George Miller is the master of the modern myth. His sprawling "Mad Max" franchise now includes five feature films, novelizations, a comic book series, and two video games — all helping expand a post-apocalyptic Wasteland loaded with lore, characters, and laws different from our own. "Furiosa" serves as a prequel to "Fury Road," but a continuation of the story started in the first "Mad Max" film from 1979. As an audience, we know where Imperator Furiosa's story ends up, but "Furiosa" will show us how she got there.
One of the hardest things about making a prequel is ensuring that there are still stakes to the story at hand, knowing that what comes after has already been established. Sometimes it works, like with "The Hunger Games: The Battle of Songbirds & Snakes," but more often than not, the delivery is more akin to "The Flintstones in Viva Rock Vegas," "Dumb and Dumberer," or depending on who you ask,...
One of the hardest things about making a prequel is ensuring that there are still stakes to the story at hand, knowing that what comes after has already been established. Sometimes it works, like with "The Hunger Games: The Battle of Songbirds & Snakes," but more often than not, the delivery is more akin to "The Flintstones in Viva Rock Vegas," "Dumb and Dumberer," or depending on who you ask,...
- 5/8/2024
- by BJ Colangelo
- Slash Film
Considering the Walt Disney Company owns, well, everything these days, calling one of their films "underrated" seems a little silly. And yet, if you ask me, "Sky High" is undoubtedly the leader of the underrated live-action Disney roster. Just before Disney became the parent company of the Marvel Cinematic Universe, the studio put out a family-friendly coming-of-age superhero comedy that, as /Film's Rafael Motamayor once described, "poked fun at expanded universes, superhero legacies, and every trope in the book." The story centered on teenager Will Stronghold (Michael Angarano), the son of famed superheroes Steve Stronghold/The Commander (Kurt Russell) and Josie DeMarco-Stronghold/Jetstream (Kelly Preston). He's poised to be the next great hero after he starts training at Sky High — a super-secret floating school for superheroes and sidekicks — but Will doesn't have any powers.
As superhero films exploded in popularity in the years that followed, there's been a reassessment of...
As superhero films exploded in popularity in the years that followed, there's been a reassessment of...
- 4/14/2024
- by BJ Colangelo
- Slash Film
Forget those new live-action "Spider-Man" movies — for my money, the best new Spidey-related material resides in the animated "Spider-Verse" films. They're bright, colorful, inventive, funny, and emotional movies (even if "Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse" is only half a movie). Those films introduced us to Miles Morales, a teen who becomes Spider-Man in an alternate universe. While we're still waiting for the next full-length "Spider-Verse" film, "Spider-Man: Beyond the Spider-Verse," we can get more of Miles via a new short film titled "The Spider Within: A Spider-Verse Story."
But this short film isn't your typical action-packed web-slinger story. It's instead a horror-tinged look at Miles' subconscious as he succumbs to the pressures of being Spider-Man. As our own Rafael Motamayor wrote in his review of the short film, "'The Spider Within' stands out by combining that theme with a love of horror and psychological thrillers, delivering a truly spooky short. Bright...
But this short film isn't your typical action-packed web-slinger story. It's instead a horror-tinged look at Miles' subconscious as he succumbs to the pressures of being Spider-Man. As our own Rafael Motamayor wrote in his review of the short film, "'The Spider Within' stands out by combining that theme with a love of horror and psychological thrillers, delivering a truly spooky short. Bright...
- 3/27/2024
- by Chris Evangelista
- Slash Film
Jack Black’s Po will take on his most formidable villain yet, Viola Davis’ Chameleon, in Kung Fu Panda 4. The film will hit theaters in a few days but the critical reviews of the film are out after its premiere at the AMC 14 Theater at The Grove in L.A. The largely positive reviews prove that Po & team have managed to impress the viewers a fourth time. However, we believe that Jack Black may not return for the future Kung Fu Panda sequels.
Jack Black’s Po and Awkwafina’s Zhen in Kung Fu Panda 4
As believed earlier, the Furious Five have a limited role in the film. It might be the last time fans get to hear the voices of the likes of Angelina Jolie and Jackie Chan. The future sequels are likely to be voiced by a new young cast.
Kungu Fu Panda Sequels May Not...
Jack Black’s Po and Awkwafina’s Zhen in Kung Fu Panda 4
As believed earlier, the Furious Five have a limited role in the film. It might be the last time fans get to hear the voices of the likes of Angelina Jolie and Jackie Chan. The future sequels are likely to be voiced by a new young cast.
Kungu Fu Panda Sequels May Not...
- 3/4/2024
- by Hashim Asraff
- FandomWire
The long-awaited premiere of Netflix’s live-action Avatar: The Last Airbender is less than a week away, and the first reactions to the series have been trickling out. After original creators Bryan Konietzko and Michael Dante Dimartino exited the project in 2020 due to creative differences, fans were a little apprehensive, but it sounds like the streaming service has largely gotten it right, or, at the very least, it’s better than M. Night Shyamalan’s movie.
Our own Steve Seigh was a big fan, saying, “I had the pleasure of previewing the first seven episodes of Netflix’s Avatar: The Last Airbender for JoBlo.com and I’m thrilled to say that it’s fantastic! It’s full of outstanding performances, one-to-one shots from the original, and new elements to get excited about! I say this as a die-hard fan of the original animated series. I wholeheartedly love this version of the show.
Our own Steve Seigh was a big fan, saying, “I had the pleasure of previewing the first seven episodes of Netflix’s Avatar: The Last Airbender for JoBlo.com and I’m thrilled to say that it’s fantastic! It’s full of outstanding performances, one-to-one shots from the original, and new elements to get excited about! I say this as a die-hard fan of the original animated series. I wholeheartedly love this version of the show.
- 2/16/2024
- by Kevin Fraser
- JoBlo.com
For as long as horror movies have existed, there have been carny-like marketing campaigns boasting audience members fainting, vomiting, running out of theaters in terror, and in some of the most extreme cases, having a heart attack. Films like "Psycho," "The Exorcist," and even 2023's "Talk To Me" have all become modern urban legends with the reported reactions from fans, but few films come close to the reputation of "Antrum." The Canuxploitation film from David Amito and Michael Laicini is two films in one: a documentary about "Antrum," a lost film from the 1970s that has been connected with over 85 deaths, and the remaining footage from the only known print of the film. Before the film plays, a warning covers the screen.
Legal Notice: By continuing to watch this film you agree that the producers of this film have made you aware of the history and danger(s) associated with 'Antrum.
Legal Notice: By continuing to watch this film you agree that the producers of this film have made you aware of the history and danger(s) associated with 'Antrum.
- 1/21/2024
- by BJ Colangelo
- Slash Film
Can I get a "Yeah-yuh!" and an "Alright!" up in here? Sure, by and large, "Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom" was kind of a disaster for Warner Bros. at the box office and a rather anticlimactic endpoint to what was known as the DC Extended Universe for audiences overall. But, much like in the similarly messy "Fast X," can anyone truly deny the pleasures of seeing Jason Momoa wild out in the biggest blockbusters around without a single care in the world? The Dceu might be officially over, but the actor's unique take on surfer-bro Aquaman will forever live in our hearts -- I can guarantee that much, at least.
But who says the good times have to permanently end? While James Gunn and Peter Safran's new iteration of the DC Universe is currently full steam ahead, we have one last chance to relive the silly charms of director...
But who says the good times have to permanently end? While James Gunn and Peter Safran's new iteration of the DC Universe is currently full steam ahead, we have one last chance to relive the silly charms of director...
- 1/18/2024
- by Jeremy Mathai
- Slash Film
"The Simpsons" stopped being a TV show decades ago. It's an institution now. Everyone with even a shred of pop culture literacy can name the core members of the titular family, and millions of others can rattle off a couple dozen residents of Springfield. These characters and their world somehow feel like they've always been around, almost like animation and comedy never actually existed until they did. Generations who grew up in a world where this show was always on, always airing, always available, may not instantly recognize just how much "The Simpsons" shifted television on its axis, but they're living in a world defined by the series' sense of humor, its blend of biting satire, slapstick, and sentiment.
And so it's come to this: /Film decided it was time to select the 25 best episodes of the series. Considering that there are 760 episodes to choose from, this was ... a challenge.
And so it's come to this: /Film decided it was time to select the 25 best episodes of the series. Considering that there are 760 episodes to choose from, this was ... a challenge.
- 1/3/2024
- by SlashFilm Staff
- Slash Film
Heads-up, landlubbers. This article contains major spoilers for "Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom."
Let's talk about trash. No, that's not a reference to the pretty dismal reviews for the latest "Aquaman" sequel, which has ended the DC Extended Universe with more of a whimper than a bang. (Although /Film's review by Rafael Motamayor generally lands on the more positive end of the spectrum.) Rather, this is in reference to one major oversight from the 2018 movie that director James Wan has finally set right this time around. For all its fairly obvious missteps, "The Lost Kingdom" actually improves on its predecessor in one specific way that few DC films -- and superhero movies in general -- have ever even attempted. And it has to do with pesky humans making this world a worse and worse place to live by the minute.
Despite what a vocal minority of fans might have you believe,...
Let's talk about trash. No, that's not a reference to the pretty dismal reviews for the latest "Aquaman" sequel, which has ended the DC Extended Universe with more of a whimper than a bang. (Although /Film's review by Rafael Motamayor generally lands on the more positive end of the spectrum.) Rather, this is in reference to one major oversight from the 2018 movie that director James Wan has finally set right this time around. For all its fairly obvious missteps, "The Lost Kingdom" actually improves on its predecessor in one specific way that few DC films -- and superhero movies in general -- have ever even attempted. And it has to do with pesky humans making this world a worse and worse place to live by the minute.
Despite what a vocal minority of fans might have you believe,...
- 12/23/2023
- by Jeremy Mathai
- Slash Film
The DC Extended Universe is dead; long live the DC Universe. What has felt like a months-long inevitability has finally turned into reality with the release of "Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom," which technically functions as the last chapter of the superhero saga that began a little over 10 years ago with Zack Snyder's "Man of Steel." What comes next will be the beginning of a much different approach, shepherded by DC Studios co-heads James Gunn and Peter Safran. But compared to the slate of high-profile projects that Warner Bros. confidently announced back in 2014, it's obvious that things didn't quite go according to plan -- and if ever there were a fitting eulogy for a franchise with plenty of unexpected highs and lows, well, that would be it.
To state the obvious, it was never the studio's intention to bring things to a conclusion with an "Aquaman" sequel, of all things.
To state the obvious, it was never the studio's intention to bring things to a conclusion with an "Aquaman" sequel, of all things.
- 12/22/2023
- by Jeremy Mathai
- Slash Film
Ladies and gentlemen, blobfishes and goblin sharks, put your fins together for the long-awaited return of Arthur Curry, aka Aquaman, aka the King of Atlantis. The sea-dwelling superhero played by Jason Momoa has been away from the big screen for five years (aside from a post-credits cameo in "The Flash"), but this week he returns in "Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom." After three DC Comics-based box office bombs in a row this year, Warner Bros. is hoping to score a win with Aquaman's second solo outing -- but the signs so far aren't positive.
Between rumors of behind-the-scenes turmoil and a review embargo lifting just a few hours before preview showings begin in North America, some fans feared that "Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom" might stink worse than a fish market. Based on the first wave of reviews, it seems those fears were justified.
/Film's own review is one...
Between rumors of behind-the-scenes turmoil and a review embargo lifting just a few hours before preview showings begin in North America, some fans feared that "Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom" might stink worse than a fish market. Based on the first wave of reviews, it seems those fears were justified.
/Film's own review is one...
- 12/21/2023
- by Hannah Shaw-Williams
- Slash Film
When Guillermo del Toro accepted the Academy Award for Best Animated Feature ("Pinocchio") in 2022, he proclaimed during his speech, "Animation is cinema. Animation is not a genre. Animation is ready to be taken to the next step, we are all ready for it." Well, 2023 certainly heard him, because this year we were gifted an embarrassment of riches — all using the animated medium to push the limits of storytelling and visual artistry. At the same time, animated projects are constantly under attack by powerful millionaires in positions of power who can't or refuse to see the value in animation and instead still operate under the false assumption that it's nothing more than "kid's stuff." And even still, there was plenty of incredible animation this year specifically targeting young audiences, like the "Craig of the Creek" prequel film "Craig Before the Creek," Apple TV+'s "The Snoopy Show," and of course, the undisputed children's champion,...
- 12/14/2023
- by SlashFilm Staff
- Slash Film
Millions around the world have been affected in one way or another by the great composer Leonard Bernstein's work over the decades, so it was only a matter of time before Hollywood would finally get around to ushering a prestige biopic into production with this year's "Maestro." (/Film's Rafael Motamayor reviewed the film out of the London Film Festival.) It wasn't for a lack of trying, mind you, as no lesser names than Martin Scorsese and Steven Spielberg, both of whom remain involved as producers, previously took their own shots at bringing this story to the big screen. That responsibility now falls on the shoulders of director and star Bradley Cooper, and it's not one he's taking lightly.
In a recent interview with The Wrap, award-winning writer Josh Singer opened up about his years spent working on various drafts of the script. Not surprisingly, Cooper ended up making a...
In a recent interview with The Wrap, award-winning writer Josh Singer opened up about his years spent working on various drafts of the script. Not surprisingly, Cooper ended up making a...
- 11/27/2023
- by Jeremy Mathai
- Slash Film
Another year of the Marvel Cinematic Universe is drawing to a close and, folks, it's been a pretty turbulent flight. The hope was that co-writer/director Nia DaCosta's "The Marvels" would, at the least, bring things in for a smoother landing, seeing as it assembles a squad of superheroes from some of the better MCU entries in recent years. Leading the way, of course, is Carol Danvers (Brie Larson), who made a splash in 2019 with her solo film, "Captain Marvel," on her way to socking Thanos in the jaw (somewhat literally) in "Avengers: Endgame." But far from being alone, "The Marvels" sees Carol joining forces with her late bestie Maria's daughter Monica Rambeau (Teyonah Parris) -- who's fresh off gaining some shiny super-powers of her own in the acclaimed series "WandaVision" -- and Kamala Khan (Iman Vellani), a rambunctious teen and Captain Marvel fangirl who stole everyone's collective hearts...
- 11/10/2023
- by Sandy Schaefer
- Slash Film
Hollywood has never shied away from provocative subject matter like the opioid epidemic, and that goes double for a major streamer like Netflix, which has already released "Painkiller" and "The Fall of the House of the Usher" in short order. If there's a way to tell a new story about fascinating but morally compromised characters selling everything but their souls in order to make a quick buck off of the misery of others, well, you can bet that a filmmaker will find it. Honestly, even if there wasn't a new way to do it, somebody would try anyway. "Pain Hustlers" lands somewhere in the middle of those two extremes, judging by the rather mixed reception to the movie. /Film's Rafael Motamayor reviewed the film and ended up on the more negative side of the equation, saying that, "At its best, the film is just a nice time spent watching Emily Blunt...
- 11/5/2023
- by Jeremy Mathai
- Slash Film
After 100 years of making animated film musicals about talking animals, princesses, classic literary characters, superheroes, and even space pirates, there's not a whole lot of ground that Disney has never covered before. With the upcoming "Wish," however, the House of Mouse will ring in its centennial by focusing on the very idea of wishes. It's a motif that's appeared time and time again in the studio's work, yet it's rarely interrogated. What even is a "wish," really? Who decides which wishes come true and which ones do not? And if wishes can change the course of one's life, what does that even mean for those whose greatest wishes are never granted? It's a real existential conundrum, the further you go down this rabbit hole.
No doubt, you'll be shocked to learn that Disney hasn't fashioned "Wish" as an Ingmar Bergman-esque rumination on these questions and what they say about the human condition.
No doubt, you'll be shocked to learn that Disney hasn't fashioned "Wish" as an Ingmar Bergman-esque rumination on these questions and what they say about the human condition.
- 10/27/2023
- by Sandy Schaefer
- Slash Film
"If the summer doesn't sing in you, then nothing sings in you. And if nothing sings in you, then you can't make music."
This quote is featured prominently in the new trailer for "Maestro," the latest directorial effort from Bradley Cooper, which you can watch above. It's clear that something is really singing for Bradley Cooper with this film, whether it's summer or something else entirely, because this film looks like it is filled with his blood, sweat and tears.
"Maestro" tells the story of acclaimed composer Leonard Bernstein (played by Cooper himself) and the lifelong relationship and marriage he shared with Felicia Montealegre Cohn Bernstein (Carey Mulligan), which included a fair share of complications because Bernstein also identified as homosexual. But as the official synopsis for the movie describes the movie, "A love letter to life and art, 'Maestro' at its core is an emotionally epic portrayal of family and love.
This quote is featured prominently in the new trailer for "Maestro," the latest directorial effort from Bradley Cooper, which you can watch above. It's clear that something is really singing for Bradley Cooper with this film, whether it's summer or something else entirely, because this film looks like it is filled with his blood, sweat and tears.
"Maestro" tells the story of acclaimed composer Leonard Bernstein (played by Cooper himself) and the lifelong relationship and marriage he shared with Felicia Montealegre Cohn Bernstein (Carey Mulligan), which included a fair share of complications because Bernstein also identified as homosexual. But as the official synopsis for the movie describes the movie, "A love letter to life and art, 'Maestro' at its core is an emotionally epic portrayal of family and love.
- 10/25/2023
- by Ethan Anderton
- Slash Film
We're not in Kansas anymore, folks -- or, to put it more accurately, Chris Evans is no longer in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. Ever since sending Steve Rogers off to retirement in "Avengers: Endgame," the A-list actor hasn't exactly shied away from shedding his image as the biggest boy-scout superhero this side of Superman. He's played loathsome murderers, like Ransom Drysdale in "Knives Out." He's gone full sociopathic villain as the mercenary Lloyd Hansen in the Russo brothers' "The Gray Man." And now, he's gearing up to portray yet another conniving and morally compromised figure in "Pain Hustlers," which appears intent on pushing the boundary of how far audiences will tolerate Evans as a thoroughly unlikable and money-grubbing creep.
The crime drama originally debuted at the Toronto International Film Festival this past September to somewhat less-than-sterling reviews (you can check out what /Film's Rafael Motamayor had to say about it...
The crime drama originally debuted at the Toronto International Film Festival this past September to somewhat less-than-sterling reviews (you can check out what /Film's Rafael Motamayor had to say about it...
- 10/10/2023
- by Jeremy Mathai
- Slash Film
Nobody loves celebrating Disney more than, well, the folks who run Disney do, but can you blame them? After 100 years of making animated feature films and shorts, the House of Mouse has amassed an incredible pop cultural cache of iconography and beloved characters. So, what better way to cap off its year-long celebration of Disney Animation's centennial than with a short film that's all about how awesome Disney is?
While it's easy and wholly justified to be cynical about the business side of Disney (especially when you consider what its executives are like when it comes to providing fair treatment and monetary compensation for their employees), it's impossible to put a price on the value of the studio's art itself. That's also why it's difficult not to feel something while watching the trailer for Disney's "Once Upon a Studio," a live-action/animated short that, quite literally, brings treasured animated heroes...
While it's easy and wholly justified to be cynical about the business side of Disney (especially when you consider what its executives are like when it comes to providing fair treatment and monetary compensation for their employees), it's impossible to put a price on the value of the studio's art itself. That's also why it's difficult not to feel something while watching the trailer for Disney's "Once Upon a Studio," a live-action/animated short that, quite literally, brings treasured animated heroes...
- 9/21/2023
- by Sandy Schaefer
- Slash Film
Almost 40 years after their creation (and nearly as long since the last time a real-life teenager declared "Cowabunga!" without a trace of irony), the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles have gained a whole new lease on life thanks to "Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutant Mayhem." The critically acclaimed animated film (you can read Rafael Motamayor's own glowing review for /Film here) follows in the footsteps of hits like "Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse" and "Puss in Boots: The Last Wish" by eschewing visual realism in favor of creating its own uniquely hyperrealistic style. It also helps that "Mutant Mayhem" fully embraces the "Teenage" component of the franchise by casting actual teenagers to voice its heroes in a half-shell and allowing them to play off each other in real-time by recording their lines together.
Despite significant competition from the likes of Barbenheimer and "Meg 2: The Trench," "Mutant Mayhem" has managed to...
Despite significant competition from the likes of Barbenheimer and "Meg 2: The Trench," "Mutant Mayhem" has managed to...
- 8/31/2023
- by Sandy Schaefer
- Slash Film
Everyone knows that it's an awfully self-destructive idea to let the ongoing WGA and SAG-AFTRA strikes drag on in perpetuity, harming countless below-the-line crew members, theater owners, and more who rely on the film and television industries to make a living -- everyone, that is, except for the AMPTP themselves, apparently. We recently wrote about one of the latest dominoes to fall as the highly-anticipated "Dune: Part 2" was pushed back to next year, becoming the latest casualty of the studios' abject refusal to present reasonable counterproposals in good faith as the sides struggle to work out a fair contract. Now, fantasy nerds are the latest fans to be victimized by the producers' unwillingness to, frankly, get their s*** together.
Deadline reports that the upcoming "The Lord of the Rings" anime film, "The War of the Rohirrim" (which /Film's Rafael Motamayor was lucky enough to preview footage from earlier this year...
Deadline reports that the upcoming "The Lord of the Rings" anime film, "The War of the Rohirrim" (which /Film's Rafael Motamayor was lucky enough to preview footage from earlier this year...
- 8/25/2023
- by Jeremy Mathai
- Slash Film
"Ahsoka" is coming to Disney+ this week, expanding the live-action "Star Wars" universe by folding in even more characters and storylines from "The Clone Wars" and "Star Wars Rebels." Executive producer Dave Filoni gets to bring his "Star Wars" sandboxes together, and it seems like he's ready to play in a big way, especially with Grand Admiral Thrawn entering the fray again. But maybe you don't know who Thrawn is at all. Maybe you're not familiar with the dynamic between the various characters from the animated side of "Star Wars." It's a big galaxy out there, and keeping up with multiple seasons of several shows maybe didn't feel necessary for some "Star Wars" movies fans out there. That's where we come in.
In order to help get the more casual "Star Wars" fans prepared to watch "Ahsoka," we've put together a character guide for all the key players from the...
In order to help get the more casual "Star Wars" fans prepared to watch "Ahsoka," we've put together a character guide for all the key players from the...
- 8/21/2023
- by SlashFilm Staff
- Slash Film
In the lead-up to the premiere of "The Mandalorian" in 2019, nobody really knew what to expect from the first-ever live-action "Star Wars" series. It wasn't until the appearance of a certain small, pointy-eared, green-skinned individual at the end of the first episode that season 1's "Lone Wolf and Cub"-styled plot came into focus. When the series returned for season 2, however, it quickly became apparent that showrunner Jon Favreau and executive producer Dave Filoni had much bigger plans than a story about a violent loner turned bumbling father (Din Djarin) trying to care for his mischievous adopted son (Din Grogu).
In fact, it's since become clear the tale of Din Djarin was but a stepping stool for a much larger saga about the New Republic's struggles to secure a foothold following the defeat of the Galactic Empire. The show's first spinoff, "The Book of Boba Fett," saw the titular bounty...
In fact, it's since become clear the tale of Din Djarin was but a stepping stool for a much larger saga about the New Republic's struggles to secure a foothold following the defeat of the Galactic Empire. The show's first spinoff, "The Book of Boba Fett," saw the titular bounty...
- 8/17/2023
- by Sandy Schaefer
- Slash Film
The DC Universe is about to have a brand new superhero in the form of "Blue Beetle." The latest DC Comics adaptation has been a long time coming, with the film originally produced for HBO Max before Warner Bros. decided to give it a theatrical release. "Blue Beetle" represents the first time this character has appeared in a live-action movie, and the film is also giving a Latino superhero the spotlight, which is a big deal. But did director Angel Manuel Soto manage to make a satisfying film?
Critics and fans have seen DC's latest, which features "Cobra Kai" star Xolo Maridueña as Jaime Reyes, aka Blue Beetle. It's been an admittedly rough year for WB and DC, with both "Shazam! Fury of the Gods" and "The Flash" bombing in a big way. Is this movie poised to break the bad streak? Based on the early word from those who have seen the film,...
Critics and fans have seen DC's latest, which features "Cobra Kai" star Xolo Maridueña as Jaime Reyes, aka Blue Beetle. It's been an admittedly rough year for WB and DC, with both "Shazam! Fury of the Gods" and "The Flash" bombing in a big way. Is this movie poised to break the bad streak? Based on the early word from those who have seen the film,...
- 8/17/2023
- by Ryan Scott
- Slash Film
The following article contains major spoilers for "Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse."
"Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse" took us back into the multiverse, starting with Gwen Stacy (Hailee Steinfeld) visiting Miles Morales (Shameik Moore) in the Brooklyn of Earth-1610. She then takes him to the Spider-Society, where Spider-Beings from all over the multiverse converge and help each other out.
Over the course of the film, Miles finds out that he wasn't ever supposed to be Spider-Man and, because of that, the universe of Earth-42 doesn't have one. Wha's more, he ends up having to evade the Spider-Beings who want to stop him from preventing a "canon event," as in something that must happen to create our web-slinging superheroes. As a result, Miles eventually makes his way to Earth-42, a place where his uncle Aaron (Mahershala Ali) is still alive, his dad is dead, and another version of Miles (Jharrel Jerome) has become...
"Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse" took us back into the multiverse, starting with Gwen Stacy (Hailee Steinfeld) visiting Miles Morales (Shameik Moore) in the Brooklyn of Earth-1610. She then takes him to the Spider-Society, where Spider-Beings from all over the multiverse converge and help each other out.
Over the course of the film, Miles finds out that he wasn't ever supposed to be Spider-Man and, because of that, the universe of Earth-42 doesn't have one. Wha's more, he ends up having to evade the Spider-Beings who want to stop him from preventing a "canon event," as in something that must happen to create our web-slinging superheroes. As a result, Miles eventually makes his way to Earth-42, a place where his uncle Aaron (Mahershala Ali) is still alive, his dad is dead, and another version of Miles (Jharrel Jerome) has become...
- 8/7/2023
- by Jenna Busch
- Slash Film
The Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles have been an unusual mainstay in popular culture for decades, so they might be seen as occupying an unusual subgenre unto themselves. Originally created in 1984, the Turtles were intended as a satire of the ultra-gritty superhero comics of the time, Frank Miller's "Daredevil" comics in particular. The absurd title and weird premise, however, caught on, and by 1990, the Turtles were starring in TV shows, video games, and a live-action feature film. In 2023, the Turtles are entering what might be their 20th unique continuity with the release of Jeff Rowe's "Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutant Mayhem." They have come a long way since their superhero-inflected origins.
"Mutant Mayhem" was co-written and co-produced by Seth Rogen, who also plays the voice of Bebop, a mutant warthog. As a producer, Rogen has had a long, prolific, and quite interesting career. His movies tend to be lightweight...
"Mutant Mayhem" was co-written and co-produced by Seth Rogen, who also plays the voice of Bebop, a mutant warthog. As a producer, Rogen has had a long, prolific, and quite interesting career. His movies tend to be lightweight...
- 8/1/2023
- by Witney Seibold
- Slash Film
The most fearsome fighting team is back in a new movie, and from what we’re hearing, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutant Mayhem is the Tmnt film fans have been waiting for! The latest animated adventure featuring the Heroes in a Half-Shell debuted an unfinished film cut at the Annecy International Animation Film Festival on Monday, receiving a six-minute standing ovation. According to attendees, the applause was so loud that director Jeff Rowe returned to the stage to bask in the celebratory afterglow.
Speaking with The Wrap, Rowe commented on the momentous occasion, saying, “Being in the room and feeling all the reactions and hearing all the laughter was amazing, but what really stood out to me was to see our movie received and appreciated in that way by a lot of people who really love and care about animation.”
It’s worth noting the version screened at Annecy is a work-in-progress film cut.
Speaking with The Wrap, Rowe commented on the momentous occasion, saying, “Being in the room and feeling all the reactions and hearing all the laughter was amazing, but what really stood out to me was to see our movie received and appreciated in that way by a lot of people who really love and care about animation.”
It’s worth noting the version screened at Annecy is a work-in-progress film cut.
- 6/13/2023
- by Steve Seigh
- JoBlo.com
For as hard as we film journalists can be on certain movies, it's honestly kind of a miracle when any live-action feature film ever gets finished. Even a movie as simple in its design as the recent sci-fi indie flick "The Artifice Girl" -- most of which centers on a small group of people talking in a cramped, dimly-lit room -- represents the handiwork of many, many different artists working behind the scenes. That goes doubly for animated movies, not least of all ones that push the envelope to the degree that "Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse" does.
"Across the Spider-Verse" is, of course, the much-anticipated sequel to 2018's "Into the Spider-Verse." A groundbreaking feat of animation, the latter brought Marvel comic book web-slinger Miles Morales to life on the big screen for the first time in a coming-of-age superhero story featuring several other Spider-People from across the multiverse, ranging from...
"Across the Spider-Verse" is, of course, the much-anticipated sequel to 2018's "Into the Spider-Verse." A groundbreaking feat of animation, the latter brought Marvel comic book web-slinger Miles Morales to life on the big screen for the first time in a coming-of-age superhero story featuring several other Spider-People from across the multiverse, ranging from...
- 6/2/2023
- by Sandy Schaefer
- Slash Film
Buoyed by over-the-top stunts, the "Fast & Furious" franchise has never been subtle about much of anything, and this is especially true for retcons. Over the course of ten popcorn flicks, the series has introduced more than one long-lost #family member. In "Fast & Furious 6," Jason Statham's Deckard Shaw (first known as Ian Shaw) materialized as the brother of Luke Evans' villain, Owen Shaw. Just two years ago, "F9" revealed that the head of the family, Vin Diesel's Dom Toretto, had his own long-lost brother, Jakob (John Cena).
The trend continues in "Fast X," which, as others have pointed out, really missed out on the chance to call itself "Fast10 Your Seatbelts." The tenth "Fast & Furious" film has earned praise for the way it seamlessly integrates Jason Momoa's Dante Reyes — a contender for the franchise's best baddie, writes /Film's Rafael Motamayor — into footage from "Fast Five.
The trend continues in "Fast X," which, as others have pointed out, really missed out on the chance to call itself "Fast10 Your Seatbelts." The tenth "Fast & Furious" film has earned praise for the way it seamlessly integrates Jason Momoa's Dante Reyes — a contender for the franchise's best baddie, writes /Film's Rafael Motamayor — into footage from "Fast Five.
- 5/20/2023
- by Joshua Meyer
- Slash Film
Two's a coincidence, but three films about the origins of real-life brands releasing in the span of a few months? That's a trend.
On the heels of "Tetris" and "Air" comes "Flamin' Hot," the latest entry in the growing sub-genre that /Film's Rafael Motamayor has referred to as "the brand movie or product biopic (the prodpic?)." This time, the focus is on Richard Montañez, who rose from being a humble janitor at a Frito-Lay factory to a successful businessman and the self-proclaimed creator of Flamin' Hot Cheetos. The film is based on Montañez's memoir, "A Boy, a Burrito and a Cookie: From Janitor to Executive," and was directed by former "Desperate Housewives" star Eva Longoria, drawing from Lewis Colick and Linda Yvette's script.
Similar to "Tetris," Longoria's brand movie will be skipping theaters to release directly to streaming on Hulu in the U.S. and Disney+ internationally -- although,...
On the heels of "Tetris" and "Air" comes "Flamin' Hot," the latest entry in the growing sub-genre that /Film's Rafael Motamayor has referred to as "the brand movie or product biopic (the prodpic?)." This time, the focus is on Richard Montañez, who rose from being a humble janitor at a Frito-Lay factory to a successful businessman and the self-proclaimed creator of Flamin' Hot Cheetos. The film is based on Montañez's memoir, "A Boy, a Burrito and a Cookie: From Janitor to Executive," and was directed by former "Desperate Housewives" star Eva Longoria, drawing from Lewis Colick and Linda Yvette's script.
Similar to "Tetris," Longoria's brand movie will be skipping theaters to release directly to streaming on Hulu in the U.S. and Disney+ internationally -- although,...
- 5/10/2023
- by Sandy Schaefer
- Slash Film
Days before it opens on Juneteenth weekend, Tim Story’s “The Blackening” will premiere at one of the most important Black cultural hubs in American history: The Apollo.
Lionsgate and MRC have announced that the film will bow at the Tribeca Festival on June 13 as part of the festival’s Expressions of Black Freedom program. The special screening will be held at the iconic Harlem music venue, which has hosted legendary performers ranging from Ella Fitzgerald to James Brown.
“Of course, we want ‘The Blackening’ to be enjoyed by everyone – but it’s especially a celebration of and a theatrical event for Black culture,” director Tim Story said in a statement. “This film really shows that Black people are not a monolith – there are so many different things that define us, but also bring us together. That’s why it’s so deeply meaningful that we are premiering at the legendary Apollo.
Lionsgate and MRC have announced that the film will bow at the Tribeca Festival on June 13 as part of the festival’s Expressions of Black Freedom program. The special screening will be held at the iconic Harlem music venue, which has hosted legendary performers ranging from Ella Fitzgerald to James Brown.
“Of course, we want ‘The Blackening’ to be enjoyed by everyone – but it’s especially a celebration of and a theatrical event for Black culture,” director Tim Story said in a statement. “This film really shows that Black people are not a monolith – there are so many different things that define us, but also bring us together. That’s why it’s so deeply meaningful that we are premiering at the legendary Apollo.
- 4/24/2023
- by Christian Zilko
- Indiewire
Ever since its original publication in 2006, the acclaimed graphic novel "American Born Chinese" by author Gene Luen Yang has always felt ripe for a live-action adaptation. Divided up into three initially unconnected stories, the story manages to balance mythical and possibly supernatural tales involving Chinese deities with the otherwise grounded and all-too-relatable struggles of two Chinese students — one American-born, the other recently emigrated from China — attempting to assimilate and fit in among the daunting environment of high school. How these disparate threads manage to intersect in the end is well worth reading to find out.
The rights to a series-length adaptation ultimately found its way to Disney, with "Short Term 12" and "Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings" filmmaker Destin Daniel Cretton attached to direct several episodes and starring practically the entire core cast of "Everything Everywhere All At Once". From showrunner Kelvin Yu ("Bob's Burgers"), the first...
The rights to a series-length adaptation ultimately found its way to Disney, with "Short Term 12" and "Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings" filmmaker Destin Daniel Cretton attached to direct several episodes and starring practically the entire core cast of "Everything Everywhere All At Once". From showrunner Kelvin Yu ("Bob's Burgers"), the first...
- 4/21/2023
- by Jeremy Mathai
- Slash Film
Where to begin with this year’s summer preview?
The “big” titles, including new superhero films, another zippy entry into the “Fast and Furious” franchise, the continuing adventures of Tom Cruise running against “Impossible” odds, or even a kicky new Indiana Jones film? What about the latest picks from some of our favorite filmmakers, Wes Anderson to Greta Gerwig, Christopher Nolan to Nicole Holofcener, Paul Schrader to Niki Caro, Christian Petzold to Rachel Sennott?
Or what about the rising filmmaking stars we’ve already fallen for, like Celine Song, Laurel Parmet, Adele Lim, Charlotte Regan, and Savanah Leaf? Should we bet even bigger, noting that this summer includes at least two films we’ve already crowned some of the best of the year?
Or, better yet, how about we let the films speak for themselves? As another summer movie season beckons, we’ve dug into the calendar to pull out...
The “big” titles, including new superhero films, another zippy entry into the “Fast and Furious” franchise, the continuing adventures of Tom Cruise running against “Impossible” odds, or even a kicky new Indiana Jones film? What about the latest picks from some of our favorite filmmakers, Wes Anderson to Greta Gerwig, Christopher Nolan to Nicole Holofcener, Paul Schrader to Niki Caro, Christian Petzold to Rachel Sennott?
Or what about the rising filmmaking stars we’ve already fallen for, like Celine Song, Laurel Parmet, Adele Lim, Charlotte Regan, and Savanah Leaf? Should we bet even bigger, noting that this summer includes at least two films we’ve already crowned some of the best of the year?
Or, better yet, how about we let the films speak for themselves? As another summer movie season beckons, we’ve dug into the calendar to pull out...
- 4/18/2023
- by Kate Erbland
- Indiewire
A whole new generation is about to learn the fundamental rules of taking care of a Mogwai, like not getting them wet, keeping them away from bright lights, and most importantly, never ever feed them after midnight. Joe Dante's original 1984 live-action Christmas horror comedy is largely considered to be the pinnacle of films to bridge the gap between family-friendly spooky fare and certifiable adult scares, and was instrumental in the development of the PG-13 rating. The success of "Gremlins" spawned a merchandising empire, a truly bonkers anti-sequel filled with the weirdest assortment of cameos ever put to screen, and is responsible for multiple generations of horror fans naming their pets "Gizmo." Now, the beloved IP is getting the animation treatment, with the new prequel series "Gremlins: Secrets of the Mogwai," coming this spring.
/Film's own Rafael Motamayor saw a preview of the series at the Annecy International Animation Film...
/Film's own Rafael Motamayor saw a preview of the series at the Annecy International Animation Film...
- 4/12/2023
- by BJ Colangelo
- Slash Film
Big news for "Star Wars" fans: today's Lucasfilm Studio Showcase at Star Wars Celebration has officially announced three new live-action "Star Wars" films, which are currently in the making. Directors James Mangold, Dave Filoni, and Sharmeen Obaid-Chinoy will be helming these respective projects, and Filoni's new movie is set to focus on the New Republic while connecting the interconnected stories in Disney+ shows such as "The Mandalorian," The Book of Boba Fett," and "Ahsoka," among others.
Meanwhile, Mangold's movie will trace the beginnings of the Jedi as Force-sensitive beings, and Obaid-Chinoy's project will be fleshing out the events after "The Rise of Skywalker," with Rey (Daisey Ridley) setting the stage for a new Jedi Order. The announcement of the three, brand-new "Star Wars" projects certainly calls for celebration, as the last theatrical release in the franchise was 2019's "The Rise of Skywalker," post which we have only had to survive...
Meanwhile, Mangold's movie will trace the beginnings of the Jedi as Force-sensitive beings, and Obaid-Chinoy's project will be fleshing out the events after "The Rise of Skywalker," with Rey (Daisey Ridley) setting the stage for a new Jedi Order. The announcement of the three, brand-new "Star Wars" projects certainly calls for celebration, as the last theatrical release in the franchise was 2019's "The Rise of Skywalker," post which we have only had to survive...
- 4/7/2023
- by Debopriyaa Dutta
- Slash Film
(Welcome to I Didn't Know What Seasonal Anime to Watch, So I Asked /Film for Help and They Gave Me a List, a regular column dedicated to helping choose what anime shows to watch each season.)
After a gangbuster fall season full of spectacular anime (many of which made it to our list of best shows of the year overall), 2023 is starting with a bit of a quiet winter season. We had some big premieres from acclaimed animators and exciting new original anime, but many were plagued by production issues that killed all momentum.
Still, there were some leftover fall shows that shone bright, a highly-anticipated returning anime that delivered a stellar season, some surprising anime-related drops, and some funny new comedies that made an otherwise lackluster season still rather entertaining.
With so many new shows airing every season, it is harder than ever to spot the good ones, but...
After a gangbuster fall season full of spectacular anime (many of which made it to our list of best shows of the year overall), 2023 is starting with a bit of a quiet winter season. We had some big premieres from acclaimed animators and exciting new original anime, but many were plagued by production issues that killed all momentum.
Still, there were some leftover fall shows that shone bright, a highly-anticipated returning anime that delivered a stellar season, some surprising anime-related drops, and some funny new comedies that made an otherwise lackluster season still rather entertaining.
With so many new shows airing every season, it is harder than ever to spot the good ones, but...
- 3/29/2023
- by Rafael Motamayor
- Slash Film
There are a few fringe benefits of a streaming show having its big premiere at SXSW. First and foremost, if your pilot is good, you can generate some good buzz with that receptive audience, which is valuable from a promotion point of view. But when you think about the filmmaker's viewpoint, this could be the only time they get to watch their story with an audience.
In the age of streaming, so much content is meticulously crafted, with just as much care put into the storytelling as any big tentpole movie, but the creators don't get to have that audience experience.
In the case of "American Born Chinese," most of the cast and crew got that rare chance to see how their audience-pleasing first two episodes played for a crowd at the historic Paramount Theater in downtown Austin. /Film's Rafael Motamayor was in attendance and had a lot of nice...
In the age of streaming, so much content is meticulously crafted, with just as much care put into the storytelling as any big tentpole movie, but the creators don't get to have that audience experience.
In the case of "American Born Chinese," most of the cast and crew got that rare chance to see how their audience-pleasing first two episodes played for a crowd at the historic Paramount Theater in downtown Austin. /Film's Rafael Motamayor was in attendance and had a lot of nice...
- 3/24/2023
- by Eric Vespe
- Slash Film
Cowabunga! The team has officially been assembled for "Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutant Mayhem," and it's very impressive. The upcoming Paramount film hails from "The Mitchells vs. The Machines" director Jeff Rowe, who based the aesthetic on sketches he made in the margins of his school notebooks. Likely following in the footsteps of recent animated movies — which have become more experimental when it comes to blending 2D with 3D CGI — the film delves into the lives of everyone's favorite crime-fighting ninja turtles, bringing them back to the big screen for the first tie in a decade.
Before now, our only peek beneath the shell came from the Annecy International Animation Film Festival where /Film's Rafael Motamayor glimpsed 10 seconds of footage that he compared to the visual aesthetic of "Arcane," describing the show as "punk" and "very funny." Although the film arrives in theaters in just a few months, we've yet...
Before now, our only peek beneath the shell came from the Annecy International Animation Film Festival where /Film's Rafael Motamayor glimpsed 10 seconds of footage that he compared to the visual aesthetic of "Arcane," describing the show as "punk" and "very funny." Although the film arrives in theaters in just a few months, we've yet...
- 3/5/2023
- by Shania Russell
- Slash Film
"Puss in Boots: The Last Wish" is one of the most inexplicable movies in recent memory. It's a sequel to a much-maligned movie that came out over a decade ago. It's subtitled "The Last Wish" and billed as the end of an era despite only being the second movie to star Antonio Banderas' swashbuckling kitty. Its star-studded cast includes the likes of not only Banderas, but also Florence Pugh, Olivia Colman, John Mulaney, Harvey Guillén, and Salma Hayek Pinault.
The movie has also gained a tremendous amount of acclaim since its release in theaters in December, picking up an Oscar nomination for Best Animated Feature Film and earning glowing reviews, including one for IGN in which /Film writer Rafael Motamayor compared it favorably to The X-Men franchise high point "Logan," a comparison that caught on in a big way throughout the movie's theatrical run. /Film's own review, from Josh Spiegel,...
The movie has also gained a tremendous amount of acclaim since its release in theaters in December, picking up an Oscar nomination for Best Animated Feature Film and earning glowing reviews, including one for IGN in which /Film writer Rafael Motamayor compared it favorably to The X-Men franchise high point "Logan," a comparison that caught on in a big way throughout the movie's theatrical run. /Film's own review, from Josh Spiegel,...
- 3/4/2023
- by Valerie Ettenhofer
- Slash Film
(Welcome to Under the Radar, a column where we spotlight specific movies, shows, trends, performances, or scenes that caught our eye and deserved more attention ... but otherwise flew under the radar. In this edition: "Return to Seoul" makes its case for Best Actress, "Broker" offers some perspective, and "All That Breathes" reminds us never to underestimate the narrative power of documentaries.)
As much as some may roll their eyes at the pomp and circumstance of awards season, the end of February and the beginning of Oscars March Madness makes it feel even sillier for cynics to pretend like the Academy Awards and other buzzy awards shows don't really matter. All throughout the last month, nine of the 10 Best Picture nominees were playing in theaters nationwide, giving audiences a chance to experience the highlights of 2022's cinematic "canon" for themselves. And you know what? It paid off.
Far too many movies...
As much as some may roll their eyes at the pomp and circumstance of awards season, the end of February and the beginning of Oscars March Madness makes it feel even sillier for cynics to pretend like the Academy Awards and other buzzy awards shows don't really matter. All throughout the last month, nine of the 10 Best Picture nominees were playing in theaters nationwide, giving audiences a chance to experience the highlights of 2022's cinematic "canon" for themselves. And you know what? It paid off.
Far too many movies...
- 3/3/2023
- by Jeremy Mathai
- Slash Film
If you watched Baz Luhrmann's "Elvis" and thought to yourself, "this is good, but I wish Austin Butler was animated and also had a gun and was solving crimes," have we got the series for you! With Elvis fever running wild, the King of Rock and Roll has a new adult animated show due to arrive soon on Netflix, featuring Matthew McConaughey in the voiceover role he was born to play — Elvis Presley, but a super spy. The animation is sharp and snappy, the language and violence certainly aren't for kids, and despite the seemingly ridiculous premise ... "Agent Elvis" looks pretty damn awesome.
The series has been in the works since 2019, back when it was called "Agent King," but with "Agent Elvis" heading our way faster than you can put on a new pair of blue suede shoes, here's everything you need to know before the King enters the building.
The series has been in the works since 2019, back when it was called "Agent King," but with "Agent Elvis" heading our way faster than you can put on a new pair of blue suede shoes, here's everything you need to know before the King enters the building.
- 3/3/2023
- by BJ Colangelo
- Slash Film
3Peat's uproarious 2018 comedy short film "The Blackening" is finally getting the big screen treatment, with a feature film of the same name from Lionsgate set to hit theaters in time for Juneteenth weekend this year. It's the perfect release date for a horror comedy with an all-Black cast that asks the question: if everyone's Black, who does a slasher killer go for first? Like the short on which its based, "The Blackening" turns the thought exercise -- which is based on decades of horror history in which Black characters are disproportionately killed off -- into a jumping off point for stereotype-skewering conversations about Blackness.
Yesterday, a great poster for "The Blackening" dropped on the film's official Twitter, showing the seven-person ensemble holding onto household objects that could double as weapons while the blood-splattered tagline in the background reads, "We can't all die first." Now, there's a brand new first trailer...
Yesterday, a great poster for "The Blackening" dropped on the film's official Twitter, showing the seven-person ensemble holding onto household objects that could double as weapons while the blood-splattered tagline in the background reads, "We can't all die first." Now, there's a brand new first trailer...
- 3/1/2023
- by Valerie Ettenhofer
- Slash Film
It is still early in 2023, but several movies have already left quite the impression on moviegoers, such as Blumhouse's killer doll flick "M3GAN" and M. Night Shyamalan's latest thriller "Knock at the Cabin." But perhaps the craziest movie of the year is hitting theaters soon: "Cocaine Bear."
Directed by Elizabeth Banks ("Pitch Perfect 2"), the film is actually loosely based on a true story of a bear that, as the title implies, ingested a ton of cocaine. What could possibly go wrong? The movie has an absolutely stacked A-list cast led by the likes of Keri Russell and Ray Liota, in one of his final performances. As for the specifics of it, the synopsis for the film reads as follows:
Inspired by the 1985 true story of a drug runner's plane crash, missing cocaine, and the black bear that ate it, this wild dark comedy finds an oddball group of cops,...
Directed by Elizabeth Banks ("Pitch Perfect 2"), the film is actually loosely based on a true story of a bear that, as the title implies, ingested a ton of cocaine. What could possibly go wrong? The movie has an absolutely stacked A-list cast led by the likes of Keri Russell and Ray Liota, in one of his final performances. As for the specifics of it, the synopsis for the film reads as follows:
Inspired by the 1985 true story of a drug runner's plane crash, missing cocaine, and the black bear that ate it, this wild dark comedy finds an oddball group of cops,...
- 2/21/2023
- by Ryan Scott
- Slash Film
Baz Luhrmann's remixed version of the life and times of Elvis Presley feels like the exuberant director's version of a comic book movie (an opinion /Film's Rafael Motamayor agreed with in his review). "Elvis" has garnered a whopping eight Oscar nominations this year and the jam-packed soundtrack was also Grammy nominated for Best Compilation Soundtrack. Featuring songs from Tame Impala, Eminem, Kacey Musgraves, Yola, and Elvis Presley himself, one of the most surprising additions to the soundtrack comes from an obscure song choice from Stevie Nicks. The whimsical cover "Cotton Candy Land" appears in the opening scene, setting the stage for Luhrmann's dreamlike biography.
"Cotton Candy Land" was recorded by Presley for the 1963 musical "It Happened At the World's Fair" (not to be confused with the found footage horror film "We're All Going to the World's Fair"). The song was never released as a single, allowing for the classic...
"Cotton Candy Land" was recorded by Presley for the 1963 musical "It Happened At the World's Fair" (not to be confused with the found footage horror film "We're All Going to the World's Fair"). The song was never released as a single, allowing for the classic...
- 2/7/2023
- by Drew Tinnin
- Slash Film
If you came of age in the aughts, you likely grew up watching a very specific set of cartoons -- ones that haven't yet gotten their big nostalgia moment alongside the "remember the '90s" crowd. After the "Kim Possible" era and before the "Phineas and Ferb" generation, shows like "Dave the Barbarian" and "American Dragon: Jake Long" briefly took over the Disney Channel with high-concept hi-jinks and lovable characters.
The latter series only lasted two seasons, but with talented voice and screen actor Dante Basco in the lead, a theme song covered by The Jonas Brothers, and a Chinese-American protagonist juggling everyday life with superpowers, "American Dragon: Jake Long" was impossible to forget. Over 15 years since the series drew to a close, /Film's Rafael Motamayor spoke with series creator Jeff Goode about bringing the story back to life. Along the way, Goode revealed that "American Dragon: Jake Long" was...
The latter series only lasted two seasons, but with talented voice and screen actor Dante Basco in the lead, a theme song covered by The Jonas Brothers, and a Chinese-American protagonist juggling everyday life with superpowers, "American Dragon: Jake Long" was impossible to forget. Over 15 years since the series drew to a close, /Film's Rafael Motamayor spoke with series creator Jeff Goode about bringing the story back to life. Along the way, Goode revealed that "American Dragon: Jake Long" was...
- 2/4/2023
- by Valerie Ettenhofer
- Slash Film
It's hard to overstate the importance of Bruce W. Smith's "The Proud Family." The Disney Channel animated series was one of the first animated shows with a Black creator and a majority Black cast, unafraid to explore subjects like race, class, and cultural differences in a way that young audiences could understand. The show originally ran from 2001-2005, with 52 episodes, and the film, "The Proud Family Movie," marked the end of the series. That is, until Disney+ came calling and rebooted the series for a new generation.
Now in its second season, "The Proud Family: Louder and Prouder" continues the saga of The Proud Family and their diverse community of friends, family, and colleagues. /Film's own Rafael Motamayor recently spoke with show creator Bruce W. Smith and longtime producer Ralph Farquhar about continuing the series and gave some exclusive insight into what it's like working for the House of Mouse.
Now in its second season, "The Proud Family: Louder and Prouder" continues the saga of The Proud Family and their diverse community of friends, family, and colleagues. /Film's own Rafael Motamayor recently spoke with show creator Bruce W. Smith and longtime producer Ralph Farquhar about continuing the series and gave some exclusive insight into what it's like working for the House of Mouse.
- 1/31/2023
- by BJ Colangelo
- Slash Film
While it may feel like there's actually too much "Star Wars" out there these days in the Disney era of the franchise, back in 2008, when "The Clone Wars" premiered on Cartoon Network for its first three seasons, it was the only currently running animated series from Lucasfilm animation. The show chronicled the many adventures of Anakin Skywalker, Obi Wan-Kenobi, and young padawan, Ahsoka Tano, filled in gaps between "Episode II: Attack of the Clones" and "Episode III: Revenge of the Sith," and added context to all the events George Lucas didn't have the space to address in his films.
Though it was an animated series, "The Clone Wars" was different from most shows on the Cartoon Network at the time. Sure, there's nothing more commercial than "Star Wars," but it was covering the darker source material of the prequel era that was maligned by many fans. The show even embraced some inaccessible,...
Though it was an animated series, "The Clone Wars" was different from most shows on the Cartoon Network at the time. Sure, there's nothing more commercial than "Star Wars," but it was covering the darker source material of the prequel era that was maligned by many fans. The show even embraced some inaccessible,...
- 1/26/2023
- by Tyler Llewyn Taing
- Slash Film
While "Star Wars" films and TV shows have never exactly been un-family-friendly (the more adult moments in "Andor" and the Wookiee erotica in "The Star Wars Holiday Special" aside), they have also never really been aimed at the juice box crowd. George Lucas undoubtedly ruffled some feathers when he infamously said "A New Hope" was a film designed "for 12-year-olds" at the 2017 Star Wars Celebration, yet even then the actual point he was trying to get across was that he had envisioned it as a "Flash Gordon"-styled "high adventure film" like the ones he loved watching growing up, "but with meaningful psychological themes."
When it concerns the animated side of "Star Wars," the franchise initially skewed younger with the Legends (e.g. non-canonical) 1980s Saturday cartoon series "Droids" and "Ewoks." Genndy Tartakovsky's own non-canon 2003 "Clone Wars" mini-series, on the other hand, had more in common with Tartakovsky's "Samurai Jack,...
When it concerns the animated side of "Star Wars," the franchise initially skewed younger with the Legends (e.g. non-canonical) 1980s Saturday cartoon series "Droids" and "Ewoks." Genndy Tartakovsky's own non-canon 2003 "Clone Wars" mini-series, on the other hand, had more in common with Tartakovsky's "Samurai Jack,...
- 1/26/2023
- by Sandy Schaefer
- Slash Film
The "Star Wars" villain General Grievous was introduced in the 2003 "Star Wars: Clone Wars" animated series. The Separatist General is an organic being whose parts have been replaced with cybernetics. He became a lightsaber expert despite having no Force sensitivity after studying with Count Dooku. His rival is Obi-Wan Kenobi, who ultimately kills him in "Star Wars: Episode III -- Revenge of the Sith." According to George Lucas, the idea was to have him be "an alien in a droid shell, which is sort of an echo of what Anakin is going to become."
General Grievous could have had a very different backstory and one that sounds intriguing, if not particularly feasible. The information comes to us from an interview between /Film's Rafael Motamayor and Henry Gilroy, writer of "Star Wars: The Clone Wars" and "Star Wars Rebels," for which he also served as a co-executive producer. According to Gilroy,...
General Grievous could have had a very different backstory and one that sounds intriguing, if not particularly feasible. The information comes to us from an interview between /Film's Rafael Motamayor and Henry Gilroy, writer of "Star Wars: The Clone Wars" and "Star Wars Rebels," for which he also served as a co-executive producer. According to Gilroy,...
- 1/26/2023
- by Jenna Busch
- Slash Film
"Star Wars Rebels," a few years removed from its finale, has earned its place within the pantheon of all-time great storytelling within this legendary franchise. For those that have taken in the tale of Ezra Bridger and the Ghost crew at the dawn of the Rebellion, it is unquestionably, at its best, what "Star Wars" can and should be. The show also gave us some all-time classic moments, including a rematch for the ages between Obi-Wan Kenobi and Maul, something many of us had been waiting for ever since the Jedi cut the Sith in half at the end of "The Phantom Menace."
That rematch would come in the penultimate episode of the show's third season, "Twin Suns." It is widely-regarded as one of the series' finest moments, though, for some, the battle left something to be desired, as it was surprisingly brief. But this was very much by design,...
That rematch would come in the penultimate episode of the show's third season, "Twin Suns." It is widely-regarded as one of the series' finest moments, though, for some, the battle left something to be desired, as it was surprisingly brief. But this was very much by design,...
- 1/26/2023
- by Ryan Scott
- Slash Film
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