Round 2 in Modern Actors Tourney now underway..

Here we go with round 2. Matches will run through Tuesday evening.

First round in Modern Actors Tourney now underway

10 Friends. 10 Modern Actors. One Tourney.

Here is the first round matches that will run through Sunday evening.

Finally..my review of Wonder Woman

Sorry for the delay in not getting my review of Wonder Woman out sooner. But upon seeing it for the third time last week, I can honestly now say it is my favorite film of the year so far, edging out Logan and Guardians of the Galaxy 2, which I both love. We got introduced to Wonder Woman, as played by Gal Gadot, last year in the abysmal Batma v Superman, in which she was the only good thing going for that movie. Gadot brought some much needed relief from the doom and gloom with her frank honesty, no fear and taking charge. Those characteristics and more are on display in her solo movie. Expertly directed by Patty Jenkins, who guided Charlize Theron to a Best Actress Oscar for Monster many years ago.

Wonder Woman traces her origin from the very beginning as she was told by her mother Hippolyta (as played by Connie Nielsen) that she was sculpted from clay and given life to by Zeus. As a little girl Diana wants to be an Amazon so badly that she defies her mother and asks her aunt Antiope (a bad ass Robin Wright) for training. All this takes place on the beautiful island Themiscyra, which is hidden from the eyes of the world. Things are peaceful until Steve Trevor (a terrific Chris Pine) crash lands his plane into the water, in which Diana pulls him to safety. He was been chased by Germans who also crash the party which leads to an awesome battle between Amazons and Germans. This is where Antiope takes charge and shows why she is the Amazon's best warrior up to that point.

Things turn deadly and Diana leaves with Steve to head back to London to stop World War One, which Diana believes is being influenced by Ares, the God of War. Before the brutalities of war begins, there is ample humor as Diana is literally a fish out of water, trying to adapt to the customs of this new world. She also gets to tell sexist men of the time how it is and doesn't hold back. I was like..you tell them Diana. 

Once Diana and Steve and a few others reach the front lines Wonder Woman becomes the hero we all know she can be. Taking on German soldiers with an impressive display of fighting skills that are unmatched. But her ultimate test will come when she faces Ares during the finale, in which the gloves are off. Diana unleashed and not only is she amazing but makes you think damn Diana..you're just wrecking things all over the place. Her rage fuels her strength to Superman levels and takes it all to Ares in a show stopping climax.

When the dust settles, the war is over and while Diana is weary she is also a hero now. I love this movie, which is evident since I have seen it three times. As a comic book fan, I think it's one of the best one ever made. In fact I think it's one of the best films period.
My rating: A

My Top 5 Reasons Why Wonder Woman will be a massive hit!

Ok there have been some ramblings about the opening weekend prospects for Wonder Woman, the latest film in the DC Cinematic Universe. Some have pegged it's opening at $65 million which is way too low and others have placed it in the $80-85 million range. And topping out at just over $200 million domestic. I think it's gonna do way more than that.  And here are my top 5 reasons why:

1). RECOGNITION - Even if you have never read a Wonder Woman comic book, chances are you know Wonder Woman. You don't be around for over 70 plus years and not be a recognizable icon. Also thanks to the much loved 70's tv series with Lynda Carter, the character of Wonder Woman does not need an introduction. Everyone knows her, simple as that.

2.) GOODWILL- When she appeared in the maligned Batman V Superman last spring, she was the best thing about that movie. I mean that movie had lots of problems but Wonder Woman wasn't one of them. When she appeared with her gung ho and take charge attitude with her boss theme blaring in the background, you was like awwww yeah!

3).  TAKING CHARGE - Finally get to see a female super-hero take charge and have her own movie. No offense Helen Slater to your 1984 Supergirl, but Wonder Woman is about to take things to a new level. Not too mention that this is very female eccentric film which I think is beyond awesome.

4).  BOX-OFFICE POTENTIAL - If lesser known characters like Ant-Man and Doctor Strange can do solid box-office, then Wonder Woman should do bang up business. Doctor Strange opened to $85 million last fall and I guarantee his recognition is no where near the level of Wonder Woman. I predict WW can open to around $100 million easy, if not more.

5.) PURE COMIC BOOK BLISS - Judging by the trailers, we can forget the doom and gloom of Batman V Superman and rejoice in the lightness and fun that Wonder Woman looks to bring. And Gal Gadot looks great and every bit the Amazon Princess.

So my final predictions are:
opening weekend: $100 million
Domestic final gross: $300-$330 million
Worldwide final gross: $700 million

DEADPOOL is just too awesome!

Thumbs up DP!

Well with much anticipation Deadpool finally arrived in theaters last week and I saw it opening day and was completely blown away. Ryan Reynolds is perfectly cast as ex-Special Forces operative Wade Wilson who now takes assignments helping the little people such as cases of stalkers and general bad guy stuff. Everything is going ok and gets even better when he meets the lovely Vanessa (played by Morena Baccarin) as their humor and craziness match each other to a tee. Things are bliss for awhile showing the couple through-out the year with a sexy montage of sex scenes on holidays thru the year. But when Wade is diagnosed with stage 4 terminal cancer it all turns bleak. He makes it a point to spare Vanessa the sight of him slowly dying in front of her and takes a chance on this mysterious organization that says it can not only cure him but also give him super powers. With nothing to lose, Wade signs up and promptly meets Ajax (played by Ed Skrein) and his right hand henchwoman Angel Dust (played by Gina Carano) who subject Wade to massive amounts of torture to trigger his dormant X gene to release his mutant power. Which is an accelerated healing factor that it is even better than Wolverine's.

Ryan Reynolds as Wade and Morena Baccarin as Vanessa

But the truth is Wade is being made to be a slave to be sold to the highest bidder to become their weapon of destruction. Wade finally gains his powers but at a cost as he is completely disfigured. After the building he is at blows up and they think he is dead, Wade assumes the identity of Deadpool and wages war on Ajax and his cronies for some major payback.

The opening 20 minute sequence showcases Deadpool unleashed as he takes down Ajax's motorcade on a busy freeway with some cool slo-mo action scenes and hilarious humor. The film then smartly flashbacks to how Wade became Deadpool and such and is in perfect sync with the flow of the movie. DP has to deal with two X-Men, Colossus and  Negasonic Teenage Warhead (brilliantly played by newcomer Brianna Hildebrand) who seek to stop his bloody carnage through-out the city.

DP lays out the plan to Negasonic and Colossus

Eventually the trio will pair up once Ajax kidnaps DP's girl Vanessa and have a huge showdown in a ship yard with DMX's X Gonna Give It To You blaring in the background. Deadpool is a winner from the opening and creative title credits and never takes a false step. Ryan Reynolds is perfect in what is sure to become his signature role and gets great back-up in the form of Baccarin, Skrein, Hildebrand and the wise-cracking TJ Miller as Weasel (Wade's best friend).

Brianna Hildebrand as the cool Negasonic Teenage Warhead

I'm so glad this movie came out as most comic book movies were getting so dark and emotionless, specifically DC films, that Deadpool reinvents the genre before it starts to get stale. It is definitely a game changer and I for one, can't wait to see it again. It's already in my top 3 favorite comic book movies ever! May become #1 after a second showing...

Deadpool has reserved seats for you to see his awesome movie!

WOMEN WHO KICK ASS: CLAUDE PERRON

Claude Perron as bad ass cop Aurore in THE HORDE

Been awhile since I wrote a post on my series of women who kick ass in movies. Well after recently watching this French zombie film called The Horde, I had to write about the awesome French actress Claude Perron. She has been acting for over 15 years and her biggest known film is probably Amelie with Audrey Tautou, which I haven't seen. Well based on what I saw in The Horde, Perron more than qualifies as a woman who can kick ass. She plays tough cop Aurore, who along with other cops lead a siege on an abandoned apartment complex to take down some drug dealing gangsters who murdered one of their own. It's personal for Aurore as she was involved with said cop. Once they arrive things go to hell quickly as France becomes overrun with zombies. So now the cops and the gangsters must work together if they want to survive the night. 

Aurore means business

Aurore more than holds her own with the guys as she shoots, fights and kills more than her fair share of zombies. She has one particularly brutal and epic beat-down with a female zombie in a kitchen that will have you screaming hell yeah! And Aurore becomes more hardcore as the movie goes along as she is pregnant and will do anything to make sure she gets out alive to have her baby. 

Aurore is one bad ass lady!

Awesome image of Perron as Aurore

PAUL WALKER: FAST AND FURIOUS..and so much more (REST IN PEACE)

Me and my friend Starla decided to honor Paul Walker, who just recently died in a car crash. She has chosen three films she will talk about on her facebook page. I decided to write about the Fast and Furious series in which Paul was no doubt a big factor in its success. 

Let’s roll back the clock to 2001 and see where it all began. It was summer of 2001 and this little movie called The Fast and the Furious exploded at the cinemas. Paul was cast as Los Angeles police officer Brian O’Conner who goes undercover in the world of street racing to find out who has been hijacking trucks hauling goods. He encounters local legend Dominic Torreto (played by Vin Diesel) and quickly becomes part of Dom’s crew. Brian also falls for Dom’s sister Mia (Jordana Brewster) while keeping his identity under wraps and dealing with Johnny Tran, Dom’s enemy. 

The 1/4 mile race at the film's climax between Dominic and Brian

From it’s small beginning Fast and Furious opened to $40 million dollars that opening weekend and went on to make over $140 million that summer. 

Good friends Dominic (Vin Diesel) and Brian (Paul Walker)

Let’s keep in mind that when most people say fast and furious series is successful because of Vin Diesel and granted the man has a huge fanbase, but Paul Walker is the piece that has kept the series going through the years when Vin left. 

Case in point for the sequel, 2 Fast 2 furious (2003) Paul returned but Vin did not. This time Tyrese came aboard as the smart aleck Roman Pierce and immediately had good chemistry with Paul. 

The action shifted from Los Angeles to Miami and the racing and the action was just as good but this time Paul was squarely in the driver’s side. 2 Fast 2 Furious was a solid hit, earning just under $130 million, prompting a third movie called Toyko Drift, but without Paul or Vin. And it stalled at the box office, earning only $66 million. That was in 2006. 

Brian O'Conner is the man to beat now in 2 FAST 2 FURIOUS

It would be another three years beore another Fast and Furious movie would hit cinemas. And it was worth the wait as the original cast members from the first film all came back: Paul, Vin, Jordana Brewster and Michelle Rodriguez in the pivotal role as Dom’s girlfriend Letty. 

Was audiences ready for this comeback? Oh yeah, the opening weekend for this 4^th film logged $70 million, which was more than Toyko Drift made during it’s entire run. Fast and Furious was back up and running and would not be stopped. 

Paul’s character Brian O’Conner was back on the force but teams up with Dominic when a new bad guy threatens the ones they love. It was good seeing the guys back together and doing their thing. 

Brian O'Conner (Walker) and Dominic Torreto (Diesel) in the mix again

The ending would set up what I think is the best Fast and Furious movie so far, Fast Five. That film has one of the most audacious opening scenes in film history and sets the tone immediately. 

It’s bigger and bolder than any previous Furious film before as it brings back all the major characters from the previous films, moves the action to Rio and adds one super macho Dwayne Johnson to the mix to make one hell of a movie! It earned a mammoth $209 million during the spring of 2011 and cemented the fact that Fast and Furious was now a major player in movie franchises.

Paul, Jordana Brewster and Vin in FAST FIVE

 The recently released 6^th installment called Fast and Furious 6 was a gigantic hit as it earned nearly $240 million stateside and over $700 million worldwide. It’s amazing to see how this little series started out and now is one global juggernaut. 

And like I said, I know most people would say it’s because of Vin Diesel’s presence. But you have to give a lot of credit to Paul walker as an important piece to the success of this series as well. I remember most critics and non-fans wrote off the first movie as a B movie version of Point Break, which to some degree it is. But I think the introduction to the world of street racing to mainstream audiences made the film and entire series stand out from Point Break and all other films of it’s like. And I do believe if there was no chemistry between the characters in the film and no progression over the course of 13 years, it would have got old fast and faded away but it is one series that has actually gotten better over time.

Paul and Jordana in FAST AND FURIOUS 6

 At the time of his death, Paul was in the midst of filming the next chapter of the series and now it will be left up to the writers to see how this will affect the storyline. I do hope they honor his character and Paul himself with a worthy story and movie that will leave a wonderful memory to audiences everywhere.

GODSPEED PAUL WALKER!

Smiling faces of Paul and Jordana

Pretty cool stuff about Superman

I got sent this email from Alex Hillsberg, who designed this pretty awesome infographic about Superman. He asked me if I could share it with my readers here on Hero Worship. With Man of Steel opening next week, I thought this was a perfect post to do. Check out the link here:  the-man-of-steel-financial-success-of-superman

IRON MAN 3 kick-starts the summer...big time!

Just saw Iron Man 3 for the second time in the space of 5 days and I enjoyed it even more the second time around. Mainly because it was not as crowded as it was a Thursday showing and I could actually hear all the wonderful snappy dialogue that kind of got drowned out the first time with so many people laughing and cheering. 

Tony in his spare time

The sequel starts with a voice over by Tony Stark (Robert Downey Jr for the 4th time..five if you count his appearance at the end of The Incredible Hulk) who speaks gravely about the events taking place. He flashes back to 1999 on New Year's Eve as he and his bodyguard Happy Hogan (Jon Favreau) party it up in Switzerland and Tony romances the lovely biologist Maya Hansen (new to the Iron Man universe Rebecca Hall). She is working on a new project that can hack into the hard drive of any living organism and upgrade it's DNA. Flash forward 13 years and her idea is being used by Aldrich Killian (Guy Pearce) who Tony rebuffs at the same party those many years ago. Well his project Extremis uses ex-soldiers and grants them the ability to regenerate severed limbs and project intense heat along with super strength. These are the weapons utilized by the terrorist called The Mandarin (Ben Kingsley) who threatens the world with his random acts of violence.

Rebecca Hall as Maya

Guy Pearce as Killian

When Happy gets injured in one such incident, Tony calls out the bad guy for a little one on one. Meanwhile Tony is having relationship issues with his girlfriend Pepper Potts (Gwyneth Paltrow) as she wants him to give up the super hero business a little and take it easy. Easier said than done as Tony has had trouble sleeping ever since the New York incident involving him and The Avengers. So he is constantly working on gadgets as his latest armor, Mark 42, can now adhere to his body magnetically from a distance which is very cool.

Ben Kingsley as The Mandarin

He will need all his smarts to take down Killian and his Extremis cronies. The Mandarin is an all different issue that I don't want to spoil here. You will never see it coming though. There is also a cool sub-plot when Tony crashes in Tennessee and is befriend by a very wise kid named Harley (Ty Simpkins). Their scenes together are the funniest bits in the whole movie. The whole cast in very engaging. RDJ can now play Tony Stark in his sleep and he does not coast on his laurels as he is just as good and sharp as he was the first time he suited up back in 2008. Paltrow is even more fiery as Pepper as she refuses to take a back seat to Tony's technology. Don Cheadle returns as Rhodey. And this time he is working directly for the President as Iron Patriot. Pearce makes a suitable villain that definitely will get your attention. Kingsley is pretty good too as The Mandarin but I really can't say too much about him without spoiling the movie.

Yep..trouble is coming

This shot reminds me of Kiss Kiss, Bang Bang so much...

makes sense..Shane Black directed both films

As far as the action goes, director Shane Black goes all out for this one. The attack on Tony's malibu home by The Mandarin's forces is awesome! If that doesn't get your adrenaline going, then nothing will. Another great scene has to the Air Force One attack and then rescue of the passengers who are falling from the sky. That is one of the best film sequences I have ever seen! The snappy dialogue is still there and the plot never gets convulted or heavy. And the movie never drags. It is a great film and a great start for the summer movie season. And it improves on Iron Man 2 big time. I'm up for seeing it a third time for sure.
B+

Tony loves Pepper!

Can you believe I haven't been to the movies in 2013 yet?

I usually average seeing about a good 20 movies a year. Between films with my wife, friends, and co-workers that has been the amount for the past 10 or so years. Before then I was averaging nearly 30 movies, with my best being 36 movies seen back in 1992. So what is going on now? I mean the offerings have been kinda slim, but there were still some ones I wanted to check out. But between work and being sick with a severe cold/sore throat and recently a stomach bug, just haven't had the time. That will soon change. This month comes two action flicks that I am keen on seeing..the Die Hard in the White House flick, Olympus Has Fallen with Gerard Butler and the sequel, GI Joe 2. Both seem like major check your brain at the door popcorn flicks. So I think that will end my current slump. And then the first weekend in April is already circled on my calendar for the awesomely looking Evil Dead. Oh yeah! And then before you know it the big guns of summer will be unleashed..Iron Man 3, Star Trek: Into Darkness, The Man Of Steel, among others.

Come on back Monty..to the world of movies!