Blogcritics The critical lens on today's culture & entertainment
Hoping to recapture the magic of Fury Road, George Miller returns with Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga and its stars, Ana Taylor-Joy and Chris Hemsworth. To tell Fury Road, Miller created back stories and then went back to tell about one’s women commitment to impossible hope. Taylor-Joy needed to be someone you could spend months in desert with. Hemsworth plays Dementus, a cruel twisted character who required an element charisma so he would be followed. It was a unique character so Miller took a while to find the right actor. Hemsworth and his dad watched the Mad Max films. The set felt chaotic yet safe.
From the extended scenes, the film looks like Miller and his team had it in them to make it epic. We saw a mother attempting to rescue her daughter from Dementus. And a war brewing between his people and Immortal Joe.
Set for June 1, The Watchers is based on a book. In this blend of horror and fantasy, a woman gets lost in forest and enters a door. A group of people watch something that watches them. The clip featured very loud noises that caused the scares.
James Gunn appear by video clip from the set of the new Superman movie. He offered thanks for the support theaters gave Guardian of the Galaxy 3. In related news, the documentary Super/Man : The Christopher Reeve Story features interviews and never-before-seen footage about how Reeve became a hero fighting for others who were also paralyzed. Set for September, the first trailer shows his kids and friends like Glenn Close and Susan Sarandon.
Director, co-screenwriter, actor Kevin Costner was on hand to promote Horizon: An American Saga Parts 1 and 2, which brought him joy and hopefully will bring entertainment for others. The series is about the promise of America and the audience will be on a journey before and through the Civil War. If you could survive the west, you could make a home, which is what his character Hayes Ellison seeks. Costner started working on this project in 1988. Part 1 is set for Jun 28 followed by Part 2 on Aug 16.
From Bong Joo Ho, Mickey 17 works for an employer who wants him to die for a living. Based on a sci fi novel Mickey 7, the number is the times he dies, is about a simple man saving the world. Bong usually doesn’t make those movies, but was interested in this strange type of hero’s journey. Robert Pattinson got the script was told it was impossible. Bong says Robert has a crazy look in his eye, felt like he could do all the variations, especially creating Mickey 18. A great trailer as Mickey meets one of his new versions. Set for Jan 31, 2025
Writer/director M. Night Shyamalan brought an exclusive look at Trap. He wanted to capture the feeling of being at a concert and in a theater. A father (Josh Hartnett) and daughter go to see Lady Raven, played by Shyamalan’s daughter Saleka Night Shyamalan. The father goes to the bathroom and learns the serial killer known as the Butcher is attending the concert, which was all a plan by police. Turns out the father is the Butcher. Set for August.
Beetlejuice Beetlejuice is set for September 6. Tim Burton, Catherine O’Hara, Justin Theroux, Monica Bellucci, Willem Dafoe, and Michael Keaton were on hand. Over the years, Burton and Keaton kicked the notion around, and finally figured out a script they were happy with it. Keaton says, “it’s really fuckin’ good.” They agreed there would be no sequel without O’Hara, and that newcomer Jenna Ortega got the tone right away. The trailer expanded on what was shown in the teaser.
Joker: Folie a Deux: Todd Phillips says he and Joaquin Phoenix talked about a sequel while working. During the pandemic, they decided what it would. They cast Lady Gaga because music is an essential element as Arthur has music in him. Even though Arthur is weird and aloof, their characters see each other in prison and connect. The first trailer offers an interesting look in returning to Arthur’s world, which audiences can due on October 4.
In 2025, there’s going to be a Minecraft movie next April. David Robert Mitchell’s new sci-fi movie is Flowervale Street with Anne Hathaway & Ewan McGregor. Superman was already mentioned. Get a new version of The Bride! by Maggie Gyllenhaal, a new Final Destination movie, Ryan Coogler and Michael B. Jordan reunite for a supernatural thriller.
Working with Fathom Events, Warner Bros. Pictures is screening Daniela Völker’s documentary The Commandant’s Shadow in late May and later in the year the anime Lord of the Rings: War of the Rohirim.
