THE ATHLETIC NERD

AN EPIC NEW TRAILER HAS ARRIVED…  BUT I CAN’T ALLOW MYSELF TO PRESS PLAY

The marketing team behind Zack Snyder’s Man of Steel has done a remarkable job selling the film to audiences.  They sold me after the teaser trailer was released.  Actually, I was probably on board the moment they announced the keys to the franchise were handed to Christopher Nolan.

Little by little, they released epic posters, astonishing images and incredible trailers.  Indeed, Superman is in good hands and I can’t wait for his return to the big screen.

THE BEST SUPERMAN MOVIE EVER?

Time will tell if the latest and easily the most ambitious Superman movie will take it’s place alongside the best superhero movies of all time.  I’m willing to bet it will but something funny happened when they released the latest and presumably final trailer.

I couldn’t bring myself to watch it! I’ve analyzed nearly every Man of Steel trailer they’ve released thus far yet I couldn’t press play.

XTRA | Top 5 Moments: Man of Steel Trailer #2

XTRA | Top 5 Moments: Man of Steel Trailer #3

Honestly, I’m already excited enough for this movie and this new trailer is apparently action packed…

I DON’T NEED TO SEE ANYTHING MORE..  BRING ON THE MOVIE

A while back, I wrote about how major movie villains are revealed in the social media age.  How much information is too much?  Star Trek Into Darkness did a wonderful job disguising a major twist involving the villain.  It was nice to see some information held back.

In regards to Man of Steel, the first 3 trailers did a phenomenal job of showing off the film without giving too much away.  (Including the villainous General Zod) I think that’s why I’m avoiding the fourth trailer.  This is my chance to step back from the marketing and simply wait for the film to come out.  Still, it’s very difficult to avoid this new trailer especially when my favorite sites raved about it:

“We all thought there was no way a trailer could top the last one director Zack Snyder provided us for Man of Steel. At three minutes, even its length was epic. And the action it showed was pure, ass-kicking Superman.  The latest trailer (number four, if you count the teasers as one) is shorter than the previous one but, somehow jam-packed with even more spectacle.” (/FILM)

“While previous trailers focused on the coming-of-age tale of a Kryptonian stranded on Earth and the love between a son and his father, this new cut is chock full of dread, evidenced by Superman drowning in a mountain of skulls.” (Collider)

“Zod narrates this newest trailer, full of never before seen footage. One feeling I get from watching it is that Zod is a very real threat, which is great because Superman is going to kick his ass.” (Geek Tyrant)

“If anything, this trailer puts to rest any doubts that Man of Steel will be anything other than epic. Unlike some previous Superman movies, it looks as if the world’s greatest superhero will be taking on a threat that’s on a scale commensurate with his powers.” (Screen Rant)

I wake up ever morning, read movie news and watch the latest trailers.  Not pressing play is hard but we’re less than a month away from what looks like an unforgettable blockbuster event.  A Superman movie unlike anything we’ve ever seen before.  Man of Steel!

XTRA | 20 Movie Sites You’ll Love

Excited about this summer’s big blockbusters?  Check out 10 of the biggest movies coming out in 2014 here.

TOO MASSIVE FOR YOUR COMPUTER SCREEN!

I still can’t get over it…  This movie exists!?

A movie about giant robots fighting giant monsters created by one of the most imaginative directors of our time; Guillermo Del Toro.

XTRA | Top 5 Moments: Pacific Rim Trailer #1

A new trailer has arrived that’s full of action but also a few intriguing character moments I can’t wait to learn more about.  Could this be a giant robot movie with heart?  If you’ve seen Del Toro’s masterful Pan’s Labyrinth then you already know he brings equal amounts of emotion to go along with his monstrous creations.

The marketing campaign didn’t have to release a trailer this awesome.  They had me at Del Toro…   According to a recent article on /Film, Del Toro had this to say when asked about money shots in his trailers:

“If I showed you all the money shots [in Pacific Rim], you’d have a 70 minute orgasm.”

5. GIMME A HUG

I highly doubt this is in fact intended to be part of an ending where we make peace with the monsters.  These battles look relentless and I’m most definitely okay with that.

4. ELECTRIC MONSTERS, FLYING MONSTERS AND MORE

Kitchen.  Sink…  No other words are necessary.

3. FACE OFF: MAN VS MONSTER

No way in hell am I getting out of a giant robot to face a massive monster on my own…  But this guy does…  Courage? Stupidity? We’ll find out in July

2. GIANT ROBOTS IN SPACE?

These battles take place in the ocean, on the shore, in the snow, in cities AND in space!?

1. IN THE FACE!!!  WITH A BOAT!?

The robot smashes a BOAT into a monsters face.  How will this movie suck?  Give me one good reason why this won’t be FUN to watch on the big screen.  I can’t think of any.

Click here for more Movie Countdowns.

XTRA | Movies That Changed Everything: A 12 Part Series

10 FLICKS | Awesome Looking Movie Villains

HUNDREDS OF SCREENWRITING WEBSITES AWAIT!

As part of The Screenwriting Spark launch, I’ll be showcasing some of the big features the new screenwriting site has to offer thus far.  First up:

THE ULTIMATE GUIDE TO SCREENWRITING WEBSITES

This page is home to hundreds of screenwriting websites, blogs and resources from around the world.  I had a lot of fun researching all of these wonderful sites.  Every entry is given a category so you can find the type of site you’re looking for quickly and easily.

The page itself is separated in alphabetical order but you can also view these sites by category here.

What I love the most about The Ultimate Guide is that it will continue to evolve.  Passionate screenwriters are launching new blogs everyday.  Be sure to submit your site if it’s not part of the guide.

Check out more great features on The Screenwriting Spark here.  Don’t forget to subscribe for email updates on all the latest sparks.

THE HYPE IS BUILDING…

Every summer, as the big movies approach, I always feel like the following summer won’t stack up. In 2012, we got the ultimate superhero team up as Marvel unleashed The Avengers. Christopher Nolan completed his legendary Batman trilogy with The Dark Knight Rises. Spider-Man returned to the big screen with a completely new look. How would 2013 top that?

How about Iron Man 3, Star Trek Into Darkness, Man of Steel, Pacific Rim & The Wolverine?

COUNTDOWN | Top 10 Summer Movies 2013

Now that Marvel’s Cinematic Universe has kicked off with Iron Man 3, I think it’s time to look ahead and see what’s coming. Here are 10 big 2014 summer movies to look forward to:

10. ALL YOU NEED IS KILL

Tom Cruise returns to science fiction after saving the world in 2012′s Oblivion.  All You Need Is Kill is based on a novel of the same name by Hiroshi Sakurazaka with illustrations by Yoshitoshi ABe.  Here is a brief plot description from Amazon.com:

“There’s one thing worse than dying. It’s coming back to do it again and again… When the alien Gitai invade, Keiji Kiriya is just one of many raw recruits shoved into a suit of battle armor and sent out to kill. Keiji dies on the battlefield, only to find himself reborn each morning to fight and die again and again. On the 158th iteration though, he sees something different, something out of place: the female soldier known as the Bitch of War. Is the Bitch the key to Keiji’s escape, or to his final death?”

Sounds wonderfully strange.

REVIEW | Oblivion, Prometheus, Moon & Independence Day

9. GODZILLA

I loved Gareth Edwards ‘Monster’.  Now he gets to make the mother of all monster movies (with respect to Guillermo Del Toro’s Pacific Rim.)  Godzilla is THE monster.  Hopefully they can erase the memory of Roland Emmerich’s 1998 adaptation starring…  Mathew Broderick.

REVIEW | A Monster amount of character

8. DAWN OF THE PLANET OF THE APES

Speaking of erasing bad memories… Rise of the Planet of the Apes was one of my favorite surprises of 2011.  It was a brilliant reboot that made me forget all about Tim Burton’s attempt.  This was Ceasar’s story and I loved his story.  Andy Serkis gave us one of the best motion capture performances of all time.  I can’t wait to see what the apes have planned for us in 2014.

REVIEW | Rise of the Planet of the Apes

7. FAST & FURIOUS 7

Rumor has it, Jason Statham will join the cast for the seventh installment as a villain.  This time, Saw alum James Wan takes over for director Justin Lin.  This series has seen unprecedented longevity and now boasts a cast that may rival The Expendables by Fast 9.  Will see if a new director can keep things fresh for Dom and his team.

XTRA | Fast Five is Rock Solid

6. TRANSFORMERS 4

I loved the first Transformers but I really hated the sequel Revenge of the Fallen.  The third installment was a return to form but now all bets are off.  Michael Bay is currently redesigning Autobots and Decepticons.  He’s bringing in an entirely new cast including Pain & Gain‘s Mark Walberg.

XTRA | Big Blockbuster Blogging: My first Transformers 4

REVIEW | Transformers Dark of the Moon?  Apology accepted Michael Bay

5. CAPTAIN AMERICA: THE WINTER SOLDER

Marvel’s Cinematic Universe will certainly get a big boost when Captain America returns to the big screen.  I say that because the film will feature many prominent members of S.H.E.I.L.D.  The organization was one of the main ways Marvel connected their films from Phase One.  S.H.I.E.L.D was absent from Iron Man 3 and more than likely won’t be a major part of Thor: The Dark World either.  This may be the film that updates us on the universe as a whole as well as Captain America’s adjustment to the modern world.

Note: This isn’t technically a summer movie with an April release date but lets face it…  It is.

COUNTDOWN | Top 10 Moments: Marvel’s The Avengers

4. THE AMAZING SPIDER-MAN 2

I enjoyed The Amazing Spider-Man.  The reboot managed to retell Peter Parker’s origin story without feeling like a shot for shot remake.  Andrew Garfield IS Spider-Man now.  His next challenge?  How about Jamie Foxx as Electro and Paul Giamatti as Rhino?  Not too mention the first appearances of Mary Jane Watson, Harry Osborn and his famous father Norman.

This has all the makings of a fantastic summer movie.

XTRA | Larger Than Life Movie Villains Revealed!

3. X-MEN: DAYS OF FUTURE PAST

When Brett Ratner created X-Men: The Last Stand…  He literally destroyed the series.  Major characters were killed off and the whole thing felt like a rushed mess.  When you do that, it’s pretty difficult to create a sequel.  What did they do?  They brought in Matthew Vaughn to create a prequel.  The result was X-Men: First Class.  A fantastic movie that reminded us that the X-Men franchise has a lot left to give.

I don’t think anyone saw Bryan Singer returning for the follow up.  Regardless, the man who brought the X-Men to life before Ratner killed them all is back!  Now we get to see mutants from the past and present in one giant movie.  It may not be as big as The Avengers but this movie will definitely flex it’s Superhero muscle.

2. TEENAGE MUTANT NINJA TURTLES

I still can’t believe this movie is happening.  I grew up with Ninja Turtles.  I had the action figures, the bed sheets, the Halloween costumes…  You name it.  I absolutely love the movies as well. (The first two at least.)  The thought of seeing the Turtles in a new live action movie with TODAY’S technology is thrilling to say the least.  The child in me is smiling.  I’ll be there on opening day.

XTRA | Hey! Jonathan Liebesman!  How about some Ninja Turtles Concept Art!

XTRA | Why the new Ninja Turtles movie is off to a great start

XTRA | Awesome Ninja Turtles Fan Art

1. GUARDIANS OF THE GALAXY

Who are The Guardians of the Galaxy?  I struggled putting this above Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles but it’s the unknown that intrigues me.  What does Marvel have up it’s sleeve?  No doubt this film will set the stage for The Avengers 2 and the villain Thanos.  Big superhero movies are normally reserved for well known franchises.  This is definitely a risk but I’m on board.  I love the idea of a Marvel movie set in space with characters I know nothing about.

XTRA | I’m glad I don’t know anything about Guardians of the Galaxy

COUNTDOWN | Marvel Cinematic Universe Phase Two: 10 Things I’m looking forward to.

XTRA | Marvel Cinematic Universe Phase Two Round Up

Which Summer movie are you excited for?

SEASON 3 EPISODE 8
SECOND SONS

Last week I was admittedly disappointed in the episode as little forward progress was made in the majority of the story lines.  Game of Thrones usually follows up slower episodes with huge moments…  And that’s exactly what happened in ‘Second Sons’.

Leaving behind most of the stories and characters we visited last week, this episode focused on three main threads.  All of which gave us incredible moments yet none of them won the episode.  If you’ve been reading my recaps this season you know exactly which moment I loved the most.

Before we got that that moment, we got to see Gendry’s arrival at Dragonstone play out…  The poor guy found out he’s not on vacation in the worst way.  The thought of a leech to the nuts is absolutely terrifying.  (Though not as terrifying as Theon’s experience last week.)  We’ll see what his… ahem…  King’s blood will accomplish through Melisandre’s scorcery soon enough I’m sure.  Are we destined for a super smoke monster or something worse?

Back in King’s Landing, Tyrion and Sansa got married in a ceremony laced with Joffrey’s mischief.  He’s an asshole.  Still, putting up with the King’s antics led to one of the best moments of the season.  Tyrion stabbing that knife into the table and threatening the King was fantastic.

Daenerys has really grown this season.  Last year, she spent the majority of her time trying to win people over without much success.  Now, she gets what she wants and managed to get the titular second sons to join her cause with ease.  No dragons required.  She just had to be hot apparently.  Side note: What ever happened to the Warlocks that were hunting her?

Those three stories were awesome but I HAVE to award the moment of the episode to the White Walker!

FINALLY A WHITE WALKER APPEARS IN SEASON 3!

If there is one thing that frustrated me about Season 3 it was the absence of the characters that ended season 2 so brilliantly.  A whole army of White Walkers marching on The Wall only to disappear without a mention for 7 episodes.  I thought for sure Jon and Ygritte would spot a few as they scaled The Wall.  They didn’t.

I’m not sure how they will factor into the final 2 episodes of the season but I’m glad to see they haven’t been forgotten entirely.  Although, it did feel a bit random to have one attack Sam and Gilly considering there is an army of them roaming somewhere in the North.

Regardless, watching him shatter like that was pretty fantastic.  These guys are probably a huge drain on the shows budget so saving them makes sense.  I would have been happy with a mention before now but I’ll take it.  Welcome to Season 3 White Walkers!  It’s about time.

COUNTDOWN | Best Moments: Game of Thrones Season 2

XTRA | Screenwriting & The Game of Thrones Theme

CATCH UP:

Episode 1 Moment: Valar Dohaeris

Episode 2 Moment: Dark Wings, Dark Words

Episode 3 Moment: Walk of Punishment

Episode 4 Moment: And now his watch is ended

Episode 5 Moment: Kissed by fire

Episode 6 Moment: The Climb

Episode 7 Moment: The Bear and the Maiden Fair