Latest news with #superheroes
Geek Dad
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- Geek Dad
DC This Week Roundup – Brains vs. Brawn
Harley Quinn #51 – Elliott Kalan, Writer; Mirka Andolfo, Artist; Triona Farrell, Colorist Ray – 8.5/10 Ray: Harley Quinn has been ambushed by femme fatale gunslingers Gunbunny and Mayfly, but she's in the middle of a much more pitched battle – with herself. Her brain has decided to take control of the situation, hijacking Harley's body and trying to make more rational decisions – but that half of Harley isn't exactly all there either. And while Harley's neighbors debate whether to help her out, inside the mindscape Harley and her giant brain are engaged in a battle of wills – including the weaponization of Harley's worst memories to cause cringe. It's a funny, silly story but one that is elevated by brilliant art by Mirka Andolfo – one of the best indie artists in the industry. The visuals are great, but there's also a nice message about it not being possible to divide yourself into good and bad halves – everything that's gone into Harley helped to make her the crazy but heroic person she is today. Peacemaker Presents Vigilante/Eagly Double-Feature #3 – James Gunn, Story Consultant; Tim Seeley, Rex Ogle, Writers; Mitch Gerads, Matteo Lolli, Artists; John Kalisz, Colorist Ray – 8/10 Ray: This ultraviolet satire continues to deliver some fun, nasty thrills – particularly in the lead story, by Tim Seeley and Mitch Gerads. As Vigilante's mind continues to unravel and he gets closer to the mob bosses pulling the strings, a new battlefield opens – the high-end Italian restaurant where he works as a busboy. As the mob luminaries gather, Vigilante crashes the party – and gets pulled into the bloodiest brawl of the series yet, with his one friend caught in the middle. The second story by Ogle and Lolli is more over the top, with Peacemaker and his eagle buddy stranded on an island with the survivors of a plane crash – and the rich assholes who have planned to hunt them for sport. There isn't much in the way of characters here, save for Peacemaker and the very horny flight attendant, but the story does feature one of the most inventive and gruesome kills in a while courtesy of Eagly. To find reviews of all the DC issues, visit DC This Week. GeekDad received this comic for review purposes. Liked it? Take a second to support GeekDad and GeekMom on Patreon!
The Guardian
23-05-2025
- Entertainment
- The Guardian
Endgame ennui: are Marvel's end-of-credits scenes still worth the wait?
Let's face it, hanging around to watch post- or mid-credits sequences is a pretty weird thing. The movie is over, we've all had our fill – of CGI skybeams, multiversal migraines and superheroes punching each other in the feelings – and it's time to head out into the night to debate whether the film was brilliant, baffling or just a $250m trailer for the next one. But leave we cannot, because something monumental might just happen after the credits roll. Or during them. Or, increasingly, not at all. Still we stay, we hope, we watch. Remember the end of 2012's The Avengers when Thanos turned and smirked, sparking a good six years of movies in which the Mad Titan was definitely going to do something totally crazy very soon – and then, to everyone's surprise, actually did? Or that glorious moment after Spider-Man: Homecoming (2017) when Marisa Tomei's aunt May walked in on Peter Parker mid suit change? Back then, Marvel credit scenes usually felt earned, and vital. They were windows into the future of the saga, at a time when Kevin Feige and his team seemed to be able to do no wrong. What made those early years so intoxicating was the sheer audacity of it all. Marvel wasn't just making superhero movies. They were building a connected universe on screen, one meticulously cross-pollinated character cameo at a time, like a giant, exploding beehive of superhero synergy. This kind of long-game storytelling had existed in comics for decades, of course, with Spider-Man swinging through a Fantastic Four panel or the Hulk popping up in someone else's emotional breakdown – but to see it play out in Hollywood blockbusters was unprecedented. Suddenly, a throwaway joke in Iron Man 2 might lead to a plot-point in Captain America: The Winter Soldier. An alien artefact glimpsed in the background of Thor would become central to Guardians of the Galaxy. The post-credits scene wasn't just a gimmick – it was the glue. A breadcrumb trail. A narrative lighthouse guiding fans through the fog of increasingly busy crossovers. For a while, it worked, like a magic trick pulled off across a dozen movies, each new tease setting off a chain reaction of hype, speculation, and Reddit threads. But it wasn't as if these end-of-movie scenes were all that vital to the filmgoing experience: they were just there to make us feel involved in the grand design of the Marvel macro-saga, like subscribers to a sprawling cosmic newsletter. We probably wouldn't have even noticed much if they hadn't been up to scratch – until one day, they really weren't. Was it the arrival of Harry Styles' Starfox and the Patton Oswalt-voiced Pip the Troll at the end of 2021's Eternals that was the tipping point? Here were a duo with all the relevance of a magician at a funeral. And OK, Eternals itself was more pointless than a fax machine at a Starlink board meeting, but that doesn't mean Marvel didn't have a duty to give us some kind of payoff at some point in the future of the franchise. Instead we've had so many meaningless credits scenes that everyone is beginning to wonder if they should stick around for the inevitable feeling of disappointment. There was the bit at the end of Thor: Love and Thunder when Hercules – played by a surprisingly buff Brett Goldstein of Ted Lasso fame – steps into frame wearing comic-accurate gladiator gear, but says nothing memorable, flexes impressively and the scene cuts to black. Then there was Charlize Theron, striding into Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness; she's Clea, apparently – sorceress, niece of Dormammu, future wife of Stephen Strange in the comics – and she whisks our hero away with a vague threat about 'incursions,' which, like most of Marvel phase four, sounded important but didn't go anywhere. Perhaps she'll turn up in the new Avengers films, but even if she does we'll have absolutely no idea why. Even Doctor Strange in 2016 teased a big heel turn for Chiwetel Ejiofor's Mordo, who ended the film on a soul-sucking rampage to purge the world of 'too many sorcerers'. A tantalising setup for a future clash! Which we didn't get. By Multiverse of Madness, he's been quietly swapped out for a different variant entirely. So why are we still bothering to wait? The truth is that despite everything, there's still a chance that this time there will be one serious, monumental moment that blows our minds and reminds us of that bit at the end of Avengers: Infinity War when Nick Fury paged Captain Marvel just before crumbling into cosmic dust, and for a fleeting second it felt as if the future of the entire universe hinged on a single glowing beeper. Or we may finally have to admit that Marvel's real superpower is making us continually sit through the credits for absolutely no reason at all.
Geek Vibes Nation
20-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Geek Vibes Nation
'Kick-Ass' 15th Anniversary 4K UHD Blu-Ray SteelBook Review - A Twisted Take On The Superhero Genre
Not all superheroes wear capes — some don a customized wet suit and dub themselves Kick-Ass! Based on a beloved comic series, this 15th anniversary release of the twisted, high octane action-adventure from director Matthew Vaughn (the Kingsman films) follows a comic book-obsessed teen (Aaron Taylor-Johnson) who reinvents himself as a crime-fighting hero, with one glaring problem: he has no training or actual superpowers. In a near-death confrontation with a ruthless drug dealer, Kick-Ass is rescued by a pair of costumed, highly skilled vigilantes — Big Daddy (Nicolas Cage) and his daughter, Hit Girl (Chloë Grace Moretz). When they all join forces along with another rookie avenger called Red Mist (Christopher Mintz-Plasse), a brutal mobster and object of Big Daddy's vengeance pushes their alliance and skills to the brink. For previous thoughts on Kick-Ass , please see our 4K UHD review of the film here. Video Quality The 15th anniversary 4K UHD Blu-Ray of Kick-Ass from the Lionsgate Limited line comes in its original 2.40:1 in 2160p with Dolby Vision. The film was first released on 4K UHD Blu-Ray in 2017, a release which was repurposed in 2020 for the Best Buy exclusive SteelBook. This new 4K UHD Blu-Ray is not the exact same disc that was released previously thanks to new special features and a new encode, but the general viewing experience is not a notable difference from what came before. The fact that this does not come with an accompanying Blu-Ray may also be a drawback for some viewers. Unfortunately, there are still elements that make this one of the weaker titles on the format. The most notable improvement from the old Blu-Ray is in its vivid, heightened color palette which makes the film seem even more like a surreal dream. There are significant gains in visual pop and saturation that make the bold colors leap off the screen even more. Where the film falters more so are the pushed black levels that give the film an oily sheen in darker elements that are not appreciated. The argument that this could be a benefit to the fantastic ambiance of the film is valid, but it just looks a bit strange in the end. Any improvements in the compression on this 15th anniversary do not change this in a major way. The highlights in the film are more defined with whites more pure and balanced with no instances of blooming to be found. Skin tones experience a tiny bit of DNR at times which gives a waxy appearance that robs some of the detail. The transfer reveals an increase in the depth of field in the varied locations that we visit around the city. In the wake of the various scenes of destruction, you can more clearly make out textures within the production design, not to mention the textures of the costumes. The grain in the film can be a bit problematic with some instances of unnatural swarming in a few instances. This coupled with some unsightly print damage in a few shots feels like a problem that should not be on the table for such a recent release. There are definite benefits to this 4K upgrade, but it is not the homerun some fans may have hoped for in the end, and those with the previous 4K UHD Blu-Ray will not be treated to a notable upgrade. Audio Quality This disc comes equipped with a dynamite Dolby Atmos presentation that will give your system a workout. This has always been a title that sounded practically perfect, but the addition of the height channels makes this one supremely immersive. Sounds are appropriately rendered with precise directionality from the more kinetic action scenes to interpersonal moments of dialogue. The overhead channels are especially welcome during some of the fight scenes in a way that makes it feel more immersive. Ambient details are plentiful and quite satisfying in the rear and overhead channels. The score envelopes the room in a really pleasing manner that transports you into this world. Dialogue is presented perfectly clear without ever being overwhelmed by any of the competing sonic elements. The gunfire and forceful hits provide an all-encompassing soundscape that kicks in throughout all the speakers. The low end is very active in a way that may have your neighbors complaining. The mix will more than satisfy fans of the film. Optional English, English SDH, and Spanish subtitles are provided. Special Features Lionsgate has provided Kick-Ass with an optional sleek new SteelBook that is truly lovely in person. The case comes with a removable clear slipcase with some additional artistic elements. The front artwork is a nicely animated depiction of Kick-Ass, Hit Girl and Big Daddy, and the rear features a similar depiction of Frank D'Amico and Red Mist. The interior sports a comic book-style depiction of Kick-Ass with his jetpack flying through the city. Photos of the Steelbook can be found at the end of this review. Audio Commentary: Director Mathew Vaughn provides a decent commentary track recorded at the time of the film's premiere in which he lays out the development of the film and takes you scene by scene detailing some of the different elements that had to come together during production to create this film. A bit dry at times, but overall entertaining. Pure Cinematic Fun: A new 20-minute interview with director Matthew Vaughn in which he reflects on the creation of the movie and its legacy. Still Kicking Ass: A new 20-minute piece in which the stunt team for the movie discusses pulling off the action in the film. The Work Of Art: A new 13-minute featurette with comic creator Mike Millar in which he discusses the creation and inspiration for the original comic. Physical Media Kicks Ass: A nearly two-minute new excerpt from the Matthew Vaughn interview in which he discusses the importance of physical media on his young life. A New Kind of Superhero – The Making of Kick-Ass: An extensive four-part documentary clocking in at an impressive 1 hour and 53 minutes which details the creation of the film from the initial development of the source material through production and release. There are a vast array of interviews with the cast and crew that delve into the shooting of the stunts, the rendering of the special effects, the scoring of the film and much more. It is difficult to imagine any questions you have about the film would not be covered in this deep dive. It's On! The Comic Book Origin of Kick-Ass: A 21-minute piece that takes a closer look at the source material with a specific focus on the story and artwork as detailed by the creative team. Theatrical Trailer: A two-and-a-half-minute trailer for the film is provided here. Redband Hit Girl Trailer: The minute-long NSFW trailer focusing on Hit Girl is provided here. Final Thoughts Kick-Ass was a breath of fresh air when it debuted a decade and a half ago, and in most ways it still holds up as a supremely fun addition to the superhero genre. While some of the attempts at humor are a bit dated, there is still much to laugh and plenty of hard-hitting action to thrill you. The performances are pretty fantastic all around, and it is wild to see where some of these performers have ended up in the intervening years. Lionsgate Home Entertainment has released the 4K UHD Blu-Ray in a stunning SteelBook package that collectors will love. The disc itself struggles a bit in the video department, but the audio presentation is top notch and the new and archival special features are very in depth. If you are a fan of the film, this is a solid release overall. Recommended Kick-Ass is currently available to purchase on 4K UHD Blu-Ray in Limited Edition 15th Anniversary Steelbook Packaging through Lionsgate Limited. Note: Images presented in this review are not reflective of the image quality of the 4K UHD Blu-Ray. Disclaimer: Lionsgate Home Entertainment has supplied a copy of this disc free of charge for review purposes. All opinions in this review are the honest reactions of the author.
Yahoo
18-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
📸 We've found the most bizarre title celebration 😭
This article was translated into English by Artificial Intelligence. You can read the original version in 🇫🇷 here. The idea is crazy. Assured of winning the Romanian championship title, FCSB celebrated their victory in a rather unique way. Before their match against Craiova, the players simply showed up dressed as superheroes, TV series characters, and video game characters. A refreshing idea that must have made the fans laugh. 🇷🇴 Amazing! The players of FCSB have appeared on the pitch prior to their final home game of the season v. Universitatea Craiova in style!They are dressed as film/TV/video game characters & superheroes to celebrate winning the Romanian title, which they have already wrapped up! — The Sweeper (@SweeperPod) May 17, 2025 Eager to see Ousmane Dembélé dressed as Superman? - Cherki almost officializes his departure! - The jersey info of the week - An Inter star out for the Champions League final? 📸 Alex Grimm - 2024 Getty Images
Yahoo
17-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
The struggle for superhero glory: Can ‘Keluang Man' finally lift Malaysian heroes to new heights?
KUALA LUMPUR, May 18 — We live in an era where costumed superheroes dominate the big screen, and while this has become the norm in Hollywood, Malaysia is still struggling to find its footing in the genre. With Keluang Man set to release at the end of the month, you can't help but wonder — could this be the film that finally puts Malaysian superheroes on the map? History shows that local heroes have experienced both highs and lows. The trilogy A prime example — and you've probably heard this one before — is Cicakman, which generated considerable hype when it was first announced. Produced by KRU Studios, the first film released in 2006 was directed by Datuk Yusry Abdul Halim, and featured a star-studded cast including Saiful Apek, Fasha Sandha, and Aznil Nawawi. It was a box-office success, grossing RM5.15 million. Despite that, the film drew mixed responses from netizens, claiming it fell short on visuals, cultural depth, and meaningful storytelling. 'Cicakman 3', starring Zizan Razak, is the latest instalment in the Cicakman film franchise. — Picture via YouTube/Astro Shaw Nevertheless, the success created waves for the franchise, spawning comics, novels, and, of course, a sequel: Cicakman 2: Planet Hitam (2008). While the sequel received positive reviews, it was a commercial failure, taking in only RM2.85 million compared to the first film. However, the franchise was strong enough to produce one final film, Cicakman 3, featuring a new cast including Zizan Razak and Lisa Surihani, which earned RM2.56 million. Badang bombs, and fading local heroes While the Cicakman franchise has had its moments of glory, one local hero remains memorable for all the wrong reasons — Badang, clad in a lime green costume, from a film produced by FiTA Studios and released in 2018. Starring Datuk Seri Aliff Syukri, the film holds the unfortunate title of Malaysia's worst-performing superhero movie at the box office, earning a mere RM93,496.54. It was widely criticised for its lack of originality, weak plot, and forced humour — just a few of its many glaring shortcomings. The film 'Badang' holds the unfortunate distinction of being Malaysia's worst-performing superhero movie at the box office. — Picture via YouTube/UiTM Unless you've Googled them, chances are you've never heard of Mantera: Man Transformable Exo-Robotic Armor (2012), which made RM358,573, or Kapoww!! (2010), which pulled in just RM271,492 — both faded fast, barely leaving a mark on the Malaysian cinema scene. Global status for local superhero movies Live action aside, perhaps the only local costumed superheroes to have reached global status are the animated ones. In addition to their success as animated series, films like BoBoiBoy and Mechamato have made waves internationally, winning over audiences in countries such as Singapore, Indonesia, South Korea, Japan, and more. Ejen Ali has since joined their ranks, with its debut film grossing over RM30 million locally, and the sequel is already generating excitement, especially after its mind-blowing trailer. Can the film elevate the local live-action superhero genre? It's worth noting that Keluang Man is not a new superhero; it has been around since the '90s, receiving favourable reviews, and this marks its first revival as a live-action film. From a marketing perspective, it's already showing tremendous potential, supported by strong collaborations with well-known brands like Wonda Kopi, Royal Selangor, Fung Keong, myBurgerLab, and Abstrax. Additionally, events like the 'Keluang Man Fun Run' and the feature mural in Kluang — a striking three-storey artwork celebrating the iconic superhero — have garnered nationwide admiration. A striking three-storey artwork celebrating 'Keluang Man' in Kluang. — Picture courtesy of Astro Shaw It's an experience never before seen for a local superhero. Seasoned film reviewer Wahab Hamzah noted that while there have been solid marketing efforts for local superhero films in the past, nothing quite matches the scale and creativity of what Keluang Man is doing. 'I hope Keluang Man becomes the kind of movie that Malaysians can truly connect with, just like their love for Kluang coffee.' Director Anwari Ashraf hopes the film will recapture the nostalgia of those who grew up with the character during its original animated run. The full success of the film 'Keluang Man' will only be known after its release on May 29. — Picture by Sayuti Zainudin 'Now parents to a new generation. 'An open love letter for millennials, to be passed to the next generation,' Anwari added. At first glance, the strong marketing strategy and positive response to the Keluang Man trailer suggest the film has the potential to break new ground. As for the film's success, only time will tell when the Bat Hero — or rather, the Keluang Hero — swings into cinemas on May 29.
