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- Exposing all the Fake LOTR Superfans in Amazon’s ‘Rings of Power’ Promo
- It Looks Like Amazon Just Broke the ComiXology App… Again
- Batman Villain the Penguin was Forbidden from Smoking On-Screen According to Colin Farrell
- John Carpenter Discusses Sequel to His Classic Horror Sci-Fi ‘The Thing’
- University Security Guard Arrested for Stealing 5,000 Rare Comics
- Oscar Isaac Discusses Taking Risks on Experimental ‘Moon Knight’ Series
- Comic Reviewer Thinks Female Sex Appeal in Comics is Bad
- Inspiration & Psychology Behind The Batman’s Riddler & Caped Crusader
- Legendary Writer Roy Thomas Creating New Classic Era X-Men Tales
| Exposing all the Fake LOTR Superfans in Amazon’s ‘Rings of Power’ Promo Posted: 23 Feb 2022 08:25 AM PST
Amazon Prime held a “Lord of the Rings: Rings of Power ‘Superfan’ Roundtable,” but the video was quickly ratioed and mocked online, so they switched the content to ‘unlisted’ status so it wouldn’t turn up in searches.
If you made it through that video of handpicked "fans" who don't repeatedly prove they care more about themselves, and their identity politics and ideologies than about J.R.R. Tolkien’s masterpiece, then you’re made of sterner stuff than me. That video of "influencers" was over the top cringe. No analysis, no breakdowns or deep dives. They literally discuss bits of the trailer, and talk about their sexual preferences. The saving grace is that if you have the handy “dislikes” plug-in on your browser, you can see that most people agree with me. Just look at those downvote numbers.
But as cringy as that video was, it actually gets even worse. It turns out that Amazon’s “super fan” video for The Rings of Power revealed something even more embarrassing than initially thought, because not everything was as it seemed. A bonafide super-fan of Lord of the Rings, YouTube user Disparu, not only ripped apart the above “superfans” trailer took what he calls a trip down the “rabbit hole,” and discovered there are multiple versions of this trailer, customized by language and regions. He found several of these “Tolkien Superfans” videos, from that unlisted UK video, as well as German, Italian, Spanish, and other versions and he breaks them down, proving that every one of the videos share similarities to each other. In other words, there is nothing organic or “unique” about these carefully crafted and scripted hype videos.
Amazon would not have switched their videos to UNLISTED if the fanbase hadn’t overwhelmingly expressed their displeasure with these superfan videos. After the massive disappointment But what are your thoughts on these new ones, and how comparable are the video shorts? Is it scripted, directed, or simply excellent editing? Related: Failing Faster: Amazon's New Lord of the Rings Show
Is the reason these sorts of projects turn out so awful, or go woke, is because the people behind them have no vision or imagination? Amazon’s Rings of Power series is dead on arrival. No wonder the owners of the IP want to sell it off.
Amazon says new series will not feature gratuitous sex and violence, although the 11 and 12-year-olds at the bottom end of its target audience sometimes ‘might have to pull the blanket up over their eyes if it’s a little too scary’. But for many, Amazon itself is a dark empire worthy of a fantasy story. They definitely have the money to have been able to have done Tolkien proud, but clearly it’s going to be a disaster.
I am convinced that David Stewart is right about Amazon’s ‘Rings of Power’ in that it exists only to spite Tolkien and his true fans. What a shame.
The post Exposing all the Fake LOTR Superfans in Amazon’s ‘Rings of Power’ Promo appeared first on Bleeding Fool. |
| It Looks Like Amazon Just Broke the ComiXology App… Again Posted: 23 Feb 2022 06:15 AM PST
Amazon hasn’t handled integration of Comixology properly while merging it with Kindle. This according to Android Police:
Oh, on the issue of Marvel’s digital library, what’s the use of buying their new products when they’re just so bad, and repeatedly resort to company wide crossovers? Certainly it’s a shame if the program, merged with Kindle as it appears to be now, doesn’t work well, but if we’re talking about brand new Marvel products, it’s pointless to suggest anybody buy them when they’re so artistically bankrupt.
In fact, who knows if many people are buying stuff from Comixology at all, collectors or otherwise? For all we know, even that’s probably an exaggeration by the news site, which doesn’t seem to give any sales figures, digital or otherwise.
Originally published here. The post It Looks Like Amazon Just Broke the ComiXology App… Again appeared first on Bleeding Fool. |
| Batman Villain the Penguin was Forbidden from Smoking On-Screen According to Colin Farrell Posted: 23 Feb 2022 04:45 AM PST
Certain characteristics are so closely associated with particular characters that they become virtually expected. When it comes to Colin Farrell’s portrayal of Penguin in The Batman, one thing we won’t see is his iconic cigar. Oswald Cobblepot has always had a cigarette or cigar holder in practically every form of the famous Batman villain, from his comic book origins through Burgess Meredith’s TV portrayal to Danny DeVito’s Batman Returns appearance. In The Batman, however, Farrell was not permitted to have even an unlit cigar on location, despite his best efforts to persuade Warner Bros. to allow it.
Previously, Robin Lord Taylor’s Oswald in the Fox TV series Gotham was one of the only on-screen versions of the Penguin who did not always have his smoking aid, so it is not absolutely unheard of. However, Farrell recently discussed his portrayal of the role with Jake’s Takes, and while Warner Bros. refused to give in to his desires regarding cigars, it isn’t the only difference between his first appearance as the character.
When asked how the character could evolve, Farrell said:
“I fought valiantly for a cigar, I even said at one stage ‘can I have it unlit’ and they were like no. The Oz that we meet hasn't embodied the energy of the Penguin that we recognize from the source comics and from previous films, so I'll see if it goes again. I'd love to explore it because he's not an underboss, he's not a boss, he's just a soldier of Falcone at this stage. But he has great ambition and dreams of doing big big things".
It’s been over a decade since Hollywood studios began rolling out anti-smoking policies under pressure from the MPAA ratings board (which was, in turn, under pressure from various anti-smoking groups to include smoking as part of its ratings determination). So even though the Penguin is a bloodthirsty villain, Hollywood doesn’t want you to see him indulging in tobacco. So it’s doubtful that we will see Penguin’s iconic cigarette-holder the next time he appears on-screen. At least it seems clear that Farrell is planning to make this version of Oswald Cobblepot his own.
The Batman opens this weekend. The post Batman Villain the Penguin was Forbidden from Smoking On-Screen According to Colin Farrell appeared first on Bleeding Fool. |
| John Carpenter Discusses Sequel to His Classic Horror Sci-Fi ‘The Thing’ Posted: 22 Feb 2022 03:25 PM PST It’s been four decades since its release, yet John Carpenter’s The Thing remains one of the most brutal and amazing horror pictures of all time, adored by fans of all ages and lauded by horror journalists and filmmakers alike. Carpenter’s film, about an arctic research station brought to its knees by an unknown alien entity, is a synthesis of Carpenter’s love of the classic film The Thing From Another World and his maturing skills as a director following excellent work in the 1970s. With superb makeup effects by Rob Bottin and a fantastic ensemble cast lead by Kurt Russell, this unrivaled horror sci-fi movie is one very addictive adrenaline experience.
Now, Carpenter says he is open to developing a sequel to The Thing and also Prince of Darkness, two of his most memorable films from the 1980s. Carpenter spoke with Fandom about which of his other hits from his back catalogue he would like to revisit in light of the recent advent of so-called legacy sequels, with 2018’s Halloween being one of the more successful instances.
"Maybe The Thing. Maybe Prince of Darkness. I can see a little bit more of that. But we'll see. You never know in this business. You really don't."
Blumhouse Productions is currently developing a film based on The Thing, however it’s expected to be another reboot or retelling rather than a sequel. But Carpenter appears to be interested in continuing Kurt Russell’s character MacReady’s adventures in The Thing 2.
A sequel to The Thing is surely something that fans of the cult horror classic would be very curious to see. But, would Kurt Russell return? Carpenter seems to think it could happen…
Is there any way Carpenter could match his original masterpiece? I’m skeptical, but remain hopeful. The post John Carpenter Discusses Sequel to His Classic Horror Sci-Fi ‘The Thing’ appeared first on Bleeding Fool. |
| University Security Guard Arrested for Stealing 5,000 Rare Comics Posted: 22 Feb 2022 01:15 PM PST
The head of security at a Florida State University library took roughly 5,000 rare comic books and sold them to private purchasers and local comic shops last week. Earlier this month, FSU police arrested Todd Peak, 38, of Crawfordville, on accusations of grand theft and trading in stolen property.
Peak, according to authorities, held one of the four keys to the section under the Robert Manning Strozier Library’s subbasement where the comic collection was housed. The comics went missing for the first time in September 2021. Peak came into the business with two big boxes “full of absolutely magnificent very high-grade silver age comic books (1970-1984)” and was looking to sell them immediately, according to the owner of a comic shop in Suwannee County. Peak’s conduct was described as “strange and cagey” by the owner.
Peak posted in a Facebook group that he was “seeking to minimize his collection,” according to police. The comics being sold were all labeled as stolen from FSU, according to police. Peak searched for the value of the comics 448 times since the theft, according to a search request obtained by police.
The missing collection yielded 2,843 comics, which were recovered by police. Peak no longer works at the university. Here’s the list of books that were stolen.
The post University Security Guard Arrested for Stealing 5,000 Rare Comics appeared first on Bleeding Fool. |
| Oscar Isaac Discusses Taking Risks on Experimental ‘Moon Knight’ Series Posted: 22 Feb 2022 08:25 AM PST
We're still weeks away from the debut of Moon Knight on Disney+, but the buzz for the series is building and while most of the other Marvel television series that have appeared on the streaming service have been led by characters we've already met in the MCU, this is the first time that our protagonist is brand new to viewers. And while Iron Man wasn't exactly a household name when Robert Downey Jr first suited up, he was still far more popular that the obscure Marc Spector that Oscar Isaac is going to be playing.
The series star realizes the difficulty and told Empire Magazine that the saving grace is the expanded format they get to use: “It is risky. He’s an obscure hero, and the things we’re dealing with are very different. But because it’s a limited series, rather than a movie, the pressure isn’t there to make sure the opening weekend is massive. We’re able to take more risks, to bring that experimental quality on a huge scale.” As for how Isaac does in the role, his co-star Ethan Hawke is singing his praises, saying: "It's an electrifying performance. Robert Downey [Jr] has got a run for his money…"
The series premieres on March 30th on Disney+. The post Oscar Isaac Discusses Taking Risks on Experimental ‘Moon Knight’ Series appeared first on Bleeding Fool. |
| Comic Reviewer Thinks Female Sex Appeal in Comics is Bad Posted: 22 Feb 2022 06:15 AM PST Adventures in Poor Taste recently posted a review of Mary Jane & Black Cat: Beyond‘s premiere issue, where the reviewer saw fit to inject what decidedly amounts to little more than stealth propaganda against sex appeal. But first, look who the villain is in this tale:
I wonder why we’re supposed to believe a story employing a villain introduced in the early 2000s, who went on to be used by Brian Bendis in a story where the Hood assaulted Tigra, is something to look forward to? If they’re relying on that specific canon from the time Bendis was working on Avengers, instead of reinventing the character, that’s why this newer tale is actually rather tasteless. Now, here’s the matter that’s fishy:
And this is little more than a confession the reviewer is somebody who’s just too terrified and embarrassed by the concept of sex appeal to fully embrace or defend it. It’s disgraceful and insulting to many veteran artists who worked so hard to master the whole idea in the first place, and even Jack Kirby was among them. From a modern perspective, what “beauty” is to be found in a real life New York that’s been overrun by horrifying crime rates and corrupt politicians who’ve fascilitated the impending collapse of a once admirable metropolis? If you view things in that context, it’s hard to appreciate the vision this miniseries may employ.
There’s another review of this on Comic Bookcase where, while it wisely avoids the subtle propaganda of the prior review, still describes it as “cinematic”, and for anybody who knows Sean Howe once argued against making comics look like movies, it may not be reassuring to say this miniseries is like a blockbuster movie. That’s what brought down superhero comics in the first place, and hasn’t improved since. And to come within even miles of sex-negative hysteria isn’t doing any favors for the source material, considering Black Cat and Mary Jane Watson were built up as sex symbols years before, so it’s shameful certain so-called reviewers are using stealth tactics drawing from nervous, embarrassed positions otherwise lacking confidence in the concept of sex appeal.
Originally published here. The post Comic Reviewer Thinks Female Sex Appeal in Comics is Bad appeared first on Bleeding Fool. |
| Inspiration & Psychology Behind The Batman’s Riddler & Caped Crusader Posted: 22 Feb 2022 04:45 AM PST
With The Batman opening up on March 4th, were getting more and more looks at some of the characters and the one that might be the most interesting is The Riddler. This isn't the scene stealing buffoon as played by Jim Carrey or the quirky take from Gotham's Corey Michael Smith. Here we get Paul Dano playing something more akin to the Zodiac Killer that is communication with the Dark Knight, a true serial killer running around the city. Director Matt Reeves talked to Entertainment Weekly about his take on the classic rogue:
“The Riddler is omnipresent, but almost as a ghost. When I came up with the idea that the Riddler would be sending correspondence to Batman, [what] was captivating to me was if you’re a character whose mode is to work as a symbol, be anonymous, to come out of the shadows, nobody is supposed to know who you are; your power comes from the fact that you’re anonymous. Then suddenly someone starts to rob you of your anonymity, you start to lose a bit of your power and it starts to unsettle you. The flip side of that is that by withholding the Riddler, he had more power, he was more unsettling. He felt like a ghost throughout the whole movie, this kind of presence that you never knew where he would show up and how he was affecting things. And that that mystery would put Batman in a very vulnerable position because he didn’t understand from where and how and what the Riddler was acting.”
Now, if you feel that this take on Edward Nashton is way off base, take a look at this video on the psychology of the character by comic writer Dan Wickline where he breaks down the character through his comic history and just how him being a serial killer works into everything that leads up to this.
When people talk about the most influential Batman stories, they talk about Frank Miller's Year One, Jeff Loeb and Tim Sale's The Long Halloween, Alan Moore and Brian Bollands' The Killing Joke. But when Robert Pattinson was doing his research, he wanted to find a different approach and told Entertainment Weekly that the books that influenced him were Batman: Shaman by Denny O'Neil, Ed Hannigan and John Beatty. In Shaman, we see a Batman in his early years as a vigilante. It's less grounded and dives into mysticism. Bruce is injured in the Alaskan mountains and rescued by a shaman that nurses him back to health by telling a story about how bats learn to fly. It's this story along with the bat crashing through his window that inspired him years later. Pattinson says that this inspired him on how to move in the suit.
“In other iterations of the suit, because of the way you move, you kind of have to be more of like a tank. And in this one, it felt like it was such a shock how smoothly you could move. You kind of end up moving like more of a wraith. There’s a scene right in the beginning of the movie where I’m kind of crouching over, investigating this dead body. And I really wanted [it to feel like] a sort of druid.” He went on to say, “I was also thinking there’s some kind of link when you look at like Viking warriors or something: You put on this outfit, and you genuinely believe that you have power afterward. And I was thinking that Bruce kind of thinks that. It clears his mind so much to be in that suit that it actually gives him extrasensory abilities. Even though, ironically, it’s the opposite, like the reason that Batman is kind of separate from other superheroes [is] because he’s a normal guy.”
This book also helped him understand why the GCPD and Gordon would let him get involved. “I was trying to play that, trying to think: ‘How can you be a detective when you are wearing this outfit, which is the opposite of a detective?’ I thought, it’s kind of [like] he’s a witch doctor more than anything else. And the more you get it right, the more the police believe him, and so they start letting him into crime scenes and stuff.” This definitely feels like a different take on the character.
The Batman opens March 4th. The post Inspiration & Psychology Behind The Batman’s Riddler & Caped Crusader appeared first on Bleeding Fool. |
| Legendary Writer Roy Thomas Creating New Classic Era X-Men Tales Posted: 21 Feb 2022 03:35 PM PST X-MEN LEGENDS, the series where X-Men's most celebrated creators return with new, in-continuity stories set during their classic runs, is back this May with an all-new #1! Coming on board to launch this extraordinary new era of the series will be industry pioneer Roy Thomas. The writer behind some of the X-Men's most memorable Silver Age adventures will pen a new story set after his final issue and before GIANT-SIZE X-MEN. Teaming up with artist Dave Wachter, Thomas will revisit the early publication days of one his greatest co-creations–WOLVERINE!
Having redefined the merry mutants in two seminal runs on the book, Roy Thomas, at long last, returns to the saga of the X-Men! For the first time, readers will get new insight into Wolverine’s government missions before his recruitment by Professor X (including unrevealed details on his battle with the green goliath in the iconic HULK #181-#182). This untold episode will also star Beast and a host of missing mutants, and reveal the secret behind Wolverine’s costume!
"You could’ve knocked me over with one of the Angel’s wing-feathers when editor Mark Basso invited me to scribe a two-part X-MEN LEGENDS story set back in the general period of the X-MEN book during the period when I was originally writing it (as Stan’s successor) in the latter 1960s," Thomas said. "After some thought, it occurred to me that what would really be fun would be to write a story that took place right after the crashing of Wolverine into the Marvel Universe in '1974'–since, after conceiving the character in broad outline (and some specifics), I turned him over to the considerable writing skills of Len Wein, but have long kinda wished that I had scripted that story myself. This is the closest I’m gonna get–so I’m having a ball with it! (Artwork’s pretty great, too!)"
Face front, True Believers! Get ready for an all-new volume of X-MEN LEGENDS with legendary creators and stories covering the length and breadth of X-Men history from the early eras to fan-favorite latter day sagas!
The post Legendary Writer Roy Thomas Creating New Classic Era X-Men Tales appeared first on Bleeding Fool. |
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