Awesome Movies

Spurred by David Fincher’s comment that Marvel’s three-act structure is constricting and formulaic, Lessons from the Screenplay sets out to define what exactly an act is, using The Avengers as an example before even beginning to issue a verdict on how Marvel uses acts.

(PG-13) “Someone let them in. Someone from our world.” The latest trailer for Pacific Rim Uprising shows that our young heroes are thrust reluctantly into their roles when the kaiju unexpectedly return. Premieres 3/23/18.

“Not to pursue reality, but to replicate an impression of emotions.” Channel Criswell pays homage to former Studio Ghibli animator and director Hiromasa “Maro” Yonebayashi. Maro-sama’s work uses the surroundings and objects to reflect a character’s inner state.

The second trailer for the Tomb Raider reboot wants to prove just how faithful it is to the spirit of the video game reboot. In other words, prepare to wince and gasp in what appears to be one long quicktime event. Mash the X button, Lara! Mash!

Just because you’ve got a widescreen doesn’t mean you’re seeing movies the way they were filmed. Many films were shot in an even wider aspect ratio, and streaming services are cutting off the edges to make them fit without black bars. Patrick (H) Willems explains.

It’s one of our pet peeves – replacing actors in the middle of a TV series or in movie sequels as if nothing happened. Writer Rex Sorgatz takes a look at this Hollywood monkey business, and how digitization could allow actors to keep performing long after they die.

Joaquin Phoenix plays the late cartoonist John Callahan. A car accident left Callahan a quadriplegic at age 21. Already an avid drinker, he turned to the bottle to save himself. But along the way, he also discovered his talent for making funny cartoons. Premieres 5/11/18.

(Spoilers) A look at some of the visual effects used in Guillermo Del Toro’s wonderful film, and how VFX artists used green screen, CGI, and other techniques to not only create the amphibian man, but to magically transport viewers in place and time.

Did you know that Thor: Ragnarok had the awesome title Mighty Thor: Battle Royale in Japan? Abroad in Japan looks at this and 20 other movies which had oddly translated titles, some which worked better than others. We love Phantom Thief Gru and the Moon Theft.

Jon Hamm stars as a U.S. diplomat in 1982 who gets caught between a rock and a hard place. He’s tasked to negotiate the release of his colleague from the terrorist group that killed his wife, in exchange for the release of a deadly terrorist leader. Premieres 4/13/18.

“Every human being is a puzzle of need. You must become the missing piece, and they will tell you everything.” Jennifer Lawrence stars as a Russian spy specializing in seduction and manipulation. Her loyalties are tested when she falls for a CIA agent. Premieres 3/2/18.

(SPOILERS) Jack’s Movie Reviews made this great summary of the underappreciated Blade Runner 2049. He looks at how Joe, Luv, Deckard and the other main characters serve as answers to the movie’s central question: what it means to be human.

(PG-13: Language) John Cena and Leslie Mann play neighbors who find out that their respective daughters plan to lose their virginity on prom night. They’re willing to do anything to stop that from happening. We dare you to watch this with your family.

The movie Downsizing might have come up a little short in both its reviews and box office take, but it did succeed in the VFX department. Here, the film’s effects supervisor Jamie Price walks us through the history of shrinking people down on the big screen.

(PG-13, Gore) CineFix picks its top five most innovative and unique films of all time. Whether its technological pioneers, or ones with left field stories, arresting presentations, uniquely cinematic or utterly experimental.

“Death – it’s like it moves in and never leaves.” After the death of her husband, a woman and her son move in to a relative’s vacation home, which is currently being sold. And there might be a good reason why they’re selling the place. On Netflix starting 1/19/18.