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Daily Mail
6 days ago
- Entertainment
- Daily Mail
Viola Davis, 60, shows off her incredible physique in a swimsuit as she celebrates her birthday in Mexico
Viola Davis flew to Cabo San Lucas, Mexico to celebrate her August 11 birthday. The EGOT award-winning actress — who remembered Chadwick Boseman earlier this year — turned 60 on Monday, and marked the occasion by slipping into a sleek orange swimsuit. She unveiled a short crop of red-tinged hair, teaming her bold new look with equally eye-catching, large, gold hoop earrings. The How to Get Away with Murder sensation was spotted relaxing on a lounge chair with a friend as she soaked up the sun. And during some moments the star added a patchwork-patterned cover up and oversized black-framed eyeglasses. It came just three days after she received an honorary Doctorates of Fine Arts degree from the AFI Conservatory in Los Angeles. The movie star told People on August 8: 'I'm getting ready to be 60. I don't want to be completely kumbaya this morning, but little Viola is always very close by. 'And I always saw her as damaged, but she wasn't. She had a lot of beautiful qualities in her. I always want to honor her.' Reflecting on her contributions to the world, she shared, 'There's something deep within me that wants to be good at what I do. 'I want to be remembered as someone who is proficient.' Following her birth in South Carolina, Viola was raised in Rhode Island. She attended Rhode Island College, and later Juilliard School from 1989-1993, before making her 1996 Broadway debut in Seven Guitars. Last week the acclaimed performer was presented the Doctorates of Fine Arts degree by Gina Prince-Bythewood, who directed her in 2022's The Woman King. According to an account from People, she said to graduates in her acceptance speech: 'You have the power to come home to that one thing that made you want to do this. 'To be healers, to be alchemists, to buck the system, to see life just a little bit different, and therefore you don't just leave something for people. You leave something in them. ' The Fences star was interviewed by The Times in March, and she opened up about her childhood ambitions to become an entertainer. She sought refuge in her imagination as she grew up in poverty. 'For me and my sister it was playing two wealthy white women who went out for tea in Beverly Hills with our chihuahuas. 'It was an imagination playground. Then, somewhere in there, pain entered into it,' she recalled. She elaborated about the discipline of acting: 'Training, speech, technique, critics — there's a sense of torture that you almost have to make peace with.'
Geek Culture
01-08-2025
- Entertainment
- Geek Culture
Eyes of Wakanda (Disney+) — Review
Wakanda's history runs rich and deep, yet audiences and writers have only scratched the surface with the secretive nation's handful of appearances in the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU), ranging from an easter egg in 2010's Iron Man 2 , to its first spoken reference in 2015's Avengers: Age of Ultron . Through the late Chadwick Boseman's ( 21 Bridges ) regal portrayal of T'Challa, as the former Black Panther and King of Wakanda, and Letitia Wright's ( Black Mirror ) relatable take as his sister, Shuri, who took over the mantle as the new Black Panther, viewers have gotten glimpses of Wakanda as a hidden kingdom of marvellous technology and culture. Thanks to the latest Eyes of Wakanda , the four-episode limited Disney+ animated series, viewers can now explore the history of the secret nation with greater depth. Helmed by director and executive producer Todd Harris, who previously worked as a prominent storyboard artist on Avengers: Infinity War (2018) and Avengers: Endgame (2019), with co-executive producer Ryan Coogler, the director of Black Panther (2018) and Black Panther: Wakanda Forever (2022), the show brings viewers through the ages following brave Wakandan warriors of the War Dogs, an elite division of agents who engage in espionage for Wakandan interests. The War Dogs are not a new concept to the MCU, having been first featured in Black Panther , with T'Challa's uncle N'Jobu (Sterling K. Brown, Paradise ), Zuri (Forest Whitaker, Rogue One: A Star Wars Story ), and Nakia (Lupita Nyong'o, Us ) carrying out their respective War Dog missions in the 2018 comic book outing. Erik Killmonger (Michael B. Jordan, Sinners ) also later verbally addresses the War Dogs by title, commanding the agents scattered across the globe to carry out a mission for him after usurping the throne from T'Challa. The War Dogs in Eyes of Wakanda are portrayed in a different context, with their primary mission to infiltrate other nations and retrieve stolen vibranium artefacts. Along the way, viewers are treated to bits of Wakandan lore, from its culture and hierarchy to the technological advancements sparked by the discovery of a powerful metal called vibranium, allowing the country to outpace the rest of the world for centuries. Like many anthologies, the show's standalone format offers the flexibility to pick and choose episodes based on personal interests. Each episode takes place in a different land in a different time period, but unfolds in an chronological order, beginning from 1260 B.C. in Crete with the establishment of the War Dogs with Noni (Winnie Harlow, Monster High ) as the first agent, all the way to series finale which takes place in 1896, in the city of Adwa, Ethiopia. Given that the time skip between every episode spans centuries to even millennia, the characters do not overlap at all. Although there is an overarching storyline of sorts, the individual narrative is loose and only mildly factors into the series finale. This ensures that viewers will have no issue watching each episode, which lasts between 27 and 30 minutes, as a standalone, with no need to catch up or do homework between episodes, making it a convenient watch. However, the format can also lead viewers to become easily disengaged, as there is little to no investment to captivate them and retain their attention. This lack of interest, awareness, or investment may result in the unintentional skipping of otherwise engaging or enjoyable episodes, which is a pity. Unlike other Marvel Animation series to date, the show is set in the MCU's Sacred Timeline, and shares some connections with the franchise films. While the tie-in to the main continuity won't affect general understanding or influence the current overarching narrative of the MCU's Phase 6 or Multiverse Saga, it does still provide an interesting look at the big picture of the Sacred Timeline, as well as a glimpse into how the Sacred Timeline maintains its integrity. The compact and punchy episodes of Eyes of Wakanda deliver snappy and engaging action sequences, with the tight delivery of each self-contained adventure fleshing out the motivations and emotions of each character as they overcome the trials and tribulations of being a War Dog. Episode 1, 'Into the Lion's Den', establishes the primary mission of the War Dogs and introduces an integral pioneering agent, Noni, in the War Dogs' history. With surety of her mission but uncertainty of her own identity, Noni will have to navigate her first foray into the outside world as she chases The Lion, voiced by Cress Williams ( Black Lightning ) and what it means for her and Wakanda. The second, 'Legends and Lies', a standout episode, demonstrates the emotional turbulence that the job demands of Memnon / B'kai (Larry Herron, Hello Neighbor: Welcome to Raven Brooks ), who's forced to infiltrate another nation for a number of years. Here, Herron perfectly encapsulates the raw emotions of the character in his voice acting, supplementing a well-written episode that does a stellar job of capturing the poignancy and sacrifices involved in being a spy, compounding the internal struggles for B'Kai. Taking place further down the timeline, 'Lost and Found' follows Basha (Jacques Colimon, The Sky is Everywhere ), a War Dog who has to thwart the Iron First / Jorani (Jona Xiao, Raya and the Last Dragon ), while retrieving a vibranium artefact. It depicts the protocols, equipment and hierarchies in place, while showcasing the sheer scale of the War Dogs' operations and how these peripheral systems support the field agents to successfully carry out their jobs. The series finale, 'The Last Panther', ties up the entire series into a loose overarching narrative, but also establishes the importance of the War Dogs in Wakanda's history and in the Sacred Timeline. With Zeke Alton ( The Boss Baby: Back in the Crib ) portraying Prince Tafari, a War Dog field agent in training, who stumbles along under the guidance of Steve Toussaint's ( House of the Dragon ) Kuda, the duo will rediscover what it means to protect Wakanda's security. This episode also cements the importance of the War Dogs as protectors of Wakanda, and to an extent, their role in safeguarding the world, often at great personal cost and without credit. Together, the four-episode adventure not only paints a comprehensive view of the War Dogs and their understated importance in Wakandan history, but also explores the different emotional facets that are unique to each War Dog, whether it's identity, guilt, humility or self-sacrifice, serving as a parallel to the progress of their missions. This nuance humanises the War Dogs, fleshing them out in a way that elevates the short series to more than just a collection of exciting and beautifully animated action sequences or an anthropological study of Wakanda, turning it into something more. Still, there are some chinks in the armour. While it's understandable that the short runtime only allows for limited character exploration, certain characters could have enjoyed more care. The latter two episodes of Eyes of Wakanda , in particular, feel abrupt when it comes to the turnaround of certain characters, who seemingly make a great deal of growth in a brief period, with Episode 3 subjecting its protagonist to stunted development. On top of that, the much-anticipated introduction of Xiao's Iron Fist falls rather flat as she winds up being a rather two-dimensional character who seemingly only serves the purpose of plot advancement. The show's animation and artwork are also beautiful, furnished in a style that's more nuanced than that of What If…?. The artistic flair is steeped in texture, deep illustrations, and a hand-drawn approach, as opposed to the cel-shaded animation of its counterpart. Alongside a stylistic flair and dynamism, the brushwork visual style is reminiscent of modern African-American artists such as Ernie Barnes and illustrator Dean Cornwell, complete with sleek animation and visually striking effects used to display the energy-displacing abilities of vibranium technology. The action sequences are seamless and thrilling, with a particular sequence, echoing the team-up of Steve Rogers and Bucky Barnes against Tony Stark in Captain America: Civil War , done particularly well. It may lack the visceral impact that comes with omnidirectional point-of-view switches used in other animations, but that ultimately is a stylistic choice, and it works to great effect in Eyes of Wakanda . Is the show necessary? Perhaps not. Although it ties into the Sacred Timeline and provides some additional contextual information for existing properties in the MCU, Eyes of Wakanda is first and foremost a self-contained adventure, and fans could theoretically opt to skip this show and still not lack any knowledge when watching future projects. However, between the gorgeous visuals and the heart it brings, this anthology is certainly still worth a watch, and fans will certainly enjoy the ride. Summary Eyes of Wakanda may be an anthology, but it also examines emotional themes that elevate the series beyond a mere collection of short stories. While a standalone series that has no bearing on the MCU, fans who opt in for the ride will certainly be in for an eye-opening and thrilling ride. Story - 7.5/10 Direction - 7/10 Characterisation - 7/10 Geek Satisfaction - 8/10 Conversation with Ting Wei is like chatting with a weird AI bot programmed only with One Piece lore and theories, sitcom quotes and other miscellaneous pop culture references. When he's not sleeping, he's highly likely reading manga. In fact, the only thing he reads more than manga is the Bible, and it's honestly pretty close. Disney+ Eyes of Wakanda Marvel Review
Geek Tyrant
02-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Geek Tyrant
Hollywood Has Spoken: THE DARK KNIGHT Crowned the Greatest Comic Book Movie of the 21st Century — GeekTyrant
What's the greatest superhero movie that been made in the 21st Century? This is something fans have enjoyed debating over the years, but now we've got a fresh take from the people who actually make the movies. The New York Times recently surveyed over 500 directors, actors, and other industry creatives to compile a definitive ranking of the best films released since the year 2000. Only two comic book adaptations made the list, and one of them outranked everything else in its genre. Coming in at #96 was Ryan Coogler's Black Panther . Even at the tail end of the list, it made an impression. The Times wrote: 'There's so much to love. It's a superhero spectacle that actually has something important to say, about how identity, history and responsibility intersect. Wakanda, the Afrofuturistic world where the story takes place, is a visual wonder. 'The women (played by Angela Bassett, Danai Gurira, Lupita Nyong'o and Letitia Wright — all excellent) aren't just sidekicks or love interests. Michael B. Jordan, as the tragically villainous Killmonger, has never been more swoon worthy. 'And, of course, Chadwick Boseman shines in the title role, sadly one of his last before dying of cancer.' But the real heavyweight, the comic book movie that rose above them all was Christopher Nolan's The Dark Knight . It ranked far higher than Black Panther at #28, standing alone as the only superhero film to break into the upper echelons of the list. According to the Times: 'Indifference to superheroes isn't a prerequisite for making a great film about them. But Christopher Nolan's allergy to comic-book logic and his infatuation with the grown-up crime movie canon (especially Heat and The Godfather) revitalized a character still laboring to emerge from the miasma of Batman & Robin. The second entry and high-water mark of Nolan's Dark Knight trilogy poses fruitful questions about the naïveté of its protagonist's moral code. But the film's greatest asset is Heath Ledger, whose staggering performance as the Joker set the bar for subsequent supervillains forever.' The Dark Knight didn't just change Batman, it raised the bar for what a comic book movie could be. Grounded, philosophical, and terrifyingly real, Ledger's Joker turned a blockbuster into something mythic. This wasn't just popcorn cinema; it was a cultural moment. And just for context, here's the full Top 10 from the poll: Parasite Mulholland Drive There Will Be Blood In the Mood for Love Moonlight No Country for Old Men Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind Get Out Spirited Away The Social Network It's a strong list, filled with daring storytelling and masterful direction, and The Dark Knight fitting right into that conversation is a pretty strong argument for its staying power. So whether you agree with the ranking or still believe Avengers: Endgame deserves the throne, there's no denying this: in the eyes of Hollywood's best , The Dark Knight still looms large.
Yahoo
26-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Fantastic Four's Director Confirms That Reed Richards' Lab Has Three Distinct Sections, And Tells Us What They're For (Plus Shoots Down One Rumor From The Comics)
When you buy through links on our articles, Future and its syndication partners may earn a commission. Part of the fun of visiting a movie set is stepping into actual locations that have been constructed to bring a fictional environment to life. When you attend a set visit for a blockbuster superhero film, however, you get a mix of two different experiences. I was lucky enough to visit the set of Avengers: Infinity War in Atlanta, where a group of journalists watched T'Challa (Chadwick Boseman) welcome Steve Rogers (Chris Evans), Natasha Romanoff (Scarlett Johansson) and a refugee band of Avengers to Wakanda. Outside of a constructed platform, however, we only saw green screens instead of Wakanda. But other times, I've been lucky enough to see a replica of Kamar-Tak on the Doctor Strange set, the exterior of The Daily Planet on the Superman set, and plenty of exciting builds while visiting the set of The Fantastic Four: First Steps outside of London in 2024. One of the main messages professed by director Matt Shakman and the producers of The Fantastic Four is that this movie is aiming to be massive in scope, and practical in scale. Now, that's not possible for a villain like Galactus, who literally is the size of several skyscrapers. But on our visit to The Fantastic Four set, we were able to step into physically constructed sets for The Baxter Building, Yancy Street, a 1960s replica of Times Square, and Reed Richards' laboratory, which was an exquisite and sprawling set that stretched on, providing exciting new details in each reveal. Standing on the outside of Richards' lab, which we were told will be located on a separate floor of The Baxter Building, Matt Shakman explained to CinemaBlend: If you guys have a chance to peek your head in there and take a look, it's a sort of a 2001-inspired laboratory. It's got three circles. (The team is) in the blue circle, which is the Mission Control area where Reed does his searches for extraterrestrial life. He does space experiments, monitors his telescope, things like that. The middle circle is his Thinking Zone, which has the world's largest chalkboards, which go up and down in a really quite extraordinary way. And that's where he thinks about the big problems of the universe. And then the red circle at the far end, which you can't see, is his Engineering Circle, where he actually builds things by hand, and makes inventions. So, the greatest lab for the greatest mind. There was some discussion following the release of the trailer for The Fantastic Four: First Steps that we didn't see Pedro Pascal stretching, showing off the elasticity that comes with playing Reed Richards. And that's true. But I'd argue Reed's real superpower is his intellect. It's what allows him to go toe-to-toe with his legendary adversary Victor Von Doom, who we know will be played by Robert Downey Jr. in the MCU… perhaps in scenes for The Fantastic Four, released this year? That's a rumor. And speaking of rumors, I wanted to ask Matt Shakman about one we'd heard regarding The Negative Zone, a dimension frequently showcased in the Fantastic Four comics that some believe might be used to transport the FF from their world to Earth-616, where the rest of the MCU awaits. But when I asked Shakman this point blank, he candidly told CinemaBlend: The Negative Zone is not a part of our film. That doesn't mean it won't appear later. Later, like, in an upcoming Avengers movie? Anything is possible. Based on what we learned on the set of The Fantastic Four, this movie is going to open up the MCU to all new corners of the universe, and expand Marvel's playing field to include exciting new dimensions and galaxies. Marvel's first family arrives in theaters on July 25. Keep it here for the latest coverage regarding all things comic book in Hollywood.
Yahoo
25-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Where does Ironheart fit in the Marvel timeline?
The Marvel universe is expanding with another Disney+ TV series, this one centred on tech genius (and Iron Man's successor) Riri Williams. Dominique Thorne first debuted in the role back in 2022's Black Panther: Wakanda Forever, joining Shuri (Letitia Wright) as she faced new adversary Namor (Tenoch Huerta) and tried to protect Wakanda whilst also navigating her grief over the death of King T'Challa (Chadwick Boseman). The new series follows Riri in the aftermath of her time in Wakanda as she tries to find her place in the world and continues her work to build the most advanced suit of armour since Iron Man. But with a dozen or so Marvel projects to come out since Wakanda Forever, even MCU fans would be forgiven for getting a little confused over where new shows and films take place. Here is everything that you need to know about Ironheart's placement in the overall timeline. Wakanda Forever is set during the Spring of 2025, and Ironheart has been confirmed to begin in "the days after" the film. It follows the character in the weeks after, and examines how she was impacted by the events of Wakanda Forever. Marvel's synopsis for the show sheds more light on where the series fits in the timeline: "Set after the events of 'Wakanda Forever,' Ironheart follows Riri as she returns to her hometown of Chicago, determined to build a state-of-the-art iron suit and make her mark on the world. Her time in Wakanda has left her more eager than ever to pursue her dreams, and her quest entangles her in a dangerous world of science and magic." This means that Ironheart is set in the first half of 2025, making it the first Marvel project to actually be released at the same time it takes place. It also means, rather confusingly, that Ironheart is set before many of the recent Marvel movies and TV series to have come out since Wakanda Forever. So why is Ironheart set so far apart from recent Marvel projects? Well, it could be because the series was filmed between May and November 2022 and production wrapped before Wakanda Forever even landed in cinemas. The show's close proximity to Wakanda Forever might be surprising given that the show is seen as the conclusion of Phase 5 in the MCU, whereas Wakanda Forever was the conclusion of Phase 4. Phase 5 has featured a number of films, the last of which was Thunderbolts and includes the likes of Captain America: Brave New World, The Marvels, and Deadpool and Wolverine. While on the TV side of things Marvel's Phase 5 includes Daredevil: Born Again, Loki, and Agatha All Along. There are some Disney+ series set during the same year as Ironheart, including Echo which is set in the first half of 2025 and Daredevil: Born Again, which takes place between late 2025 and early 2026. But on the movie front, many of Marvel's films have jumped well ahead — Captain America: Brave New World takes place between November 2026 and the first few months of 2027, and the newest film in the franchise, Thunderbolts, is set shortly after that in 2027. If you're wondering why there was such a long wait between Ironheart being filmed and its release, Marvel TV boss Brad Winderbaum revealed to ComicBook's Phase Zero podcast in March 2024 that it was so Marvel spread out its Disney+ content. He explained: "Frankly, in all honesty, there was a mandate to kind of create as much as we could for Disney+ as quickly as we could. And then there was a shift, and all of a sudden we have to start spreading our release dates out. So, that really accounts for a lot of the delays. "Now, we're using that time, we're not sitting idle. So, it stays in the oven. You can bake certain things a little more. It's actually, I think, ultimately, it's only going to make things better. But most of it's just frankly shrapnel from the business." Ironheart premieres with its first three episodes on Wednesday 25 June on Disney+, with the next three episodes being released the next week.
