YEAR in REVIEW: BEST and WORST TRAILER of 2014

Well, it was a difficult couple of weeks getting all of my schoolwork done for my first term in Creative Communications (Crecomm) at Red River College. It’s funny to think that just a few months ago I had never blogged or even considered blogging before starting the program. But I took to it like a fish to water, which is better than drinking like a fish – another side effect of going through Crecomm.

But, seriously, I’ve had such a blast getting to know people in the program and it’s been a great experience so far. This blog has been my Crecomm baby, so to speak. I’ve loved having something to call my own that’s part of school but still entirely up to me in terms of content (Yes, starting up a blog is mandatory in Crecomm – pretty cool, right?) I started the program because I like being creative, not because I have a burning desire to sit at my laptop and write, but this blog definitely sparked something in me. I’ve been blogging because I want to, not because I have to, and that’s been good for me.

But enough about me, let’s talk about you. I wouldn’t have committed as much time and energy to this blog if it wasn’t for people like you who took the time to read it. I surpassed my goal for page views this term :D! and I want to keep the good times rollin’, so enough of this mushy junk. Let’s get down to business.

I’m judging this year’s best and worst in comic book movies (that I’ve seen so far)

To start us off, here's...

THE BEST AND WORST COMIC BOOK MOVIE TRAILER OF 2014

BEST: X-MEN: DAYS OF FUTURE PAST

Okay, I am a huge X-Men fan, but there’s no denying that this trailer was a big deal. Not only was DOFP going to join the cast of the original X-Men trilogy and the cast of X-Men: First Class, Bryan Singer was making a triumphant return to the franchise he took on in 2000. This trailer gave me goose bumps. DOFP is a classic storyline from the comics, and the images, music, and Patrick Stewart's voice-over hit all the right notes for me. The X-Men had seen good movies (X-Men, X2, X-Men: First Class) and some pretty awful ones in the last 14 years (X-Men: The Last Stand, Wolverine: Origins) but one thing is certain – when Bryan Singer is involved, the X-Men are in good hands.

WORST: THE AMAZING SPIDER-MAN 2

What. The. Hell. Before the big hack controversy, this was Sony’s biggest source of shame in 2014. This trailer’s message was loud and clear: Amazing Spider-Man 2 is going to suck. Let’s break it down.

1. It starts with a bad joke about laundry

2. Jamie Fox (of Django Unchained fame) is playing a nerd obsessed with Spider-Man

3. Electro is the fourth member of Blue Man Group

4. Oh great, Harry Osborn is in it as Green Goblin (haven’t seen that before)

5. Oh great, there’s going to be 3 villains (haven’t seen that before)

6. And to top it all off, another bad joke

A lot of my friends said I was too hard on the first Amazing Spider-Man. I thought it was such a retread of the original; the only thing setting it apart from Sam Raimi’s trilogy was the conspiracy surrounding Peter’s parents, and who really cares about that anyway? This trailer confirmed it – The Amazing Spider-Man is mediocre at best. Sony ought to hand the rights back to Marvel so we can see Spider-Man in Civil War. Who’s with me?

Stay tuned for more YEAR in REVIEW and let me know what your favourite trailer of the year was.

 

In the MEME time...

Dear Readers, I'm in the final push of the school term and I am beyond busy finishing up my final projects. So instead of my usual news and review posts, I'm gonna give a little look back at the ridiculous memes I made for the blog. 

After this week, I plan on doing a look back at all of the comic book movies of 2014 and, boy, are there a lot of them! I want to rate and/or review every one, so stay tuned for my YEAR IN REVIEW posts this month and give me a shout if there's one you want me to review first. 

A-LISTERS committing to SUICIDE SQUAD!

It's official! These A-list actors are joining DC's Suicide Squad!

Margot Robbie -> Harley Quinn

Tom Hardy -> Rick Flagg

Jai Courtney -> Boomerang

Will Smith -> Deadshot

To learn what Suicide Squad is all about read my previous post below.

http://supermovieswithmatt.blogspot.ca/2014/10/jesse-eisenberg-to-join-dcs-suicide.html

We also know that Cara Delevingne will play Enchantress and Jared Leto is confirmed as the Joker.

What we don't know is whether or not Jesse Eisenberg will be joining the cast as Lex Luthor. Viola Davis and Oprah Winfrey (!?) appear to be in the running for the role of Amanda Waller, and I'm hoping someone gets cast as Manta Ray sooner or later.

I wasn't too optimistic about Will Smith taking on a villainous role in my first Suicide Squad blog post and I still have my hangups. Will Smith played an okay grouch in Hancock (which happened to be a terrible superhero movie) and Smith is tied with Tom Cruise for "nicest guy in Hollywood." It'll be a pleasant surprise if he pulls this one off. 

What do you guys think of these actors taking on these evil DC characters? I'm talking to you, China! 

(Most of my hits are from China this week so feel free to comment in Mandarin or Cantonese. I won't be able to respond, but it'll be a big boost to my ego.) 

Trailer Park: JURASSIC WORLD vs. STAR WARS: THE FORCE AWAKENS

Dear Readers, it’s been a busy week. It’s been more than tough finding the time for all of my assignments let alone a blog post. But I’m back now, so let’s get down to business.

So what’s up this week in the trailer park?

I’m pitting the Jurassic World trailer against the teaser for Star Wars: The Force Awakens. The last time these franchises went to the theatres, they let us down! But they’re back for more and ready to win us over.

Well, I know what you’re thinking. Neither one of these movies is based on a comic book. But you know what? …. Honestly, I’ve got no comeback. Let’s move on.

In this corner… the fourth in the franchise and coming out of nowhere… 

Jurassic World

Let’s see. Chris Pratt is in it, it takes place in the future (maybe?), and the raptors are on our side now!? Don’t get me wrong, I love Jurassic Park, and I loved Jurassic Park 2: The Lost World. More Jeff Goldblum is never a bad thing. 

But Jurassic Park 3 was nothing but a money grab, and I’m sorry to say that this one looks like it’s coming back just to tear open our wallets. Okay, so some genetic engineering has created a super smart dinosaur and now it’s on the loose. When will people realize this park is not a good idea!?

Based on this trailer, Jurassic World looks to be nothing more than a retread of the previous films with a few things changed here and there. Only, this movie isn’t likely going to have the animatronics that dazzled us back in the early 90’s. And I love Chris Pratt, but something tells me his character isn’t going to be nearly as entertaining as Star Lord.

After watching the trailer for the original Jurassic Park, I have to say that it looks like special effects haven’t even improved that much since the 1993 original, which is a huge compliment to Jurassic Park, but doesn’t bode well for this installment. It’s also telling that almost none of the original cast members are returning for this one.

Looks like the park should have stayed closed.

And in this corner… seventh instalment and the last three sucked… … a new hope for the franchise… 

Star Wars: The Force Awakens

Wow! The Earth stood still when this trailer dropped last Friday. Everyone and their grandmother is going to go see this movie; the Star Wars name still has that much sway over our culture. It’s kind of amazing: George Lucas created something so good that not even George Lucas could destroy it.

Let’s just take a moment to appreciate how bad the first three episodes were...

Okay, that was painful but necessary. Just based on the teaser trailer alone we know that this movie will be better than the prequel trilogy.

But that doesn’t mean the movie will be good. There’s a galaxy separating Episodes 1, 2, and 3, and good. And The Force Awakens could land anywhere in between.

If the trailer is any indication, we’re on the right path. How do we know? Nothing looks green screened. This trailer looks like it’s bringing it back to the nitty-gritty. You know, the Star Wars that feels like a lived-in universe with rust and dirt and sand in your eyes. Plus, it’s clear they’ve used real locations and quality CGI.

I can’t believe I just wrote that. Look at how low the bar is set for this movie.

But watch any of the prequels and you’d think they were made on a shoestring budget! I mean they didn’t even have real couches on set (and, trust me, there are a lot of rooms with nothing but couches. Just watch.)

J.J. Abrams did a fantastic job reinvigorating the Star Trek franchise. If there’s one complaint I have about Star Trek and Star Trek: Into Darkness, it’s that they didn’t really capture the heart of Star Trek. They’re great movies, but they didn’t match the tone of the TV series. We’ll see if he succeeds with Star Wars.

Winner: Star Wars: The Force Awakens