Marvel tagged posts

February 8, 2020, Posted in  Reviews Comments: No comments

Director: Cathy Yan

Writer: Christina Hodson

Cast: Margot Robbie, Rosie Perez, Mary Elizabeth Winstead, Jurnee Smollett-Bell, Ella Jay Basco, Ewan McGregor

Producers: Sue Kroll, Margot Robbie, Bryan Unkeless

Music: Daniel Pemberton

Cinematography: Matthew Libatique

Editor: Jay Cassidy, Evan Schiff

Cert: 15

Running time: 109mins

Year: 2020

What’s the story: After splitting up with the Joker, Harley Quinn (Robbie) has Gotham’s criminal underworld gunning for her, including mob boss Roman Sionis aka Black Mask (McGregor)...

July 14, 2019, Posted in  Podcast Comments: No comments

Episode 66 of The Electric Shadows Podcast tackles two different films indeed.

First up we have Spider-Man: Far From Home. Can the latest film in the Marvel Cinematic Universe swing as high as Spider-Man: Homecoming or Avengers: Endgame? Or Into the Spider-Verse for that matter? Robs Daniel and Wallis take a look and rank this latest instalment against the webslinger’s previous big screen adventures.

The episode then journeys into the rural horrors of Ari Aster’s Midsommar. The follow-up to Aster’s Hereditary, it’s folklore and cult horror in one. But, does Rob Daniel think it an improvement on Hereditary, that critical darling that left him cold? Rob Wallis was an Hereditary fan, so what does he make of this latest outing?

There is also time for a discussion on what is next ...

June 9, 2019, Posted in  Podcast Comments: No comments

In episode 64 of The Electric Shadows Podcast, Robs Daniel and Wallis show remarkable restraint in largely eschewing X-related puns as they discuss Dark Phoenix.

But, they do talk about the long, windy road of this 19-year-old franchise, why in some ways it is superior to the MCU, where it has stumbled, and what they think of the latest instalment.

Which, of course, is a retelling of a plot events previously visited in X-Men: The Last Stand (aka, the Brett Ratner one, aka the black sheep of the X-franchise, but actually containing good stuff and certainly better than X-Men: Origins – Wolverine).

They also rank the entire series best to worst and make room for favourite moments.

So, pop your headphones on and let us X-cite you. Damn, almost made it to the end!

To check ...

April 28, 2019, Posted in  Podcast Comments: No comments

Episode 61 of The Electric Shadows Podcast is an epic discussion of Avengers: Endgame. But, what do the two Robs, our intrepid explorers in pod, make of the final instalment of the Infinity saga?

No spoilers here, and also no spoilers for the film itself until the podcast gets into the spoiler zone. But, there is a massive buffer, so you have more than enough time to turn off your iPhone/Android phone before then. And come back to us when you’ve seen it.

On their travels, the Robs recount the eleven year journey it took to reach this film, and what an achievement it has been...

March 21, 2019, Posted in  Podcast Comments: No comments

Episode 58 of The Electric Shadows Podcast sees Robs Daniel & Wallis delivering their verdict on Captain Marvel. Is it indeed Marvel-lous? Or does the cookie cutter filmmaking bite deep? We won’t spoil the surprises, but let’s just say Brie Larson delivers one of the liveliest performances in the MCU.

The Robs also ponder why it has taken so long for Marvel to deliver a female-led superhero movie, what might be next, and go off on one or two tangents about other franchises. Yes, DC is mentioned.

Rob Daniel also reasons why Ant-Man and The Wasp is a more satisfying movie than Avengers: Infinity War, but admits Captain Marvel has got him finally excited for Endgame...

January 24, 2019, Posted in  Podcast Comments: No comments

Rob Daniel & Rob Wallis touch the sore tooth that is this year’s Oscar nominations.

They discuss the insanity of nominating Bohemian Rhapsody for Best Picture, and how safe the Best Picture nods are in general. They’re happy Spike Lee finally has his Best Director nomination, and acknowledge a few other things the Academy got right.

But, the two Robs mainly lament the omissions. No Best Actor nom for Ethan Hawke in First Reformed? No Mary Poppins Returns in Best Picture? Not a single nod for Mission: Impossible – Fallout?

As Rob Wallis points out, this is the first time the Golden Globes got more nominations right than the Oscars. A sobering state of affairs…

And we haven’t even talked about the major omission...

January 18, 2019, Posted in  Reviews Comments: No comments

Director: M. Night Shyamalan

Writer: M. Night Shyamalan

Cast: Bruce Willis, James McAvoy, Samuel L. Jackson, Sarah Paulson, Anya Taylor-Joy, Spencer Treat Clark

Cert: 15

Running time: 129mins

Year: 2019

What’s the story: In a mental institution, a doctor tries to convince the seemingly superhuman David Dunn (Willis) and Kevin (McAvoy) and the brittle-boned Elijah Price (Jackson) they are not real-life superheroes and villains.

What’s the verdict: We blame Christopher Nolan. His Dark Knight trilogy received the plaudits for bringing superheroes and villains into a world recognisably our own. And made a few billion bucks into the bargain.

No-one really mentioned M...

July 17, 2018, Posted in  Podcast Comments: 2 comments

To celebrate the 10^th anniversary of The Dark Knight’s theatrical release, episode 47 of The Electric Shadows Podcast has gone big. Across four hours, Robs Daniel and Wallis and Bat-expert Ian Bird discuss Nolan’s landmark trilogy. Plus, a wider discussion of the Caped Crusader in comic books and on the small screen, both animated and live action.

Our trio delve deep into the Bat cave, covering a range of Bat chat. From Nolan’s career, to the making of the trilogy, Nolan’s influences, the impact of Christian Bale’s Batman, Heath Ledger’s Joker and Tom Hardy’s Bane, and the difficult-to-repeat legacy the films left behind.

Not that the discussion is just a rhapsody. Ian and the Robs discuss some of the brickbats thrown at the trilogy, particularly the divisive The Dark Knight...

July 7, 2018, Posted in  Podcast Comments: No comments

Episode 46 of The Electric Shadows Podcast may focus on Incredibles 2, but Robs Daniel & Wallis squeeze in much more movie talk besides.

Other films discussed are Hereditary (one Rob is warmer to it than the other), Sicario 2: Soldado (the other Rob is warmer to it than the other), Oceans 8 (only one Rob has seen it) and Leave No Trace (only the other other Rob has seen it).

There is also time for a quick rundown of Mission: Impossible movies and superhero films when delivering their verdict on Incredibles 2.  And Rob Wallis impresses with his knowledge of Shakespeare. Everything crammed into just over an hour. Who says they can’t be disciplined with run times? They do actually…

To check out Rob Wallis’ movie writings, head over to www.ofallthefilmsites.com

Twitter: rob_a_daniel

iTu...

July 1, 2018, Posted in  Reviews Comments: One comment

Director: Brad Bird

Writer: Brad Bird

Cast: Craig T. Nelson, Holly Hunter, Bob Odenkirk, Catherine Keener, Samuel L. Jackson

Cert: PG

Running time: 118mins

Year: 2018

What’s the story: Helen Parr, aka Elastigirl (Hunter), is recruited by brother and sister tech tycoons (Odenkirk and Keener) to rehabilitate public perception of superheroes. Leaving Bob Parr, aka Mr. Incredible (Nelson), to deal with kids Violet, Dash and Jack-Jack. But, supervillainous trouble looms in the shape of the mysterious Screenslaver.

What’s the verdict: The Incredibles was such a delight that despite climaxing with a cliffhanger (or, more accurately, a threat from below) a follow-up never felt necessary.

Writer/director Brad Bird clearly shared this opinion for years...