Tag: tom hiddleston

Geekscape Movie Reviews: Thor: Ragnarok

by MCDave

Personally, I needed Marvel’s latest inclusion, Thor: Ragnarok, to redeem its title character’s overlying franchise. After 2012’s The Dark World dragged the entire Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) to an all-time-low, the God of Thunder quickly transformed into one of the MCU’s most uninspiring characters. And while critics and audiences alike have heaped praise onto new director Taika Waititi’s first go-around with Thor, let’s be clear that Ragnarok isn’t nearly as impressive as you’ve been made to believe.

When Thor (Chris Hemsworth) returns to Asgard, he finds Loki (Tom Hiddleston) posing as Odin and learns of his father’s self-imposed exile. As Thor and Loki venture to find and confront their father, Odin’s first-born and demonically powerful daughter Hela (Cate Blanchett) returns to claim the throne of a vulnerable Asgard. Meanwhile, Thor and Loki find themselves trapped on a planet of outsiders where they form a special team that returns to Asgard and battles Hela in order to save their home.

To varying degrees of success, Ragnarok‘s campy delivery pokes fun at the formulaic approach used widely within the MCU. This hyper-exaggeration leads to a whole new level of comedic absurdity that, fairly stated, comes with a nearly equal share of hysterical hits and hokey misses. Thankfully, though, Ragnarok also incorporates a more stylish vibe, courtesy of new helmer Taika Waititi, and this refreshing overhaul to one of Marvel’s least interesting Avengers brings edginess and excitement to a spin-off desperately in need of a boost. Chris Hemsworth benefits from this complete redirection of his character and he’s joined by the towering talents of Cate Blanchett who illuminates a strong villainous foe to the story. And while Ragnarok’s reemergence of Mark Ruffalo’s the Hulk is both bold and spirited, in a gladiator-esque battle scene that’s worth the price of admission all on its own, the introduction of Tessa Thompson’s Valkyrie character proves a far-less compelling addition. Consequently, Ragnarok comes with its ups and downs, but the film also places Thor back on track and propels him into the spotlight as the MCU gears up towards its highly anticipated Infinity War.

GRADE: 3.5/5

For more reviews, trailers and movie lists visit MCDAVE’s host site

Top 5 Moments From Philadelphia Comic Con 2016!

by Dennis Finocchiaro

I just got back from a long Saturday at Wizard World’s Comic Con in Philadelphia, and here are the top five moments of the day.

5.Preacher cover artist Glenn Fabry. What a cool, down to earth guy. My wife is a huge fan of his cover art and couldn’t wait to meet him. Not only did he personalize a cover for her, he was super cool and humble. His prints, which were limited and awesome, were only $10, which is cheap for a Wizard World con. When my wife explained to him how his covers drew her into reading the graphic novel, he told us a story. “I met Dominic Cooper [who is playing Preacher on AMC] here earlier today, and he said my covers were the reason he took the role.” With the new show on AMC, expect this guy to blow up. But don’t expect him to sell out.

4.Discussing Muppets with Guy Gilchrist, who drew the original Muppet comic strip and was eventually asked by Jim Henson to come up with designs for the cartoon Muppet Babies. He said “Jim was planning the baby sequence for the third movie and they asked me to sketch what all of the Muppets would look like as babies.” He went on to say you can always tell which are his because he drew the three lines on their mouths.

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3.Thor’s Chris Hemsworth was asked about his character in the new Ghostbusters reboot. A fan said he was basically a reboot of Janine, which is quite a different character than he usually plays, and asked him about the role. He described “Kevin” as “…a lot of improvisation. Once we started, the character really took off. He’s completely wacky…he tries to help but has to be rescued more than he helps.”

2.Tom Hiddleston’s constant denial that he is the new James Bond was…creative. It was brought up several times, and he genuinely seemed to be unsure whether it is him or not, but then again he is a pretty tremendous actor.

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1.Number one was easy. This con collected the faces of the film Back to the Future. There was a panel (more coming on the panel) including writer Bob Gale, Christopher Lloyd, Leah Thompson and the highlight of the whole day, Michael J. Fox. One of the best lines of the day actually came from Fox, who was asked his feelings when he found out he could have been doing the film (before replacing Eric Stoltz). He explained it: “I was in a trailer in Pasadena, where I had yak hair on my face and was drinking lunch through a straw…I heard about the Spielberg movie and wondered, why am I a werewolf instead of doing that movie? I heard Crispin Glover was in it, and I knew Crispin, and I thought to myself, ‘F**k Crispin Glover.'”

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Tom Hiddleston Discusses 007

by Dennis Finocchiaro

At Wizard World Philadelphia this past weekend, Tom Hiddleston was announced by the moderator as “possibly the next 007” at a fan panel with Chris Hemsworth. The crowd went crazy, but Hiddleston was dismissive of the possibility of becoming the next James Bond.

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“I’m sorry to disappoint you, everybody.  I don’t think that announcement is coming. But I’m very gratified to hear the enthusiasm. There’s not much that I can say that I haven’t already said, but I know… your guess is as good as mine, to be honest.”

He seemed pretty genuine in the fact that he is not the next Bond, as far as he knows. But then again, he’s quite the actor.

It came up again during a Q&A with fans a bit later. When asked if he would dance when he plays the iconic Bond, he laughed and then said “I have no idea.”

Yet another fan asked if he had the choice between playing The Doctor and James Bond, which he would choose. His response was very politically correct, saying “I couldn’t possibly say, because I don’t know that I’ll ever be offered either.”

Sounds like someone avoiding answering the question, doesn’t it? Well, we will all find out soon enough. The announcement is expected sometime soon.

Hiddleston isn’t the only possibility. A few people, including Emilia Clarke, Idris Elba, and Jamie Bell are considered in the running for the role as well.

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‘Crimson Peak’ Hits Blu-Ray This February, And It’s Chock-Full Of Extras!

by Derek Kraneveldt

Briefly: I’ve been itching to re-watch Guillermo Del Toro’s Crimson Peak since the very moment that the credits started rolling during my screening. The film shows off depth and beauty like only a Del Toro picture can, and the film’s unfortunate theatrical marketing had many moviegoers ignore the film as it simply looked like a B-horror film.

It’s not a horror at all, and it’s one of my favourite films of 2015. Jonathan and I talked about the film on Geekscape back in September, and I can’t wait to watch it again when it hits Blu-Ray on February 9th.

I’m a sucker for special features, and the Crimson Peak Blu-Ray won’t disappoint in that department, either. Here are the Blu-Ray exclusive features:

-I Remember Crimson Peak: A series of interviews with director Guillermo del Toro and his standout cast, Mia Wasikowska, Tom Hiddleston and Jessica Chastain.

 

-A Living Thing: An army of artisans was amassed to construct the Sharpe mansion on North America’s largest soundstage. Witness first-hand and in great detail the construction of Del Toro’s most elaborate set to date.

 

-A Primer on Gothic Romance: Employing his encyclopedic knowledge and passion for the genre, Guillermo del Toro traces the lineage of Gothic Romance in cinema. Using Crimson Peak as the basis, Del Toro outlines the history of cinematic terror and illuminates the differences between traditional scares and elevated horror.

 

-Crimson Phantoms: Del Toro’s approach to make-up effects is discussed by award-winning effects house DDT. In this piece, they offer an exclusive look inside their workshop, where they deconstruct the creation of the film’s most disturbing prosthetic effects. The discussion delves into the mythology of these elegant creatures and how Del Toro’s belief in the supernatural informed the design and narrative of the ghosts

 

-Hand Tailored Gothic: Costume designer Kate Hawley unravels her collaboration with Del Toro and reveals the symbolism constantly at play in the wardrobe’s design.

And the features that will be found on the DVD and Blu-Ray:

-Deleted Scenes

 

-The Light and Dark of Crimson Peak: Crimson Peak offers a stylized turn of the century with carefully crafted visuals that provide the perfect backdrop for Del Toro’s brand of psychological horror. Follow the phases of production to discover a booming America and a dark and removed England portrayed with a multi-layered sophistication unlike any seen in recent cinema.

 

-Beware Of Crimson Peak: Tom Hiddleston (Sir Thomas Sharpe) offers a walking tour of the many secret spaces in Allerdale Hall.

 

-Feature Commentary with co-writer and Director Guillermo Del Toro

Del Toro’s films are always ripe with amazing symbolism, and I cannot wait to hear what he has to say on the film’s commentary track.

Re-watch the Crimson Peak trailer below, and let us know if you’re looking forward to the release!

The ‘Crimson Peak’ Trailer is Beautifully Bone-Chilling

by Eric Francisco

I think we’re on the brink of another horror film renaissance. After the genre was largely declared dead during the mid-2000’s, a string of genuinely terrifying modern masterpieces have become more commonplace. From mainstream fare like Insidious, The Conjuring to indie hits like The Babadook and It Follows, and even underappreciated gems like As Above/So Below have proven that horror is back.

While Guillermo del Toro hasn’t necessarily made true horror since arguably The Devil’s Backbone, he’s still a master of the macabre and his newest film Crimson Peak appears to be a return to his roots.

Yes ladies and gentleman, that’s Tom Hiddelston. This movie is partially responsible for his unavailability for Age of Ultron, and frankly I think it seems worth it.

As a massive fan of del Toro, I really cannot wait for this movie.

 

Guillermo Del Toro’s ‘Crimson Peak’ Gets A Gorgeous Motion Poster!

by Derek Kraneveldt

Briefly: A new trailer is set to debut tomorrow, but Legendary pictures has just debuted a fantastic new motion poster for Crimson Peak.

We’ll never get to see Del Toro’s touch on Silent Hills, but Crimson Peak looks freaking incredible. I had the fantastic opportunity to meet with Del Toro at last year’s San Diego Comic-Con, as well as see a few props and pieces of the set. It’s safe to say that Crimson Peak has been one of my most anticipated films since that day.

You can take a look at the motion poster below, and be sure to let us know what you think! Crimson Peak hits theatres on October 16th, 2015!

Check out the new motion poster for #CrimsonPeak, and look for the new trailer tomorrow!

Posted by Crimson Peak on Tuesday, May 12, 2015

Guillermo Del Toro Shows Us Just How Real Ghosts Are In This “Crimson Peak” Trailer!

by Shane O'Hare

I first heard about Guillermo del Toro’s, “masterpiece”, Crimson Peak last year at SDCC. Our booth neighbors at Legendary had an amazing booth display designed by the set designers of the film. When I took the tour, and learned about the effort that went into this TINY little hallway I instantly knew I wanted to see this movie. And after watching this trailer, I…I just need this film in my life!

Legendary Pictures’ Crimson Peak, a co-production with Universal Pictures, is a haunting gothic horror story directed by the master of dark fairy tales, Guillermo del Toro (Pan’s Labyrinth, Hellboy series, Pacific Rim), written by del Toro & Matthew Robbins and starring Mia Wasikowska, Jessica Chastain, Tom Hiddleston, Charlie Hunnam and Jim Beaver. In the aftermath of a family tragedy, an aspiring author is torn between love for her childhood friend and the temptation of a mysterious outsider. Trying to escape the ghosts of her past, she is swept away to a house that breathes, bleeds… and remembers. Thomas Tull, Jon Jashni, del Toro and Callum Greene produce, and Jillian Share executive produces.

Did you see that shit?! SO ON BOARD! That hallway where the ghost came out of the floor? Yeah, I’VE BEEN THERE! Or I’ve been in an impressive simulation of that hallway on the SDCC convention floor.

Crimson Peak is set to hit theaters October 16th, 2015. Just in time for some Halloween fun!

Tom Hiddleston To Star In Legendary’s ‘Skull Island’!

by Derek Kraneveldt

Briefly: Legendary’s Skull Island appears to be moving along nicely, and one of Hollywood’s hottest actors has just signed up to star: Loki himself, Tom Hiddleston. The film was originally announced back at SDCC, and at that time it was revealed that Godzilla screenwriter Max Borenstein would draft the screenplay.

Legendary has also announced that The Kings of Summer director Jordan Vogt-Roberts will direct the film (he’s also attached to direct the Metal Gear Solid film… meaning that it probably won’t be made forever, which may be a good thing).

Hiddleston will also star in Legendary / Guillermo Del Toro’s Crimson Peak (which looks phenomenal, by the way), so we better get used to seeing his face (because we weren’t already).

Details are scarce on Skull Island, but the studio states that ‘previous works have touched on the island, but staying on and exploring this mysterious and dangerous place offers Legendary the opportunity to take audiences deeper inside this rich world with a style and scope that parallels other Legendary productions’

Excited? The film will hit theatres on November 4th, 2016.

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Only Lovers Left Alive

by Anna Agadjanyan

Only Lovers Left Alive

Written and Directed by Jim Jarmusch

Cast: Tom Hiddleston, Tilda Swinton, Mia Wasikowska, John Hurt, Anton Yelchin, Jeffrey Wright

Just when you thought that vampires have already been shown and re-imagined in every which way in modern cinema, along comes Only Lovers Left Alive.

In his calm, slow story telling style, Jarmusch presents the “other” vampires. Those not engaged in internal conflicts but those savoring every bit of art and culture available. Those, whose only luggage is books. And those, who have perhaps initiated or contributed to the best works of art across centuries. We, mere mortals are the “zombies” from their point of view. Contaminating ourselves, our planet and discarding and discounting so many profound scientific discoveries. Having been alive for centuries what cheekily named Adam and Eve find sexy is knowledge, science, music, literature and art, and not at all looks or vanity. It is a refreshing look on a less glamorous version of potentially eternal life. Life filled with borderline hoarding, seclusion, and depression. Set against the decimation of Detroit and Tangier, Morocco the lonely unglamorous tone for this type of subject matter is a pleasant surprise. Some of the story plots are indeed predictable but the unique details that Jarmusch showcases in the life of the main characters are enough to make up for the predictable turns.

Mia Wasikowska does a great job of keeping her character of a train-wreck of a sister likeable all the way through. The performances of Anton Yelchin, John Hurt, and Jeffrey Wright are spot on. Hiddleston and Swinton are perfect in their parts and importantly make their plights as vampires seem quite plausible. They are engaging to watch and add much nuance to their characters.

This film however, is not for everyone. If you appreciate the sort of quiet, slow moviemaking that represents much of Jarmusch’s work you are bound to love this. For the rest, there may be a moment where your mind begins to wonder. Due to its contained storyline and small cast it’s the talent of the lovely handful of actors that carries this film.

Final Score: 3 out of 5

Luke Evans is ‘The Crow’

by Derek Kraneveldt

The Crow has found its lead, and (surprisingly) it isn’t one of the actors we’ve heard rumoured over the past few months.

Nope, it’s not James McAvoy. It isn’t Tom Hiddleston either. Eric Draven will be played by Luke Evans.

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Evans is is slowly becoming a household name. Currently best know for his roles in The Three Musketeers, Immortals, and The Raven, he also plays the villain in Fast and Furious 6, and will also appear in the anticipated second and third chapters of The Hobbit.

Little else is known about The Crow remake at this point. The film will be directed by F. Javier Gutiérrez and is set to begin production in early 2014. What do you think of this casting choice?

Source: Deadline

Marvel Debuts The First Trailer For Alan Taylor’s ‘Thor: The Dark World’

by Shawn Madden

Marvel Studios “Phase Two” officially kicks off this week when Shane Black’s Iron Man 3 opens in theaters internationally and the studio has debuted the first trailer for their next film in the slate, Alan Taylor’s highly-anticipated Thor: The Dark World. The film picks up roughly a year after The Avengers and sees Thor deal with an ancient enemy who has returned.

Marvel Studios’ “Thor: The Dark World” continues the big-screen adventures of Thor, the Mighty Avenger, as he battles to save Earth and all the Nine Realms from a shadowy enemy that predates the universe itself. In the aftermath of Marvel’s “Thor” and “Marvel’s The Avengers,” Thor fights to restore order across the cosmos…but an ancient race led by the vengeful Malekith returns to plunge the universe back into darkness. Faced with an enemy that even Odin and Asgard cannot withstand, Thor must embark on his most perilous and personal journey yet, one that will reunite him with Jane Foster and force him to sacrifice everything to save us all.

Thor: The Dark World hits theaters November 8, 2013

Tom Hiddleston In Talks For Lead Role In ‘The Crow’

by Shawn Madden

We’ve heard plenty of rumors regarding the lead role in Relativity’s upcoming remake of The Crow. There’s now official word that actor Tom Hiddleston is in talks to star as Eric Draven, the role made famous in Alex Proyas 1994 cult classic by Brandon Lee, in F. Javier Gutiérrez’s (Before The Fall) remake/re-imagining of the film based of the comic series by James O’Barr. Draven is a resurrected murder victim who rises from the grave a year after his death in order to exact revenge on the thugs who murdered both him and his fiance.

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The script for the film was written by Cliff Dorman (Warrior) and is scheduled to go into production this fall. Hiddleston has met with the producers of the film and even sent them a make-up test for that he did on his own in London. The actor will undergo a professional make-up test in the next few days for the film to see if he has the right look for the role.

Source: The Wrap

Geekscape Comics: Kieron Gillen Gets A Letter From A Special Fan In This Weeks ‘Journey Into Mystery’

by Shawn Madden

Kieron Gillen has earned himself a  pretty famous fan. In the letters page of this week’s Journey Into Mystery #645, Gillen received a very special letter from this fan.

Tom Hiddleston, who has brought the god of mischief to life on the big screen and gone on to amass a very large fan base, decided to share his thoughts on the writer’s take on Loki during his run.

Now that right there is awesome.

Source: CBR

Tom Hiddleston Tells Us What We Should Expect From ‘Thor: The Dark World’

by Shawn Madden

Recently winning the “hottest actor” accolade in this year’s Total Film Hotlist Awards, Tom Hiddleston sat down with the magazine for a little q&a where he briefly comment on the upcoming Thor: The Dark World.

I don’t want to give too much away. But I can guarantee that you won’t be disappointed. Alan Taylor’s vision of Thor 2 is utterly brilliant. The journey continues in the most epic dimension and proportion imaginable. It’s very, very exciting.

The best thing about being Loki is that he is my diametric opposite. Physically, he is a photo negative of who I am. Loki is dark and pale, and I am light and fair. Also spiritually I am not much like him either. Yet I feel an incredible freedom in playing him.

He is a combination of mercurial intellectual ability, emotional ambiguity, rakish charm, charisma and provocative wit. He has a wicked inclination to mischief, underneath which is a well of spiritual pain. Both these aspects are central to his depth as a character: his unashamed and perverse delight in creating chaos; and his capacity for raw emotional expression.

And – as my American friends tell me – he’s kind of a badass! He’s one of the richest, most rewarding, most fun characters I’ve ever played.

Underneath the steely cold veneer of his trickster charm is a certain vulnerability and sensitivity – the wounded fragility of an outcast brother and son. His mind IS a box of cats though! But I love him.

Source: Total Film

A ‘Directors Cut’ Of ‘The Avengers’ Being Released Into Theaters This Summer?

by Shawn Madden

Rumor warning! This is not confirmed.

SuperHeroAuthority is reporting that we may just see the 35 minute longer ‘Directors Cut’ being released into theaters this summer in an attempt to knock ‘Titanic’ and ‘Avatar’ off the top of the hill.

“The Avengers is sitting comfortably at No. 3 overall on both the domestic and International ticket sale charts but it seems both Marvel and Disney desire the No. 1 overall spot and a current rumor says they could be contemplating releasing The Avengers: Director’s Cut in theaters at the end of this summer.”

Please remember this is from a ComicBook.com post and another Hollywood source who has heard this rumor and told SuperHero Authority this is a possibility but nothing has been confirmed to actually happen. Marvel and Disney have not said anything regarding this new rumor as well.”

So, while this is a major rumor…I would definitely not rule it out as a possibility. Especially because of the fact that most of us have seen this movie at least 2-3 times already. Would we most likely assemble again with that additional 35 minutes of footage? Definitely.

And what comic fan wouldn’t love to see ‘The Avengers’ hit number one?

Marvel wants Mads Mikkelsen To Play Villain Role In “THOR 2”

by Shawn Madden

With filming starting later on this summer the “Thor 2” casting has gone into full swing (pun…very much intended) Marvel is looking to choose the right actor for a certain villain role and has apparently set their eyes on Casino Royale baddie, Mads Mikkelsen.

Variety is reporting that Mads is up for a villainous role in Marvels “Thor 2”.

“It is unknown at this time what part he will play, but what is known is that his Tom Hiddleston, who played Loki in the original, will still have a big part as an antagonist. Marvel and Disney declined to comment on the casting.”

Best known for his role as the villain in “Casino Royale,” Mikkelsen’s pic “The Hunt” recently bowed at Cannes. He’s currently shooting “The Neccessary Death of Charlie Countryman” starring Shia LaBeouf.

Let the speculation on his role begin!

Perhaps The Executioner? There has already been quite a bit of speculation as to The Enchantress being the villain.

Marvel has scheduled “Thor 2” for Nov. 15, 2013

Source: Variety