising Bundle!

Click here to purchase Ikoria!

Click here to purchase Core 2021!

What do you think of CS Collectibles so far? Let us know in the comments below!

The post CS Collectibles: Masters of the Universe, Plus Mickey Mouse & More! appeared first on ComingSoon.net.

The Father Trailer Starring Anthony Hopkins, Olivia Colman & Imogen Poots

Sony Pictures Classics has released the official trailer for The Father, an upcoming drama starring Oscar winner Anthony Hopkins (The Two Popes, The Silence of the Lambs, Westworld) Oscar winner Olivia Colman (The Favourite, The Crown, Fleabag), and Imogen Poots (Vivarium, Green Room, 28 Weeks Later). You can check out the trailer now in the player below!

RELATED: The Broken Hearts Gallery Final Trailer Debuts Ahead of Friday Release

In The Father, Anthony is 80, mischievous, living defiantly alone and rejecting the carers that his daughter, Anne, encouragingly introduces. Yet help is also becoming a necessity for Anne; she can’t make daily visits anymore and Anthony’s grip on reality is unraveling. As we experience the ebb and flow of his memory, how much of his own identity and past can Anthony cling to? How does Anne cope as she grieves the loss of her father, while he still lives and breathes before her? The Father warmly embraces real life, through loving reflection upon the vibrant human condition; heart-breaking and uncompromisingly poignant – a movie that nestles in the truth of our own lives.

The movie is directed by Florian Zeller (Floride, The Other Woman) who co-wrote the screenplay alongside Oscar winner Christopher Hampton (Atonement, Dangerous Liaisons). Emmy nominee Mark Gatiss (Sherlock), Emmy nominee Rufus Sewell (The Man in the High Castle), and Olivia Williams (The Ghost Writer) also star in the drama.

RELATED: 65: Adam Driver to Lead Sony’s Sci-Fi Thriller From A Quiet Place Scribes

The Father will release in theaters in New York and Los Angeles on December 18, with a rollout in major markets planned for Christmas Day. Sony Pictures Classics acquired the film ahead of its world premiere at the Sundance Film Festival. It will next be screened at the Toronto Film Festival where Hopkins will receive this year’s TIFF Tribute Actor Award.

The movie was co-produced by Trademark Films, F Comme Film, Ciné-@, and Les Films du Cru. Producers include David Parfitt, Jean-Louis Livi, Philippe Carcassonne, Christophe Spadone, and Simon Friend.

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The post Exclusive The Planters Trailer For 1091 Pictures’ New Dark Comedy appeared first on ComingSoon.net.

Lovecraft Country’s Jonathan Majors lands major role in Ant-Man 3

According to Deadline, Lovecraft Country star Jonathan Majors has signed on for a major role in Marvel Studios’ upcoming MCU film Ant-Man 3. He is reportedly set to take on the role of Marvel super-villain Kang the Conqueror.

RELATED: Peyton Reed Says Ant-Man 3 Will Be Much Bigger Than the First Two

Major’s notable film credits include: White Boy Rick, The Last Black Man in San Francisco, Captive State and Da 5 Bloods. He was also recently cast in Netflix’s western film The Harder They Fall alongside Idris Elba, Lakeith Stanfield and Regina King.

Ant-Man 3 will again be directed by Peyton Reed with Rick and Morty scribe Jeff Loveness set to pen the screenplay. Presumably, both Paul Rudd and Evangeline Lilly will reprise their respective roles as Ant-Man and the Wasp. The pair recently lent their voices to the Avengers: Damage Control VR experience. Both characters were also a part of Avengers: Endgame, although Rudd’s Scott Lang had a bigger role. That film notably introduced Emma Fuhrmann as Scott’s now-teenage daughter, Cassie Lang.

RELATED: Silk Live-Action Marvel Series in Development at Sony Pictures TV

In the comics, Cassie eventually gained size-changing powers of her own and took on the codenames Stature and Stinger. But if Reed wants to keep the film series’ naming motif, we would suggest Ant-Man, the Wasp and Giant-Girl as the title.

(Photo Credits: Mary Mathis for The Washington Post via Getty Images)

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Rating: 

BEGIN SLIDESHOW

8.5/10

Cast:

Tom Holland as Arvin Russell

Bill Skarsgård as Willard Russell

Riley Keough as Sandy Henderson

Jason Clarke as Carl Henderson

Sebastian Stan as Sheriff Lee Bodecker

Haley Bennett as Charlotte Russell

Eliza Scanlen as Lenora Laferty

Mia Wasikowska as Helen Hatton

Robert Pattinson as Rev. Preston Teagardin

Harry Melling as Roy Laferty

Co-Written & Directed by Antonio Campos; Co-Written by Paulo Campos

The Devil All The Time Review:

What comes around goes around is a theme that has been instrumental in storytelling since pretty much the dawn of time in everything from Star Wars to The Lion King to The Place Beyond the Pines and while most stories delving into this concept generally focus on one character’s journey, Donald Ray Pollock’s The Devil All The Time wove a multi-generational tale that captured this theme amongst a dozen others and Antonio Campos has brought the novel to life in compelling fashion.

In Knockemstiff, Ohio and its neighboring backwoods, sinister characters — an unholy preacher (Robert Pattinson), twisted couple (Jason Clarke and Riley Keough), and crooked sheriff (Sebastian Stan) — converge around young Arvin Russell (Tom Holland) as he fights the evil forces that threaten him and his family. Spanning the time between World War II and the Vietnam war, director Antonio Campos’ The Devil All The Time renders a seductive and horrific landscape that pits the just against the corrupted.

The Southern Gothic genre is prime territory for everything from religious exploitations to familial revenge to even the most justified of souls becoming corrupt by the world around them and Campos takes full advantage of the visual style and grimy locations to put audiences in the world. There’s a real authenticity to the production design and scout locations that acts as a brilliant step into the past but also clearly worked for the stars as they all seamlessly slip into their various characters with ease and beautifully bring them to life.

The individual stories themselves do kind of vary more in their compelling qualities, with some running far too short despite being one of the more interesting to watch while others either drag on too long or are broken up in an effort to balance everyone’s tales, but with the threat of a too-large ensemble overstuffing the film, Campos does a mostly solid job to balance them all. It’s clear from the get-go that the Russell lineage is going to be the main course while the rest of the roster are side dishes, but aside from two fairly underdeveloped threads, the side players get just as much interesting play as Arvin and Willard’s families that feature slightly different tones without losing the consistent dread permeating from the overarching story.

Even when some of the storytelling begins to betray the morally complex messages, the performances nonetheless keep every frame of this film moving in fascinating fashion, with a few of the most notable being Holland in a decidedly darker and more mature role than mainstream audiences will be used to from him and Pattinson as the corrupt and quietly sinister preacher. Despite his fresh face belying the horrors his character faced in his younger years, Holland taps into the cold and damaged persona of Arvin so powerfully that is sure to remind viewers he is one of the best young dramatic actors currently working in Hollywood.

Pattinson has done nothing but amazing work since shedding the ball and chain that was the Twilight series and while The Lighthouse might still remain as my personal favorite performance from the 34-year-old star, his turn as the evil Rev. Preston Teagardin is a close rival to it. While I wish he could’ve been given more screen time to build up his nice and caring façade before the pin dropped and we see his darker side, he still taps into this two-face persona with such raw force and quietly exuberant energy that every time he’s on scene the film instantly becomes 20 times better than it had been in the minutes prior to his arrival.

The Devil All The Time is such a breathtakingly directed and powerfully performed Southern Gothic delight that even when the film feels as if it’s jumping between stories in jarring fashion and revisiting familiar tropes, it remains a compelling and intelligent tale.

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BEGIN SLIDESHOW

Nia DaCosta’s Candyman release date delayed to 2021

After this morning brought the news that Warner Bros. was holding off on the release of the highly-anticipated Wonder Woman 1984, Universal Pictures is electing to once again delay the release of Nia DaCosta’s Candyman from its latest October release date to an unspecified 2021 date, according to Deadline.

RELATED: New Candyman Promo: A Story That Lasts Forever

Oscar winner Jordan Peele (Us) unleashes a fresh take on the blood-chilling urban legend that your friend’s older sibling probably told you about at a sleepover: Candyman. Rising filmmaker Nia DaCosta (Little Woods) directs and co-writes this contemporary incarnation of the cult classic.

For as long as residents can remember, the housing projects of Chicago’s Cabrini Green neighborhood were terrorized by a word-of-mouth ghost story about a supernatural killer with a hook for a hand, easily summoned by those daring to repeat his name five times into a mirror. In present day, a decade after the last of the Cabrini towers were torn down, visual artist Anthony McCoy (Yahya Abdul-Mateen II; HBO’s Watchmen, Us) and his girlfriend, gallery director Brianna Cartwright (Teyonah Parris; If Beale Street Could Talk, The Photograph), move into a luxury loft condo in Cabrini, now gentrified beyond recognition and inhabited by upwardly mobile millennials.

With Anthony’s painting career on the brink of stalling, a chance encounter with a Cabrini Green old-timer (Colman Domingo; AMC’s Fear the Walking Dead, Assassination Nation) exposes Anthony to the tragically horrific nature of the true story behind Candyman. Anxious to maintain his status in the Chicago art world, Anthony begins to explore these macabre details in his studio as fresh grist for paintings, unknowingly opening a door to a complex past that unravels his own sanity and unleashes a terrifyingly wave of violence that puts him on a collision course with destiny.

RELATED: Jennifer Hudson Is Aretha Franklin in Respect Teaser Trailer

Universal Pictures presents, from Metro Goldwyn Mayer Pictures and Monkeypaw Productions, in association with BRON Creative, Candyman. Candyman is directed by DaCosta, and produced by Ian Cooper (Us), Monkeypaw President Win Rosenfeld and Jordan Peele. The screenplay is by Peele & Rosenfeld and DaCosta. The film is based on the 1992 film Candyman, written by Bernard Rose, and the short story “The Forbidden” by Clive Barker. The film’s executive producers are David Kern, Aaron L. Gilbert and Jason Cloth.

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Dauberman, Perez & Paramount Animation partner for Stray Dogs

After acquiring the rights to the forthcoming graphic novel, Paramount Animation has partnered with The Conjuring spin-off universe scribe Gary Dauberman and Game Night‘s Mark Perez to produce and pen an adaptation of Stray Dogs, according to The Hollywood Reporter.

RELATED: Gary Dauberman to Direct Stephen King Feature Adaptation Salem’s Lot

Slated for a 2021 release date by Image Comics, the plot for Stray Dogs is currently being kept close to the chest but it’s being described as “Silence of the Lambs meets Lady and the Tramp,” with Dauberman stating that the plan is to really dive into the terror nature of the source material.

“So much of what makes horror work is taking something innocent and twisting it into something scary,” Dauberman stated. “Like a doll in Annabelle. Or a clown in It. And that’s what we want to do inStray Dogs – take animation and twist it into something terrifying by using it to explore a really dark story. For me, the project combines a lot of my passions: animation, horror and… well, dogs.”

Much like last year’s loose Conjuring spin-off The Curse of La Llorona, Dauberman is attached to the adaptation in solely a producer capacity via his Coin Operated production banner while Perez, who broke out with the 2018 Jason Bateman-led ensemble dark comedy, is set to script the film.

RELATED: Jason Bateman Reuniting With Game Night’s Mark Perez for Superworld

Dauberman first broke out in film with his work on the first installment in the Annabelle series and would go on to pen the screenplay for its 2017 prequel and 2019 sequel, with which he made his directorial debut, and also co-wrote the screenplay for the acclaimed 2017 adaptation of It with Cary Fukunaga and Chase Palmer before writing the follow-up on his own. He is currently set to return to the world of Stephen King with a new adaptation of Salem’s Lot, which he will write and direct, as well as being attached to an English-language remake of the South Korean zombie hit Train to Busan.

Following Game Night, Perez has already begun lining up multiple new projects including the Netflix action comedy Movie Night with Bateman set to direct and John Cena (Bumblebee) set to star as well as Superworld, his second upcoming reunion with Bateman who is attached to direct and produce it for Warner Bros.

(Photo Credits: Getty Images)

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CS Recommends: Star Trek TMP The Art and Visual Effects, Plus TV & More!

Stuck inside? Don’t know what to watch/read/play/listen to? ComingSoon.net has got you covered. In this week’s CS Recommends our staff gives you solid tips on the best media to consume during your downtime, including Star Trek: The Motion Picture: The Art and Visual Effects, Amazon’s The Boys, and more! Check out our picks below!

RELATED: The 2020 Fall Movie Preview (Streaming)

MAX EVRY’S RECOMMEND: Star Trek: The Motion Picture: The Art and Visual Effects

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This week saw the official Star Trek Day celebrating one of sci-fi’s most enduring franchises. To celebrate, I read Titan Books’ latest large-format movie tome Star Trek: The Motion Picture: The Art and Visual Effects, which focuses on the visual development on arguably the most visually influential film in the franchise. Yes, ST: TMP is widely considered an overlong chore of a film, but whether you appreciate it’s epic grandeur or not (I DO!) you can’t deny the mark it made, from Jerry Goldsmith’s classic score (later incorporated into The Next Generation) or the gorgeous ship design, elements of which are still present in the Kelvin Timeline films. This book goes into great detail on the effects and set design, from the initial concepts for Phil Kaufman’s abandoned Planet of the Titans movie, to the unfortunate firing of Robert Abel and much more. A feast for fans of TMP!

KYLIE HEMMERT’S RECOMMEND: The Boys Series Adaptation

Click here to watch The Boys Seasons 1 & 2!

Amazon Prime Video’s The Boys series adaptation is known for its jaw-dropping sequences, memorable characters — some you’ll love, some you’ll love to hate, and some you’ll just flat-out despise — and pushing the envelope, but besides the blood, insanity, and its perfectly-timed hilarity, The Boys knows how to pack a punch emotionally thanks to one hell of an ensemble cast and hard-working crew bringing to life the writers’ vision. The first four episodes of the second season are currently available now to stream (along with the first full season), and Season 2 continues the themes fans have fallen in love with while also further fleshing out each of the characters and their relationships with each other. No spoilers, but I’ve seen the remainder of the season and am beyond impressed with the careful balance the show carries in order to maintain its usual violent and hilarious spectacle filled with very real human complexities and plenty of tearful moments, some that will absolutely catch you off-guard.

Created by Eric Kripke, Seth Rogen, and Evan Goldberg, the series is an irreverent take on what happens when superheroes, who are as popular as celebrities, as influential as politicians, and as revered as gods, abuse their superpowers rather than use them for good. It’s the powerless against the super powerful as The Boys embark on a heroic quest to expose the truth about the supergroup known as “The Seven.”

This series, like the original comics created by Garth Ennis and Darick Robertson, does come with a few trigger warnings, though. To put it simply, The Boys is not for everyone, particularly anyone averse to violence and gore (among other things), and it’s important to do a little research before jumping on board. For those who do decide to start the journey, you are in for a wild and heavy ride.

GRANT HERMANNS’ RECOMMEND: Hannibal

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The horror genre has really seen a mixed bag of efforts on the small screen over the past couple of decades and though the character had seemingly been run into the ground on the big screen in 2007, Bryan Fuller’s Hannibal proved to not only be the best adaptation of Thomas Fuller’s work but also one of the best horror and general series of the millennia. Acting primarily as a prequel to Harris’ first novel Red Dragon as well as adapting elements of all of his novels, the series follows gifted criminal profiler Will Graham as he works with the FBI to bring down some of the country’s most twisted serial killers while also struggling with the toll it’s taking on his psyche and is referred to Dr. Hannibal Lecter for therapy, only to further be manipulated by the most dangerous killer he doesn’t know.

Brilliantly expanding the mythos and exploring the deeper relationship between Graham and its titular hero while also offering a more complex portrayal of Lecter, the series is further supported by its stellar performances from its cast, namely Hugh Dancy and Mads Mikkelsen, delicious visual palette that will make even the most resolute ponder Lecter’s cannibalistic cooking, and an ending that still leaves the door open for potential future stories.

MAGGIE DELA PAZ’S RECOMMEND: Fight My Way (South Korean Drama Series)

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Starring Park Seo-Joon, Kim Ji-Won, Ahn Jae-Hong and Song Ha-Yoon, Fight My Way centers around the lives of four childhood friends named Dong-man, Ae-ra, Joo-man, and Seol-hee as they try to navigate their way through the consequences of adulthood. Despite being considered as underdogs, they’ll draw strength and determination from each other to achieve their individual dreams. At the center of this is the blossoming romance between the childish duo of Dong-man and Ae-ra, and the burgeoning problems that will test long-time couple Joo-man and Seol-hee’s relationship.

Fight My Way is a 16-episode comedy-drama which aired in 2017 and has garnered a lot of acting awards from local award-giving bodies. What I like the most about the series is its Slice of Life storyline that gives a realistic portrayal to the problems and issues faced by young working adults. It is not only very relatable but it also features a well-balanced mix of fun and emotion. On top of its well-executed story, the series’ charming main cast delivered great chemistry and incredible performances which would definitely make us want to have a friendship like theirs. So, if you’re having a hard time looking for a new K-Drama to binge, I highly-recommend you check out Fight My Way!

JEFF AMES’ RECOMMEND: Bugsy

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Barry Levinson’s Bugsy is an odd entry in the pantheon of gangster films in that it looks and feels like Casablanca (except in color) but revels in the blood, violence and language of a Martin Scorsese picture. Indeed, the finale in which Warren Beatty’s titular Bugsy Siegel, a violent sociopath who spends his time beating other mobsters to a bloody pulp when he’s not baking cakes for his daughter, bids farewell to Annette Benning’s Virginia Hill on an airport tarmac is strikingly old fashioned in execution and leans hard on the emotions in a manner similar to Beatty’s own Heaven Can Wait. Except, rather than head off for a cup of coffee with Julie Christie, Bugsy gets pumped full of bullets while watching a movie in his living room.

Even so, Bugsy is oddly optimistic for a film about evil crime lords and gun-wielding mobsters, which makes it all the more satisfying. And while writer James Toback sidesteps the famed gangster’s more tantalizing details in favor of crafting a more likeable antihero, played to perfection by Beatty, the story revolving around Bugsy’s desire to turn a barren desert into an oasis (that would eventually morph into the billion dollar revenue generating Las Vegas) stays pretty close to the facts without ever losing its star studded entertainment value. As gangster films go, you can’t do much better.

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Monica: Anna Paquin, Trace Lysette & more to star in new drama film

According to Deadline, Oscar winner Anna Paquin (The Piano) and Transparent alum Trace Lysette have signed on along with Academy Award nominees Patricia Clarkson (Pieces of April, Sharp Objects) and Adriana Barraza (Babel) to star in Italian director Andrea Pallaoro’s upcoming drama film titled Monica. Production is expected to begin later this year.

Monica is being described as a family drama film that will explore themes of abandonment, aging, acceptance, and redemption. It will follow the story of a transgender woman (Lysette) who finds herself returning home to the Midwest in order to take care of her dying mother (Clarkson).

RELATED: The Brutalist: Vanessa Kirby, Sebastian Stan & More to Star in New Immigrant Drama Film

“Andrea and the team have an undeniable ability to bring private, intimate stories to life in both a visceral and visually brilliant way. With that in mind, we are very excited to introduce Monica to the global market,” Brian O’Shea of The Exchange said in a statement.

The film will be directed by Andrea Pallaora, who co-wrote the screenplay with Orlando Tirado. It will be produced by Christina Dow, Eleonora Granata, Marina Marzotto, Gina Resnick, Christina Sibul, and BAFTA-winning producer Karen Tenkhoff. The Exchange is currently handling the film’s international sales.

(Photo by Gregg DeGuire/FilmMagic & Frazer Harrison/Getty Images)

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Rating: 

8.5/10

Cast:

Wil Wheaton as Andy

Brian Landis Folkins as David

Amy Rutledge as Lisa

Kathleen Brady as Lucille

Adrian Egolf as Diane

Josh Staan as Camera man

Written, Directed & Edited by Jon Stevenson

Click here to rent or purchase Rent-A-Pal!

Rent-A-Pal Review:

With the modern world feeling so bleak, Hollywood has made quite the habit of late of looking to the past to tell its stories, with the era of the ’80s and ’90s being the favorite of storytellers and while Rent-a-Pal tells a very familiar tale, it gives its story a nicely retro twist that elevates it above other similar genre efforts.

Set in 1990, a lonely bachelor named David (Brian Landis Folkins) searches for an escape from the day-to-day drudgery of caring for his aging mother (Kathleen Brady). While seeking a partner through a video dating service, he discovers a strange VHS tape called ​Rent-A-Pal.​ Hosted by the charming and charismatic Andy (Wil Wheaton), the tape offers him much-needed company, compassion, and friendship. But, Andy’s friendship comes at a cost, and David desperately struggles to afford the price of admission.

We’ve frequently seen tales of lonely men with troubled personal lives losing their minds and lashing out in dangerous ways — last year saw one bafflingly gross over $1 billion and garner 11 Oscar nominations — and Jon Stevenson’s Rent-a-Pal definitely touches on a number of tropes for the formula: lives at home, troubled relationship with his mother, problems connecting with the opposite sex, no true ambition for where his life could go. But yet the way that David is written and performed gives him a few extra layers that make him a more fascinating protagonist than most others.

With a runtime of nearly two hours, Stevenson uses the extra time uncharacteristic of many indie thrillers to actually develop his lead and allow audiences to connect to him and his struggles and awkward personality before crumbling the ground out from beneath them and revealing the darker path he will inevitably take. David truly has some interesting things about him, from his beleaguered profession as his dementia-riddled mother’s caretaker to his desire to genuinely connect with anyone not his own family, and once Andy begins taking over parts of his life, there’s a brief time in which viewers actually do feel sad about his downward spiral before we start to lose our sympathy by his actions.

In addition to the well-crafted character study nature of the plot, Stevenson relishes in creating a wholly authentic recreation of the world of lo-fi televisions, VHS rendezvous and synth-heavy musical compositions and with it being made on its indie budget, it’s truly impressively done. Aside from the crisp look of the film itself, there wasn’t a moment in its entire 108 minutes that I found my immersion even mildly broken, fully believing that this was made 30 years ago.

Another major highlight of the film comes in its performances, most notably the scene-stealing turn from the normally-comedic Wil Wheaton, who brilliantly taps into the tonal blend between the film’s darker humor and its more maniacal and chilling nature. Wheaton finds a way to keep his pre-recorded best friend believable in its quirky and bizarre nature while also allowing audiences to believe that his asides into sinister territory may not all be int he mind of David and offers a new side to the character actor that begs for him to return to the horror-thriller genre far more often.

Rent-A-Pal may suffer from some familiarity in its storytelling, but thanks to a wholly believable ’90s atmosphere, skilled direction in Stevenson’s debut, a stellar performance from Wheaton and strong performance from Folkins and thrilling synthesizer score, it sets itself apart from similar genre fare in stylish and chilling fashion.

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