Tag Archives: Ben Kingsley

Blackhat – Trailer

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Isn’t it remarkable what a few days can bring?  A few weeks ago, a thriller like Michael Mann‘s Blackhat–a movie that revolves around about Nicholas Hathaway (Chris Hemsworth) a cyber criminal released from prison to counter the threat of a cyber terrorist with the ability to bring a nation to its collective knees–would probably have been an interesting diversion and little else, till Sony Pictures was hacked and thousands of no longer private emails and social security numbers were released.

Imagine how devastating such an attack could potentially be if it were aimed at our infrastructure instead, which we hopefully won’t have to discover any time soon.

Though what’s sort of interesting in reference to the trailer is that the unseen terrorist sounds strangely like Trevor Slattery/faux Mandarin (Ben Kingsley) from Iron Man 3, which makes me wonder if this is some sort of unofficial sequel (It’s not, but the idea that Mann might be in the superhero business makes it more than worth the scorn such a comment might traditionally elicit).

Blackhat isn’t the type of movie that I would traditionally see, but I have to admit that I am a bit curious.

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All Hail The King

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All Hail The King “Iron Man 3,” with the reveal that the character that everyone thought was the Mandarin was actually Trevor Slattery (supposedly an actor of some repute in British theater circles) was a pretty bold move.

Some fans rolled with it, while others were a bit peeved.  Myself, I thought it was a particularly ballsy move on Marvel’s part.  Ben Kingsley was remarkable, and his portrayal of  Slattery was fun and an interesting twist.

When I heard that his adventures were being continued in the Marvel One-Shot “All Hail The King” I was jazzed to see it.

And seen it I have, and so can you, and I say that it was worth the wait.  It’s a bunch of good, cheeky fun.

Hopefully, Slattery turns up on an episode of “Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.”  That would be all sorts of awesome.

‘Ender’s Game’ Review

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Ender's Game

“Gavin Hood’s version of Orson Scott Card’s “Ender’s Game” didn’t do too well at the box office, which is a pity, because it’s pretty damn entertaining.”

Gavin Hood’s last film was the pretty mediocre “X-Men Origins: Wolverine,” which is reason enough for some to dislike him passionately.  Though not me.  The thing is, technically that film was well-done (some of the FX was a bit dodgy, but that’s not something that I would lay–directly–at Hood’s feet) but the story departed so far from established canon (let’s see…Deadpool, known as ‘the merc with a mouth’ not only doesn’t talk, but has his mouth is literally sealed shut at one point) that there was bound to be a backlash.

Another thing that didn’t do the movie any favors was that, prior to coming out, people became fixated on Scott Card’s feelings about homosexuality (He’s not particularly fond of it).

Though I have a problem with a boycott of a film because of the feelings of the writer are theirs, and they can think what they want.  If Orson Scott Card doesn’t like the idea of homosexuality, or homosexual relationships, so be it.  He has the right to his own beliefs, just as people have the right to decide not to see movies based on his books.

But to organize a campaign against the man because of it, I am not so sure.

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‘Ender’s Game’ Trailer

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Gavin Hood gets a bad rap.  The South African director made “Totsi” in 2005, which he won an Academy Award for.  His biggest film – in terms of budget – was “X-Men Origins: Wolverine,” which didn’t get any Oscars.

Mainly because it was pretty bad.

Though can you blame him for that?  He didn’t write it, which is where all the problems began.

Hood also worked on A&E’s “Breakout Kings,” which was pretty decent TV.

By the way, isn’t Ben Kingsley in just about every other movie lately?

‘Iron Man 3’ Review

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iron-man-3-international-poster-405x600

“Iron Man 3″ Is The Superhero Film Quentin Tarantino Would Direct, If He Had Directed A Superhero Film”

The biggest problem I had with with Jon Favreau’s “Iron Man 2” was that the filmmakers decided to pit Iron Man against another armored character, just like in the first film (though there was also the way that they turned Justin Hammer into a Tony Stark wannabe, when in the comics he was far more threatening and a much better foil to Stark).

Shane Black seemed to learn from their mistake, because other than Iron Man himself and War Machine – now known as Iron Patriot – there are no other armored characters in the film.

What struck me as odd about the film is that it plays more like something by Quentin Tarantino, in that you get what feels like tons of dialog, with a few set pieces strategically placed to remind you why you’re there in the first place.

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‘Iron Man 3’ Character Posters

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Iron Man 3 (Ben Kingsley)This isn’t new–it’s been available on the Interwebs for about a week now–but if you haven’t seen it, it’s new to you.

What you’re looking at is the latest cast member poster from “Iron Man 3,” and I have to admit that Ben Kingsley, as the Mandarin, looks all sorts of badass, which I hope forcibly expels his performance as The Hood from 2004’s “Thunderbirds” from my mind forever, which is less a commentary upon Kingsley or his performance than that I can be particularly anal).  What’s also kind of cool is that this film they aren’t going to pit Shellhead against another armored character, because, let’s be honest, that sort of thing work out its welcome by “Iron Man 2.”

The poster released before Kingsley’s was of Don Cheadle, as the Iron Patriot (also known as War Machine–a much cooler moniker–from “Iron Man 2″).

Iron Man 3 (Don Cheadle)

The ‘Iron Man 3’ Trailer Is Locked And Loaded!

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This trailer looks like ‘The Dark Knight’ of the Iron Man.

And I have to say, I liked it.  I also liked that there was no metal suit is sight when the Mandarin (though Ben Kingsley’s accent struck me as a bit odd) showed up and that Guy Pearce, in the little bit of time we saw him, looked almost sinister.