That makes a total of 8 episodes released as unfinished story reels on the official site, 4 adapted into the Dark Horse comic Darth Maul: Son of Dathomir and 8 more adapted in the upcoming Dark Disciple novel from Del Rey. That's almost an entire season of the show! Added onto the half season worth of Lost Missions that were released on Netflix (and now on Blu-Ray and DVD) that takes us to roughly the middle of what would have been season 7. Since we know that there were plans going through to the end of season 8 let's hope there's plenty more to come from The Clone Wars Legacy.
In the mean time, I'll be watching these. I've been dying to see them since it was announced they'd be screened at Celebration! It really is a great time to be a Star Warsfan!
At least, that's what Twitter told me this morning! I had no idea it even existed! To celebrate why not put on your favourite superhero movie or catch up with the latest episodes of Arrow, Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. or The Flash? If you've not tried it yet then today's the perfect day to watch the masterpiece that is Netflix's Daredevil. Or how about reliving one of the best shows of all time with a couple of episodes of Batman: The Animated Series?
So, who's your favourite superhero? For me it's only ever been this guy;
Superman by Gary Frank
Superman was the first superhero I can remember watching. I can't have been more than a few years old when I first saw the classic Christopher Reeve movies on TV. That first helicopter rescue and John Williams' classic theme were seared into my brain from that moment on. Sure the films themselves don't stand up as well today, but Christopher Reeve's performance remains timeless. He didn't just play the part, he was Superman. He always will be. And to this day I can't hear that iconic music without it bringing a grin of pure childhood joy to my face.
Superman was my gateway to comics. I used to watch Lois and Clark: The New Adventures of Superman and the children's TV show Blue Peter did a feature on the upcoming wedding episode where they mentioned that Lois and Clark were getting married in the comics at the same time. Well, that blew my childhood mind. Superman had comic books?! In the UK we got TheBeano and The Dandy, super hero comics weren't in any newsagents I'd ever seen. So my mother helped me find a local comic book store and the rest is history!
But I don't love Superman just because he was my first superhero or because he got me into comics. I love him because of what he inspires me to be. Better.
In Smallville's finale, before finally taking to the skies as Superman, Clark tells Darkseid "it may be easier to hate, but it's stronger to love." Is the line a little cheesy? Maybe, but it's also true and it struck me as something Superman would say. And it's a message that the world needs now more than ever. Superman doesn't need to be "grim and gritty" or "dark" or "realistic" or whatever's considered cool right now. He doesn't even need to be relatable (he is, but that's a discussion for another day), so long as he's inspirational. He's a beacon of light, a symbol of hope. We can never be Superman, but we can aspire to be like him. To be better.
It's not the powers that make him Superman. It's the man and what he stands for. There are plenty of other characters with the same or similar abilities but none of them compare. Superman said it himself in Joe Kelly's classic "What's So Funny About Truth, Justice and the American Way?" in Action Comics #775; "Dreams save us. Dreams lift us up and transform us. And on my soul, I swear... until my dream of a world where dignity, honor and justice becomes the reality we all share -- I'll never stop fighting. Ever." And that's something the superhero in all of us can do.
Variety reported the other day that Brian Tee has joined the cast of Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles 2as the Shredder, replacing Tohoru Masamune who played the role in the 2014 reboot.
As a huge Ninja Turtles fan I have to say that personally, the actor playing Shredder wasn't one of the many problems I had with the first movie. I thought Tohoru Masamune did a great job with what little he was given (which wasn't much since Shredder was originally planned to be William Fichtner's Eric Sacks until the fan backlash caused Paramount/Platinum Dunes to make the change). Hopefully the casting of Brian Tee means that Shredder will play a larger role in the upcoming sequel. At least this time it won't be one role split between two characters.
As much as the first film left a bad taste in my mouth I still have some hopes for the sequel. The fact that Paramount did any course correction during the making of the last film shows at least some level of willingness to respond to fans criticisms. Hopefully they've taken on board a lot of the feedback from the last film and made some improvements. And if not, there's still Stephem Amell's Casey Jones to look forward to!
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles 2 began filming this week and is due for release 3rd June 2016.
If you've ever read any of the old Expanded Universe then you'll probably know that soon after defeating the Empire at the Battle of Endor the Rebellion came the New Republic and the remains of the Empire eventually formed the Imperial Remnant. The announcement that the old EU would no longer be part of continuity threw this into question and the Celebration confirmation that by the time of The Force Awakens the Rebels would the Resistance and the Empire would be The First Order didn't seem to leave much room for the New Republic in the new canon.
However, EA's website for Star Wars: Battlefront's free DLC Battle of Jakku seems to tell a different story. One where the Rebel Alliance did, however briefly, become a New Republic. Here's how they describe it;
"Be among the first players to experience the Battle of Jakku, the pivotal moment when the New Republic confronted key Imperial holdouts on a remote desert planet. Taking place in the aftermath of the Rebel victory in the Battle of Endor, players will experience the events that created the massive, battle-scarred landscape of Jakku shown in Star Wars: The Force Awakens." Now, this could simply be a mistake, someone confusing the two continuities and using the New Republic name in error, but given how closely these things are likely being scrutinised in the build up to The Force Awakens I doubt it. Based on this it seems that the Rebellion did succeed in becoming a New Republic before being thrown back into Resistance by the rise of The First Order.
I'm sure we'll learn more when Battle of Jakku launches on 1st December, but we may not have to wait that long. The Journey to Star Wars: The Force Awakens will begin 4th September with Chuck Wendig's novel Aftermath (the first in a trilogy of novels from Del Rey set between ROTJ and TFA) and continues in Marvel's new comic series Shattered Empire later that month. Maybe we'll find some answers there.
If you're a comic or super hero fan and you like video games then chances are this is the one you've been waiting for. Rocksteady's epic finale to their Arkham trilogy! Batman: Arkham Knight!
After a few delays (thankfully Rocksteady decided to take their time and get it right rather than just release it and patch it later) we're now just under 2 months away from the games release on 23rd June. Over the last few days Rocksteady have been teasing a new trailer "All Who Follow You" and revealing the return of some of Batman's most important allies. Today they released the full trailer so watch and enjoy;
It looks so good!! This is the reason I bought a PS4 and it looks like it won't disappoint! And the new team combat is an awesome surprise! I also love how they've built on the teases from Arkham City Azrael's return as the prophecy he spoke of comes to pass. Makes me wonder what Hush will be up to in the game!
Occasionally living in the UK can have its advantages. One of those is that we tend to get the new Marvel films early! I've no idea why but I'm definitely not complaining! So there will be MAJOR spoilers in this review.
For those of you who don't want spoilers, I'll just say this. It's a great film. Maybe not quite as brilliant as the original but definitely in my top 5 MCU movies. For those who want to know a little more, read on...
I'll be honest, this trailer had been rumoured to be coming
so many times I actually wasn't that excited for it. When the rumour first hit that a teaser would be shown at the end of last week with the full trailer revealed an IMAX event this Monday my response was "I'll believe it when I see it." I thought it was way too close to the Star Wars event to be true, but it was!
My first reaction was pretty mixed. It's good as a teaser but part of me couldn't shake the feeling that is was too dark. It lacked any contrast between the lightness of Superman and the darkness of Batman. But the more I watched it, the more it grew on me. Because the trailer isn't about Superman, it's about the world's reaction to him.
Man of Steel was an extremely divisive film, especially amongst fans. I myself have mixed feelings about it. I think it looks beautiful and Henry Cavill was a perfect Superman (in fact the entire cast was great), the opening on Krypton was simply breath taking and I love that the film embraced Superman's full potential rather than try and play down his power level. But I disliked the film's version of Jonathan Kent (I prefer Jonathan as Clark's moral compass) and hated it when Superman killed Zod in the film's climax. I understood what they were going for and can see the logic behind it, but as a life long Superman fan my heart just wouldn't accept that he'd make that choice. Plus there was no pay off for it, no consequences. Just Superman screaming in anguish (which Cavill nailed) then cut to the final scenes for a happy ending without mentioning it again.
That changes now. Judging by the teaser if Man of Steel was about first contact then Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice will be about the consequences. The opening of the teaser plays directly to the divisiveness of Man of Steel stating "Is it really surprising that the most powerful man world should be a figure of controversy?"
What follows is a series of shots of Superman looking uncomfortable as humanity reaches out to him or worships him as a saviour intermix with shots of the camera approaching a statue of Superman which is gradually being lit up as it get closer. We hear the very mixed opinions of the people of the world, and whilst there are a few who feel "maybe he's just a guy trying to do the right thing" the overriding impression is that people are afraid and don't want him here which culminates in a chant of "GO HOME!" as the statue is fully illuminated and we see the words FALSE GOD spray painted across Superman's symbol of hope. There's even reference to the destruction of the first film as we hear a man say fearfully that "they brought their war here".
One of the most distinctive voices in the mix is Jesse Eisenberg's Lex Luthor who speaks with a quiet authority as he tells the audience "We know better now, don't we? Devils don't come from Hell beneath us. No, they come from the sky." We never see his face, but his presence is felt. It's a perfect introduction to the cinematic universe's Lex. Sowing seeds of doubt and mistrust, turning people against Superman. Maybe even those who would be his ally...
"That's how it starts. The fever. The rage. The feeling of powerlessness. That turns good men cruel." Alfred's monologue is perhaps the most interesting piece of dialogue in the teaser. He's likely talking to Bruce but who is he talking about? The people of the world? Lex Luthor? Bruce himself?
Whilst the teaser doesn't offer the contrast between Batman and Superman that I was hoping for, Alfred's line offers a nice contrast to the chorus of the mob chanting "go home" and coming where it does in the teaser gives the impression that Alfred is on Superman's side in this conflict.
Though he may not be talking about Bruce in the final film, that's certainly the impression the teaser gives as we see Bruce Wayne staring at the batsuit whilst Alfred speaks. The shot is lingering, giving the impression that Bruce is weighing his options. We know that Frank Miller's The Dark Knight Returns is one of the big inspirations of this film and they're going with an older Batman so could Bruce already be retired and this is him deciding whether or not to put the suit on again? It would be an interesting choice to start the DC cinematic universe with an already retired Batman, but DC have certainly shown they're not above taking some risks when reimagining their characters for the big screen (just look at the Joker image that was released the other day). Or maybe this is the moment where he's trying to decide whether he's on the right side of this conflict, perhaps this is Alfred telling him he's gone too far, that he was a good man but this conflict, his doubt, fear and mistrust of Superman, has turned him cruel?
What I love is that it clearly portrays Batman as the antagonist, the aggressor. There was a lot of fear amongst Superman fans when The Dark Knight Returns was announced as inspiration for the film that Batman would be played up as the best to the detriment of Superman's character. This teaser alleviates that fear. It doesn't answer the question of how Batman can begin to stand against Superman (look at how quickly Faora took out the soldiers in Man of Steel) but it certainly doesn't come across as "Batman's going to teach Superman a lesson" like many fans feared. If anything it comes across the other way around as it appears Batman is the one on the wrong side of the conflict.
The next part of the teaser doesn't give anything away but it gives a great look at Batman in the most comic accurate suit to date. Seeing that on screen, I don't think they could have done any better. Batman looks amazing, like he just stepped off the pages of the comics. We get to see the new Batplane and Batmobile in action, albeit very briefly, and a wide shot that offers a small hint at the Riddler's existence in this universe (though likely not in this film).
The final part of the trailer shows Batman all suited up, The Dark Knight Returns style, ready for conflict with Superman who stands in the sky above him. The challenge is issued with the already iconic "Tell me. Do you bleed?" before Superman slams to the ground in front of him. "You will." he says as the screen goes black and the title comes up.
Given that the only time we saw Superman bleed in Man of Steel was on Zod's ship, unless the line is just bravado on Batman's part I'm guessing we're going to see Kryptonite introduced this time around. After all, that and Superman holding back are the only way this fight isn't over in a heart beat.
Personally, I'm a little torn on the ending. I love how comic book it is and seeing these two characters on screen together for the first time is a massive event, but I'm a little tired seeing hero fights hero (even though DC have never done it on the big screen). For me the best part about Batman and Superman together is their contrasting personalities and how they work together so well despite those differences. That's what I'm really looking forward to seeing in the movie. The physical fight is the least interesting part for me. But it was still insanely cool to see.
All in all I thought it was a great teaser. It may not have got my blood pumping the way the Star Wars teaser did, but it did an incredible job at building up the world of the movie, showing how Superman's arrival and the events of Man of Steel have changed things and hinting at how the new characters are going to fit into this world. Plus, it's Superman and Batman together on the big screen. How can you not be excited for that?! Roll on March 2016!
Ok, I was so hyped in the build up to this. It had been
suspected for a while that the next trailer for The Force Awakens might be shown at Star Wars Celebration but with the announcement of the live
stream cinema events and then the live stream online it was all but confirmed.
I feel sorry for anyone that had to put up with me at work last Thursday
because I was totally hyper. I loved the first teaser but I was so ready
for more! The panel with JJ
Abrams and Kathleen Kennedy was a great way to build the anticipation, then
came R2 and BB-8 (I love BB-8!!), our new trio of leads and finally the
original cast. I wish I could have been there, even on the live stream
you could feel the energy in the room. It must have been an incredible
feeling. Then came the moment
everyone had been waiting for;
WOW! I mean I was just blown away. It showed less than I expected (I was honestly expecting to see a fuller reveal of Luke and Leia) yet more at the same time. From the moment Luke's narration began "The Force is strong in my family..." I had goose bumps. When it was over it felt like I'd just been reunited with old friends. I felt like a kid again, who'd just walked out of A New Hope in 1997 and couldn't wait to get his own lightsaber. And the best part of not being at Celebration was that I could re-watch it again and again straight away. And I did. A lot!
Ok, before I analyse the trailer a bit here's the obligatory spoiler policy. THERE WILL BE NO SPOILERS. Nada, zip! I don't know, I don't want to know and I don't want to spoil anything for those who also don't want to know. Unlike the Prequel Trilogy we have absolutely no idea where the story is going and I can't wait to be taken on that journey later this year. Anything I post here is my own speculation based on what's officially been revealed in the teasers and at Celebration.
The teaser opens with an incredible sweeping shot of a distant speeder on the desert planet of Jakku. Almost instantly the sight of a downed X-Wing in the foreground grabs your attention but as the camera continues to pan across the desert you suddenly realise that's not a mountain or dune in the background. It's a crashed Star Destroyer! It's a stunning visual that raises a very interesting question. What the heck happened here?!
Thanks to Star Wars celebration and the upcoming DLC for Battlefront we know that the Battle of Jakku took place not long after Return of the Jedi which begs the question, what could have happened so soon after Endor that the repercussions are still being felt at the time of The Force Awakens? Could this be the moment when the Empire becomes The First Order and the Rebel Alliance becomes the Resistance?
Luke Skywalker?
"The Force is strong in my family..." This was my favourite part of the trailer. I love Han and Chewie, but Luke Skywalker was one of my childhood heroes and just hearing his voice again gave me chills. And the way it was done was simply perfect. Teasing glimpses at the charred remains of Darth Vader's helmet, a robed figure implied to be Luke Skywalker and someone handing a female figure, implied to be Leia, Luke's first lightsaber before he tells someone unseen "you have that power too."
This trailer is like the perfect teaser because it just raises so many questions!
Who recovered Vader's helmet from Endor and why?
Is that Luke Skywalker? If so where is he and is he alone? Both teasers have shown us Kylo Ren with his extremely distinct lightsaber blazing but there's been a distinct lack of Jedi. Luke was told to pass on what he had learned but it certainly doesn't look like he's rebuilt the Jedi Order by the time of The Force Awakens. Has he even trained Leia?
Luke's old lightsaber?! Last time we saw this it was lost on Bespin. This wouldn't be the first time it's shown up again (it came back in the classic Thrawn Trilogy in the old Legends canon as well) but to see it again thirty years after it was lost certainly makes me wonder how it fits into the story. We know Rey's a scavenger and Jakku appears to be something of a junk world so maybe that's the connection, but if so then how did it end up there? Plus that doesn't look like Rey's hand passing the lightsaber to Leia. And there's always the possibility that it's not been lost for 30 years...
"You have that power too." Though we don't see who he's talking to, the implication here is that Luke has found an apprentice. Is it Rey? Finn? Maybe Poe? Heck, it could be someone else entirely but I've waited a long time to see Jedi Master Luke Skywalker so I can't wait to see how this plays out and for Luke to finally pass on the knowledge of the Jedi.
The rest of the teaser has a faster pace as we get quick action shots of our new heroes and villain. Poe Dameron flying the new style X-Wing over water. Kylo Ren in action as everything around him burns. Rey, Finn and BB-8 running from an attacking TIE Fighter. BB-8 hiding on what looks like the Millennium Falcon. Rey offering Finn her hand to help him up, presumably their first meeting. But there's a few shots that stand out. The first is this one;
The First Order
The new Stormtroopers look great, but what really caught my interest was the figure in black, standing in the centre under the banner. Could this be the ruler of The First Order? A new Emperor? It certainly doesn't look like Kylo Ren but then we've never seen Ren without his mask on and the figure is too far away to make anything out.
There's a quick shot of what appears to be a TIE Fighter blasting the inside of a Star Destroyer hanger bay followed by Finn removing a blood stained helmet. We know Finn is a Stormtrooper (or at least John Boyega implied he was at Celebration but he could have been messing with us) and that The First Order is hunting him so it's reasonable to assume he's defected. But what has caused him to defect? What's he looking at when he removes that bloodied helmet? And is that him in the TIE Fighter, shooting his way out of the hanger?
Who is this awesome looking Stormtrooper?
The trailer closes with some fantastic footage of the Millennium Falcon being chased by a TIE Fighter into the wreckage of the downed Star Destroyer. Then the screen goes black and we hear an unmistakable voice say "Chewie". As we're given our first real look at two of the heroes of the Original Trilogy, Han delivers his already iconic line "we're home."
"Chewie, we're home."
Which of course begs the question, what's Han referring to as home? It looks like they're on the Millennium Falcon. But if Han hasn't been Captain of the Falcon for the last 30 years then who has?
The teaser trailer did a fantastic job of building up excitement for the film without giving anything away. In fact it only served to raise even more questions that the first teaser from last year. It's an exciting time to be a Star Wars fan and I can't wait to see what the future holds!
Hi there! Welcome to my new blog Heroes and Beyond. This is
an idea I've been toying with for a while and after the sheer awesomeness of
last weekend decided it was time to actually do it! I'm not new to blogs,
I've been doing a blog dedicated to Broadway's Aladdin since its pilot
production way back in 2011, but this one is going to be a little bit different
from what I've done before. This blog is going to be about everything I'm
interested in, so that's going to be Star Wars, super heroes, Disney, comic
books, maybe some video games, anything that really takes my fancy. I'm
not going to try and be a news site (there are others that do that far better
than I ever could) but I'll certainly be posting opinions, reviews, all sorts
of things like that. So, why Heroes and Beyond? Well, I wanted a
name that could cover all of the things I wanted to blog about and one thing
they all have in common, from Disney to DC Comics, is a hero. Whether it
be a classic super hero like Superman, a bookish beauty like Belle or a farm
boy turned Jedi like Luke Skywalker, there always seems to be a hero in
everything I love! Hopefully there will be a little something here for
everyone but I'm really doing this for me. I love doing the Aladdin blog
and wanted an outlet for my other passions. I hope you enjoy!
