15 Movies for 2015

Avengers: Age of Ultron courtesy Marvel
Avengers: Age of Ultron courtesy Marvel

Super sequels, legendary returns and ambitious reboots are among the comic book and sci-fi genre films coming next year.

Here are out top 15 movies we’re most excited to see in 2015:

Crimson Peak Guillermo del Toro (Hellboy, Pan’s Labyrinth, Pacific Rim) delivers old school terror starring Tom Hiddleston and Jessica Chastain. A husband who’s not who he seems, an old mansion and a tormented wife in this gothic chiller by a modern horror master. October 16.

Ex Machina Boy programmer (Dohmhall Gleason) meets sexy A.I. girl (Alicia Vikander) in this sci-fi thriller directed by Alex Garland – the writer who gave us The Beach (the novel) 28 Days Later, Dredd, Sunshine – the scripts. Continue reading 15 Movies for 2015

14 Geek Wishes Movies & Television 2014 Revisited

X-Men #183 courtesy Marvel
X-Men #183 courtesy Marvel

2014 was geektastic year for comic book and sci-fi fans with Marvel movies, a new Doctor Who and Godzilla’s comeback!

 

Here’s what I hope to see or announced in 2014 – and here’s what actually happened.

 

1. All New Cast for X-Men: Apocalypse!

Bryan Singer revealed he’s on board for 2016 film set to star the First Class cast. After the time twisting elements of X-Men: Days of Future Past – it’s a perfect opportunity for Professor Xavier (James McAvoy) to start over and discover a young Cyclops, Jean, Storm and even the impossible task of recasting a wild loner named Logan!  (UPDATE: The new film will be set in the 1980’s and feature new actors in younger versions of Scott Summers, Jean Grey and Storm. Oscar Isaac has been cast as Apocalypse.) Continue reading 14 Geek Wishes Movies & Television 2014 Revisited

JAMES BOND GIRLS The French Connection II

courtesy EON Productions, MGM, Sony
courtesy EON Productions, MGM, Sony

The tradition of French actresses becoming Bond girls continues in SPECTRE – the 24th 007 film.

Producers revealed Lea Seydoux will play Madeline Swann opposite Daniel Craig – back as Bond for the fourth time.

Berenice Marlohe played Severine in the Skyfall.

Claudine Auger was Domino with Sean Connery  in Thunderball.

Carole Bouquet was Melina Havelock in For Your Eyes Only starring Roger Moore

Sophie Marceau was Elektra King in The World Is Not Enough starring Pierce Brosnan.

This marks 3 French actresses for Craig: Eva Green was Vesper in Casino Royale, Marlohe in Skyfall and now Seydoux in SPECTRE. Continue reading JAMES BOND GIRLS The French Connection II

JAMES BOND in SPECTRE

courtesy EON Productions, MGM, Sony
courtesy EON Productions, MGM, Sony

James Bond will return in Spectre.

EON Productions, MGM and Sony announced the title and cast of the 24th 007 film in the iconic film series. Daniel Craig returns as Bond for fourth time with director Sam Mendes back to direct after the critical and billion dollar success of the last adventure, Skyfall.

The title is a blast from the past. SPECTRE (Special Executive for Counter-Intelligence, Terror Revenge and Extortion) was an evil organization led by Ernst Stavro Blofeld in Ian Fleming’s novels.

The first teaser poster is an homage to the symbol of the ring worn by SPECTRE operatives in the Sean Connery 007 films.

Continue reading JAMES BOND in SPECTRE

JAMES BOND 24 Announcement

James Bond will return in ?

Eon Productions, Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Studios and Sony Pictures will announce the official title and cast of the 24th 007 film in the iconic film series.

Daniel Craig will be back as Bond for fourth time. Skyfall director Sam Mendes is back to direct after the critical and billion dollar success of the last adventure.

You can watch the announcement live steaming from Pinewood Studios in London at 11:00 am London time, 6:00am Eastern Time and 3:00am Pacific Time in the U.S. Watch it here:

The next adventure starts filming on Monday.

We’ll have a wrap up of the big announcement and thoughts on the next 007 adventure later today.

Bond 24 made our list of 14 geek wishes for 2014 – click and see if we called it or missed the mark.

By Editor

BATMAN ETERNAL Preview: SPECTRE, RIDDLER & BLACKFIRE

Batman Eternal #30 courtesy DC Comics
Batman Eternal #30 courtesy DC Comics

Batman Eternal truly offers something for every fan of nearly every member of the Batcast. As the weekly series nears the halfway curve mark the story is taking a supernatural turn.

 

With riots and martial law on the streets of Gotham something sinister is burning down below – Deacon Blackfire.

 

The Dark Knight nearly died the last time Blackfire seized control.

 

Now the nearly immortal cult leader wields the power of The Spectre! Was unleashing The Spectre part of Hush’s endgame? Continue reading BATMAN ETERNAL Preview: SPECTRE, RIDDLER & BLACKFIRE

14 Geek Wishes for 2014 Movies & Television!

X-Men #183 courtesy Marvel
X-Men #183 courtesy Marvel

2014 will be superstar year for comic book and sci-fi fans with Marvel movies, a new Doctor Who, The Walking Dead returns and Godzilla’s comeback!

 

But a geek can dream – here’s what I hope to see or announced in 2014.

 

1. All New Cast for X-Men: Apocalypse!

Bryan Singer revealed he’s on board for 2016 film set to star the First Class cast. After the time twisting elements of X-Men: Days of Future Past – it’s  a perfect opportunity for Professor Xavier (James McAvoy) to start over and discover a young Cyclops, Jean, Storm and even the impossible task of recasting a wild loner named Logan!

 

Wolverine #11 courtesy Marvel
Wolverine #11 courtesy Marvel

2. Hugh Jackman in Wolverine and Kitty Pryde.

I know I’m countering my previous wish but if Hugh Jackman and director James Mangold return for a solo Wolverine movie I hope it’s based in part on this other classic tale by Chris Claremont set in Japan. Ellen Page as Kitty could join Jackman in this supernatural tale of family, honor and demons.

 

3. Daniel Craig returns as James Bond 007 in SPECTRE!

Don’t “Khan” it! Producers have the rights to bring back the classic S.P.E.C.T.R.E. and their sinister leader, Ernst Stavro Blofeld, back to the big screen for the first time since the Sean Connery era! I want to see Craig’s Bond kill and seduced his way up the S.P.E.C.T.R.E. food chain until a final showdown with the bald, bad criminal genius with a fondness for white kitties.

 

4. Fantastic Four teaser in X-Men: Days of Future Past!

I think Fox’s Marvel movie team (including Mark Millar) have a “Fantastic” teaser moment in the post-credits sequence for us! How about Dr. McCoy calling on a young Reed Richards in class or Logan and Ben Grimm sharing a brew?

 

The Massive #1 courtesy Dark Horse Comics
The Massive #1 courtesy Dark Horse Comics

5. The Massive will become a movie or television series!

Brad Pitt as sniper/professional soldier turned conservationist Callum Israel and executive producing a big-screen version of Brian Wood’s epic series of pacifist environmentalists now fighting for survival and searching for their sister ship in a post-apocalyptic world. With Naomi Campbell as Mary, Callum’s tough devoted lover and Dwayne Johnson as Mag, Callum’s fellow soldier turned activist.

 

 

6. Rian Johnson

The director of Looper should be up for any superhero movie he wants! How about Doctor Strange?

 

7. Lex Luthor in Superman vs. Batman!

Enough speculation – let’s have the charming but ruthless genius/C.E.O. manipulate the conflict between the DC titans but in a sequel having him fitted for a Lexcorp Battlesuit!

 

courtesy BBC and Facebook/DoctorWho
courtesy BBC and Facebook/DoctorWho

8. Doctor Who, Agent of ?

 

I’d like to see the Twelfth Doctor (Peter Capaldi) forced to an agent of a greater power. I always enjoyed when the Time Lords forced the Third and Fourth Doctor to go on missions for them. My first Doctor Who arc was Tom Baker on a quest for The Key to Time by the White Guardian. The Time Lords forced Baker’s Who to investigate the Genesis of the Daleks. Capaldi reminds me of Jon Pertwee, who was a UNIT scientific adviser. I liked seeing the anti-authority rebel Doctor sometimes forced to work at the whim of a higher authority.

 

9. Spacey cameos in Guardians of the Galaxy!

The Collector, The Nova Corps and Ronan the Accuser will appear in the big screen adventure based on Marvel’s space faring team. I’m sure if Ronan is a villain then we’ll see the Supreme Intelligence or Yon-Rogg, the Kree officer connected to the transformation of Carol Danvers into Ms. Marvel – now known as Captain Marvel.

 

Spider-Man/Black Cat: The Evil That Men Do #2 courtesy Marvel.com
Spider-Man/Black Cat: The Evil That Men Do #2 courtesy Marvel.com

10. Black Cat in Amazing Spider-Man 2! Sony is spinning spinoffs starring Venom and the Sinister Six but have about Peter Parker’s femme fatale? There are some reports Felicity Jones will play Felicia Hardy – the cat burglar anti-heroine.

11. Misty Knight and Colleen Wing in Daredevil, Luke Cage, Iron Fist, Jessica Jones.

The tough private detectives (Knight Wing Restorations) aka the Daughters of the Dragon are integral players in the world of Murdock, Cage, Rand and Jones. Misty and Danny Rand always made one hot couple.

 

 

12. Steranko in Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.

Stan Lee deserves every cameo he wants but how about giving the legendary Jim Steranko a role in the ABC series or flashback arc that salutes the groundbreaking Steranko era of Nick Fury, Agent of S.H.I.E.L.D.

 

 

13. Fatale The hit horror/crime noir Image series by Ed Brubaker and Sean Phillips would be a smash and (would have to be on HBO, Showtime, Cinemax.) Josephine is cursed and so is every man who falls in love with her as she runs through the decades from demonic forces and killer cults.

 

 

Black Widow and The Winter Soldier from the cover of Captain America and Bucky #624 courtesy Marvel.com
Black Widow and The Winter Soldier from the cover of Captain America and Bucky #624 courtesy Marvel.com

14.  Captain America: The Winter Soldier

This is THE story that made be love Steve Rogers all over again. Ed Brubaker’s epic take on the Star-Spangled Avenger and his resurrected best friend is one of my all-time favorite comic book storylines. I hope this sequel is such a smash that we see a Winter Soldier/Black Widow movie based on Brubaker’s spinoff series.

 

 

There you have it – my 14 geek wishes I hope to see or have announced in 2014. What’s on your wish list? Comment below or join the conversation on Facebook or Twitter @comicsblend and check out our Best of 2013 recaps.

 

By Editor