Tag: Shane Black

The Predator, A Review & My Hopes for a Shared Universe

null12By Ed Sum
(The Vintage Tempest)

  • Spoiler Alert

Ever since Arnold Schwarzenegger put the smackdown on a lone alien hunter Predator on screen, this creature left a huge mark in the world of sci-fi and pop culture. After countless crossovers into comic book universes, I find leaving him in 21st Century Fox‘s own shared universe makes for better tales. Throughout many millennia, this hunter species took down dinosaurs, strange aliens, primeval man and elite fighting units. Ultimately, the movies are about who is this galaxy’s apex warrior.

No sequel or followup will ever surpass the testosterone pool from the original film. The Predator tries, but without the widespread recognition of the actors, some people may ask who are these stars? Those performers whose career shone brightly the 80’s are very well known and they still are to this day.  The talents from this decade are only recognizable if fans have seen their work. From Chuck to Hatfields & McCoys to Game of Thrones, thankfully the roster is decently represented. The characters these performers played represent the best of the best for that division of the military; quite often, they are in a situation where the fight is about the survival of the fittest.

Continue reading “The Predator, A Review & My Hopes for a Shared Universe”

The Nice Guys Don’t Play Nice, They Get Nasty!

By Ed Sum (The Vintage Tempest)The_Nice_Guys_poster

I knew I would be looking for Gil Gerard‘s potential return to the entertainment industry after talking to him about his career last year. He briefly talked about his appearance in Shane Black’s The Nice Guys, which wrapped filming but could not say much. This writer/director is also known for movies like Iron Man 3, Kiss Kiss Bang Bang and Lethal Weapon. Due to his contractual obligations, he could not reveal too much about his role, but for an actor I grew to admire since playing two phenomenal leads, in Buck Rogers in the 25th Century and Side Kicks, I was keeping my eye out for him.

This neo-noir crime drama buddy film set in the late 70’s (there was a Jaws 2 billboard in the backdrop) has all the makings to set up a pair of unlikely detectives going out to solve a crime a la Starsky and Hutch. Although the year 1977 was prominently introduced, the shark movie was released a year later. Goofs aside, the fun energy from Lethal Weapon still carries in this film, and it sets up a nearly similar pairing. When Holland March (Ryan Gosling) is put on the case to find Amelia Kutner (Margaret Qualley) and she’s hired Jackson Healy (Russell Crowe) to tell Holland to stay away, the case may seem easy to handle, but it’s not. Suddenly, they are thrust into the snuff film industry where she’s hiding out, and Misty Mountains becomes involved in the shenanigans because Kutner gets involved in a project where she reveals herself to be an activist. She wants to tear down the hold Detroit has in the automobile production and gas industry. Amusingly, March jokes about how electric cars will become the future. The subtext about the pollution problem (smog) in Los Angeles is glossed upon. Maybe a bit of hammering could have helped add to make this story all the more poignant.

Continue reading “The Nice Guys Don’t Play Nice, They Get Nasty!”

Dwayne Johnson is Doc Savage: The Man of Bronze!

With Black’s Predator sequel set to start production in the fourth quarter of this year, Doc Savage’s filming begins shortly after Predator warps-up.

DwayneJohnsonPublicityThis has been brewing for some time but people knew it had to happen eventually. With Dwayne Johnson‘s love for superheros, it makes sense that he would wish to star in Doc Savage since he is already set to star in a film of a hero as equally recognizable, Shazam. Shane Black, who wrote and directed Iron Man 3, will be performing the same duties with Doc Savage. Filming is set to begin sometime in 2017. Originally Black expressed interest in Chris Hemsworth of Marvel’s Thor but whether or not Hemsworth turned down the role or Black shelved the idea, that hasn’t stopped Black from telling media that Dwayne Johnson is the man for the job. Johnson with his chiseled good looks, defined physique, and incredible on-screen charisma would be fitting to play the Man of Bronze. And now it appears this is happening. Johnson has all but officially confirmed his role. Johnson has been one to allow his fans a peek at the behind-the-scenes of his films before and why would this nod to Doc Savage be any different. Johnson revealed via his Instagram account:

Continue reading “Dwayne Johnson is Doc Savage: The Man of Bronze!”

%d bloggers like this: