Geekscape Movie Review: Spider-Man: Far from Home

by MCDaveJuly 3, 2019

Following Marvel’s epic conclusion with Avengers: Endgame earlier this year, the stakes have never been higher as the cinematic universe pivots and plots a new course for the first time since its 2008 inception. And who better than the friendly neighborhood Spider-Man to pave the way for this new era in the MCU? Director Jon Watts returns with Spider-Man: Far from Home, a cozy and familiar sequel that ushers in a new Marvel figurehead and crisply handles its central antagonist in 2019’s finest summer blockbuster.

After the tragic concluding events of Endgame, there’s nothing Peter Parker (Tom Holland) wants more than to relax and enjoy his chaperoned summer school trip to Europe. But just as he leaves for his trip away from being Spider-Man, Peter’s vacation abroad quickly becomes interrupted by Nick Fury (Samuel L. Jackson). Strange attacks at the hands of elemental creatures put his relaxing summer on hold as Peter fights to protect a world that will never be the same again.

There’s no denying the pressure that was on Jon Watts and everyone behind Far from Home to smoothly transition the MCU following Endgame. Yet, the film rises to the challenge by boasting a wide collection of valuable storylines, otherworldly visual effects, and a brilliantly captured villainous foe to Spider-Man that will have fanboys awfully pleased. Far from Home carries a primary “passing of the torch” theme that proves an obvious, but also necessary, pathway for this bridging entry in the MCU. Consequently, Peter Parker’s character experiences quite a bit of turmoil in his quest for introspection. This enables Tom Holland to really shine as a performer, something we’ve all known that he could do quite well since his exceptional dramatic debut in 2012’s The Impossible. There’s also a hearty romance plot here, one that sometimes feels like it’s getting in the way, but one that stands as a major source of the film’s humor as well. From top to bottom Far from Home’s branded formula of intense action and relentless comedy fits the bill and offers a comforting first step into the dawn of a whole new era for the MCU.

GRADE: 4/5

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Geekscape Movie Reviews: Stronger

by MCDaveSeptember 28, 2017

Less than a year ago Peter Berg, a director increasingly known for tackling events from recent history, delivered a tense and thrilling recreation of 2013’s Boston Marathon bombing and the subsequent days-long manhunt for the suspects at large with Patriots Day. The film was effective but lacked a subtle and more personal feel to the Boston-Strong tragedy that rocked the world. Yet, nearly nine months later we’re given just that perspective from a mildly unexpected source. David Gordon Green, an indie filmmaker who finally broke through with his 2008’s stoner-comedy Pineapple Express, finally returns to his dramatic roots. Stronger tells the emotional true story of Jeff Bauman, a bombing victim who struggles to come to grips with the debilitating results of this tragic event.

Jeff Bauman (Jake Gyllenhaal) is an unreliable and immature jokester living in the Boston suburb of Chelmsford. And when he runs into his long-time on-and-off girlfriend Erin (Tatiana Maslany) at a local bar trying to raise money for the marathon, he promises to be there at the finish line to cheer her on as she finishes the race. But Jeff’s decision to finally come through on his promise leads to the greatest struggle of his life when he losses both of his legs in the bombing and reluctantly becomes a hero to the entire city of Boston.

David Gordon Green’s Stronger grips its audience with a compelling character-driven story that’s eloquently brought to the screen by Jake Gyllenhaal. The actor’s storied career adds another shining inclusion to his already long list of achievements as Gyllenhaal delivers the year’s most notable performance to date. But for as masterful as Gyllenhaal is on screen, co-star Tatiana Maslany complements his work with an earnest and skillful turn of her own. Stronger tells a nuanced story that’s thin on memorable scenes but effective because of its refusal to cater the the heart-tugging backdrop of its over-arcing tale. The film’s undeniable dramatic moments are supported by laugh-out-loud humor courtesy of Jeff Bauman’s family members, which add a layer of depth to the entire experience. Stronger isn’t anything exceptional, and it may not even end up in the Best Picture field, but David Gordon Green shows why he’s a capable storyteller and exemplary filmmaker.

GRADE: 4/5

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Jake Gyllenhaal, Jessica Chastain To Star In ‘The Division’!

by Derek KraneveldtAugust 2, 2016

Briefly: The bad video game movie taste left in Jake Gyllenhaal’s mouth after Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time has apparently, finally subsided.

Ubisoft has just revealed that Gyllenhaal, along with Crimson Peak star Jessica Chastain, will star in the in-development adaptation of Tom Clancy’s The Division.

Nine Stories Productions and Freckle Films are developing the film with Ubisoft. In the game, “in the wake of a devastating pandemic that sweeps through New York City, basic services fail one by one, and without access to food or water, the city quickly descends into chaos. As an agent of The Division, you’ll specialize, modify, and level up your gear, weapons, and skills to take back New York on your own terms.”

“We are excited to collaborate with Jessica and Jake, two of Hollywood’s most talented actors and perfect creative collaborators to help bring Tom Clancy’s The Division™ to the big screen,” said Gerard Guillemot, Chief Executive Officer, Ubisoft Motion Pictures. “Attaching Jake and Jessica is part of our development philosophy of working closely with top talent from the earliest stages to collaborate on a high quality film,” added Matt Phelps, Vice President, Ubisoft Motion Pictures.

Is this something you’ll be buying a ticket for? Or have too many video game movies simply left a bad taste in your mouth?

Jake Gyllenhaal Signs On for ‘The Division’ Movie!

by J.C. MarquezJune 2, 2016

Jake Gyllenhaal is teaming up with Ubisoft once again to bring one of the best-selling games of 2016 to the big screen.

According to Variety, Gyllenhaal is set to star and produce a feature film based on Ubisoft’s ‘The Division‘ video game–a title that has been on the market for two months, but has set record sales for Ubisoft.

A script has yet to develop, but the film will more than likely follow the exploits of the Strategic Homeland Division who are trying to reestablish themselves after a smallpox outbreak decimates most of the country–leaving modern society vulnerable to criminal activity.

This will be Gyllenhaal’s second out starring as an Ubisoft hero. In 2010, the actor portrayed Prince Dastan in Disney’s Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time, which (believe it or not) is the highest-grossing video game film of all time.

Seriously. It grossed over $335 million dollars world-wide.

The Division is now Ubisoft’s fastest-selling product at the tune of $330 million in its first five days of release, and one can surely bet that Ubisoft is looking for the same result at the box office. With an Assassin’s Creed movie already on its way, this could be an incredibly successful year for the French-based company.

Geekscape Giveaway: Win An ‘Everest’ Blu-Ray Combo Pack & Everest Carabiner!

by Shane O'HareJanuary 13, 2016

We’ve got ourselves another incredible giveaway for you ‘Scapists!

We’ve teamed up with Universal to give you a chance to win yourself a copy of the Blu-ray combo pack of Everest (which includes the Blu-ray, DVD and a Digital HD code), starring Jake Gyllenhaal, Josh Brolin and Jason Clarke. On top of that, to get into the climbing spirit, we’ll be including an awesome Everest themed carabiner!

First, lets learn a little bit about the film:

On the morning of May 10, 1996, climbers (Jason Clarke, Josh Brolin) from two expeditions start their final ascent toward the summit of Mount Everest, the highest point on Earth. With little warning, a violent storm strikes the mountain, engulfing the adventurers in one of the fiercest blizzards ever encountered by man. Challenged by the harshest conditions imaginable, the teams must endure blistering winds and freezing temperatures in an epic battle to survive against nearly impossible odds.

How To Enter:

Entering is simple! Just sign up with your email or Facebook with the widget below, and choose from multiple ways to enter! The more you do, the better your chances, and you can even tweet once a day to maximize your chances! Please be sure to use an email you check regularly, as we will contact you for your address through that. Contest is open to U.S. residents only!

Everest is available now on Digital HD, and will hit stores January 19th!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Climbers, you’ll be most excited about this little goodie:

Jake Gyllenhaal Replaces Tom Hardy in ‘Suicide Squad’ [UPDATE]

by Eric FranciscoJanuary 15, 2015

UPDATE: It has been clarified that Jake Gyllenhaal is only in the running to replace Tom Hardy, it has not been confirmed. We apologize for the mistake.

Trying to decide if this is a good thing or a bad thing. Tom Hardy has just departed from Warner Bros.’ Suicide Squad for scheduling reasons and has been replaced by Jake Gyllenhaal.

From TheWrap:

Hardy was forced to exit the project because Alejandro Gonzalez Inarritu’s “The Revenant” is going over schedule into mid-March, after which Hardy will be needed to promote WB’s “Mad Max: Fury Road,” which comes out on May 15. “Suicide Squad” is expected to start production in April, and that time crunch is why Hardy had to drop out of the film.

Let’s get the bad out of the way: No more Tom Hardy. While Margot Robbie and Jared Leto’s Harley Quinn and Joker respectively remain my number one reason to see Suicide Squad, Tom Hardy as Rick Flagg could have been a show stealer because he practically show steals every time. Even the terrible Bane from The Dark Knight Rises is a fun watch if you’re in the right headspace.

Now for the good: Jake Gyllenhaal. Gyllenhaal has always been a captivating actor, but this year’s Nightcrawler made everyone rally for him when he was curiously snubbed for an Oscar earlier today (reactions to that coming soon). His omission from the race (among others, like everyone involved with Selma) has been a point of backlash against the Academy today, and I’ve seen no shortage of outrage on behalf of Gyllenhaal on social media.

There’s cold comfort in that Tom Hardy left for the simple reason that he can’t make time for it. There was no diva breakdown or hatred or bad blood for anyone or for the superhero genre. In any case, Suicide Squad remains the DC movie to watch, and they have an incredibly solid choice in Gyllenhaal.

Suicide Squad is set for release August 5, 2016. (Holy shit, I will have seen a Power Rangers movie by then.)

Happy Easter: The Top 5 Movies With Rabbits

by MCDaveApril 6, 2012

It’s around this time every year that we come out of our cruise-controlled desolation and get rejuvenated by the uplifting Spring weather. The birds start chirping, the house windows open up, and happiness prevails. But it isn’t until Easter when you finally know you’ve successfully turned the corner on Winter. Therefore, with Easter fast approaching this Sunday and nothing more symbolic of Easter than bunny rabbits, I decided to comprise a list of the top 5 movies to feature rabbits. My roommates and I put our heads together and reeled off a pretty strong list of films, but as always not all of them can make the cut. Before we get started, let me acknowledge the honorable mention: Space Jam, Alice in Wonderland (the cartoon), and Harvey. Now to the Top 5!

#5 Monty Python and the Holy Grail

Slightly a stretch, but who can forget the Rabbit of Caerbannog? In the 1975 British comedy Monty Python and the Holy Grail, Arthur and the knights find their quest for the Holy Grail leading them to some mystic caves. In order to gain entrance, they are forced to defeat the killer rabbit. Arthur and company do so by using the Holy Hand Grenade of Antioch. Now, the Rabbit of Caerbannog sure looks sweet and lovable, but we all know what he’s capable of.

#4 Bambi

No one’s too man enough to downplay the sadness that we all felt from the 1942 (WOW!) animated Disney film, Bambi. When Bambi’s mom falls victim to the hunter, a little piece of each of us dies along with her. But thanks to the aid of Bambi’s big-eared sidekick Thumper, the pain subsides. And not only is Thumper a dose of good times, but the pink-nosed rabbit is also something of a philosophical humanitarian. Always remember, “if you can’t say something nice, don’t say nothing at all”.

#3 Watership Down

My list of the top 5 movies featuring rabbits finds itself following up Bambi with a lesser known, but equally awesome, animated film called Watership Down. The 1978 film, which was an adaptation of an English novel, centers around the epic journey of a bunch of rabbits who are forced to seek a new home after the destruction of their warren. There’s no shortage of rabbits here, and that easily helps propel Watership Down to #3 on my countdown.

#2 Donnie Darko

No hesitation required, we all loved the 2001 sci-fi drama Donnie Darko. But before Jake Gyllenhaal turned into a beefcake (please don’t question my heterosexuality), the actor began his career as the title character in Donnie Darko. Having intense visions of a demonic rabbit named Frank, the outcast teen struggles to piece everything together. After some partying and life sacrificing time travel, the credits roll and we finally understand the true purpose behind Frank. Nowhere near as lovable as our animated friends previously mentioned, Frank’s still every bit as effective.

#1 Who Framed Roger Rabbit

Christopher Lloyd plays a good tube of toothpaste, am I right?

Cue the boos. It may be an unpopular pick (I sure hope not), but my number 1 movie to feature a rabbit is the 1988 fantasy-comedy-noir Who Framed Roger Rabbit. Having been born in 1983, you can call me a sentimentalist and I’ll gladly accept (or maybe I just have a thing for Jessica Rabbit … hubba hubba). There’s very little greater than Toontown, a suburb of Hollywood where toons and humans coexist. Roger Rabbit is the quintessential hardworking husband who just wants to know that his foxy wife isn’t sleeping around. Who can’t appreciate that? Serving up laugh after laugh, Who Framed Roger Rabbit is an obvious no-brainer for the best movie to ever feature a rabbit.

What did I miss, and what did I get right? You tell me. Leave a comment and spark a debate.

When MCDave isn’t on Geekscape he’s being more cordial at MOVIE REVIEWS BY DAVE