Middle-Eastern outer space pizza delivery!
Disney/Fox/Marvel News:
Aladdin's live-action casting, Deadpool 2's Domino's casting & Thor Ragnarok official pictures
Aladdin Live Action
[first rehearsal this April for 2018(?) release]
Chance of Success = definitely over 80% special
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a case for the House of Mouse's signature property:
+ Positive +
a case for the House of Mouse's signature property:
one of the best animated features just before the millennium with its regal and cultural depiction of Middle Eastern culture and hierarchy in its heyday back in the day with the magical Disney touches and flourishes blended perfectly while the late Robin Williams' Geanie is one of his most iconic roles,
? Main contention ?
cultural appropriation wasn't much in the minds of the studio as they overlooked some of the tidbits in the original folktale Aladdin and the Magic Lamp from One Thousand and One Nights classic and although the result is a success, one would wonder how proper Aladdin movie could be.
- Negative -
retrospectively seeing the Arabian elements being just the outer shell while the insides was purely the same tropes they have been doing for all these years albeit excellently, an Aladdin movie in the veins of the recent the Jungle Book that took inspiration from the original story by Rudyard Kipling as well as the well-known animated 1967 classic would be the best outcome out of this project.
? Main contention ?
- Negative -
retrospectively seeing the Arabian elements being just the outer shell while the insides was purely the same tropes they have been doing for all these years albeit excellently, an Aladdin movie in the veins of the recent the Jungle Book that took inspiration from the original story by Rudyard Kipling as well as the well-known animated 1967 classic would be the best outcome out of this project.
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a case for the risky adaptation and the peculiar director:
a case for the risky adaptation and the peculiar director:
+ Positive +
as much as it's just essentially asking for trouble when they begin to adapt their beloved properties from yesteryear, their current trajectory with multiple projects at various state of progress suggest how adamant they're in this particular direction and with mostly successful adaptations in the bag (in Cinderella and the Jungle Book), they're in the right direction and riding a good momentum currently,
it's in its basic conception in his wheelhouse with a story surrounding a reluctant criminal trying to win the heart of a woman he loves with an elaborate scheme but set in Agrabah instead of London.
? Main contention ?
a director with his own particular trademark style and heavy interest in applying more modern techniques in his directing, his movies understandably would be divisive in the receptions of the viewers but his recent surprisingly solid (and criminally underrated) the Man from UNCLE and the upcoming King Arthur adaptation that's unmistakably his shows his determination in adapting established properties well ... whether he would be doing it in his own ways or would Disney come in and limit his ways to ensure it being a Disney film first and foremost is still too early to speculate.
- Negative -
the misstep in adapting Maleficent to the big screen is to make her be a sympathetic character instead of pure evil just to make sure she's relatable to the audiences rather than stay true to her original traits ... this kind of misunderstanding of their iconic character is only once for now but it just shows that the possibility of it happening again is there and with a more complex and intricate property such as this, the risk is two-fold yet the reward would be even better in the end.
as much as it's just essentially asking for trouble when they begin to adapt their beloved properties from yesteryear, their current trajectory with multiple projects at various state of progress suggest how adamant they're in this particular direction and with mostly successful adaptations in the bag (in Cinderella and the Jungle Book), they're in the right direction and riding a good momentum currently,
it's in its basic conception in his wheelhouse with a story surrounding a reluctant criminal trying to win the heart of a woman he loves with an elaborate scheme but set in Agrabah instead of London.
? Main contention ?
the misstep in adapting Maleficent to the big screen is to make her be a sympathetic character instead of pure evil just to make sure she's relatable to the audiences rather than stay true to her original traits ... this kind of misunderstanding of their iconic character is only once for now but it just shows that the possibility of it happening again is there and with a more complex and intricate property such as this, the risk is two-fold yet the reward would be even better in the end.
---
a case for the appropriate casting call and a certain irreplaceable performance:
a case for the appropriate casting call and a certain irreplaceable performance:
+ Positive +
being more conscious as a studio in correctly and faithfully representing every unique place and the races living in it they include in their movies that's being proven by last year's beloved Moana that's rich with Polynesian culture and never take it for granted while past instances' more careless attempt would be more appropriate and fitting when being adapted in live-action adaptations,
the reported schedule of this project that would start rehearsal as early as next month and would lead to six months of extensive six months filming period from this July until next January on location and in the sound stage, letting us know how massive it would be with the biggest spectacle they could provide to justify the reinterpretation and doing it justice by giving it their all.
a step in the right direction can be seen in the casting call above:
Emphasizing on the race of the characters show the same level of dedication when they acquired the massively talented Auli'i Cravalho (whom could easily play her live-action counterpart if the need arose) resulted in their first open casting in a while that fit the role to a tee which bodes well for this current attempt as the other requirements letting us know they would cast appropriately young leads that would be able to portray the innocence between Aladdin and Jasmine in the animated feature.
the next requirement is in the same ilk as the Beauty and the Beast casting as they needed to perform arguably the most memorable aspect of their respective films: the songs and if they could added to it with their dancing experience, it's for the better. Rather than going the minimalistic route just like in the Jungle Book, they might adapt them as much as they could since it's one of the major aspect of the Aladdin experience, especially if a certain comedian's standout performance was concerned.
? Main contention ?
there are a number of actors and actresses in the industry that would fit the bill that is if they would use the term Middle-Eastern loosely: the leads from Slumdog Millionaire (Dev Patel and Freida Pinto) is perfect but they're from India and way past the age limit (although the word used is "should", not "must") while another perfect cast could be Ben Kingsley as Jafar (although he's from British and Indian descent) and maybe an up-and-comer in Brendon Thwaites (leading the upcoming fifth Pirates of the Caribbean) or even Priyanka Chopra. The age group and place of origin are important in casting the perfect leads and hopefully they could repeat the Moana homerun yet again.
- Negative -
regarding the Genie ... the magic the late Robin Williams able to conjure up even just as the voice over artist was too perfect that even the animators had to based the genie on his performance instead of the other way around. Any attempt to replicate his portrayal in this new adaptation would be heavily criticized and scrutinized from the start until the end yet it cannot be left out as it goes hand in hand: Aladdin and the blue Genie. How they would approach this delicate matter is the most vital matter (right after the 'whitewashing' controversy) if they want to pay a proper and perfect tribute to him: do they want to find the best impersonator of him (the worst choice IMHO!) or find the best current comedian at his heyday that would at least give his best performance and reach the same level as Robin's however unlikely that is ... no proper candidate though as of now. What say you?
being more conscious as a studio in correctly and faithfully representing every unique place and the races living in it they include in their movies that's being proven by last year's beloved Moana that's rich with Polynesian culture and never take it for granted while past instances' more careless attempt would be more appropriate and fitting when being adapted in live-action adaptations,
the reported schedule of this project that would start rehearsal as early as next month and would lead to six months of extensive six months filming period from this July until next January on location and in the sound stage, letting us know how massive it would be with the biggest spectacle they could provide to justify the reinterpretation and doing it justice by giving it their all.
a step in the right direction can be seen in the casting call above:
Emphasizing on the race of the characters show the same level of dedication when they acquired the massively talented Auli'i Cravalho (whom could easily play her live-action counterpart if the need arose) resulted in their first open casting in a while that fit the role to a tee which bodes well for this current attempt as the other requirements letting us know they would cast appropriately young leads that would be able to portray the innocence between Aladdin and Jasmine in the animated feature.
the next requirement is in the same ilk as the Beauty and the Beast casting as they needed to perform arguably the most memorable aspect of their respective films: the songs and if they could added to it with their dancing experience, it's for the better. Rather than going the minimalistic route just like in the Jungle Book, they might adapt them as much as they could since it's one of the major aspect of the Aladdin experience, especially if a certain comedian's standout performance was concerned.
? Main contention ?
regarding the Genie ... the magic the late Robin Williams able to conjure up even just as the voice over artist was too perfect that even the animators had to based the genie on his performance instead of the other way around. Any attempt to replicate his portrayal in this new adaptation would be heavily criticized and scrutinized from the start until the end yet it cannot be left out as it goes hand in hand: Aladdin and the blue Genie. How they would approach this delicate matter is the most vital matter (right after the 'whitewashing' controversy) if they want to pay a proper and perfect tribute to him: do they want to find the best impersonator of him (the worst choice IMHO!) or find the best current comedian at his heyday that would at least give his best performance and reach the same level as Robin's however unlikely that is ... no proper candidate though as of now. What say you?
- Synopsis -
When a street urchin vies for the love of a beautiful princess, he uses a genie's magic power to make himself off as a prince in order to marry her.
(Action, Adventure, Comedy, Drama, Family, Fantasy)
source: independent & reddit
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Deadpool 2's Domino
of course over 90% but the behind-the-scene antic would give some trepidation
-
a case for the surprise R-rated superhero hit:
+ Positive +
a case for the surprise R-rated superhero hit:
a relentless and dedicated pursuit of passion by the main lead, Ryan Reynolds, for so many years and finally finding the right person to collaborate with in Tim Miller and the studio to give full backing and support that was a risk well taken in the end,
the relentlessly excellent marketing for the movie throughout and smart use of social media and conventional methods (emoji poster and Valentine parody poster),
using its R rate to the fullest by portraying the titular character's affinity to insurmountable amount of violence as well as indecent sense of humor to perfection resulted by their full understanding of the his unique sensibilities as well as it was the perfect role for the actor himself,
I love to break through the fourth wall, aren't I? I could give a unique commentary on the industry itself, the superhero genre and the X-Men past movies specifically, couldn't I? I could even mention how much people is coming to your so-called 'blog' yet not even one has reached out to you yet ... but I won't.
? Main contention ?
his tumultuous relationships with other characters throughout the Marvel's comic tapestry had to be limited to only be in the X-Men Fox Universe and he's a tricky character to be introduced to those who aren't familiar with him and his brand of humor but that limitation let the movie to be more focused while the box office success proved he's widely received by public and even critics (to even warrant a possible Oscar nod)
- Negative -
the unfortunate breakdown between the original director and the studio/producer because of the difference of opinion on the direction they want to go with for the sequel,
as much as it harped on the others, the movie itself had to use the same tropes of the genre as much as it wanted to set itself apart.
--
a case for the now anticipated sequel and vital casting choices:
the relentlessly excellent marketing for the movie throughout and smart use of social media and conventional methods (emoji poster and Valentine parody poster),
using its R rate to the fullest by portraying the titular character's affinity to insurmountable amount of violence as well as indecent sense of humor to perfection resulted by their full understanding of the his unique sensibilities as well as it was the perfect role for the actor himself,
I love to break through the fourth wall, aren't I? I could give a unique commentary on the industry itself, the superhero genre and the X-Men past movies specifically, couldn't I? I could even mention how much people is coming to your so-called 'blog' yet not even one has reached out to you yet ... but I won't.
? Main contention ?
- Negative -
the unfortunate breakdown between the original director and the studio/producer because of the difference of opinion on the direction they want to go with for the sequel,
as much as it harped on the others, the movie itself had to use the same tropes of the genre as much as it wanted to set itself apart.
--
a case for the now anticipated sequel and vital casting choices:
 |
| Zazie Beetz as Domino by bosslogic |
+ Positive +
a prove of concept with a risk proven worth taken, another crack at it by the same team (sans the original director) would be a positive since they have to limit themselves in the debut of the character and now the origin movie out of the way, they could go all the way and include anything that didn't make the cut that would add to the ultimate Deadpool experience,
casting a newcomer (or not proven movie actress) instead of an established name show that the studio would rely on the performer's ability instead of relying on the name to sell the movie, giving opportunity for a new talent to make full use of this opportunity to lead a potential franchise.
? Main contention ?
now dealing with the concept of time travel that's been delved into in this universe in Days of Future Past but really convoluted the timeline now to be easily comprehended, the inclusion of Cable and his complex backstory in the comics would definitely complicate matters further but vital in Deadpool's character building, him being by his side as a constant foil replacing the standout Colossus,
the other half of the gray-haired man from the future, Domino, would be interesting to see being side by side of the wise-cracking mercenary as her similar affinity with guns and hand-to-hand skills would definitely be a plus for him while her 'Domino Effect' would affect him,
- Negative -
for people not fully into his own particular brand of humor and incline to violence, the tendency for a reboot to double down on its predecessor would not be in their favor (although they're conscious enough to not go down that route and would definitely commentate on the sequel trend).
a prove of concept with a risk proven worth taken, another crack at it by the same team (sans the original director) would be a positive since they have to limit themselves in the debut of the character and now the origin movie out of the way, they could go all the way and include anything that didn't make the cut that would add to the ultimate Deadpool experience,
casting a newcomer (or not proven movie actress) instead of an established name show that the studio would rely on the performer's ability instead of relying on the name to sell the movie, giving opportunity for a new talent to make full use of this opportunity to lead a potential franchise.
? Main contention ?
the other half of the gray-haired man from the future, Domino, would be interesting to see being side by side of the wise-cracking mercenary as her similar affinity with guns and hand-to-hand skills would definitely be a plus for him while her 'Domino Effect' would affect him,
for people not fully into his own particular brand of humor and incline to violence, the tendency for a reboot to double down on its predecessor would not be in their favor (although they're conscious enough to not go down that route and would definitely commentate on the sequel trend).
- Synopsis -
?
Cast
Ryan Reynolds as Wade/Deadpool, Brianna Hildebrand as Negasonic Teenage Warhead, Zazie Beetz as Domino ...
(Director - David Leitch [John Wick], Genre - Action, Adventure, Comedy, Sci-Fi, X-Men Fox Universe)
- IMDb -
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Thor Ragnarok
Marvel
[November 3rd, 2017]
well above 90% but a full trailer would be a clear indication.
- Synopsis -
When we last saw Thor, he was flying off to figure out who was manipulating the Avengers at the end of Age of Ultron. Eventually, he hears rumblings of trouble in Asgard: His evil brother, Loki (Tom Hiddleston), has been impersonating their missing father, Odin (Anthony Hopkins). Loki’s rather lax governing leads to the reemergence of an imprisoned Hela (Cate Blanchett). Thor’s initial encounter with Hela gets him blasted to Sakaar, a barbaric planet ruled by the charming but nefarious Grandmaster (Jeff Goldblum). Valkyrie (Tessa Thompson), a tough, hard-drinking warrior hiding out on Sakaar brings the god to the Grandmaster. “Thor is a bit of a fanboy for the Valkyrie, the elite women warriors,” Hemsworth says. Thor is then forced into becoming a gladiator, which leads to his haircut and the loss of his trusty hammer.-
a case for the official pictures and synopsis:
+ Positive +
a clear trajectory the titular character would be going down in with a clear connection between the past with Loki and his family in Asgard as well as other places affected by their actions in the past two movies with a new isolated planet with its own system and ruler that he had to follow while befriending again his teammate-turned-enemy-turned-friend(?) in Hulk,
the 'tangibalization' (shout out to John Campea!) of seeing the change of appearance for Thor and now without his iconic hammer Mjolnir, he would be forced to adapt to a new environment and to fight for his life even against his friend while his own homeworld is facing 'Ragnarok' ...
the 'tangibalization' (shout out to John Campea!) of seeing the change of appearance for Thor and now without his iconic hammer Mjolnir, he would be forced to adapt to a new environment and to fight for his life even against his friend while his own homeworld is facing 'Ragnarok' ...
? Main contention ?
definitely the most colorful Thor's movie out of the three even with a number of stills being released ... Ragnarok indicates a massive destruction of Asgard if the comic's storyline was to be believed but how's the overall tone going to be if the visuals were vibrant yet the destruction's going to be massive?
- Negative -
Entertainment Weekly in particular has the tendency to over stylize their presentation and overwhelmed the products they're actually covering on instead of letting the pictures do their works themselves without unnecessary clutters - the official set pictures would always look out of place and weird if taken out of context without the full final product 'sheen' and the skeptic's harsh criticisms on how the characters look in stills would be justified (hopefully) in the end.
<Previews from a previous post>
<Previews from a previous post>
Chris Hemsworth as Thor, Benedict Cumberbatch as Dr. Stephen Strange, Tom Hiddleston as Loki, Cate Blanchett as Hela, Mark Ruffalo as Hulk/Bruce Banner, Idris Elda as Heimdall, Jaimie Alexander as Sif, Anthony Hopkins as Odin, Karl Urban as Skurge, Jeff Goldblum as Grandmaster, ...
(Director - Taika Waititi [Hunt for the Wilderpeople, What We Do in the Shadows]
Budget - $150 Millions, Genre - Action, Adventure, Martial Art, Sci-Fi, Power Ranger Universe)
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