What Happens If (when?) Batman v Superman Flops? (And the Importance Of The Trailer)

Since its release in 2013, Man of Steel, DC’s first attempt at trying to catch up to Marvel in the “Shared Cinematic Universe” game has been met with one of the most divisive opinion-bases I’ve ever seen from a comic book movie. Some applaud the film’s attempt at building a new generation Superman story without tying itself to the canon and cheese of the older films and animated series. While others view the film as a disaster, an unnecessarily dark and brooding take on Superman’s origins with too many creative liberties taken, with many ranking the film on the same level of bad as Green Lantern, Superman Returns, and Superman IV: The Quest For Peace. (seriously, even as a Superman fan, I’m starting to see an unfortunate trend here)

So, with that debatable of a movie behind everyone, it’s only natural to notice much of the hype and criticism toward its sequel, which began as a simple Man of Steel 2 and either intentionally or unintentionally transformed itself into a Justice League prequel. Look anywhere on the internet, and you’ll find both a ton of hype and a ton of negativity toward director Zack Snyder’s next venture. Between the sheer amount of characters that will be appearing in this movie (which has been predicted to clock in at around two and a half hours according to reports from scriptreaders) and some seriously questionable casting choices that have turned many away from the project, it’s reasonable to see, even from my standpoint as a fan of Man of Steel, that the future of Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice, and very well the entire DC Cinematic Universe is going to be called into question.

While Man of Steel had a modest success of around $600 million, it was far from the runaway success that Christopher Nolan’s Dark Knight trilogy had become, and even moreso underneath Marvel Studios’ genre-defining movies, it’s easy to see why DC may have forced Snyder’s hand to jump start Justice League even sooner than intended, as well as bring in Oscar winner Chris Terrio in to completely rewrite the script that was originally written by Man of Steel scribe David S. Goyer. When the most all-time iconic superhero is dethroned at the box office by a character that only appeals to Americans and a movie primarily featuring a talking tree and racoon, DC knew they had to make changes if they wanted their DCCU to get even close to the success that Marvel Studios is experiencing.

Now, before I go any further on the topic I’m trying to make, I am in  no way trying to state the Batman v Superman is doomed, or not once have I ever thought that Man of Steel’s issues were beyond saving and that BvS is a guaranteed flop. However, given the huge debate about Man of Steel and its effect on the DCCU, I think it’s worth pointing out that a flop is not entirely out of the realm of possibility, especially given the films’ release to another movie that’s actually starting to get even more positive buzz than BvS, and that’s Warcraft. However, as I have said in other blogs, if BvS ends up a bad movie, I will be one of the first people even saying so. 

The First Trailer Will Be the End-all/Be-all for BvS:

First off, one of the first topics of conversation that comes with Batman v Superman is the fact that we’re hitting almost a year out and we have yet to see even a small glimmer of a trailer. We saw our first look at Star Wars at a longer time out than we’re currently at for BvS, and we’ve already gotten a full minute teaser. This leads many to believe WB and DC are hiding the film for whatever reasons, some believe they’re waiting for the most opportune moment, others think that there’s some serious issues with the film and that WB wants to hold off on showing those issues for just that reason. I feel the reason is even more complicated than either one of those. Given the huge rift in the comic fan world over Man of Steel, WB and DC both know that they need to have a big, kick-ass trailer ready for when they finally decide to peel the curtain back on BvS. Given the mass controversy surrounding the film, they don’t just need a good trailer, they need one so good that it leaves Man of Steel fans with their jaws on the floor while winning back those who were either less-than-entertained or outright hated MoS.

That’s why I feel they haven’t shown that all too anticipated trailer yet, they’re waiting until they have a good enough one to show off. It’s not like Star Wars, which could survive on a bad trailer. Even Avengers: Age of Ultron could easily recover from a bad trailer should we get another one closer to release, given not only the largely positive reaction to the first trailers, but the history of successes that Marvel’s already had. First impressions mean a lot, and to a fanbase already split almost 70/30 from what I’ve seen (70 against, 30 liked) then BvS’ success will potentially be measured by that first trailer. If the trailer is bad, it’s going to instantly turn away both people on the fence and haters of MoS, and at that point, WB and DC should start packing their bags and preparing for yet another reboot. With a ton of attention the 2016 movie season is already expecting, there will be little room, if any for a movie making MoS’ profit margin. WB needs BvS to be big, I’d even guess internally they’re already expecting at least $1 billion. If BvS underperforms expectations the way MoS did, it’s very possible that WB/DC will consider the movie a flop, and at that point, it’s time to start questioning what to do next.

What Will Most Likely Happen:

If, and it’s still an if at this point, BvS is deemed either a commercial or critical failure, WB will most likely recut Suicide Squad later that summer, removing any potential Batfleck scenes or anything relating to BvS, and using it as a soft reboot of the DCCU. The other option will be to leave Suicide Squad as-is, yet relieving all of its stars from their contracts as soon as Suicide Squad wraps. Either way, chances are we’re going to see DCCU rebooted if BvS fails to live up to expectations. I see very little chance of them allowing Snyder a third chance should that movie also fail to meet expectations, giving Snyder an unprecedented four directing jobs straight failing to meet expectations. It’s possible, but should BvS not succeed financially for WB/DC, then Snyder’s days at DC would be numbered(and also would make many fans happy to see Snyder removed from power) However, this creates its own share of issues. I’m not sure the general public would quite be ready for yet another Batman reboot, a third one in recent memory. Looking at the responses to Sony’s plans for yet another Spider-Man reboot, I’d feel another Batman after Affleck would just be met with groaning this soon.

One Possible, Overlooked Route:

This one is kind of left-center field. But It’s one I personally feel DC and WB should consider. What if, and we’re playing devil’s advocate here, DC concedes the cinematic universe and exits the game entirely. Should BvS fail, chances are Captain America: Civil War will far outgross it in the box office(which may end up happening regardless even if BvS becomes a success) and, at that point, DC will have to cut their losses and retreat, giving the cinemas to Marvel’s mass dominance. However, this doesn’t mean DC will be out of the live-action game definitively. They have a huge following and success story themselves in the TV market, one that Marvel has been struggling with the past couple years, just now reaching the point where their TV shows are catching on to mass markets. Maybe, just maybe, DC notices the market there and does something on television they’ve been against for years. Keep using shows like Flash, Arrow, Supergirl, Titans, and others to build a massive universe(or even multiverse!?), but begin building the universe more. For major characters like Batman, Superman, and Wonder Woman, surely the cost of multiple 22-episode seasons would end up being too costly for DC. But for the major players, DC could easily use characters like Batman and Superman and give them small, 8-episode miniseries, mega events. Thus create a huge universe, and then one summer…boom, a 7 part, mass cross network media Justice League event. A television event of that scale has never even been attempted before, and it’s DC’s up for the taking.

But What if Batman v Superman Succeeds?

But to keep a positive angle, there’s still a chance Zack Snyder, Chris Terrio and the production staff could pull the movie off. I myself was having my fair share of negativity surrounding the movie, considering my own questions about if actors such as Ben Affleck and Gal Gadot could pull off the monumental roles they’ve been assigned to taking on, but the last few months have released info that have itself increased my interest, from reports that Chris Terrio’s script was written to single-handedly fix many of MoS’s complaints, to also having streamlined the movie into a much more manageable storyline, reducing many of Goyer’s characters to cameos while focusing the majority of the film on the formation of the DC Trinity and lead-ins for Justice League. I myselfwant the movie to succeed, as a fan of both heroes, I’d hate to see their first live-action pairing turn out to be a disaster, but I will not be surprised if this movie becomes bigger than Snyder can handle. Those, among others have lead me to believe that Batman v Superman may not only become a great movie in its own right, but could change much of the negativity you see surrounding the DCCU as a whole. While there’s still a chance the movie could end up a disappointment, and I’m still thinking it’s best to prepare for that very possibility, I think it’s also worth staying hopeful, either way we’ll know in March 2016 what DC’s next move should be.

What I Want From The New MCU-Based Spider-Man Movies

It finally happened. Last night, as I was preparing to go to bed, I was immediately bomabarded on all different social media sites, that it had happened after months of rumors. Spider-Man was joining the Marvel Cinematic Universe. While not fully reverted back to Marvel studios, many fans around the world immediately rejoiced, as years of wishing and hoping came true. But there’s still several unknowns. Who will be donning the mask for the MCU-based installments? Besides producers, who will we see directing Spider-Man’s reboot of the reboot? And will Marvel’s influence help the struggling franchise while it stays under Sony’s control? While there’s still many unknowns, I think it’s better to think about what I, as a fan, would want to see at Spider-Man’s big screen return while we await more news from Marvel (with Civil War beginning filming in only 2 months, I’d say we’ll get new Spidey info really soon)

A Fresh Start

While Andrew Garfield’s performance as Peter Parker was one of the better aspects of the two ill-fated Amazing Spider-Man movies, if we’re looking at a film that’s going to join the Avengers on screen, I feel it’s best to get as far away from the Amazing Spider-Man universe as possible, and that means a fresh start is in order. Let a new Peter Parker (or possibly even diversify the Avengers lineup a bit and throw Miles Morales in there) take over, create a new story in which Spider-Man has existed, possibly in secret, during the events of the Avengers and the rest of phase 2, and begin to build a brand new rogue’s gallery for Parker that will also be able to interact with the Avengers. When introducing Marvel’s arguably best character into one of cinema’s arguably biggest franchises, maybe it’s best to give this new Spidey the best chance he can.

Skip the Origin

After two entire movies of reliving Spider-Man’s origin, we really don’t need a third. While I’m sure we’ll be treated to a flashback or two of Uncle Ben’s death in the 2017 reboot, that’s about all that’s needed. Audiences know about it by now, we don’t need another 20 minutes of awkward high school geek being picked on scenes, followed by Peter clumsily adapting to his new abilities, followed by Uncle Ben’s demise and Peter Parker’s endless tears. We get it by now, it’s the same debate on why I feel we really don’t need to see Bruce Wayne’s parents getting shot again (I know we’re going to, but it’s unnecessary) Introducing a Spider-Man that’s already been in the game for a few years, could really help skip the boring origin part and focus more on Spider-man’s relationships and the growing of the rogues’ gallery.

Take Full Advantage Of The MCU

Finally…we know that Spider-Man will be getting suited up for Captain America: Civil War, and that will be awesome. But what good is it to just have Spider-Man in the MCU movies if it can’t go both ways? For Spider-Man to fully become enveloped in the MCU, I think it’ll be best to bring some of the big characters over to Sony’s movies as well (part of the press release seemed to hint just that was possible) Maybe not A-listers like Captain America or Iron Man, but possibly getting Nick Fury, Maria Hill, or some of Marvel Studios’ back catolog in the movies could prove a positive increase in synergy between Sony’s and Marvel’s respective movies.

So there are my thoughts about what I want to see when Spider-Man makes his triumphant introduction into the Marvel Cinematic Universe. What are your thoughts? Anything else you’d like to see? Let me know in the comments and as always, on Twitter @Chadshreeves!

The Reboot/Sequel and the Perceived Lack Of Originality

The past several years, Hollywood has seemingly gotten worse about original ideas. It seems every few weeks we hear about another classic franchise that’s either getting a new sequel or being rebooted. Just in the past month alone, new talk came out about two iconic franchises returning to theaters in the near future. Both were met with overwhelmingly negative responses, with people feeling that these franchises do not need to be rebooted, much less in the direction the studios are planning to go with the reboots. One of the most common phrases I’d seen during the outrage has been “It’s official, Hollywood is completely out of ideas.”

But hasn’t that always been the case? Very, very rarely are we treated to great, original material. Look at some of the top grossing movies of all time.Almost all of them are unoriginal, with movies like Avengers, Dark Knight, and more being off of comics, Jurassic Park, Gone with the Wind, and Apocalypse Now were all pulled out of books. Even films that have perceived originality such as James Cameron’s Avatar and Titanic were just pulled out of cliches from other movies and featured little “new” ideas. But there are a few reasons about why that is.

One of the first reasons why that is, is finances. With many movies now costing $100 million or more to create, most studios will make sure that they have a good chance of making that money back. And it’s just a natural fact that a bad licensed movie will at least make its budget back. Even The Amazing Spider-Man 2, which was a failure in the eyes of critics and fans alike, still managed to make almost $700 million. An original idea is a huge risk. Some of the biggest failures of the past years have been from Hollywood’s attempts to create new and original ideas. Add that on top of the financial state of the film industry requiring almost everything to be franchised in order to be considered successful (A recent report I read on screenwriting stated just that, studios aren’t interested in single movies anymore, they typically don’t even pick anything up unless it’s easily approachable for at least three movies)

Another is media presence. Sure, there are a few original movies floating around Hollywood, but they don’t get any hype at all. The few original movies floating around don’t hold a candle to any time Ghostbusters, Indiana Jones, and any Marvel or DC property is brought up. Even films like Fantastic Four’s reboot, which have had 99% negativity surrounding them to this point, get a ton of internet clicks as soon as it’s brought up. It would take an incredible trailer of an original movie to get even close to the amount of views something like Fantastic Four has, let alone large scale trailers like Avengers: Age of Ultron or the inevitable Batman v Superman trailer. And this huge media presence almost always leads to higher box office returns.

And a third, and obvious reason, is because studios can. Personally, I’m in the boat that I don’t even want another Indiana Jones movies, the original trilogy is just about perfect as is. But since Disney says we HAVE to have another one, I can’t think of any better actor to take on the iconic fedora than Chris Pratt. I’m actually intrigued by the notion of Universal going in a different direction with Ghostbusters, instead of just casting some guys trying to impersonate Bill Murray and Dan Akroyd.

And finally, because the fans demand it. As one of the best articles I’d ever read on this subject stated: “Originality is dead, and we [the fans] are the ones who killed it.” Any time a studio does try something new, the internet immediately retalitates at the studio with a ton of “Why can’t we get a sequel to X, or a new entry in Y?” A sentiment that’s also felt all too often in the video games industry. So, as much as we can complain about the constant sequel and remake trend, we need to acknowledge that we’re part of the problem as well (even I find myself doing it often as well).

Actors/Actresses Who Deserve Roles In Comic Book Movies

Nowadays it seems like almost every A-List star has been lining up to be a part of the superhero genre phenomenon. From fan-casting debates about who should play which character, to actors themselves such as Kristen Stewart and Tyrese Gibson personally campaigning to join the massive cinematic universes. But through all the conversations about who (and sometimes, who shouldn’t), some people slip through the cracks although they deserve a shot at the Marvel and DC Cinematic Universes, as well as a couple that are typically at the top of everyone’s lists when talking about comic book movies.

Nathon Fillion

Probably the number one name that will repeatedly come up if you ask about who deserves to play a leading role in one of Marvel or DC’s upcoming film slates. And for good reason, Fillion has proven that he can do comedic and serious roles, action and drama, and a little bit of everything in between. Add that with his general knowledge about the industry and geek credo, and we’ve got one of the most demanded cast choices in the world, and it’s probably only a matter of time before Marvel and DC jump the gun and bring him in.

Kristen Bell

Another actress that has the acting range to pull off just about any role Marvel or DC could call her for. As someone who has both experience in both comedy and drama, as well as action under her belt, Kristen would make a great addition to both cinematic universes and could help infuse the worlds with a much needed female presence. By bringing her along and giving her the chance, I believe she could end up just as great a fan icon as Scarlett Johannsen as Black Widow.

John Hannah

While nobody would have thought about bringing Hannah on board following his “goofy brother” roles in the Mummy movies, the actor really came into his own with roles such as Spartacus. That role in particular makes me think Hannah could really become a great addition to the cinematic universes as a villain, potentially in a role such as a mob leader or such.

Hayden Christensen

Just kidding, nobody wants to see him almost ruin another franchise.

Bryan Cranston

Another big villain role, Cranston is another that, like Fillion, comes up in almost any movie casting discussion. As one of the best actors of our generation, with creating memorable roles in Breaking Bad among other movie and television roles, Cranston often comes up as a big player for recommendations, and I’d suspect that, just like Nathan Fillion, it’s inevitable before we see Marvel or DC jumping to cast him in a super hero movie.

So there’s my top picks, for now, and will probably add more to this blog post as I think of them. Have any suggestions? Sound off below or let me know on Twitter!

My Honest Reactions To The Fantastic Four Trailer

Today 20th Century Fox finally pulled back the curtain on their controversial Fantastic Four Reboot, a few days before its original schedule of releasing the trailer on Friday. Many people around the world finally got their first look at Josh Trank’s newest movie since the critical and commercial success of Chronicle. Now that we’ve finally gotten our first look in the small, two minute trailer, many have given their own opinions of the small, 2 minute teaser.

Now that I’ve watched the trailer a second time to prepare for today’s blog post, I have decided to give my own personal impressions of the trailer. First off, the basic idea of the trailer I was impressed with. With months of so much negativity behind it, it was good to see a decent quality teaser with full (pretty cool looking too) special effects and preparation for its August release. There’s a chance we’ll see more next week or even on Sunday with the Super Bowl, but I’ve noticed things that give me a small glimmer of hope that wasn’t there before.

I think the best thing to approach the trailer with is a dose of cautious optimism. The trailer was of a decent quality, and I felt that it was greatly improved over the impression much of the news we’d heard over the past few months. Although many of the more controversial aspects of the movie were certainly omitted from the teaser (we still haven’t gotten a look at Doctor Doom yet, hopefully the next trailer will fix that) but the special effects for Johnny Storm and Thing were spectacular.

The reason why I’m kind of optimistic, but still skeptical about the movie. First was, as I said above, the most controversial aspect of the movie, Doctor Doom, was left absent. So we don’t know if the reports of Doom being an anti-social blogger with the username Doom and not the ruler of Latveria we know him, we don’t know what exactly Trank is planning for the major antagonist of the film. As for the controversial casting of Johnny Storm as an African-American, it looks like he’ll do the part justice. So many movies are mixed race now and it’s definitely something to consider when adapting a comic that originally took place in the 50s.

So there’s still some questions to be answered about whether or not we’ll be getting a good movie or not when this releases in August, and I do believe some of the blowback is either blown out of proportion or people wanting the movie to fail for the sole purpose of Marvel Studios buying the rights back. Either way, we’ll find out soon if the rumored Super Bowl trailer and extended trailers release in the next couple weeks once it debuts with Kingsman: The Secret Service.

Why Are We So Quick To Listen to Rumors?

These days, it seems pretty much every day we’re hearing a new “leak” or rumor about some of our most anticipated projects. We’re constantly hearing about rumored topics for games such as Uncharted 4 and Kingdom Hearts 3, and with movies such as Batman v Superman and the Fantastic 4 reboot. The nature of the internet has helped to spread these rumors all over the place, since pretty much any person with a blog such as this can make easily fabricated, unsubstantiated claims that they know someone who has “read the script” if they’re not flat out saying they’ve seen the product in question itself.

And, just as recent events the past few weeks have shown, it’s not hard for someone with an elementary education on Adobe Creative Suite to create realistic looking trailer/promotional images, and the internet begins spreading these pictures all over, to the point even major media outlets begin reporting on it. While it’s been fun to speculate, I’ve even tackled some of these said rumors right here on this blog, it’s also there for the reason that so many projects have so many conflicting reports. Some websites are reporting that the major villain of Batman v Superman will be Doomsday, while others are reporting that it will be Brainiac as the major climactic battle of the film. Reports from one voice actor seem to confirm that we’ll have Kingdom Hearts 3 this year, which nobody (rightfully so) believed was actually the case.

But here’s the question, why are we so quick to jump on these rumors? Some of which seem so out there that nobody realistically even picks up. My personal, single handed reason for why these rumors and “leaks” get picked up so quickly is that they’re so anticipated, and with projects such as Kingdom Hearts 3 being so secretive we jump on any small tidbit of info that’s released and try to gather any kind of message we can from them. And sometimes, as is often the case sometimes, a producer or developer gives their personal opinion or desire for the franchise, and it’s taken as an absolute fact and reported all over the place. For example, Kingdom Hearts producer did an interview last year stating his personal desire to add a world based on Frozen into Kingdom Hearts 3, and multiple outlets picked up the interview as a “confirmation” that Frozen would be a world in the highly anticipated game.

The main advice I can give is to take any rumor, no matter if it’s somebody’s blog or a major news site like IGN, with a grain of salt. Unless it officially comes at a convention or public message from the people who are specifically attached to the project, it may be best to take even reports from major media outlets, who sometimes get information wrong in the rush to get information out before their competitors, as rumor and speculation unless there’s reason to suspect otherwise. Although, there is still much to speculate about until we see that official information, and it’s fun to think about what may be while we wait for those all-too-anticipated trailers.

Four Most Wanted Movie (and One Game) Super Bowl Ads

So it’s almost here, Super Bowl Sunday is only two weeks away. As usual, many companies take spend millions to get their products out in front of the most watched event in television. As might be expected, the Super Bowl is also the time where we typically end up seeing some of the year’s most anticipated blockbusters, either for the first time or a brand new look at them. The past few years, even some video game companies have shelled out the big bucks to get their products on the big screen. So, with only two weeks to go, I’ve compiled a list of the top five commercials I hope to see. Nothing’s official, and it’s possible we won’t see anything from any of these, but in the meantime, it’s great to think about the things we could possibly see on February 1.

Avengers: Age of Ultron

This one seems pretty much a given. With Joss Whedon’s superhero sequel only 87 days away from the Super Bowl, Marvel will begin pulling out the advertising stops even more than they already have. With still many unanswered questions before its May 1 release, it’s very possible Marvel Studios will use the SB as the springboard for their media blitz leading up until then.

Star Wars: The Force Awakens

With 11 months still to go before we finally get to see the galaxy far, far away return to theaters, Disney and Lucasfilm may not be ready yet to fully pull back the curtain for the Super Bowl. However, if we are going to get any new footage between now and its confirmed debut between Age of Ultron, the Super Bowl seems the most likely. Will we see some expanded footage on many of the mysteries that the first teaser released, or potentially our first glimpse at an older Han, Luke, and Leia? Disney and J.J. Abrams may be ready to give us another look sooner than we think.

Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice

With a whopping 13 months from the Super Bowl to go before we finally get this movie in theaters, this could seem like a longshot to pay upwards of $5 million to simply run a commercial. But, given that it’s the same timeframe we got our first look at Force Awakens last November, it’s possible. I still believe at this point getting a small, well put together teaser for 2016’s massively anticipated movie would be the single best way to alleviate many of the fears fans around the internet have about the project, and also begin building the hype train toward March 2016. While it feels a little too soon, and goes completely against rumors of the teaser already completed and prepared to debut alongside Jupiter Ascending (which would be much cheaper on Warner Bros. part to distribute), it could very well be possible WB could pull out the stops and give us our first glimpse of Batman and Superman locked in combat during the Super Bowl. (Possibly, even with the tagline “See more during Jupiter Ascending, opening this Friday”)

Tomorrowland

Another of Disney’s movies that they have been incredibly secretive about, this Brad Bird directed effort has the potential to be this generation’s Pirates of the Caribbean. What little we have seen of the movie seems promising, but it hasn’t been enough to stop fans from wanting more about this project. With the movie debuting only a couple weeks after Age of Ultron, it’s just about time Disney begins pulling the curtain back, if ever so slightly. If there would be any time within the next month that Disney could get this movie out in front of audiences, it’s going to be the Super Bowl. Should we see more of Tomrrowland during the game, it’s possible Disney could be saving the biggest revelations for later, so a movie this secretive could still be a teaser of sorts.

Final Fantasy XV

Now for something completely out of left field. There is a chance, if only a very, very, VERY small one, that Square Enix could pull the gloves off and give probably their biggest audience ever a glimpse into their most anticipated game in years. SE has become more vocal the past few months about the game, slowly beginning to pick up their advertising and promotion of what we can expect when the game finally releases. Also, if this game is indeed going to be in our PS4s and Xbox Ones before the end of the year, the Super Bowl could be the absolute perfect opportunity to give us an official release window, whether its a fall 2015 or Spring 2016. Again, I feel the chances of it actually happening are very, very slim, but if any majorly anticipated game is going to appear (considering other blockbusters such as Call of Duty and Assassin’s Creed won’t be revealed until later in the year) I feel that Final Fantasy XV would be it.

So there you have it, the five things I wish to see most at this year’s Super Bowl 49. Agree? Disagree? Anything else you want to see during the big game? Let me know in the comments below!

The Top 5 Best Movie-Inspired Theme Park Rides

The past few months I’ve focused on which of our favorite video games should be turned into theme park rides, while also flushing out a vision of the future for an entire theme park based around those properties. That said, being a fan of theme parks in general, the film industry has been given a ton of love in the theme park world. From my travels, there are five rides that particularly stand out, coming to the forefront of blending cinema and attraction, and creating some of the most incredible and immersive experiences in the theme park world. Click the “See it Here” button to get a full on-ride POV video of the ride.

5.) Splash Mountain (Multiple Disney Parks)

See it Here

One of Walt Disney’s easily most controversial movies in his entire collection, Song of the South was adapted into the theme park world as a defining attraction when Disneyland opened. While the ride itself focused more on the less controversial aspects of the film, mainly adapting the animated Brer Rabbit sections instead of the controversial slavery and Uncle Remus stories, the ride features mild thrills but big fun. With a steadily climbing hill that leads to a big finale, Splash Mountain has cemented itself as one of the best “fun for the whole family” attractions in the world.

4.) Transformers: The Ride 3D (Universal Studios Hollywood/Orlando)

See It Here

In a partnership with Michael Bay, Universal attempted to capitalize on the success of Paramounts’ Robot franchise by introducing their own attraction. What’s interesting was that in the end, Universal actually managed to tell a better story in four and a half minutes than Michael Bay managed to tell in four movies. With a two-story show building that manages to integrate large 4K quality 3D screens with practical and visual effects, Transformers the Ride manages to throw you straight into the Transformers movies, with an incredible backdrop and combat sequences to boot.

3.) The Simpsons Ride (Universal Studios Orlando)

See It Here

In 2008, when Matt Groening finally gave fans what they they had wanted and delivered us the excellent adaptation of his wildly popular and long-running series The Simpsons Movie, it would have been enough to just stop there for Simpsons-mania. But the brilliance of Groening’s yellow world didn’t stop there. When Homer Simpson and family journey to “Krustyland” on vacation, riders were brought along for a hilarious motion simulator ride. With all of the show’s cast reprising their roles and many of the jokes going right in toe with the show’s brilliance. And the ride itself is pretty good too, which works very well in conjunction with the movie being played.

2.) The Twilight Zone: Tower of Terror (Multiple Disney Parks)

See It Here

Disney and Twilight Zone definitely seem like two things that don’t necessarily go together at all. When Disney’s Hollywood Studios was being built, the park’s headline attraction being one based upon the popular television show which itself had spun off into a movie. Entering the large, spooky Hollywood Hotel and journeying down into the boiler room, the sense of dread fills as you enter and strap yourself into the large elevator vehicle. One of the coolest things about the Tower of Terror isn’t its drop tower style gravity drop, but the fact that the entire ride is randomized. From the images that appear while you’re riding through the elevator shaft to the actual number of drops and even the height of how much it will drop you is completely randomized. The ride itself is a huge thrill, so much so that many people have it either on or near the top of their all-time favorite theme park attractions lists.

1.) Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey (Universal Studios Orlando)

See It Here

The birthplace of the Wizarding World of Harry Potter park may be in Orlando, but the attraction has proved so popular it’s expanding to Hollywood and Tokyo as well. The Forbidden Journey is an incredible experience from start to finish. From its queue line that leads into an incredibly lifelike recreation of Hogwarts castle to the ride itself, which features you being strapped into a side-loading cart and lifted into the air along a coaster-like track. Part roller coaster, part motion simulator, Forbidden Journey takes all the parts that make rides like Simpsons and Transformers great and cranks those up to 11. With some of the best combination of movie projections and practical sets, Forbidden Journey was the ride that raised the theme park bar. Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey is not just the single greatest movie based theme park ride, it’s one of the best theme park attractions period.

Why The LEGO Movie Is One Of The Greatest Animated Movies Of All Time

Waking up this morning to find out that one movie I thought was a shoe-in for the Best Animated Movie category, The LEGO Movie, was a surprise, as apparently it was to many others. The fact the Academy chose to omit one of the great masterpieces from 2014 from their list seemed unreachable for the level of acclaim the movie had met, not to mention its success in the DVD and Blu Ray department. Now, I’m not going to even try to explain or rationalize the Academy’s decision, as I feel it’s a huge oversight on their part. However, given the opportunity, I’ve decided instead to explain why I feel The LEGO Movie is one of the greatest animated feats ever created.

First off, as I’ve stated in the title, after seeing The LEGO movie, I couldn’t help but feel that it was one of the finest animated efforts ever created, right up there with Disney’s Golden Age. No movie has evoked that much heart, humor, action, and emotion into a single movies since Toy Story 3, and that’s saying a lot. In the multiple times I’ve watched it, I have been able to see many of the reasons why I love the movie, and even more reasons to watch it again.

The Animation Style Worked Perfectly With The Movie

Much has been made of Lego’s near realistic animation style, with many people standing on the fence one way or the other. My feelings about it? You really couldn’t make a Lego movie any other way. The blend between stop motion and CGI worked perfectly and helped directors Lord and Miller realize a completely Lego-ized world. Even better than anyone could have anticipated. With its’ near lifelike sets to Lego-ized emotions on characters faces, everything fit together perfectly for this movie.

Nostalgia, Nostalgia, Nostalgia

As the movie was a nod to many of our childhoods, this should come as no surprise. Nostalgia is a powerful feeling, and when a movie does a great job at bringing back those feelings of being a child again, it becomes an incredible effort. The LEGO Movie did an amazing job at creating its own world and universe, compelling story, and good characters, while still managing to utilize small nods to many of our childhoods from the early playsets of the 80s and 90s, to the cameos from characters such as Milhouse and the Ninja Turtles, it was one movie that just tugged at your nostalgic heartstrings every step of the way.

A Wonderful, Heartwarming Message

The ending was again very debated among movie goers for weeks following the release, but it’s one that I felt brought the entire film full circle and brought it up to the same ranks of The Lion King and Aladdin. The finale, which involved a live action Will Ferrel, a Lego collector who loves building things according to the instructions, come to terms with his son’s desire to build with his imagination, covered both of the reasons why many build with Legos to this day. The acting was real(quite possible some of the best of Ferrel’s career) and just gave the movie the satisfying conclusion it needed, creating one of the most heartwarming and truly genuine family films for the whole generation.

I could continue, speaking about how well Lego’s humor and dialog helped to complement an already great story, but I’ll leave it here. Let me know what you think below and as always, you can continue the conversation on Twitter @chadshreeves or on WordPress at raazachunterthenerd.wordpress.com

Superhero Awards Picks

With the Golden Globes starting tonight, it’s time that awards season finally kicks into full gear. For many, these awards end up being a time for celebrating the artistic, the top-of-the-line television shows and movies. But sometimes certain movies and genres seem to be snubbed altogether. Between big name movies like Captain America: The Winter Soldier and Guardians of the Galaxy, 2014 was huge for genre movies. And the television front blew everyone away, with strong showings from both Arrow Flash, Constantine, Agents of SHIELD, and others. So, while we can fully expect these shows to be absent from the Emmys and the two big Marvel movies absent from the Oscars, it’s fun to think about what awards these should have won had they been recognized for the greatness they are.

NOTE: Because the show did not premiere until 2015, I have left Agent Carter off this list.

TELEVISION

Best Television Show

Arrow (CW)- As a show that has hit enough strides the past year in this past year. From the vast improvements in acting, set design, writing, and fight choreography, Arrow has simply improved itself this last year, and thus easily makes its presence as the best television show of 2014. From the climactic battle for Starling City at the end of season 2 to the emotional deaths of Moira Queen, Sara Lance, and even Oliver Queen himself, Arrow continued to shock, excited, and bring tears as 2014 concluded.

Best Actor in a Drama Series

Stephen Amell (Arrow)- On his third season as the lead of CW’s hit show, Stephen Amell has continued to grow in both his comfort of the character and in his own personal acting ability. The more the series has continued, the more Amell’s acting has continued to grow, to the point where he’s much deserving of an award for his talent.

Best Supporting Actor in a Drama Series

Robin Lord Taylor(Gotham)- Taylor’s portrayal of Penguin in Gotham has widely been considered the single best aspects of the show, and I happen to agree. Taylor’s shockingly detailed performance of Penguin and complicated portrayal of the man we will know as a future mob kingpin came off well in Fox’s dark, twisting Batman prequel.

Best Actress in a Drama Series 

Chloe Bennet(Marvel’s Agent’s of SHIELD)- In the first half of season one, Chloe Bennet’s Skye was a shallow, boring character that had little depth. By the time the post- Captain America: The Winter Soldier episodes aired, Skye was greatly improved, and as the show did, so too did Bennet’s acting ability. As season 2 began, and Skye took central focus of the series, Bennet showed off even more and became one of the single best actresses on television.

Best Supporting Actress in a Drama Series

Caity Lotz(Arrow)- As Caity Lotz took the stage in season 2 of Arrow as Sara Lance/Black Canary, expectations were high for a series that already had tons of critical acclaim. And Lotz performed perfectly. From her dramatic moments to big action-packed finale to the season 3 premiere where she met her end. Lotz will be remembered well for her portrayal of the Canary, one that makes Katie Cassidy’s Laurel Lance have a lot to match up to.

Best Script

The Writing on the Wall (Marvel’s Agents of SHIELD)- Season 2 of SHIELD started out with a huge bang, and continued to improve as time goes on. But the show has yet to match up to its single best episode. A Coulson-centered episode that dealt with the madness of the serum and the search for the obelisk. Great drama, humor, and some major, game-changing prospects for the season were all included in this very, very well written episode.

Best Choreography

Arrow/Flash(CW)- I combined the two because they share a cinematography/stunt crew. 2014 was an incredible year for both shows, and it was amazing at how well thought out the fight scenes are, it’s incredible to see just how well each and every episode has been as high-quality as it has in the choreography department. From the one-on-one fights of the massive Arrow vs. Flash episode to massive showdowns such as the battle for Starling City at the end of Arrow season 2, this is one team that knows what they’re doing.

MOVIES

Best Picture:

Captain America: The Winter Soldier- For a while, it had seemed that Marvel was about to fall on their face. Avengers was an incredible movie, but Iron Man 3 and Thor: The Dark World managed to mainly disappoint. The Winter Soldier was a great return to form. Made in the way of a classic James Bond spy thriller, The Winter Soldier ended up one of Marvel’s best attempts. Great performances from Evans, Johannson, and Jackson. Great writing and editing on behalf of the Russo Brothers, and just an overall enjoyable movie. Marvel’s phase 2 was single-handedly redeemed, not just that but we were also treated to the single best movie of the year.

Best Actor:

Chris Evans(Captain America: The Winter Soldier)- Evans’ performance was one of the best features of Captain America: The First Avenger. By the time we got to see him in The Winter Soldier, Evans had fully grown into the role, creating a performance that showed off much more than the character’s muscles. Evans not only performed one of the best performances of the year with his great portrayal of the titular character, but the fact he helped carry the incredible movie that was The Winter Soldier even further helped to endorse that fact.

Best Actress:

Jennifer Lawrence(X-Men: Days of Future Past)- Lawrence is one of the hottest stars out there right now, and her role as the conflicted Mystique in this summer’s X-Men blocbuster proved why. As Lawrence portrayed Mystique’s ambition and conflict flawlessly, and as the movie continued Lawrence’s acting ability managed to shine even more.

Best Screenplay:

Guardians of the Galaxy- This was one movie that simply shouldn’t have worked, but somehow found a way to. James Gunn’s brilliant and hilarious script revolving around 5 outcasts banding together to stop a massive threat seemed cheesy, but what ended up as one of the single most enjoyable movies of the year. As time goes on, it’s become increasingly clear at just how this ended up the number 1 box office draw in 2014, let alone the single most popular movie in the world throughout the year.

So what are your picks? Let me know, and be sure to follow more blogs to come in the future and on twitter @chadshreeves!