Wolverine 3: Old Man Logan... and Possibly X23

     It isn't a huge surprise to know that after Deadpool's recent box office destruction, that both the fast-tracked X-Force film and Wolverine sequel are potentially getting R ratings.  What is only slightly surprising, however, is the fact that the female Wolverine clone Laura "X-23" Kinney may have a role in the film.

     Personally, it just makes sense- keeping the Wolverine legacy going with a female in the lead is tantamount to a cinematic gold mine, and I've already mentioned in another post that I think they'll use her in the upcoming X-Force film, so it would make sense to begin her journey from her current namesake's last movie.  Just because Hugh Jackman's last film will be Wolverine 3, doesn't mean that Fox wants to let the franchise character go.

     I mean, I have a very strong feeling Marvel's "Phase 4" will be doing the same thing- eliminating the current generation and usurping their roles with younger people.  So we'll probably be seeing the diversity checklist that the Avengers has become as the next set of heroes and villains.  It could be quite good, but then again, it could also turn out horribly.  I'm crossing my fingers for the former.
     The X-Men are kind of already doing it with the original X-Men team and the First Class teams, then we'll be seeing X-Force and The New Mutants, so it's already kind of in the process.

     What genuinely surprises me a little is they aren't going the Daken route with this awesome segment about Wolverine wondering about his life as a failed father and then his tragic need to end the cycle he unintentionally created.  Back in 2013 I wrote:

     If they took the child he never knew he had.  The kid would be an absolute monster- enjoying all the killing and abusing his powers.  Following Wolverine around and wreaking havoc on anyone he comes in contact with.  In the end Wolverine would be forced to kill him.  If it was handled correctly the impact of the story could be immense.  A small intimate scale of personal, character driven plot.  Subtle, yet powerful.  Uncanny X-Force 34 did it very well with Daken imagining the ways life could've been different with a father around as he is dying at his father's hands. 

     While doubt the film will follow this path, I do think this tale could still work in part, but have X-23 helping Logan with the task of taking on the role of mentor or father figure.  It could be a tremendously moving story if handled correctly.  But, I am a bit worried that James Mangold is directing again, and it's being penned by relatively unknown David James Kelley

     I've ranted about it over, and over, and over, and OVER again- Fox needs to pull off the kiddie gloves.  Learn from the fan response to Deadpool.  Give us what we should've had years ago- a Wolverine story full of depth, blood, and gore.  Look at the best of his stories- Weapon X by the incomperable Barry Windsor-Smith, the Wolverine run by Chris Claremont and Frank Miller, or even the Old Man Logan series- they all deal with the inescapable nature of Logan's path as a killer.  If X23 is to join, make this every bit as emotionally impactful as the Daken scenes from Uncanny X-Force.

     During a FOX Marvel Comic Con panel last year (starting at 18:40) Hugh Jackman said, "When we haven't always got it right, you've told us," to the fans- well, this is the chance to fix that mistake.  It's about damn time to get this right.  Wolverine's motto has always been, "I'm the best there is at what I do, but what I do isn't very nice..."  Maybe it's finally time to show us this aspect of the character and truly unsheathe his claws with the famous berserker rage he is known for.  Push the limits of the character, make us believe that Wolverine really is the best there is.

     Wolverine 3 is set to hit theaters March 3rd, 2017.

The Wolverine: Review: Seriously Marvel- What the F*CK?!?

     After seeing this new Wolverine film, I have to openly say- Marvel, please take off the kiddie gloves.  It's time to grow the F*CK up.  This is Wolverine, Marvel Comics' most bad ass person.  He's supposed to be the "best there is," and what he does is kill, not mope in teenage angst in the rain.

     !!! SPOILER WARNING !!!

     This is my quick summary of the movie:

     This film was supposed to be based on the Wolverine run by Chris Claremont and Frank Miller.  Upon viewing the movie, that statement had to have been made with the loosest possible meaning.  It's like they took the story, and instead of reading it, took some kids retelling of it, and then wiped their asses with the pages they never actually read.  Who is OKing these scripts?!?

     Why do the film makers insist on showing Wolverine as this overly regretful man that insists his immortality is some horrible burden?  Sure he's aging slower, but he's only around 120 years old.  Stop focusing on his grieving and move the f**k on.  Have Apocalypse show up and tell Wolverine to go f**k himself, Apocalypse is THOUSANDS of years old.  Deal with it.

     This was a chance to take the character and show him at his best and worst.  Show him learning the art of being a "Ronin" and the process and dedication that sticks with him later on in life.  Show the growth that a man who has been an animalistic killer can become a man of honor.  Show him become the ronin he is called many times.

     It also would give viewers a chance to show that, despite all his abilities, an old man can still easily beat him with a single sword.
     That is quite possibly the biggest flub of this film.  The Lord Shingen fight.  Wolverine barely fought the billion ninjas he was supposed to didn't bother me nearly as much.  Sure he got some Yakuza slaying done, but Shingen was where this movie could've shone.
     They cut the fundamental moments out of this historic battle to make room for an absurd Silver Samurai (mechanical suit) duel.  Why?  Absolutely ridiculous. 
     The Shingen fight in the comics showed Wolverine being systematically sliced up.  Cutting up nerves and stabbing vital organs, Shingen's skill makes Wolverine look like a child.  This is how it should've been handled, not like the film did it. (See pic below)

     Should I even mention that Viper could have, and very well SHOULD have been cut from the film?  And the strange robot insects that attach to hearts were unnecessary.  If they had the tech to subdue Wolverine's healing factor, theoretically they should be able to duplicate the power as well. 

     In all honesty, I would've loved to see how Darren Aronofsky would have handled this story.  I can only imagine he would have done Claremont and Miller justice, and created something along the lines of Christopher Nolan's Dark Knight series.
     Does anyone else think he dropped out due to a crappy script?  They blew a chance to display an amazing Japanese culture and it's darker noir underworld.  Once again, I am quite disappointed in the handling of a classic story translated into garbage for money's sake.

Fox Wants a 3rd Wolverine Movie?!? More Mangold and Jackman to Come...

     After raking in over $400 worldwide, The Wolverine has inspired Twentieth Century Fox to negotiate terms for a 3rd installment with writer/director James Mangold.

     While he did do a better job than the team that made X-Men Origins: Wolverine, it really wasn't that difficult to do as they set the bar low enough to be considered on the floor.  Honestly, this is not too surprising- if people keep paying the studios will keep making them.  Are we ready for another less than amazing story of someone bemoaning his origin and immortality?

     Fox, why can't you get a Wolverine done by a decent writer and director?  Where's the team that can compete with Nolan's on The Dark Knight level?  I've written enough on the subject of handling this character so poorly plenty of times.  About teen angsty Logan mopery, bemoaning his past, and the need for real grit in the series.  If Marvel wants to create a series worthy of a man who is the best hunter/killer they need to really hunker down and focus.  We do NOT need another one-note-Wolverine film.  He needs to grow as a character, and that still hasn't happened in the X-Men film franchise.  Fans are sick of watching him cry into his beer.

     Mangold clearly did not read the Frank Miller derived source material, because the film lacks any of the noirish Japanese underworld feel.  It is also missing any of the crime drama that could've been tapped.  Seriously, I think Mangold only read the back cover's blurb then used the pages for toilet paper.  That being said, I am quite worried as to what he'll beloved story will be wrecked next.

***Potential Comic SPOILERS Ahead***

     They could even make a story featuring a Daken like child he never knew he had.  The kid would be an absolute monster- enjoying all the killing and abusing his powers.  Following Wolverine around and wreaking havoc on anyone he comes in contact with.  In the end Wolverine would be forced to kill him.  If it was handled correctly the impact of the story could be immense.  A small intimate scale of personal, character driven plot.  Subtle, yet powerful.  Uncanny X-Force 34 did it very well with Daken imagining the ways life could've been different with a father around as he is dying at his father's hands.
     [ I Googled "Wolverine drowns Daken" for these pages ]

     We'd even get to see that famous adamantium rage with all the feral savagery an R-rating could muster.  A bloody mess of a battle between two near-immortals.  We'd need an R-rating so they could stop pulling punches and give us a Wolverine we deserve- the ultimate Marvel badass that is "The best there is..."

     There are so many options.  Do something original.  Think of a period piece set in the cold war era about Wolverine in old Soviet Russia hunting down Omega Red.  Maybe even a short survivor-horror tale about Logan wandering the Canadian wilderness tracking down the Wendigo.  A black ops Weapon X film where they are sent in to assassinate someone a little too powerful.

     I've said it plenty of times, Marvel- it's time to take the kiddie gloves off and make films for fans older than 12.  Take the risks and make a movie worth watching.  Make a movie worth talking about.

Source [ Deadline ]

Wolverine: Hugh Jackman #OneLastTime

     The always amazing Hugh Jackman tweeted this image, I cropped it here, with the statement calling for fans to tell him what they'd like to see happen:

My last time putting on the claws. What do you want to see happen? 50 words or less. I'll read as many as I can. 

     While it is extremely doubtful Fox will do what many fans want and give us a film worthy of Logan's "The best there is..." quote, it is very nice that Jackman is doing this.  His work as Wolverine will be damn near impossible to match.  Despite being stuck with poor scripts for the previous Wolverine films he has truly molded and made the character his own over the years.

     I've written numerous posts about what they should do, and how it keeps getting fumbled, but I really, really hope Fox learns from the fan reactions to Deapool and does justice for the last run of Jackman's Wolverine.  A legend needs proper send off and the last two films were abominable.

     It's been hinted, most notably at the SD Comic Con, that the next movie will be a take on the great series Old Man Logan by Mark Millar and Steve McNiven.  If the film makers don't screw it up, there is a huge chance Wolverine could be handled properly for once.  This is a chance for Fox to give us a Wolverine to rival the Christopher Nolan Batman films.  Dark, gritty, and meaningful.

     They now have the perfect chance to learn from fan reactions to the Deadpool trailer, remove the kiddie gloves and give us something real.  "I'm the best there is at what I do, but what I do isn't very nice..."  Prove to us that Wolverine's catchphrase is from the life of a man that cannot escape the cycle of killing.  That sometimes, someone has to do the dirty work.

     The new Wolverine is set to be released March 3rd, 2017.

     Source [ Twitter ]

Will X-Men: Apocalypse and Wolverine 3 be Hugh Jackman's Last Wolverine Roles?

     Hugh Jackman, the Wolverine we've come to know in 7 films, has recently instagrammed this pic and quote.  It sounds a little sad, and it is understandable that he may leave the character after so many films.
     What makes me wonder is if he is really only playing Wolverine once more, then what of both X-Men: Apocalypse and the 3rd James Mangold Wolverine stand alone film?  Both movies have been already given release dates (May 27th, 2016 and March 3rd, 2017 respectively).  Plus we've heard his thoughts on wanting to have a cameo in Ryan Reynolds' upcoming Deadpool film.  So it sounds like he still likes playing the character, but perhaps contractual or age issues might be changing his mind.  There's been a lot of changes in Marvel's comics recently and perhaps they will be bleeding into the film universe sooner than expected.  What if it is health issues like his previous bouts with skin cancer?  Then again, maybe Wolverine 3 has been simply cancelled.  We'll have to wait and see.

WOLVERINE ...ONE LAST TIME. HJ

A photo posted by Hugh Jackman (@thehughjackman) on Mar 28, 2015 at 10:40am PDT

    This is a cryptic message indeed.

The Wolverine Full Trailer Thoughts

     After getting my hopes up for a more gritty and realistic Wolverine movie, my hopes are dashed again.  Especially because we got 2 teaser pics, a 6 second and a 30 second teaser for this full trailer.  Really... the train sequence looks completely absurd.  All the ninjas in the snowy well-lit pagoda area?  Also absurd.  Wolverine bemoaning his immortality- meh.  This is another cartoony looking film, and my expectations weren't even that high to begin with.

This'll be better than Origins?!?  You sure, Bub?

     Wolverine looking to be made "mortal" is so overdone.  He couldn't even survive without the healing because of metal poisoning from his skeleton.  It would be easy to guess the old sickly fellow (Lord Shingen?) will probably take the healing for himself while Logan cries about his continually bleeding blade holes during his mutant mid-life crisis. 

Is this The Silver Samurai?  Probably.

     Seriously, weren't we promised something better than Origins?  This only looks slightly less ridiculous.  Barely.    
     Come on Marvel- get someone like Darren Aronofsky back on board.  You know why the Batman: Dark Knight series did so well?  Because it was aimed at serious mature audiences, not campy teenage idiots.  Make it worth our time.  Adapt Frank Miller/Chris Claremont's story, adapt Barry Windsor-Smith's Weapon X.  We want true Wolverine, not mopey emo Wolverine.
     Market and make the film we need- the fans will follow.

     On a positive note- I believe we finally got to see the Silver Samurai. (see above pic)

Links to trailers:  http://www.ign.com/articles/2013/03/27/the-full-trailer-for-the-wolverine-is-here

Hugh Jackman: Hints at Old Man Logan as His Last Wolverine Film

     Yesterday at 20th Century Fox's H Hall panel Hugh Jackman gave a giant tease of a quote, hinting towards a possibility for the next Wolverine film's story:

"I've got three words for you guys - Old Man Logan."

     I've heard it claimed that he said it jokingly, I mean he has been playing the character since 2000, being in 7 films over 15 years is quite a length of time.  We can't take this as official confirmation yet, but it does offer some good speculation talk.  The film adaptation of the 2008 Mark Millar and Steve McNiven comic book series would need some extreme tailoring because Marvel Studios owns the film rights to a lot of the characters.

     That being said, with the proper writing team, simply a story along the same lines as Old Man Logan could still be quite amazing.  But as I've said over, and over, and over, and OVER - Fox needs to make it R rated, and pull off the kiddie gloves.  Learn from the fan response to the Deadpool trailer.  Give us what we should've had years ago- a Wolverine story full of depth, blood, and gore.
     Look at the best of his stories- Weapon X by the incomperable Barry Windsor-Smith, the Wolverine run by Chris Claremont and Frank Miller, or even the Old Man Logan series- they all deal with the inescapable nature of Logan's path as a killer.

     During the panel Jackman also says, "When we haven't always got it right, you've told us," to the fans- well, this is the chance to fix that mistake.  It's time to get this right.  Wolverine's motto is, "I'm the best there is at what I do, but what I do isn't very nice..."  Maybe it's finally time to show us this aspect of the character and truly unsheathe his claws with the famous berserker rage he is known for.  Push the limits on the character, make us believe that Wolverine really is the best there is.

     Regardless, Wolverine 3 is scheduled for release on March 3rd, 2017.

     To watch the whole panel [ Youtube ] the Jackman part starts at 18:40.

X-Force: Possible Film Line-up and Thoughts

     Following a post of Greg Semkow's X-Force conceptual art, there's been much speculation of the potential future feature film.  It seems on deck to be fast-tracked due to the immense popularity of Deadpool's marketing, and the image features the "team's line up from the script" which was written by the writer/director of Kickass 2, Jeff Wadlow.

     Right off the bat we have mainstays Cable and Domino, along with Warpath, Cannonball lrocketing around in the back, and an unknown female on the left.  I've seen a lot of rumors that it could be Feral, Wolfsbane, or Boom-Boom, but I'm thinking either Psylocke or X-23 are far more likely.  X-23 especially because Hugh Jackman is leaving the character of Wolverine, and that would leave a large opening for a human slaughter machine that is their legacy.  I mean seriously, an assassin of the Wolverine bloodline capacity (well, technically a female clone in X-23's case) would be perfect for the black ops wetwork dealings that X-Force is known for.

    I'm not too intrigued by the art as it is, but it is just conceptual.  Cable should be older and far more grizzled, and as I've mentioned before I think Stephen Lang would be perfect for the role.  Warpath already has been in X-Men: Days of Future Past (Booboo Stewart), and if the unnamed woman is Psylocke, she too is already cast (Olivia Munn) for the upcoming X-Men: Apocalypse.  There's plenty of options

     Over the last couple years we've been getting things trickled out, after Days of Future Past, the idea was to focus on X-Force, but apparently that was put on hold because the Deadpool test footage was so well received.  That is good because we know that X-Force creator Rob Liefeld had already read the script and said it was, "Beyond impressive."  He also confirmed that BOTH Cable and Deadpool were in it.  It makes sense to capitalize on Deadpool's popularity despite him not appearing in the artwork above.

     Since Wadlow had stated the team would have 5 members, and that he was a fan of Wolverine, Colossus, Deadpool, Domino and Psylocke, I have to wonder how the art has a mostly different team.  Unless the members come and go depending on the mission?  Or there could be casualties.  There's also always the possibility for cameos galore.

     Personally, I really hope X-Force is a go, and that they follow the precedent Deadpool is setting in shooting for a more mature audience.  This is supposed to be the dark side of the X-Men, doing the dark works that shouldn't be out in the public.  It needs to be bloody, dark, and well-written.  I've complained time, and time, and time again about how they've played Wolverine as too angsty and not as badass as they should have been.  He's the best there is, and we want to see that on film.
     Here's a snippet from a post I did on 11.05.2013:

     "Fox, why can't you get a Wolverine done by a decent writer and director?  Where's the team that can compete with Nolan's on The Dark Knight level?  I've written enough on the subject of handling this character so poorly plenty of times.  About teen angsty Logan mopery, bemoaning his past, and the need for real grit in the series.  If Marvel (Edit: Fox) wants to create a series worthy of a man who is the best hunter/killer, they need to really hunker down and focus.  We do NOT need another one-note-Wolverine film.  He needs to grow as a character, and that still hasn't happened in the X-Men film franchise.  Fans are sick of watching him cry into his beer."

     We want the dark and grim.  It doesn't have to be the whole X-Men universe, but at least with the killers of the mutant world, it makes sense.  It's time to lose those kiddie gloves.

     Sources [ ComicBook ] [ ComicBookMovie ]

X-Men: Apocalypse: Super Bowl TV Spot & Thoughts

     Super Bowl 50 has featured commercials for pretty much everything, and X-Men: Apocalypse was no different.  Getting a new TV spot instead of a full new trailer, it shows off a little new footage and that's about it.  Well, aside from a whole lot of destruction, that is.

     X-Men: Apocalypse still looks really good, but I'm a bit worried for all the preposterous shots like the Storm and Psylocke ones (Archangel in a previous trailer also) look like television show shots with the way they are filmed.  It appears amateurish, so unless it is from a dream sequence- one of Jean Grey's visions- I'll be very displeased.  The Quicksilver scene looks off as well, maybe it's because his arms don't seem to be moving while he's running.
     The film is still shaping up to look pretty damn good, but once again, why does the whole world have to be at stake?  Days of Future Past was great because it had mutant-kind in the cross-hair, not the doom of the planet.  They were trying to change the mind of one person- President Nixon- into altering the path of history.  It's getting to be truly bothersome that Hollywood thinks the stakes always have to be maximum.  I even complained a ton of times about the poor way Fox has handled the Wolverine films.  Seriously, give him a dark, R-rated film and show us that "He's the best there is."  We want a Weapon X by Darren Aronofsky (just literally adapt Barry Windsor-Smith's Weapon X comic run- short and sweet), or a crime-noir Wolverine in Madripoor by Martin Scorsese (who I'd really like to see a Punisher film from!).

     If Deadpool can be an indicator, these types of films can grow up and still be great.  I don't mean Wolverine or X-Men need to be bloody as hell, as action and violence can be implied through proper editing and made to work even better than just shooting for gore-porn that many action films tend towards, but they do need to get tougher.  We're sick of seeing Wolverine cry into his beard and pine after Jean Grey, lose the angst Logan.  We want to see a Black Ops Wolverine take charge and show us why he really is the only right choice for grim and gritty anti-hero fans everywhere.

     X-Men: Apocalypse hits theaters May 27th.

The Wolverine Pics, Poster, and 6 seconds of footage

Caught in his zipper!

     I see there is a plethora of new things for the upcoming film The Wolverine.  Horribly photoshopped posters and 6 seconds of random movie pics have not increased my hopes of this being better than X-men Origins.

     Apparently tomorrow we'll be getting to see 30 seconds of footage, and then the next day- an actual trailer- so I'll wait to see more.  The fact Jean Grey has been spotted is questionable.  Maybe she's just a cameo shoved into it.  Maybe a flashback, I don't know.  The cheese factor in the first 6 seconds is pretty high.

     Seriously Marvel- what the F***!- just give Wolverine the R rating and real grit.  I want dark and feral.  He is the best there is at what he does and what that is is a killer.  Not a hugger.  Make this and you will have a film to rival DC's Batman (Dark Knight) series.  It's what the fans want.

     Really, give this the real dark treatment.  We want Barry Windsor-Smith's Weapon X.  We want Chris Claremont and Frank Miller's Wolverine.  Wolverine deserve's an overhaul.

The Wolverine: New pics and a teaser trailer date!

     I see The Wolverine's director James Mangold has tweeted info about the movie- "Clarity for all asking: I will tweet a peek (a "tweazer") on 26th. Full teaser online on 27th. 3D and 2D in theaters on the big screen 29th"

     So we'll be getting some sweet info in a week.  Hopefully Mr. Mangold hasn't created the next abominable pile of crap that was X-Men Origins: Wolverine.  Good lord it was bad.  Why didn't they just directly adapt Barry Windsor-Smith's Weapon X series?  Give him an "R" rated movie (or at least a hard PG-13) and make it about Wolverine's "business."  Make us believe he's the "best there is at what he does."
     Wolverine struggles with his animal instincts and violent nature.  Stop pandering to the young audience, and give Marvel's True Believers something they WANT to watch.  Look what Nolan did with Batman in the Dark Knight series.  Dark and meaningful, the movies need substance.  Marvel, you should follow suit.  Make it worth our while, and we the fans will love it.

"Death of Wolverine" Slated to Occur on Sept. 24th, 2014

     Marvel comics announced the upcoming death of Wolverine.  It'll come as a result of losing his life-lengthening healing factor being gone.  This is unsurprising to me, as they've killed off plenty of other major Marvel characters only to bring them back, such as Spider-Man, Captain America, Colossus, and even Charles Xavier- only to bring them back some time later.

     Even if Marvel doesn't bring him back, how many Wolverine analogs/clones are out there?  Sabretooth, Wild Child, X-23, Daken, and there is probably a long-forgotten Weapon X facility with an entire batch of clones in test tube tanks just waiting to be revived from stasis.

     If this is handled well, it could be a great story.  Possibly as good as some of the old Wolverine canon like Barry Windsor-Smith's Weapon X or Frank Miller's story of Wolvie in Japan.  So after a lifetime of killing it finally comes back to him.

    Will this be the end for good?

     It'll be tough for Marvel to truly let this guy go- he's been a Marvel staple character for decades.

     Death of Wolverine 1- "3 Months to Die" will be written by Charles Soule with art by Steve McNiven  will be available on September 3.

     Source [ Entertainment Weekly ]

X-Men: Days of Future Past: Review and Thoughts (SPOILERS) (Guardians of the Galaxy Mention as well)

     ***OFFICIAL SPOILER WARNING***

     "I Don't Want Your Future"

     This is an apt quote, as the film resets the X-Men franchise with the exception of First Class.  Eliminating the horrendous Wolverine films, and the other X-men trilogy.  Thank goodness we've done away with X3, that movie was an abomination.  Good news!  The future of the X-Men movies has been fixed by the same means this film fixes the time line- through a little rewriting of history.

The Punisher: A New TV Show Following Netflix's "Marvel's Daredevil"

     I recently read an article about Steven DeKnight wanting to get an R rated Punisher series, and I've wanted that for a long, long time.  In fact, I recalled starting a post about it so I went through my drafts folder and found some of this post saved on 05/31/13. (Note: I've updated and edited this to include recent events and thoughts)

     "I’ve been a huge fan of the Punisher comics for years,” says DeKnight, speaking exclusively to SciFiNow.”I’d love to see him get his due on a platform like this. Nothing would delight me more than to see the Punisher get his own show and maybe we could convince Marvel to go Hard-R rating. If any character deserves an R rating, it’s the Punisher."

     With Marvel launching its entire Daredevil series this Friday (April 10th) on Netflix, hopes are high that the future series' to follow, including Jessica Jones, Luke Cage, and Iron Fist- all leading up to a combined Defenders series, will do well.  Marvel's already dominating the film market with Avengers raking in just over $623 million- it seems they are trying to branch out onto the smaller screen, and if the trailers are to believed, Daredevil should do pretty damn well.

     In the past we've had Ray Stevenson, Dolph Lundgren, and Thomas Jane play Frank Castle in the the previous Punisher films.  In all honesty, Lundgren's really wasn't that bad, I mean it was far better than David Hasselhoff's Nick Fury: Agent of S.H.I.E.L.D. and is worth a watch.  Stevenson was all right, and I actually think Thomas Jane was very good, the scripts, however, were most definitely NOT.  The problem with these previous films is they are all handled wrong.  Old comics film properties tended to pull punches, just the same as they've been doing to the more recent Wolverine films- a complaint I can't stress enough.  If they want to do either Punisher or Wolverine right, they need a hard R rating, and the right team to make the story worth watching.
     I've written about the continual mishandling of Wolverine, how how to redeem Deadpool's film debut- [ EDIT: Ryan Reynolds is currently filming an R-rated Deadpool! That's one step in the right direction for the rest of the Mature Marvel U ], and also how the Punisher has been flubbed.  I bitch about these things because, as a fan, I want to see the best films of these characters- I don't want censored Disney-fied do gooders.  These people are killers, not hand slappers.  Marvel needs to take risks with the mature audience, many of their devoted, long-time readers aren't children and we want heavier content.

     I've said it plenty of times, Marvel- it's time to take the kiddie gloves off and make films for fans older than 12. Take the risks and make a movie worth watching. Make a movie worth talking about.

     I wrote this a long time ago and still stand by it- "If they want a good following they have to up their game and take risks.  If this movie gets made and does well, it could open up an entire new avenue of film opportunities for Marvel.  An actual horror version of Ghost Rider, a dark noir mob underworld Punisher, and a maybe even a Wolverine film that actually shows him being the best there is at what he does, and that is certainly not brooding over some long forgotten past and crying like his mutant power is being an emo teenager."  Many of us want to see Marvel tackle the dark and gritty stuff that these characters represent.  The Punisher and Wolverine are supposed to be the ultimate bad asses, show them that way.  These films need to grow the f*** up and show us why they are so great.  Look at how well Christopher Nolan handled The Dark Knight.  It is a very plausible thing to believe that Marvel can do it with their own works.
     Starting a new Punisher series could pave the way for this wave of films or shows.  We don't want another hackneyed origin story, we want to see a Scorsese level Punisher, with all the intellectual stimulation of Goodfellas or The Departed.  I want to see a Punisher show that can go toe-to-toe with Ben Affleck's direction of The Town, or even the highly under-appreciated The Black Donnellys.  We want crime, corruption, and violence.  We want dark and gritty and cerebral.  We want a Punisher worth our time.

     I personally would like to see Thomas Jane return to the character, and I've long since thought that Terry Crews would make a wonderful Barracuda.  Maybe have a nice cameo by Dolph Lundgren as Tombstone, and possibly some crossover characters like Kingpin from Daredevil, or Bullseye if he shows up.  Jane has expressed a will to return to a character he knows quite well, and feels has been left unfinished as this excerpt from an MTV Interview he did way back in 2009:

"My interest has always been based more in reality than in superhero fiction, and with the original 'Punisher' I very much pushed them to try to make a movie that was more like 'Death Wish' or 'Taxi Driver' than 'Spider-Man,'" Jane told MTV News. "The strengths of 'The Punisher' that I did lie in the reality that we were able to bring to the character, and the weaknesses of 'The Punisher' I did were all based on people trying to make this a 'comic book movie'—with funny characters and goofball s--t that has no place in a 'Punisher' film."

Jane went on to say that he feels the "definitive Punisher film" has yet to be made, but would very much like to return to the character for that very reason. Clearly having given the subject some thought over the years, Jane described the perfect "Punisher" movie as a blend of tones found in the films of dramatic, tough-guy writer/directors like Walter Hill ("The Warriors") and Sam Peckinpah ("The Wild Bunch"), and a far cry from what he described as the "cartoon" version of the character.

"Everyone gets it backwards," he said. "The 'Punisher' comic is striving for a sense of reality. They’re not striving for a sense of 'comic book.' So in the film, you can actually take the reality element further—not the comic book element. You don’t want to strengthen the idea that it’s a comic book in film, because film gives you the chance to actually bring it one step closer to reality—and that's the direction that 'Punisher' wants to go in."

     Jane understands the character, now all we need is a proper writer and director team.  Marvel, it's in your hands, get this done.  I mean the last good Punisher we got was the fan film Dirty Laundry, so it's time to up your game Marvel.

[ EDIT: Apologies, as "Anonymous" notes below in the comments, Marvel studios didn't make the earlier Punisher films, although they now hold the rights which were previously held by Lionsgate.  Deadpool and Wovlerine are from Fox. This information is extra handy as I was working on small articles about both Blade and Ghost Rider, which have both been added to Marvel Studios' rights.  With Marvel Studios recent handling of properties, I don't doubt their ability to do these series' justice in the film or TV realms now. ]

     Sources [ SciFiNow ] [ MTV ] [ IndieWire ]

Deadpool: Movie Review, The Review's Review & Thoughts

Pre-Review:

     Deadpool is the turning point for superhero movies.  After the abominable X-Men Origins: Wolverine film I was genuinely surprised that anyone would bother to make a Deadpool film test footage.  Well, it happened, it then leaked, and it garnered insane amounts of fan backing.  It looked like the people that made the test footage knew the character.  The studio finally greenlit it and things progressed.  To make things even better, the marketing campaign for the film took the film to new heights.  It is absolutely brilliant in the way it's been handled.

Review:

     Overall, the film itself is pure genius.  It is not perfect by any means.  It drags on for a while, gets really flashback overloaded, and really pushes the bounds of comedy and superhero violence, but it was spot on for the character.  It was perfect for the fans of the series.  We fans have finally gotten exactly the kind of film we've been asking for after all these years!  Just as the Deadpool game was such a perfectly tailored game for fans, the movie is made specially for the fans.  Note, they did alter some of the history, and tried hilariously to make it fit into current film canon and continuity, but it's done in a way the both makes sense here, and fits for the film.
     They've utilized so many things that make Deadpool so unique, such as his blatant 4th wall breaking, that it is truly unbelievable.  Ryan Reynolds is the only person that could've pulled this off.  In fact pretty much everyone in the movie is cast so well.  And I must say, in my opinion, it holds the best Hugh Jackman cameo of any of the X-Men related films to date!  Plus we now have a Colossus that we want to see so much more of.
   
Post Review:

     Now that the film has been released and is killing it at the box office, Deadpool has shown the studios that my long time complaint that superhero movies need to grow up, has finally been proven to work.  The kiddie gloves can now come off, and we can potentially get a Wolverine worthy of being the "best there is."  Maybe we can see a Ghost Rider by some real horror creators.  I don't mean all comic movies need to be R rated, some however, need this extra grit and violence.

     Deadpool has already gotten a sequel greenlit and on track for a 2018 release, X-Force is on the way, a Legion series, and I've heard rumors (and we've seen Negasonic Teenage Warhead's suit) of a New Mutants series.

     Since Deadpool has done so well, I'll paste this chunk I wrote on 11.05.2013:

     Fox, why can't you get a Wolverine done by a decent writer and director?  Where's the team that can compete with Nolan's on The Dark Knight level?  I've written enough on the subject of handling this character so poorly plenty of times.  About teen angsty Logan mopery, bemoaning his past, and the need for real grit in the series.  If Marvel wants to create a series worthy of a man who is the best hunter/killer they need to really hunker down and focus.  We do NOT need another one-note-Wolverine film.  He needs to grow as a character, and that still hasn't happened in the X-Men film franchise.  Fans are sick of watching him cry into his beer.

     This is something we've needed for a long time.  A movie that proves we need superhero films for more than just kids.  Deadpool is showing studios that we want dark and gritty anti-heroes, not just Avengers goodie-goodie types.  More mature heroes and villains are an avenue that needs to be pursued cinematically.

Review of this Review:

     This review really got away from me and is pretty bad.  Sorry about that.  So, I'd recommend you just go see the film for yourself and make some judgements.  In the end, if you are a fan of Deadpool, action, lewd humor, and absurd violence, and yes, even a surprisingly good love story- go see Deadpool, you'll probably enjoy it.

The Punisher: #DIRTYLAUNDRY

     Found an interesting fan movie of the Punisher thanks to www.comicvine.com starring Thomas Jane and a supporting appearance by Ron Pearlman. There is very adult themes, and some violence. be warned this may not be suitable for work time viewing.

      I believe these guys should be allowed to make another film. Do I see a kickstarter in their future? Probably. Marvel should be making films that apply to an adult audience. In all seriousness, the next Wolverine movie with Hugh Jackman should be an R rated film. At least a hard PG-13. The Dark Knight was handled phenominally, why can't they do that with Wolverine??? Marvel Comics what the heck? I'm sure there are tons of amazing creators that could do Wolverine justice. Like Nolan and Batman, and like the begining steps here with the Punisher. A true Punisher movie needs to be handled properly.
      Personally I would love to see a film like this done with a grainier film. Emphasize the grit and substance of the Punisher's world. Maybe only have crystal clear shots during fights when he is fully "on" in Punisher mode and gritty, grainy stuff as the mundane necessities are carried out. I don't know, it's just an idea. Even messing with colors could really do a grand job of boosting feel. Dull muted colors throughout all the slow parts, gaining momentum and color into the battles/fight scenes. It could be amazing.
          Great acting by everyone. The kid does an especially wonderful job.
      The script could use a little work. Frank Castle seems a bit off during the time he is doing laundry. Too much down time with ignoring the harassing of neighborhood people. They could've possibly cut the time up and have it occur over a few days. That bottle of Jack? Really, how did it not break? Good idea, but having it break, then having a blade may have been better. Although it would have negated the great 'punishment' scene at the end.

      Anyway, I would definitely like to see more of this type of work. It shows great promise. With great promise comes great funding. Get on it Marvel. Throw in an editor to clean up and tighten the script and you could have a damn good film on your hands. Unlike those travesties "Wolverine: X-men Origins" and "Punisher: War Zone" or the, not one, but two, yes 2!!!! awful "Ghost Rider" and "Fantastic Four" films. Oh sweet mamma's flapjack's! They were horrendous. It isn't even the actors' faults. Most of them have top notch movies, it just comes down to poor teams being assembled and a crap movie being made. Take the time, get the right people involved and then TAKE MORE TIME to make films worth watching.

X-men Origins: Wolverine

...uhhhh...

Seriously!?

How could Marvel Comics or Fox allow this ABOMINATION of a film to be made?

This movie should've been called Weapon F. For Weapon Fail.

Just to warn people in advance, this is a long rant post. Lot's of information jumping all over the place.

Now my friends can attest, I'm generally a very forgiving person when it comes to judging films. There are many films I really like that are very terrible, and I will fully acknowledge that ahead of time. I didn't get to see it in the theater, and all my buddies told me I would've been pissed. They were putting it nicely, and immensely understated. I rented this at the Redbox for $1.07, and feel I have overpaid by at least $5. I hope my rental money goes to destroying this copy.

Now I should tell you I have a particular love of the Weapon X story. Specifically because one of the two comics that got me positively addicted to comics as a kid was Marvel Comics Presents issue 77. It was part 5 of Barry Windsor Smith's positively unbelievable Weapon X story, which I picked up at the Food-N-Fuel gas station in like 1990-91. I read this single issue with almost religious love. It wasn't like all the other lame comics on the shelf. No Mickey or Donald.(Although the current stuff with Disney...) No Superman. No "kiddie" stuff. This was full on blood and gore. Dark and realistic violence, and almost a psychological horror. This is the type of action I grew up on with movies like Aliens and Predator. The quality I craved. Even at the young age of 11. (On a Side note, the other comic that heavily influenced me, that I've also read about a bazillion times, was Uncanny X-men 276. Which led to my love of Gambit, all style and charm in action.)

This particular movie deserves a harsher judgement than I give to other movies. Marvel and Fox can afford both the money and the time to develop a movie that can compete with something like The Dark Knight. With The Dark Knight setting a standard for what a "comic book movie" can and should be, the amazing potential they can have. Did Marvel/Fox learn nothing???

I mean, COME ON MARVEL/FOX! They went from X-men(maybe a B), to X-men 2(A-ish), to the piece-o-crap X-men:United(I'd give it a C). They somehow engineered a movie even worse.

Remember Spider-Man 3? Should I even remind people of the horrendous Fantastic Four movies. (They did have some things I enjoyed- The silver Surfer was handled well. Galactus on the other hand? One of the best Marvel villains ever. Not even handled close to OK.)

Ok- About the movie. I did really like the credits sequence. Dirty and grungy. Marvel could've added that to the entire film and it may have enhanced the viewing experience a little. I also liked Gambit's scenes very much. The best scenes are his most definitely. For a majority of the film, the CG work is just dreadful. B movie quality. Quite sad actually.

I am struggling to find a magic bullet to make me forget this movie. Time may help wipe it from my mind.

I heard there may be another movie. I can only hope they learn from this unholy mess and make a better film. Marvel and Fox need to take lessons from The Dark Knight. The fanboys want a true to comics movie, that also caters to the non-comic-reading public or average movie goer. Something that isn't just a stream of ridiculous action. Something with serious potential.

I heard there was an alternative end credits scene with Logan in a Japanese bar. They may need to look to the Frank Miller series where he fights with Lord Shingen. A great sword duel that ends with an "Oh My God!" moment. It could be a redeeming thing for Marvel movies. I think 300 and Sin City are decent proof Miller makes a good story.

I'm waiting Marvel.

Complaints and crap on characters:

Wolverine/Logan/James/Pansy. Whatever name he goes by, he is definitely not a man. Oh noes! I'm not an animal, whah!!! Grow up you freakin cry-baby. You have lived a long time, participated in multiple wars, lost a bunch of friends and are acting like a damned emo teenager. Hugh Jackman was awesome in The Prestige(A) and even better in The Fountain(A+), so I can't blame him for this crappy ass movie.

Wolverine should have earned his name, not picked it from a story his love told him way back when. The whole of the Weapon X procedure he had flashbacks from in the other movies totalled what, like 5 minutes? Where was all this torturous training? Where was the captivity? The being tested and pushed into a state of animal-like living? Fighting for survival in a compound, striving against nature? Where was the fight with a million soldiers while trying to break out?

He was too clean. Logan shouldn't be so pretty, with nice lustrous hair? He should be animalistic. Rough and savage. It would help show his "struggle" with being a man. There needed to be more struggle with nature of both internal and external on the trek back to humanity. A hugely symbolic trip. Where was it? Oh, right! They weren't anywhere. So he was having terrifying flashbacks from a 10 minute process that hurt a lot. He's a regenerating person, I'm sure it was fine, he's probably felt much worse. How many bullets and knives has he been wounded by? Lord knows what else he might have accidentally been hurt by? Falling from WAY up high? Grenade to the face, landmine in the crotch, whatever.

There is also the amazing issue of the damn "magic" adamantium bullets. HELLO! Does adamantium heal? Why did the scans by Professor X not show the bullet holes in X-men 1? Or when he smashed his head open all the other times? Did they even come out the back of his head, or bounce around inside his metal skull scrambling all that gray matter? So, he can heal and remember all the rudimentary functions, and plenty of parts of memories, but not any specifics? Well, I guess it was only like a 5 to 10 minute procedure. So small, it would be easy to get eradicated by a magic bullet.

...and they wasted the "I'm the best there is at what I do" line. He was all nonchalant saying it. He was like, "Eh, yeah, I'm the best and stuff, and it's not very nice... Bub." Then after a short pause he shrugs and says, "Meh."

The Blob, well played, decent make-up, and good accent. Why didn't they just leave him a fat guy. Not a super tough guy with an eating disorder.

Agent Zero? In the comics he is also called Maverick. And can see slightly into the future. Not just a guy that can shoot guns really well.

Silver Fox. Sure she's hot, and acted well, but why turn her into this ridiculous person. If Sabretooth was immune to her suggestion power because of his healing, why wasn't Wolverine? (There was an implied part with Stryker shaking his head at her revealing her true feelings)

And when she "died" the first time, did he just leave her body there in the woods to be found by his coworkers? No funeral? WTF? What kind of husband screams into the air at their spouses demise, and just leaves.

Sabretooth is quite well done. I absolutely love Liev Schreiber. He's great in The Ten. He was a vicious bastard. Having the smug attitude of a borderline immortal, he was quite nicely portrayed as such. If Stryker "needed" Logan's power so bad why didn't they just take the SAME ONE from Sabretooth???

Wraithe- Terrible in the fight scenes. Nightcrawler was handled well, they screwed this potential up bad. He's a teleporter. He would hit-and-port to out of reach. Especially if you knew the enemy, and was familiar with their dangerousness.

Stryker. Definitely a massive step down from Bryan Cox. Not a believable enough douschebag.

Deadpool was cast perfectly. Even though Mr. Reynolds played Hannibal in Blade Trinity, thus being 2 characters in the same universe. His schtick is witty quips, and being a general embarrassment. I believe they made a huge mistake in sewing his mouth shut. Couldn't he just cut it open, with the healing ability to take care of the rest? And apparently swinging swords in a figure eight constantly in front of you will deflect bullets coming from all directions, even from the back.

After the procedure he became a computer driven idiot. He didn't even display the electronic manipulator guy's power, so why did they take it? Why the hell did Wolverine decide to fight him on the top of the tower anyway? After his head got chopped of and fell, it sure as heck wouldn't fall in a nice spiral pattern. After the credits his body reaches for his head, and gives the "shhhh..." here's a secret thing.

I can't believe I'm still writing this. It makes me very unhappy. Too much energy wasted on this giant steamy pile of crap.

I thoroughly liked Gambit. (from my love of comics mentioned above-he was the reason I loved Uncanny X-men 276) With the exception of him doing a slow motion cartwheel from fire escape to fire escape, he had the best scenes. Love the card tricks and the subtle glows when he uses his powers. Great charm and charisma. A character Marvel needs to use to good measure in future films.

Although a couple more issues come up with the film in his scenes. And my least favorite part. How the hell did Gambit get from laying on the street after taking an adamantium elbow to the face, to running towards the fight on the top of the roof?

And: the absolutely ludicrous scene where Wolverine is chopping chunks off the fire escape off like an old cartoon to get Gambit down. Once again, WTF?

Side notes: I liked Cyclops. But, Emma Frost? Outrageous. The Storm scene from the trailer? Nowhere to be found.

I also noticed what looked to be a slew off cameos in the island captivity cells. I believe I caught Toad licking his lips and Quicksilver strung up so he can't move. I forgot the other ones I may have seen, as this was days ago.

Wolverine 3: Logan: First Trailer & Thoughts

     Following hot on the heels of the Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 teaser we get the first trailer for the 3rd Wolverine film.  It already looks to be far better than the last two movies, though to be fair the second film's trailers made it look much better than it really was.

     It's got mutants dying off or being hunted, Professor Xavier is somehow still alive long after he should've died (maybe there's some 6th Sense stuff going on?), and the introduction of Laura "X23" Kinney.  There's even a quick shot of what looks VERY much like her claws at the 1:29 mark.

     I'm a little more hopeful for this film than the last two.  It seems they're focusing on a smaller story and keeping it intimate.  I just wish they would've filmed it all to look as gritty as this first black and white image of Logan they released yesterday.  Can you imagine a Wolverine film shot like that?  Just that kind of visual would've set it apart as something extremely harrowing, presenting Logan's last film as something special.  But, as it is, I'll have to wait and see how the story goes before I start tearing it apart.

     [ UPDATE: The Red Band trailer looks better than the standard one above.  There's a few extra shots, and some violent deeds that already push the boundaries of what's been done in the series. ]

     Logan hits theaters March 3rd, 2017.

The Wolverine: CinemaCon Trailer

     This new Wolverine trailer is looking slightly better than the last.  There are still moments that look over the top (the explosion in the field scenes), but it has a few redeeming parts.  For instance, I really like the new shots of the Silver Samurai.  In one shot his blade is glowing, and he appears to be the best part of this movie so far, and in another he is kicking some Wolverine ass (see pic above). 
     And the big awesome piece- the battle against the ninjas in the snow scene.  It could be done quite well.  Please let this be done right.

     There are plenty of potential problems already surfacing just from the clips I've seen, but I'll hold off on serious judgement unyil later.  It would take some major effort to be as bad as Origins was.  (One indicator being Mariko's striped hipster sleeves.  Really?  Uglkh.)

     Link to Trailer: http://youtu.be/skYPWMM9W1A

X-Men: Days of Future Past: Sentinels Revealed

     With all Bryan Singer's X-Men advertisement and social media hype, this one actually has me interested- a few pics and a promotional video.  There is now a website for Trask Industries, the creators of the Sentinels that hunt the mutant populace.  This is the first new items that give me a small amount of hope for X-Men: Days of Future Past.

     Most notable is the Sentinel designs and the size compared to human are now shown.  They aren't nearly as bad as I was thinking.  I'm also wondering if we'll get some future designs that won't be shown until after the film is in theaters.  These few images are from the "past" scenes, and one would reason that they would get more advanced as time progresses in the film.  Maybe we'll find a self-aware Master Mold, or possibly even the ultra-futuristic Sentinel Nimrod.

     Although I'm still worried Singer will pull a Brett Ratner with 100 characters being smashed into one film and leaving us with a cameo-palooza instead of a coherent story.  Hopefully he has upped his game since the first two X-men movies, so he can at least compete with more modern superhero films.  Granted he's only really gotta beat X-men: Last Stand and The Wolverine films (more specifically X-men Origins: Wolverine that's a movie that makes David Hasselhoff's Nick Fury and Dolph Lundgren's Punisher look like decent entertainment)

     I know I complain about all the crappy film adaptations of comic stories I love, but this might actually turn out for the better.  Days of Future Past was good at the time, but doesn't hold up well, and stands to possibly benefit from an update.  Then again, how many Hollywood script writers end up crapping out garbage?  I suppose I can just resign myself to disappointment, so if it does turn out awesome I'll be happily surprised.