Latest news with #ActionMovies
Yahoo
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
No One in the Movies Stays Dead Anymore
The 'John Wick' franchise has just returned to life with 'Ballerina,' starring Ana de Armas as a Ruska Roma dancer who trains as an assassin to avenge the death of her father. But even if the series' producers hadn't come up with the genius idea of making a spin-off movie about a killer who puts the brutal pow in plié, the 'John Wick' series would still be coming back to life. At CinemaCon in early April, it was announced that Keanu Reeves would be returning to star in 'John Wick 5.' That might have come as a surprise to anyone who saw 'John Wick: Chapter 4' and watched as the title character got killed off in what seemed at the time to be the most dead-as-a-doorknob way possible. That movie, which might have been called 'John Wick — The Final Wreckoning,' was explicitly designed to showcase the end of Wick's reign of mayhem. And the timing felt right. The series had stretched on for nearly a decade, and 'John Wick 4' was close to three hours long. Like a marathon round of Mortal Kombat or the trench warfare of World War I, the series had piled up more than enough of a body count. More from Variety Chad Stahelski on the 'John Wick' Franchise's Insane Body Count and Keanu Reeves' Fifth Movie: 'Still Working on It' 'Ballerina' Star Ana de Armas Says Tom Cruise 'Supports Every Movie' and 'Really Wants' Audiences to 'Go to the Theaters': 'We Are Working Together' 'John Wick 5' Is a New Story and 'Not a Continuation With the High Table,' Says Director: 'John Has Dealt With His Grief. It'll Be Really Different' But, of course, somewhere in the back of your reptile moviegoing brain, you knew that John Wick was going to have to come back. Because how could it be otherwise? No movie franchise today is going to leave its hero on a slab if it means leaving money on the table. In the last five years, there have been several high-profile precedents for this. At the end of 'No time to Die,' the James Bond series conjured a twist of singular gravitas when Daniel Craig's Bond chose to sacrifice himself to save the world. Yet it was a bit laughable when the movie, having made the momentous decision to kill off 007, followed that cataclysmic event with an end title that read: 'James Bond will return.' Talk about having your shaken-not-stirred martini and drinking it too! Then, of course, there's Superman, who died at the end of 'Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice,' only to return to life just in time for 'Justice League.' And there's the Avengers, several of whom disintegrated before our eyes when 'the snap' brought 'Avengers: Infinity War' to its suck-in-your-breath conclusion. Outside the theater, however, in the light of late-capitalist Hollywood day, you just knew that it couldn't last, that Peter Parker and T'Challa would have to come back. In movies, you can trace the trend of what we might call Death Lite back to the moment in 1978 that established the if-it-makes-money-bring-it-back paradigm: the 'death' of Michael Myers at the end of 'Halloween.' He gets shot six times and falls off a balcony, lying on the ground, joining the ranks of half a century's worth of movie monsters who are destroyed by the forces of good. Seconds later, though, he is gone; his body has vanished. In essence, that one moment set up the entire arbitrary nature of movie sequel culture. You can draw a direct line from the return of Michael Myers to the resurrection of John Wick, all done in the name of fan service. But why does it feel like all this ritual undercutting of killing is killing us? You might say: What's so bad, really, about taking characters who are this beloved and bringing them back to life? In a sense, nothing. Yet the subtle cumulative effect of it has been to create the sensation that a movie no longer has a true beginning and end, that it lacks what the Greeks called the dramatic unity of action. In Old Hollywood, movies had that; in the New Hollywood of the '70s, they had it as well. But the death-that-isn't-really-death syndrome feeds the perception that movies are now, more and more, just a perpetual blob of time-killing, with nothing at stake. And that has an insidious way of sanding down the inner morality of pop culture, and maybe of our society. In fact, I'd argue that all this 'miraculous' resurrection has begun to raise the question: If death in the movies is no longer permanent, if it no longer means anything, then does anything mean anything? Best of Variety 25 Hollywood Legends Who Deserve an Honorary Oscar Emmy Predictions: With One Week Until Voting Opens, Declining Submissions Create Tight Acting and Series Races Oscars Predictions 2026: 'Sinners' Becomes Early Contender Ahead of Cannes Film Festival
Daily Mail
6 days ago
- Entertainment
- Daily Mail
Ana de Armas sings Tom Cruise's praises over his 'very special' review of her film Ballerina amid romance rumors
Ana de Armas shared her honest reaction to Tom Cruise gushing over her upcoming thriller, Ballerina, which hits theater on Friday. As rumors continue to swirl that the pair are dating, the actress, 37, shared how much his sweet review of her latest performance meant to her. 'It makes me really happy and proud,' she told told E! News at the film's Los Angeles premiere on Tuesday. The actress continued: 'It's surreal that someone like him is liking the movie and supporting the film and celebrating other people's films.' De Armas went on to emphasize how 'amazing' his support has been and told Variety that it is 'unbelievable' he used his platform to publicly support the John Wick spinoff. 'You know what, he supports every movie,' she added. 'He really wants the industry and cinema to do well and [wants] people going to the theaters.' 'It is very special that someone like him is supporting [Ballerina],' she said. De Armas also confirmed Cruise 'really liked it' and is a fan of the John Wick franchise, starring Keanu Reeves. During his press tour for Mission: Impossible – The Final Reckoning, Cruise called Ballerina 'outstanding' in an interview with AP. Cruise also praised De Armas' 'experience in action' during a chat with E! News. 'She's really good,' he marveled while speaking about her role as Eve Macarro, a ballerina who is trained as an assassin, in the film. Last month, the Oscar nominee gave some insight into her decision to keep tight-lipped on her new romance with Cruise during an interview with ELLE Spain. During the interview, the star hinted at the speculation surrounding her and Cruise as she got candid about how she copes with the public's interest into her personal life. As her stardom has risen, the Ballerina star's love life has often wrought as much buzz as her career successes, with previous headline-hitting romances with movie star Ben Affleck and Tinder VP Paul Boukadakis. When quizzed about the scrutiny into her private life, De Armas admitted that she's grown more accustomed to dealing with it and accepted it came as part of the price of fame. Alluding to her apparent determination not to confirm her and Cruise's relationship status, she explained she's learned how important it is for her to have a separation between her 'public persona' and private life. She said: 'Over the years, you get more used to it. You learn to find your corners, your privacy, your way of doing things, your lifestyle... I'm one of those who think there should be external boundaries, a barrier that's quite visible to others and to oneself. 'Making it clear, "This is as far as I go with my work, my public persona, what's expected of me, and what I want to share with viewers and fans." That's wonderful, and I want to do it. 'You can't let the negative side of fame upset you, because then you won't enjoy the beautiful aspects, but it's essential to separate. We're all people and we need that privacy, consideration, and space. 'It seems incredible to have to say it, but we've forgotten that minimum of respect for others. Sometimes we have to make an abrupt stop so others are aware of your reality, but, well, I find my way. When I want to disappear from the map, I do'. However, Ana also admitted that the public criticism she's received over some of her past relationships has 'hurt me at times'. In November, she was hit by massive backlash after being linked to the stepson of Cuban President Miguel Díaz-Canel Bermúdez - who was handpicked by Raul Castro and 'chosen' in an election in which there were no opposition challengers allowed and has been accused of overseeing massive human rights abuses. After being pictured on a romantic stroll in Madrid hand-in-hand with 26-year-old Manuel Anido Cuesta, the Cuban star was savaged by fans for appearing to be dating the stepson of a dictatorship that she fled from at the age of 18 to live in Spain. Ana confessed that she had become very good at 'filtering' negative comments, knowing which ones to listen to and learn from and which to 'block' that were 'made to intentionally cause you pain.' The Knives Out star claimed that criticisms have 'gotten out of hand' now and become 'damaging and toxic', but insisted: 'I do have control over that, knowing what I let touch me and what I don't.' Ana and Tom first sparked dating rumors after being spotted out to dinner just before Valentine's Day. The speculation reached a fever pitch when exclusive DailyMail photos showed her being flown into London by the action star in his private helicopter last month, just days before her birthday. While neither has confirmed their relationship, the last week has seen both stars speaking about each other, while on the promotional trail at the same time. In May, Cruise raved to Extra that De Armas is a 'very talented, great dramatic actress [with] comedic, tremendous ability, [who] learns quickly.' previously learned that the couple have been getting serious in recent weeks, with one of Tom's A-list exes even giving their approval. It is understood Spanish actress Penelope Cruz - who dated Tom from 2001 to 2004 - is 'happy' that her ex-boyfriend has found new love with her pal, who she starred opposite in the 2019 movie WASP Network. An insider told the Daily Mail: 'Ana has said that Penelope is happy for her, she approves. They know each other from the movie and also they have friends in common in Madrid from when Ana lived there for a while.' They added: 'Tom makes Ana feel safe and that is very important to her. She was flipped out by the fans and stalkers when living in Venice Beach [Los Angeles] so she moved to a remote part of Vermont. 'She loves being away from the crazy. She has been traveling with Tom to busy cities like London, but he always makes her feel safe because he is thoughtful and he has a ton of security. 'He never puts her at risk, she is completely taken care of when she is in his company.' Friends believe the relationship could last, with our insider pointing to the fact that Ana does 'not like to party', preferring quiet nights at home like her decades-older boyfriend. Though another source stressed that the pair are 'taking it day by day' and that the stunner 'does not give her heart away easy.' They said: 'Ana has a thing for older men and Tom fits the bill of her type. The proof is in the pudding. Being affectionate with someone is not something that Ana would do for a role.'
News.com.au
16-05-2025
- Entertainment
- News.com.au
Tom Cruise: It takes decades to prepare for Mission: Impossible stunts
Film star Tom Cruise has said it takes 'decades' to prepare for extreme Mission: Impossible stunts. Speaking at the global premiere for Mission: Impossible – The Final Reckoning in London, the actor said he wants his stunts to engage his audiences emotionally, and does not want people to 'just watch the movie'.
Geek Culture
16-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Geek Culture
Mission: Impossible – The Final Reckoning
For Mission: Impossible – The Final Reckoning , Ethan Hunt wants to save the world just as much as Tom Cruise wants to save cinema. After 29 years of exhilarating thrill rides, explosions, car chases, death-defying stunts, fist fights and aerial stunts, there's no argument that both have succeeded to the point where things have gotten a tad preposterous. On one hand, we have Hunt, played by the 62-year-old Cruise, who consistently puts his life on the line through a series of dangerous, extreme stunts to beat the bad guys, in an attempt to use some convoluted quick thinking to save the day, before moving on to the next challenge, like living life one escape room after another. Then we have Cruise, who eschews the particular fondness of Hollywood to over-rely on green screen for special effects, and performs actual, intense and extreme stunts to wow audiences, in an attempt to hone and exhibit his craft and create suspense and thrills. And at this point, are we even pretending that we need a sharp storyline to watch a Mission: Impossible film where Hunt/Cruise performs the impossible in a carefully orchestrated and well-executed series of stunts that make audiences catch their breaths, before they move on to the next one. From hanging off a cliff, to jumping off a high-rise building and subsequently, doing a dance around the tallest building in the world, each film in the series throws in some global threat, a team of professionals uniquely suited to support Hunt's ambition to be the hero, and a reason for Cruise to run, jump, spin around the world. This time, it's a rogue AI, Entity, who is slowly taking over the world's arsenal of nuclear weapons, and looking to wipe out mankind. The Americans are the last to lose access to their weapons and since they can't fight the AI, want to take out the other superpowers first. Meanwhile, Gabriel (Esai Morales) wants to use a software specially created by Hunt's teammate, Luther Stickell (Ving Rhames), to control Entity and dominate the world, while Hunt wants to use the same 'Poison Pill' software to destroy Entity. Given that's he's been disavowed by his own government's intelligence agencies, Hunt has to fend off multiple adversaries, including his former director Eugene Kittridge (Henry Czerny) who now runs the CIA (Central Intelligence Agency), and seeks the help of former CIA director turned President of the United States, Erika Sloane (Angela Bassett), as well as Gabriel's one-time assassin and now ally, Paris (Pom Klementieff), who wants to kill Gabriel, and Degas (Greg Tarzan Davis), a former intelligence agent now working with Hunt. Meanwhile, Kittredge has turned to Jasper Briggs (Shea Whigham), Degas' former partner who has a secret link to Hunt, to bring in the rogue agent. Just so we're clear – all of these story elements are so Hunt can jump off an Osprey into the ocean, before jumping out of a moving submarine and into the ocean, to get onto a sunken submarine that's falling deeper into the ocean, before jumping onto a plane, and then into a plane, and then onto another plane, before jumping off that plane and each time with a one-in-a-million chance of having his support team perform side missions that are necessary for Hunt to progress in his efforts to save the world. But the story is not why we're here because it's the practical stuntwork and effects that Cruise, along with returning director Christopher McQuarrie ( Jack Reacher ), who helmed the last three Mission: Impossible films, want audiences to to appreciate, enjoy and catch their breaths over. Leave your disbelief at the door because like in the earlier films, there is no way Hunt would have survived half of those situations but believe we do, because the camera lingers on the silence and extended camera shots, to show the potential danger Hunt and Cruise are in while performing their actions. Our eyes remain transfixed on the screen as we follow the camera following Cruise as he dives feet first into the ocean, as he fights an assassin in nothing but his underwear, and then tries to escape a submarine in nothing but his underwear. But no matter how over-the-top the situation is, or how insanely nonsensical Hunt's plans are, we follow because we can't wait to see how Cruise performs and films the stunt. And like watching a plan fall nicely into place with well-executed strategy and action, McQuarrie carries the viewer in carefully thought-out set pieces, moving the camera along as we follow the action without quick cuts or handheld effects to mask the practical action. Yes, that is Cruise taking that dive, making that jump, and hanging from that wing of the plane. Is any of this new? No, but yes, as in we know that is Cruise in a dive suit in a tank of water performing that scene, and not through some special effects wizardry. But even as we know there's no way any normal human being can survive what we see on screen, we also breathe a huge sigh of relief when he does. Yes, some of the set pieces run long, and because Cruise is alone in those scenes, there is no dialogue and we get huge segments of action with no sound other than the music, and most of the talking is done by the supporting cast of characters, acting as a reserve team. Benji Dunn (Simon Pegg) goes from awkward IT support to team leader, as he guides Grace (Hayley Atwell), Paris and Degas to perform the impossible. They'll figure it out, he says and somewhere, because this is supposedly the last film in the series, the writers have also found a way to link this film with the original 1996 outing, with several throwbacks to that film. Is it necessary? Maybe not, but it's a nice touch because after 29 years, it's a good reminder of how much the franchise has grown. A little past the halfway mark though, you'll appreciate the film for its slick action sequences, maybe cringe at some of the preachy moments when it comes to humans saving, and not destroying each other, and then you realise this might be the last Mission: Impossible movie for a while, but it's not the final one. Somewhere, somehow, movies will never deliver on the high standards for action and toying with audience emotions that Cruise has set here and when that time comes, Cruise will be back to save cinema with his brand of practical, death-defying action, and we will welcome his return, one more time. Summary Even with a larger number of supporting cast, this film is all about Tom Cruise's love for action, and finding new ways to present it to a wider audience. A nice blend of thrills, twists and some emotional depth, Mission: Impossible – The Final Reckoning may not be the best in the franchise, but it's among the most fun in the series, and a good one to catch in cinemas. Story - 7/10 Direction - 9/10 Characterisation - 8/10 Geek Satisfaction - 9/10 Hsals needs more space in his house, and more money in his bank account to pay for all the toys, collectibles and other geek related items that companies are churning out. Free-time? Girlfriend? Who's got time for those?
Daily Mail
15-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Mail
Pom Klementieff goes braless in a sexy silver chain dress at Mission: Impossible 8 premiere in London
Pom Klementieff went braless under a very racy ensemble at the Mission: Impossible 8 premiere in London on Thursday. The French actress, 39, who has portrayed assassin Mantis in the action films since 2017, looked incredible on the red carpet in Leicester Square. Pom joined her co-stars to celebrate Tom Cruise 's eighth and final instalment, The Final Reckoning - which hits cinemas on May 23. After defying the strict new Cannes Film Festival dress code on Wednesday, Pom certainly wasn't shy of flashing her body in the sexy silver chain dress. With the new but final Mission: Impossible now just days away, fans are more eager than ever to find out how the eight-movie long series will come to its climax. And film lovers could be in for a treat with some early viewers describing the film - which cost almost $400million to make - as 'astonishing'. Following a series of press screenings, movie critics took to social media to gush about the latest instalment in the franchise, calling it 'the action film of the summer.' 'Tom Cruise defies all odds with jaw-dropping action built only for Imax,' wrote critic Anthony Gagliardi. 'Every stunt, every set piece, every second is designed to blow your mind, A PULSE-POUNDING THRILL RIDE, and Cruise remains the king of spectacle,' he added. 'Tom Cruise defies all odds with jaw-dropping action built only for Imax,' wrote critic Anthony Gagliardi. 'Every stunt, every set piece, every second is designed to blow your mind, A PULSE-POUNDING THRILL RIDE, and Cruise remains the king of spectacle,' he added. Fandango's Erik Davis wrote, 'Absolutely astonishing action moments meet a sprawling story with many nods to past MI films. It's the biggest, wildest and most consequential Mission movie yet.' Movie critic Dave Baldwin gushed, 'It's exceptionally entertaining with pulse-pounding stunts that will leave you gasping. Tom Cruise has done it again.' The 62-year-old actor is famous for doing his own very adventurous stunts which have become a hallmark of the franchise. Pom risked falling foul of Cannes Film Festival's strict new dress code in a plunging cleavage-flashing dress on Wednesday And the latest instalment is no different, with one particular shock moment showing the Hollywood star thousdands of feet up in the air as he dangles out of a helicopter before falling backwards to the ground. Paramount Pictures have shared a new video on their YouTube channel using a Snorricam - a camera that locks the camera's perspective to the actor. The nail-biting clip shows Tom leaping out of the helicopter, as well as including some of the decisions that were made by the crew before the stunt took place. Reprising his role as the titular hero Ethan Hunt in Mission Impossible, Tom takes on his biggest mission yet, after a tense cliffhanger saw the spy determined to track down cyber weapon The Entity and learning that his team was betrayed and his 'secrets compromised.'
