Peter Oberth's blog

Ben Affleck drops out of 'Batman Vs Superman'...?

Peter Oberth — Mon, 20 Jan 2014 14:30:48 +0000

Mark my words, this is a headline you will be reading in the next few weeks or months. Recently, there were rumors swirling that Affleck received a leg injury, it wasn't reported as anything major but it was being said that the production of Batman Vs. Superman would be delayed for 6 weeks. Those rumors quickly circulated this past Saturday (January 18) until Warner Bros officially announced later in the day that the film would be delayed not 6 weeks but 10 MONTHS. The original release date of July 2015 was pushed to May of 2016, making it a summer starter instead of a summer tentpole.

Now, Comicbookmovie.com is reporting that the reasons for the delay are not for the injury at all (which turned out to be a minor muscular injury that didn't even give him so much as a limp during this past weekend's SAG Awards). Apparently, the budget for the film was at risk of getting out of control, much like Warner's problem-plagued Superman Returns in 2006. Apparently the issue at hand is whether or not to show Wonder Woman's home in Paradise Island. But does that really make sense? With a movie that will already be heavy in SFX, would showing what would be the rainforest quivalent of Cybertron really add a significant amount to the budget? The problem with that is the amount of money it will likely cost to delay the movie and extend the various players' contracts will probably equal if not exceed whatever it would cost to digitally create Themyscira.

It is more likely, in my opinion, that this project was doomed from the start. First, the blowback to the casting of Affleck as Batman was widespread and things got more muddled with the casting of the very non-Amazonian Gal Gadot and the rumors that she would be from Krypton instead of Paradise Island. Take into account that this movie was already beginning the production process without the casting of the very pivotal piece of Lex Luthor and it appears that Batman Vs. Superman was a rushed project that was likely never supposed to come out in 2015 in the first place.

Earlier in 2013, Charlie Hunnam was cast in the long gestating Fifty Shades of Grey. From the moment he was cast, the fans were at immediate outrage, practically calling for his head on a pike. All of the negativity that Hunnam received ultimately led to him quitting the project altogether and the studio having to scramble to cast a new lead. This is Fifty Shades of Grey, a fly-by-night "romance" novel so you have to imagine that the pressure Affleck is getting for attempting to portray one of the most beloved comic book characters of all time is incalculably greater than what Hunnam experienced.

Perhaps Affleck will stick around, I obviously don't know, but the pieces seem to be coming together. The sudden delay of what was arguably the biggest movie of 2015 and what that will cost the studio shows that there are more issues than a simple injury or a small creative decision. That is a sign that something time-consuming is coming and what is more time consuming that having to recast one of your leads and do it in a way that won't anger fans, at least as much, as the original casting? I might be stretching but I have a strong feeling that, come May of 2016, we won't be seeing Ben Affleck wearing that iconic cowl on the big screen. But maybe this will be a good thing for the franchise? I like Affleck but I am one of the many that just can't see him as Batman. I also felt that this movie was feeling very rushed, which is never a good thing for such a potentially complex storyline. A good 10 months should do the story, and casting, a bit of good.

Tags:

Batman

superman

Man of Steel

Ben Affleck

Henry Cavill

Batman Vs. Superman

Monster's 'Take Part Live': Beyond the Offer

Peter Oberth — Wed, 11 Dec 2013 13:39:30 +0000

Monster Jobs Series

Monster and the Pivot network have teamed up together to create nine segments for Take Part Live surrounding Monster’s Find Better initiative that focuses on millennials and even includes a veteran segment. Take Part Live is a topical show that tackles timely issues without taking itself too seriously and provides stories and conversations that matter to millennials.

To check out Take Part Live, visit http://www.pivot.tv/shows/takepart-live. We strongly encourage you to view the digital shorts provided the day after each Find Better segment at http://www.TakePart.com/FindBetter. You can find the segment schedule provided below.

The latest segment Beyond the Offer is now live here and you can view the previous Choosing the Best Path here!

Beyond The Offer

So you got the job, now what? Josh talks to experts about first job expectations, discussing what kinds of leverage entry-level employees actually have. We explore questions about when it’s appropriate to re-negotiate salaries and offer tips to manage the balance between respecting the employer and advocating for yourself.

Choosing the Best Path

Shipp and specialists discuss the best ways to identify potential career paths for chosen fields and explore potential challenge/pitfalls that lie ahead. During the package, experts provide tips and tools to determine, on an individual basis, the careers for which some millennials are best suited. Creative or unexpected ways to get where you’re going.

For more info and ways to “Find Better,” please visit http://www.monster.com/FindBetter. Talk about it on Twitter and Facebook. Share the experience and see what others are saying with hashtag #FindBetter!

SCHEDULE:

10/21 —If At First You Don’t Succeed...

How do you best handle rejection? Josh talks to an expert about the appropriate way to ensure an employer will keep you in mind in the future and how best to seek their constructive criticism so you can translate it into future success. In-studio, Josh and our hosts discuss data that supports the tumultuous road most job seekers face.

11/4 —Be Your Own Boss

Josh explores the entrepreneurial spirit amongst millennials – whether it’s building a business from scratch, or going full time into the freelance market – what are the risks? An expert speaks about tools available and the pitfalls to avoid, as well as highlights top five resources for those planning to work for themselves.

11/11 —Career, Country (Veteran’s Segment)

How do young vets returning from service integrate into the civilian workforce? We talk to an expert about taking advantage of the GI Bill before looking for work versus how one who has served his/her country can find a job without a college-education. In studio, a young vet joins Josh and our hosts to discuss topics such as what’s next for them, how they’re adjusting their lives after serving country, employment, re-acclimating into their communities, the changing relationships with their friends and family, outlook on their future and finally, best next steps.

11/18 —Woman Amongst Boys

What is it like to be a female in a male-dominated field? Josh speaks with a woman who has experienced her career in the science/technology field. He then recaps the top 10 male-dominated fields where women currently are having an impact. In-studio, we discuss why there are so few women in certain fields and highlight strategies to encourage more females to pursue those paths.

12/9 —Choosing the Best Path

12/16 —Beyond The Offer

Note: Pivot is not available to Time Warner customers, but we encourage them to view the digital shorts provided the next day at TakePart.com/FindBetter

Onkyo's new speaker systems stack up to competitors

Peter Oberth — Mon, 18 Nov 2013 11:05:08 +0000

Although Onkyo formed in Japan in 1946, a mere 4 months after rival Sony, they were never able to garner the massive commercial success and recognition with the general consumer the way that Sony has, mainly because Onkyo is a more high-end option to the other major brands available. Regardless, all of that is about to change as Onkyo is positioning itself to be a force to be reckoned with as they release multiple soundbar systems.

LS-T10 EnvisionCinema TV Speaker System (Suggested Retail $499)

OFFICIAL DESCRIPTION: As a self-contained space-saving 3D-sound system, the LS-T10 features a six-channel digital amplifier to power the six-driver array, with four full-range drivers on the front, a speaker on each side, and an active subwoofer on the underside. AuraSphere digital signal processing manages output levels and equalization to create an all-enveloping 3D soundfield, complete with selectable Movie, Music, and News sound modes to optimize playback of various types of content. The unit also doubles as a powerful home hi-fi system, with Bluetooth wireless streaming technology and a USB port for flash memory storage devices loaded with MP3s. Best of all, installation and operation is easy: just plug in a single cable, use your TV's remote, sit back & enjoy the LS-T10's superior audio performance. You will be impressed.

OUR THOUGHTS: The LS-T10 isn't technically a "soundbar" (nor is it advertised as such) but it is an all-in one unit consisting of a downward facing subwoofer. The LS-T10 is pretty from the front but, as a whole, it's not the best looking device as it's extremely large and somewhat cumbersome. It almost looks like an extremely large cable box (think of maybe 2-3 of them stuck together side by side). It’s thin and clean, just big. The largeness of the box doubles as a stand for your TV (up to 77 lbs). This pretty much eliminates the ability to have your TV hung in most situations while keeping a clean look to your entertainment area but it’s a great option for those that have their TVs on a stand as it only takes up a few inches of vertical room below the set. The sound is great with decently booming bass. It doesn’t have the quality of a full speaker set and external subwoofer, obviously, but it’s a great space saver and mimics surround sound decently with front, left and right facing speakers. The ideal place for this system would be in an entertainment cabinet that envelopes the sound and pushes it out to the viewer. The Bluetooth and USB plug-in options are a great touch and work seamlessly and, as advertised, the system immediately picked up my television remote control volume controls (I have a late model Samsung LED).

LS-B50 EnvisionCinema Soundbar System (Suggested Retail: $699)

OFFICIAL DESCRIPTION: If superb sound quality and easy operation are at the top of your soundbar wish list, the LS-B50 is the way to go. AuraSphere digital signal processing works with a six-channel amplifier, powerful wireless subwoofer, and eight-driver speaker array to seamlessly replace TV audio with rich and enveloping 3D sound. There are three sound modes to optimize movies, dialog, or music, and Bluetooth technology for wireless playback of almost any audio source sent from smartphone, tablet, and PC. This soundbar is very easy to install, with just a single cable to connect and a wireless sub you can place almost anywhere. It comes with a wall-mounting kit and an IR flasher for placement on an entertainment unit under your flat-screen display. Best of all, the LS-B50 turns on automatically and responds to volume commands from the TV remote, making it exceptionally easy for people of all ages to enjoy.

OUR THOUGHTS: We won’t lie, the LS-B50 is considerably more expensive than its counterparts (Sony, Vizio and Samsung models generally top out at $300), but you are paying for the quality, not the name (as is generally the case with Sony). Due to the price, the LS-B50 is not for your average consumer but rather for those that are not content with “good enough” sound. The LS-B50 has far superior sound, almost on par with far more expensive 5.1 systems and is hands-down the best I have heard for a “simple” soundbar. The LS-B50 is truly plug and play, something rare in the high end audio market. The wireless subwoofer connects immediately, Bluetooth connects to your phone or tablet with the touch of a button and MP3s can play directly on the system from a connected flash drive. The speaker systems is a beautiful shiny black that is easily light enough to hang on the wall under your TV and the subwoofer is small enough to sneak under a table to behind a couch. The system has a true surround sound feel that will leave guests in awe and leave you without regret for spending a little extra on a quality product. The most difficult part of the setup is maneuvering the awkward L-shaped box in and out of doors and opening it. Once everything is out of the box, you will be listening to surround sound literally within minutes.

Monster Launches FIND BETTER campaign and “Cool Jobs” Opportunity!

Peter Oberth — Fri, 25 Oct 2013 14:28:39 +0000

Monster Jobs Series

On October 7, 2013, Monster introduced readers and audiences with the unique opportunity to apply for a “Cool Jobs” Associate Producer position with Pivot as part of their partnership. For additional details, please visit http://monster.com/takepart.

SCHEDULE:

10/21 —If At First You Don’t Succeed...

11/4 —Be Your Own Boss

11/11 —Career, Country (Veteran’s Segment)

11/18 —Woman Amongst Boys

12/9 —Choosing the Best Path

12/16 —Beyond The Offer

Note: Pivot is not available to Time Warner customers, but we encourage them to view the digital shorts provided the next day at TakePart.com/FindBetter

The 80s "Movie Worlds" I Want To Visit

Peter Oberth — Tue, 13 Aug 2013 17:16:11 +0000

Ghostbusters (U.S. Box Office: $238,632,124)

In my opinion (obviously, this is a blog afterall), this was one of the most original movies of the 80s and much better than the follow that came after. The idea of being some random dude and putting on a suit to capture ghosts is almost better than going to the future...almost. Oh, and, like the number 1 on this list, an awesome car to drive around in and an old firehouse to spend your days.

Back to the Future, Part II (U.S. Box Office: $118,450,002)

Who wouldn't want a DeLorean to drive around in and a creepy old, crazy-haired scientist to mentor you? Oh, and the whole time-travel thing is pretty fantastic too. As I have made obvious before, this is my favorite of the trilogy mainly because I am a sucker for future time travel, regardless of how ridiculous it may be portrayed. But, on top of being able to interact with the future, you can actually use it to gamble on future knowledge and make money in the present? Hell yeah.

Big (U.S. Box Office: $114,968,774)

Every kid wants to be "big" when they are little. Once you get big, you want to be little again but this movie portrayed being an adult as one of the best experiences of your life. Playing with toys, practically running a toy company, living in a huge loft with views of New York City, arcades, trampoline and sleeping with an adult? Yeah, we all wanted that.

Beetlejuice (U.S. Box Office: $73,707,461)

One of the most memorable things about this movie is the amazing model of the town. I always said I would build one of whatever town I lived in, I just keep not getting around to it. But, when Beetlejuice (Michael Keaton) and Adam (Alex Baldwin) shrink down into the model world, you get to see one of Tim Burton's coolest sets with toy-like cars and buildings and rubber grass. I'd love to explore this world, especially if it didn't involve an undead ghost trying to marry my daughter (nope, not their daughter, just some stranger so, whatever, Beetlejuice can marry her, what do I care?).

The Goonies (U.S. Box Office: $61,389,680)

Dead pirates, treasure, a pirate ship, hidden passageways, boobietraps, a creep restaurant, fugitives and a long harrowing adventure. What else is there to wish for as a kid? The Goonies was, and still is, one of my favorite movies of all time and I can still watch it with admiration and jealousy to this day. I would give anything to jump off the plank of that ship into the dream-filled water in the hidden caverns of One-Eyed Willie.

Bill & Ted's Excellent Adventure (U.S. Box Office: $40,485,039)

Obviously, I like time travel. Usually I like future time travel, but the thought of going back in time and not only witnessing history but taking part in it and hanging out with historical figures, using them as an upper hand to get good grades in history is deplorable. No, no, it's spectacular, actually. I would do it in a heartbeat.

The Last Starfighter (U.S. Box Office: $28,733,290)

At the prime of video game growth in the early 80s, a boy is stuck in a trailer park, doomed to play a single arcade game forever. That is, until he gets so good at it that aliens recruit him to be a fighter pilot for their defense army. The kid gets to go on an interstellar journey that pulls his life out of the jaws of boredom. Sign me up!

The Neverending Story (U.S. Box Office: $20,158,808)

This almost played out like a superhero movie. It begins with a weakling kid being bullied and thrown into a trash bin. He finds his way into a book store and steals a cool old book, The Neverending Story. He takes it up into the awesomely dark and dank attic of his school to begin reading it. It takes him into the world, which he ultimately needs to save with...imagination. It was a great fantasy though, if fantasy in children's memories were killing those worlds then, I'm sure they are completely annhilated by now. Oh well.

Little Monsters (U.S. Box Office: $793,775)

Probably the least known (and poorest performing) movie on this list but also one of my favorite. Little Monsters stars Howie Mandel as Maurice, a hilarious (at the time) blue monster who's sole purpose is to climb out from under their bed in the middle of the night and get kids in trouble with their parents. When Fred Savage captures Maurice and goes to the "underworld" with him, what he finds below is what made me fall in love with movie sets to begin with. Deep caverns (see a pattern here?) filled with mystery and weird creatures. You can travel around the world in minutes and pop up under anyone's bed, including whoever it is that bullies you (see another pattern?). It was a mix between Monsters, Inc. and the underworld of Corpse Bride before either of those existed.

Tags:

Ghostbusters

Back to the Future, Part II

Big

Beetlejuice

The Goonies

Bill & Ted's Excellent Adventure

The Last Starfighter

The Neverending Story

Little Monsters

The 5 most underrated films of the last 5 years

Peter Oberth — Mon, 29 Jul 2013 17:10:35 +0000

To go along with my list of the 5 most overrated films of the last 5 years, I present the polar opposite. My 5 most underrated films...

1. Robin Hood

WHY IT DIDN'T PERFORM WELL: Russell Crowe isn't really the draw he used to be and the movie didn't look anything like the Robin Hood audiences have grown to love. Even if he did, nobody is really interested in Robin Hood anymore.

WHY IT WAS UNDERRATED: It turned out to be a prequel to the story everybody knows and it was interesting to see how Robin Hood became Robin Hood. It was an origin story for one of the first superheros and it was a great period action flick.

2. Real Steel

WHY IT DIDN'T PERFORM WELL: It looked absurdly ridiculous. It appeared to be a live action Rock 'em Sock 'em Robots and there was no way to pitch this one where it didn't look stupid.

WHY IT WAS UNDERRATED: It was actually a well written story with a lot of heart and the special effects were great. The movie told the story of a washed up performer and a child searching for a father figure. The movie was directed well and shot well. It's one of the better family films of the past few years.

3. Diary of a Wimpy Kid

WHY IT DIDN'T PERFORM WELL: Because this isn't what kids want anymore. Kids want big robots or CGI, not understated low budget live action movies.

WHY IT WAS UNDERRATED: It was funny for kids and adults without being innapropriate for either. It relied on the charm of the actors and the script rather than big explosions and CGI. It felt like something that would be a made for TV movie on Disney Channel these days but would have been a full-on classic in the early 90s.

4. 17 Again

WHY IT DIDN'T PERFORM WELL: Zac Efron. He was past his prime with his core audience but he hadn't (and still hasn't) established himself outside of the Disney crowd. This was an adult romantic comedy disguised as a teen romp.

WHY IT WAS UNDERRATED: It had the feel and overdone plot of an 80s movie but all of the actors' charisma and hilarious script took it out of the cliches. Though Matthew Perry was wasted in very brief appearances, Thomas Lennon was at the top of his game.

5. Crazy, Stupid, Love.

WHY IT DIDN'T PERFORM WELL: It did OK but not as well as it should have considering the star power, original script and heart.

WHY IT WAS UNDERRATED: All of the actors involved had a lot of chemistry together. The script was new and refreshing and the comedy and romance were charming. It's a fun movie to watch with a date.

HONORABLE MENTIONS:

This would be on this list were it to come out in the past 5 years but it just missed the cut by 3 months. 21 is a fantastic movie with the never-bad Kevin Spacey leading the way. It's a thriller and a drama with a lot of suspense and, best yet, it's a true story based on a book from the same author as The Social Network. Check this one out.

Twilight

Yeah, I'll get kicked for this one but I really have a feeling that most people that bash this movie probably haven't even seen it. Take out all the screaming fan girls and the series isn't GREAT but it's certainly not the worst thing ever made as some may think. Taken on it's own, it feels like an early 90s teen supernatural movie in the vain of The Craft.

The 5 most overrated films of the last 5 years

Peter Oberth — Thu, 18 Jul 2013 16:09:34 +0000

The opinions expressed below are my own and if you don't agree, get your own blog (or comment below). What follows are what I believe are the 5 most overrated films of the past 5 years.

1. Zero Dark Thirty

WHY IT GOT SO MUCH ATTENTION: It was controversial from the start. It was rumored that top secret information was given to the filmmakers in order to more accurately portray what happened in the hunt, and ultimate killing, of Osama Bin Laden. This controversy led to a lot of attention. It didn't help that it was director Katherine Bigelow's follow-up to her Oscar-winner movie The Hurt Locker (a FAR superior film). &amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;/div&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt; &amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;/div&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt; &amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;/div&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt; &amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;/div&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt; &amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;p&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;nbsp;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;/p&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;

WHY IT WAS OVERRATED: It was more boring than entertaining. It wasn't until the last 20 to 25 minutes or so that the movie actually got to the point and the raid on Bin Laden actually occurred, something that wasn't even originally going to be part of the movie in the first place. This part was added solely because Bin Laden was captured during pre-production. Without it, it would just be a boring talk-fest with the over-acting (and overly praised) Jessica Chastain whining her way from one false-lead to another.

2. The Cabin in the Woods

WHY IT GOT SO MUCH ATTENTION: The mystery surrounding fanboy favorite Joss Whedon's horror flick gained a lot of attention in 2009, when it was originally supposed to be released. The plot was kept under wraps, but the odd casting choices and the promise of something "completely different" from other horror movies kept audiences clamoring for the movie. Then it was delayed (apparently to convert to 3D, which never happened), causing more build-up and, ultimately in my eyes, more of a letdown. &amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;/div&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt; &amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;/div&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt; &amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;/div&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt; &amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;/div&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt; &amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;/div&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt; &amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;p&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;nbsp;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;/p&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;

WHY IT WAS OVERRATED: It really wasn't that good and the movie was trying far too hard to be different while not making a whole lot of sense. It was a weird sci-fi/horror hybrid that just didn't work. It's almost as if they couldn't decide whether it should be actually supernatural or a human-made "game". It's unfortunate they went with the latter because I think it would have been more original the other way.

3. The Avengers

WHY IT GOT SO MUCH ATTENTION: It's obvious, isn't it? The Marvel universe has built a huge empire of movies and the teaming up of all of them was a no brainer.

&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;/p&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;

WHY IT WAS OVERRATED: Marvel is playing the "phases" card perfectly. By building their characters with great stand alone movies, it allowed the audience to crave seeing them all on screen together. My problem is that I truly believe The Avengers would have been a failure if it were released prior to all the other movies, meaning that they were actually propping this one up. It wasn't original and it didn't have anything in it that stood out as incredible (except the Hulk, har har). The end battle was weak and showed our heroes simply battling a bunch machinations as opposed to the actual villain. It was drawn out and I actually found myself getting extremely bored, waiting for it to end. It was ok, but it wasn't $1.5 billion ok.

4. Toy Story 3

WHY IT GOT SO MUCH ATTENTION: There was a huge gap between Toy Story 2 and Toy Story 3 and during that time, Pixar built themselves as an untouchable force of CGI, churning out hit after hit of quality and original stories. So when it was time to dip back into their first well, of course audiences got excited. &amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;/div&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;

WHY IT WAS OVERRATED: This was one of those movies that people didn't really like all that much when it first came out. Don't get me wrong, it wasn't HATED, but now it seems like it's up on a pedestal as one of Pixar's best, which it is far from being. It didn't tug on the heartstrings as much as the first one did and it didn't have as much comedy as the second. The storyline was forgettable and there was no huge advancement in technology since the second. People wanted to love this movie so much that I think they convinced themselves that it was better than it was.

5. The Dark Knight

WHY IT GOT SO MUCH ATTENTION: Obviously, Batman Begins was an incredible reboot. Heath Ledger's untimely death also lent a lot of credence to the film as the superhero genre was struggling to gain traction.

WHY IT WAS OVERRATED: Because of Ledger's death. Hands down, the best thing about this movie was Heath Ledger's surreal portrayal of Joker. It was brilliant and deserved the posthumous Oscar received. Unfortunately, that was really the only GREAT thing about this movie. It was a much bigger film than Batman Begins, both in budget and story arc but it felt flat. All of the memorable scenes are attributed to Ledger and nothing else stood out. The biggest failure of the movie was the inclusion of Two Face. The majority of his screen time was lying in a hospital bed and then he took a couple people hostage and died. Is that really a worthy storyline of one of Batman's biggest villains? The Dark Knight almost felt like it served as a steep learning curve for director Christopher Nolan, bridging the gap from the low-profile first film to the all out blockbuster of the third.

IN CASE YOU MISSED IT: Weekend Wrap-Up (05/06/2013)

Peter Oberth — Mon, 06 May 2013 12:17:09 +0000

Weekend Wrap-Up Series

Our busiest news weekend in a while so, since we don't have much room on this sheet of paper, I'll get right to it.

Iron Man 3 Storms The US Box Office
Only one movie has ever crossed the $200 million mark in its opening weekend and that was The Avengers, the ensemble superhero flick toplined by Iron Man. That still remains as the only film to cross that mark but now Iron Man 3 has come the closest with a staggering $175 million+ 3 day estimate. I'm starting to think that Tony Stark is just forking out his millions himseld...Read More.

Luke Evans Is The New Crow
Yes, we skipped a week of the Weekend Wrap-Up and the last one we posted, we reported on the rumor of Tom Hiddleston possibly donning the Crow makeup. Well, big surprise, that ended up falling through just like the 4 or 5 other actors that were attached before him, going back to Bradley Cooper, who was so far in, they were nearing a shoot. Now, Luke Evans, soon to be seen in Fast & Furious 6, has officially signed on to star in the remake. We'll see if this one sticks, I'll believe it when I see shots of him in full costume...Read More.

Justin Timberlake Reveals '20/20 Experience' Part 2 Due September 30
Another piece of news we previously reported on. Back in March, Questlove revealed that Timberlake would be released Part 2 of his "20/20 Experience" in November, surprising news at the time since nobody even knew it was a 2 part effort and it has been about 20 years between Timberlake's previous two albums. With the wind out of his sales, Timberlake announced on Twitter that his new album is coming, with the only surprise left is that it's coming earlier on September 30...Read More.

Disney, 'Tangled' Director Plot New Animated Feature With Jason Bateman
Bleep blop bloop blop bleep. Not really much to say here that isn't in the title of the news story so read it yourself if you really want to know the mundane stretched out details that don't exist...Read More.

'Amazing Race' Season 22 Winners Revealed
The perennial "Best Reality Show" Emmy winner ended its 22nd (!!) season this weekend by revealing the winning team. I can't really say much more unless you want a spoiler and if you want a spoiler...Read More.

'21 Jump Street 2', 'Men in Black 4' in Development at Sony
Men in Black 3 was the lowest grossing of the series...in the U.S. Worldwide, it was the highest grossing of the series. The movie received bad reviews and it seemed like they dodged a bullet. So what do they do? Make another! Why not. Keep milking it until it loses money, that seems like the way to go. On the other hand, '21 Jump Street' ended up being a critical and box office surprise so this one makes sense. 'Jump Street' will come first and then 'Men in Black 4" since Sony has hired the same writer...Read More.

Previous entries in our WEEKEND WRAP-UP series.

IN CASE YOU MISSED IT: Weekend Wrap-Up (04/22/2013)

Peter Oberth — Mon, 22 Apr 2013 12:07:39 +0000

Weekend Wrap-Up Series

Another slow weekend. I'll just get right into it...

Tom Hiddleston May Fly To The Crow
The Crow reboot has been through many...MANY actors since they creators have attempted to get the flick off the ground, including a very serious seeming commitment from Bradley Cooper so take this news with a grain of salt. I might believe it as soon as I see Hiddleston in the trademark makeup and menacing scowl. But, Empire and others are reporting that the actor, best known for his portrayal as Loki in Thor and The Avengers is nearing a deal for the coveted but non-commital role. We'll see how this one pans out...Read More.

Carly Rae Jepsen Caps Juno Awards Weekend With Two More Wins
In America, we may be over the pop hit "Call Me Maybe" as we have exhausted all remix and parady avenues, but up in Canada they are still celebrating the bubbly Carly Rae Jepsen, awarding her 2 more Juno Awards over the weekend event, including Single of the Year for the infectious song. Justin Bieber also took home one of only seven awards handed out during the 2 hour broadcast hosted by Michael Buble...Read More.

Box Office Report: Tom Cruise's 'Oblivion' Rockets to Solid $38.2 Million Opening
Tom Cruise broke out of his recent slump with a solid $38.2 million opening for this latest sci fi fare, Oblivion. The movie, costing an estimated $150 million, is considered a success but with strong summer movies ahead, including Iron Man 3 in early May, it's hard to say if this one has the legs to get back to it's budget domestically but it should do well overseas...Read More.

Previous entries in our WEEKEND WRAP-UP series.

IN CASE YOU MISSED IT: Weekend Wrap-Up (04/15/2013)

Peter Oberth — Mon, 15 Apr 2013 14:26:35 +0000

Weekend Wrap-Up Series

Weekends are generally extremely slow for news. Most studios, labels and publishers wait until weekdays to reveal anything new so we can waste our time at work with it instead of our free time on the weekends. Unfortunately, the biggest news on weekends generally comes from a celebrity death and this weekend is no different. What do they say about Death and Box Office? It's the only guaranteed weekend news, that's what...

Deftones Bassist Chi Cheng Dead at 42
It has been 5 years since Deftones bassist Chi Cheng was involved in a car accident so bad that it put him into a permanent coma. Unfortunately, Cheng was never able to recover and his heart stopped this weekend. His mother writes a touching letter to fans as music loses a new rock pioneer...Read More

MTV Movie Awards: 'The Avengers,' 'Silver Linings Playbook' Take Top Honors
'The Avengers' and 'Silver Linings Playbook' take the big "honors". If you can call it an honor at an awards show that also features an award for "Best Kiss", "Best WTF Moment" and "Best Shirtless Performance". Oh well, they were both great movies so this doesn't take AWAY from that, right? ...Read More

Box Office Report: Baseball Pic '42' Scores With a $27.3 Million Opening
Always in an effort to stay ahead of its original inspiration (Scream), the "minds" behind the Scary Movie franchise unleashed their 5th outing this weekend to a tepid audience while Jackie Robinson pic '42' cleaned up with arecord opening for a basball flick. Jackie Robinson breaks new ground again...Read More

That's it. Oh, also the new trailer for The Hunger Games: Catching Fire...

&lt;br /&gt; &lt;br /&gt; &lt;a data-cke-saved-href=&quot;http://shakefire.com/series/weekend-wrap-up&quot; href=&quot;http://shakefire.com/series/weekend-wrap-up&quot;&gt;PREVIOUS EDITIONS&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

And a 'Zod' teaser for Man of Steel...

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