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borg's Best of 2019–The Best on TV
Filed under: Fantasy Realms, Retro Fix, Sci-Fi Café, Superheroes, TV — Leave a comment
This year we found one series that could easily sweep most of the categories–a single television series that had everything: compelling story, a full range of emotions, great characters, tremendous action, a sharp use of humor, all kinds of genre elements that were satisfying and left viewers feeling inspired. Richly detailed sets and costumes. An impossible feat to replicate. No drama came close. No other visual effects spectacle could touch it. And its audience is everyone. A truly epic addition to television viewing, that series is The Dark Crystal: Age of Resistance, the greatest television series to come along in years. If you love genre like we do, this was as good as it gets. And like icing on the cake, along came The Mandalorian at year end.
But we're not going to ignore the other good things that happened on the small screen this year.
Our borg Best of 2019 list continues today with the best in television. If you missed it, check out our review of the Best Movies of 2019 here and the best Kick-Ass Heroines of 2019 here.
Without further ado, this year's Best in Television:
Best Borg Series – Doom Patrol (DC Universe). With this year's series Doom Patrol we got a look at two borgs, DC Comics' Cyborg, an update to Martin Caidin's original Bionic Man from the 1970s, and an older borg created before the word was even coined in the 1960s, Robotman. Both characters revealed a glimpse at what life might be like with significant cybernetic enhancements (when brought together by a modern Dr. Frankenstein). For 2019, it was the way to get your borg fix on the small screen.
Best TV Series, Best New Limited TV Series, Best TV Fantasy, Best Writing for TV, Best TV Costumes/Makeup, Best TV Soundtrack – The Dark Crystal: Age of Resistance (Netflix). It was worth the wait. Jim Henson's seemingly impossible to replicate artistic vision was successfully achieved thanks to his daughters and the company he founded. The kindest heroes, the darkest evil, a truly epic, legendary story for the ages. Everybody is cranking out CGI extravaganzas, but how many are creating artistry so fundamentally real, with so many individual artists and artisans contributing and achieving so much? Even that wouldn't be enough if not for the layered mythology and epic adventure story. Add great humor, high stakes, emotional impact, an all-star voice cast, Daniel Pemberton and Samuel Sim's imaginative musical score, and those puppets and all that go into them–it adds up to a rare thing–a Henson masterpiece.
Best TV Sci-fi Series, Best TV Drama – The Man in the High Castle (Amazon). Amazon Studios could not have adapted a series more faithfully, making changes for the medium and the times, than its take on Philip K. Dick's most celebrated novel. The use of science fiction to tell a deep and twisty level of subplots and unique setting all came to a perfect conclusion in the series finale. Exciting, intelligent, frightening, and the most thought-provoking series this year, it was also different from its sci-fi competition. Honorable mention: The Mandalorian (Disney+)–but only if we allow space fantasy since the series is not true science fiction, The Orville (Fox)–for its two-part epic movie-worthy space story, "Identity."
Best New Ongoing TV Series, Runner-up: Best TV Soundtrack, Runner-up: Best TV Costumes/Makeup – The Mandalorian (Disney+). Not a lot needs explaining with this series, which in only its first two hours we rated it closer to the original Star Wars and The Empire Strikes Back than anything with the Star Wars label on it since. The Western motif is still alive, not all that hidden here in space fantasy garb. And we won't get started on the impact of The Child (aka Baby Yoda) on the genre-loving world and beyond. Credit Jon Favreau's visible enthusiasm and love for the original movies for the success of this surprisingly awesome arrival–the series is proof Star Wars is far from over.
Tags: "All's Well That Ends Well" episode, "Fire From the Gods" episode, "Le Reve Impossible" episode, "Legacy" episode, ABC, Alex Høgh Andersen, Alexander Ludwig, Amazon Studios, Amber Rose Revah, Baby Yoda, Baskets TV series, Best Genre TV 2019, Best of 2019, Best Tv 2019, Best TV episodes 2019, Best Tv shows 2019, borg, borg.com Best of 2019, Brent Jennings, Byron Mann, CBS, Christian Yelich, Cobie Smulders, Crystal Reed, Cyborg, DC Comics, DC Universe, Doom Patrol, Genea Charpentier, Halston Sage, Iko Uwais, iZombie, Jordana Brewster, Karl Urban, Katheryn Winnick, Ken Jeong, Kingdom, Knightfall, Larry Manetti, Lee Majors, Lodge 49, Magnum PI, Mark Hamill, Maya Hawke, Natasha Lyonne, Netflix, Pat Monahan, Paul Giamatti, Rachel Nichols, Ragga Ragnars, Rob Thomas, Robert Childan, Robotman, Roger E. Mosley, Rufus Sewell, Russian Doll, Shetland, South Korea television, Stranger Things, Stumptown, Swamp Thing, The Dark Crystal: Age of Resistance, The Man in the High Castle, The Mandalorian, The Orville, The Orville Identity episodes, The Skekses, Tim Kang, Time to Make... My Move episode, Train band, Uncle Six, William Forsythe, Wu Assassins
Now streaming–Get the Star Wars fix you always wanted in Knightfall
Filed under: Fantasy Realms, TV — Leave a comment
Review by C.J. Bunce
One of the criticisms so far into the third trilogy of Star Wars movies (the third and finale episode, The Rise of Skywalker, is due out this December) is not making the most of the original cast. This seems to go double with fan expectations for Mark Hamill as Luke Skywalker. This is not some fault of fandom, it's how Lucasfilm prepped its fans with great futures for Skywalker and his family, delivered via Timothy Zahn's original sequel trilogy and then decades of brilliant stories via Dark Horse Comics. There you'd find Luke Skywalker, grown into the role of Jedi Master, was everything you'd want from the hero we met in the movies. Now fans can see that future in a History channel series streaming on Netflix, if they only bring along a little imagination. That series is Knightfall.
The series follows a re-imagined history of the Knights Templar at the dawn of the 14th century. If you ignore the historicity, good or bad, and see the film as a fantasy tale of knights in conflict and knights in training, you can see why the Jedi Knights were derived from these historic figures. The Star Wars influence comes full circle as Mark Hamill himself joins the cast as a master knight named Talus in Season 2. Here is that very same Luke Skywalker as you might have imagined him from Zahn and Dark Horse's storytelling, war-weary and battle hardened, as he storms his way into the tale, leading and training knights, sometimes Mr. Miyagi style, sometimes with swords, sometimes with surprising methods. Tilt your head a bit, cover one eye–do what you need to do–but some of Luke Skywalker's best scenes as a Jedi Knight are in this series. The very best is Talus's final scene. Mark Hamill, and Luke Skywalker, never were cooler than in his final conflict on the series.
Fantasy emphasis over history aside, for those students of the Middle Ages you'll find a mix of truth and cinema twisted for story purposes, but overall this is that series about knights and swords, the Pope and the twisted King (they're all twisted, always) and the beautiful Queen that you're looking for. The story follows hero Tom Cullen (The Five, Downton Abbey) as Landry, a wise but conflicted Knight Templar, whose band of trusted brothers botch protecting the Holy Grail, the same biblical cup so many medieval tales are based upon, but more of a McGuffin for this version of the tale. Landry's band of knights, Pádraic Delaney (The Tudors) as Gawain, and Simon Merrells (DC's Legends of Tomorrow, Ashes to Ashes) as one of the best knights you've seen onscreen as Tancrede lead viewers from enough intrigue to keep them coming back for more. Olivia Ross (War & Peace) is particularly engaging as Queen Joan, one of the only women characters in the series, and Jim Carter (Downton Abbey) is great fun to watch as the regal yet conniving Pope Boniface VIII. Of the bad guys, you'll love to hate Ed Stoppard (Zen, The Frankenstein Chronicles) as King Philip (again, all kings are bad), and Julian Ovenden (Downton Abbey, Charmed) as his on-again, off-again confidante and henchman. As Cullen's Landry and the Queen of France fall in love, how both the knight order and the King handle the aftermath is the conflict that plays out over 18 episodes, with the backdrop of a coming battle between France and England beckoning.
Tags: Ed Stoppard, History Channel, Jedi Knights and Knights Templar, Jim Carter, Julian Ovenden, Knightfall, Knightfall and Star Wars, Knightfall series review, Mark Hamill, Netflix, Olivia Ross, Pádraic Delaney, Simon Merrells, Star Wars The Force Awakens, Star Wars: The Last Jedi, Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker, Tom Cullen
Fizzgig, Aughra, Skeksis, and more return in new Dark Crystal series coming this summer to Netflix
Filed under: Fantasy Realms, Movies, Retro Fix, TV — Leave a comment
After seeing Jim Henson and Frank Oz's The Dark Crystal return to theaters back in 2017 for its 35th anniversary, we were reminded why the movie kept up its status as the best live-action, high-fantasy film for two decades–until the arrival of Peter Jackson's The Lord of the Rings series. The set for Aughra′s beautiful pinnacle of all set pieces–the location of that mechanical wonder called the Orrery–showcased a fantasy creation that has yet to be surpassed in any film. We first mentioned Netflix green-lighting the return of The Dark Crystal universe way back in 2017 here at borg, as the studio began work on the ten episode series The Dark Crystal: Age of Resistance. At last the first trailer has arrived (below) and the arrival date for the first season: August 30, 2019. The best part? Fizzgig is back, along with Aughra (voiced by Donna Kimball (Community)) and a re-creation of her incredible Orrery, and Henson's vile Skeksis, complete with that familiar, creepily sniveling voice. And as with the 1982 movie, the series uses puppets, which were created by Jim Henson Co.'s Creature Shop and Brian Froud, the original conceptual designer — there will be no CGI in the series.
Taron Egerton (Robin Hood, Rocketman, Kingsman series) will be playing the voice of Rian, Nathalie Emmanuel (Furious 7, Game of Thrones) is the voice of Deet, and Anya Taylor-Joy (Glass, Split, The New Mutants) is the voice of Brea (above)–making up the trio to lead the film as Gelflings. Other Gelfling characters will be voiced by Oscar winner Alicia Vikander (Tomb Raider, Ex Machina, The Man from U.N.C.L.E.), Oscar nominee Helena Bonham Carter (Alice in Wonderland, Harry Potter series), Emmy winner Eddie Izzard (Valkyrie, The Riches, Treasure Island), BAFTA nominee Mark Strong (Shazam!, Green Lantern, Kick-Ass, Kingsman series), Golden Globe nominee Toby Jones (Doctor Who, Harry Potter series, Marvel movies, Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom), Golden Globe nominee Caitriona Balfe (Super 8, Outlander), plus Natalie Dormer (The Hunger Games series, Captain America: The First Avenger), Shazad Latif (The Commuter, Black Mirror, Star Trek Discovery), and Theo James (Underworld series).
Voicing the Skeksis and urRu (or "Mystics") are BAFTA winner Mark Hamill (Star Wars, The Flash, and Kingsman series, Batman animated series), Golden Globe nominee Jason Isaacs (Harry Potter series, Star Wars Rebels, Star Trek Discovery), BAFTA nominee Simon Pegg (Star Trek, Star Wars series), Emmy winner Keegan-Michael Key (The Predator, Tomorrowland), Emmy nominee Harvey Fierstein (Hercules, Independence Day), Ólafur Darri Ólafsson (The BFG), Ralph Ineson (The Ballad of Buster Scruggs, Guardians of the Galaxy, Star Wars, Kingsman, and Harry Potter series), and Golden Globe winner Andy Samberg (Saturday Night Live). Other voice roles will be performed by the puppet actors.
Wait no longer–check out this great first trailer for The Dark Crystal: Age of Resistance:
Tags: 1982 movies, Alicia Vikander, Andy Samberg, Anya Taylor-Joy, Ólafur Darri Ólafsson, Blanca Lista, Brian Froud, Caitriona Balfe, Daniel Pemberton, Dark Crystal: Age of Resistance, Dark Crystal: Age of Resistance official poster, Dark Crystal: Age of Resistance preview trailer, Donna Kimball, Eddie Izzard, Frank Oz, Gavin Bocquet, Harvey Fierstein, Helena Bonham Carter, Jason Isaacs, Javier Grillo-Marxuach, Jeffrey Addiss, Jim Henson, Jim Henson Co.'s Creature Shop, Keegan-Michael Key, Lisa Henson, Louis Leterrier, Mark Hamill, Mark Strong, Natalie Dormer, Natalie Emmanuel, Netflix, Ralph Ineson, Rita Peruggi, Shazad Latif, Simon Pegg, Taron Egerton, The Dark Crystal, The Dark Crystal 35th anniversary, The Dark Crystal: The Age of Resistance, The Dark Crystal: The Age of Resistance cast and characters, The Dark Crystal: The Ultimate Visual History, The Jim Henson Company, Theo James, Toby Jones, Will Matthews
First teaser trailer–and title–arrive for Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker
Filed under: Con Culture, Movies, Sci-Fi Café — Leave a comment
The end is near. At Star Wars Celebration in Chicago today, director J.J. Abrams and Lucasfilm president Kathleen Kennedy revealed the title and first teaser for Star Wars Episode IX in a panel hosted by late night TV host Stephen Colbert. The past returns in Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker, confirming for many that Abrams is taking a turn from Star Wars: The Last Jedi, including literally mending some of the changes from occurred in that episode of the Star Wars saga.
And this last chapter in the Skywalker family story has plenty of surprises, even in a short teaser.
Check it out, and the seven notable moments we see:
Tags: Adam Driver, Anthony Daniels, Billy Dee Williams, Carrie Fisher, Daisy Ridley, Ian McDiarmid, JJ Abrams, John Boyega, Joonas Suotamo, Kathleen Kennedy, Mark Hamill, Oscar Isaac, Star Wars, Star Wars Celebration 2019, Star Wars Episode IX, Star Wars: The Last Jedi, Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker, Stephen Colbert
First look–Warner Brothers releases trailer for Joaquin Phoenix's Joker
Filed under: Movies, Superheroes — Leave a comment
In marked contrast to the fun, fantastic, and surprising Warner Brothers release Shazam!, finally arriving in theaters in general release today and reviewed previously here at borg, film fans now have their first look at Warner Brothers' fall release, Joker. For a franchise from the same superhero universe, you couldn't find a most strikingly dissimilar pair of films, if the first trailer for Joker is any indication of the rest of the film. Joaquin Phoenix is stepping in this time to fill the role previously played by Jack Nicholson, Heath Ledger, Jared Leto, Cameron Monaghan, and even Mark Hamill in animated versions, and countless others. This time the character is named Arthur Fleck, so we don't know whether this is truly the same as the other Jokers or just some parallel world incarnation of the larger-than-life, psychotic, clown villain who became a household word for TV audiences as portrayed by Cesar Romero in the 1960s.
If audiences and fans of DC Comics and DC movies know one character inside and out, it's the Joker. So why another movie with the Joker, and more to the point, why another origin story? Phoenix, the multiple Academy Award-nominated actor from Gladiator, Walk the Line, and The Master, digs in with great, nuanced skill in all of his roles, and Joker will no doubt be any different. So if you're still a fan of the dozen recent dark visions into the superhero universe of DC Comics, Phoenix probably is a solid casting choice. But can you really have a major Joker tale without Batman? What about all that "creating each other" business? The market certainly seems saturated with dark comics adaptations and we're hoping Shazam! will grab audiences so we see more superhero films like it and The Lego Batman Movie ahead, or DC could split the difference and mine the Marvel Cinematic Universe for some fresh ideas. But first, it's going to be a Joker tale later this year.
Check it out for yourself, the first trailer for Joker:
Tags: Cameron Monaghan, Cesar Romero, DC Comics, DC Entertainment, Heath Ledger, Jack Nicholson, Jared Leto, Joaquin Phoenix, Joker, Mark Hamill, Shazam! movie review, The Lego Batman Movie, Warner Bros
First images, award-winning cast revealed for The Dark Crystal prequel series on Netflix
After seeing Jim Henson and Frank Oz's The Dark Crystal return to theaters last winter for its 35th anniversary, we were reminded why this movie kept up its status as the best live-action, high-fantasy film for two decades–until the arrival of Peter Jackson's The Lord of the Rings series. The set for Aughra's beautiful pinnacle of all set pieces–the location of that mechanical wonder called the Orrery–showcases a fantasy creation that has yet to be surpassed in any film. We first mentioned Netflix green-lighting the return of The Dark Crystal universe last year here at borg, as the studio began work on the ten episode series The Dark Crystal: Age of Resistance. No other news has surfaced publicly about the series until this week. We now have the first three images of the three lead character Gelflings, and an award-winning roster of voice actors. And good news for The Dark Crystal fans: Aughra will be returning, voiced by Donna Kimball (Community).
Taron Egerton (Robin Hood, Eddie the Eagle, Kingsman series) will be playing the voice of Rian (below, left), Natalie Emmanuel is the voice of Deet (below, right), and Anya Taylor-Joy is the voice of Brea (above)–making up the trio to lead the film. Other Gelflings will be voiced by Oscar winner Alicia Vikander (Tomb Raider, Ex Machina, The Man from U.N.C.L.E.), Oscar nominee Helena Bonham Carter (Alice in Wonderland, Harry Potter series), Emmy winner Eddie Izzard (Valkyrie, The Riches, Treasure Island), BAFTA nominee Mark Strong (Shazam!, Green Lantern, Kick-Ass, Kingsman series), Golden Globe nominee Toby Jones (Doctor Who, Harry Potter series, Marvel movies, Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom), Golden Globe nominee Caitriona Balfe (Super 8, Outlander), plus Natalie Dormer (The Hunger Games series, Captain America: The First Avenger), Shazad Latif (The Commuter, Black Mirror, Star Trek Discovery), and Theo James (Underworld series).
And it doesn't stop there. Voicing the Skeksis and urRu (or "Mystics") are BAFTA winner Mark Hamill (Star Wars, The Flash, and Kingsman series, Batman animated series),Golden Globe nominee Jason Isaacs (Harry Potter series, Star Wars Rebels, Star Trek Discovery), BAFTA nominee Simon Pegg (Star Trek, Star Wars series), Emmy winner Keegan-Michael Key (The Predator, Tomorrowland), Emmy nominee Harvey Fierstein (Hercules, Independence Day), Ólafur Darri Ólafsson (The BFG), Ralph Ineson (The Ballad of Buster Scruggs, Guardians of the Galaxy, Star Wars, Kingsman, and Harry Potter series), and Golden Globe winner Andy Samberg (Saturday Night Live). Other voice roles will be performed by the puppet actors.
Tags: Alicia Vikander, Andy Samberg, Anya Taylor-Joy, Ólafur Darri Ólafsson, Blanca Lista, Caitriona Balfe, Daniel Pemberton, Donna Kimball, Eddie Izzard, Frank Oz, Gavin Bocquet, Harvey Fierstein, Helena Bonham Carter, Jason Isaacs, Javier Grillo-Marxuach, Jeffrey Addiss, Jim Henson, Keegan-Michael Key, Lisa Henson, Louis Leterrier, Mark Hamill, Mark Strong, Natalie Dormer, Natalie Emmanuel, Netflix, Ralph Ineson, Rita Peruggi, Shazad Latif, Simon Pegg, Taron Egerton, The Dark Crystal, The Dark Crystal 35th anniversary, The Dark Crystal: The Age of Resistance, The Dark Crystal: The Age of Resistance cast and characters, The Dark Crystal: The Ultimate Visual History, The Jim Henson Company, Theo James, Toby Jones, Will Matthews
Star Wars Icons–New book goes behind the scenes in the life and times of Han Solo
Filed under: Backstage Pass, Comics & Books, Fantasy Realms, Movies, Sci-Fi Café — Leave a comment
Smuggler. Gambler. Rogue. Pilot.
Han Solo.
The hero of the Rebellion and the Resistance and rescuer of the galaxy more than once, one of fandom's favorites is featured in his own book in November. Insight Editions announced Star Wars Icons: Han Solo will be a comprehensive look at the creation and legacy of one of Star Wars' most beloved characters. Covering the Han Solo's journey from his genesis in George Lucas's first Star Wars drafts to his portrayal by Harrison Ford in the original trilogy and The Force Awakens to his rebirth in Solo: A Star Wars Story, and beyond the films to his role in the Star Wars expanded universe: novels, comics, video games, and more–Insight promises this will be the definitive book for every Han Solo fan.
Illustrated with rare and previously unpublished images, including on-set photography and concept art, the deluxe 224-page volume will feature new interviews by author Gina McIntyre with Harrison Ford, Alden Ehrenreich, Mark Hamill, Billy Dee Williams, Peter Mayhew, Ron Howard, J.J. Abrams, Lawrence Kasdan, Jonathan Kasdan, and more. This is especially noteworthy since Solo: A Star Wars Story director Ron Howard has not given many interviews about Solo: A Star Wars Story.
You can pre-order what we expect to be the first of several Star Wars Icons books, Star Wars Icons: Han Solo now here at Amazon (at a discount off the cover price). And don't forget to lock-in the pre-order price for Solo: A Star Wars Story on DVD, Digital HD, and Blu-ray here.
This is the smuggler you're looking for. Check out this preview of Star Wars Icons: Han Solo:
Tags: Alden Ehrenreich, Billy Dee Williams, Gina McIntyre, Han Solo, Harrison Ford, Insight Editions, J.J. Abrams, Jonathan Kasdan, Lawrence Kasdan, Mark Hamill, Peter Mayhew, Ron Howard, Star Wars, Star Wars: Icons, Star Wars: Icons preview
Black Panther, The Last Jedi, Better Call Saul, and Twin Peaks lead wins at 2018 Saturn Awards
Filed under: Backstage Pass, Con Culture, Fantasy Realms, Movies, Sci-Fi Café, Superheroes, TV — Leave a comment
Last night the Academy of Science Fiction, Fantasy and Horror Films held the 44th annual Saturn Awards, honoring the best in science fiction, fantasy, horror, and other genres, held in Burbank, California. Coming into last night's presentation, Black Panther was nominated in 14 categories, Star Wars: The Last Jedi was nominated in 13 categories, and Blade Runner 2049 and The Shape of Water were each nominated in nine categories. In television, The Walking Dead led the nominations with seven, followed by Star Trek: Discovery with five. You can never predict who and what will win at the Saturn Awards, but you can be sure they will be very fandom-centric picks.
Black Panther led the night with four wins, for Best Comic-to-Motion Picture Release, Best Director (Ryan Coogler), Best Supporting Actress (Danai Gurira), and Best Make-up. Star Wars: The Last Jedi followed with three wins, for Best Actor (Mark Hamill), Best Writing, and Best Editing. In television, because of the Awards' split between traditional TV shows and streaming shows, the expected suspects came out on top: The Flash and Marvel's The Punisher as best superhero shows, and The Orville and Star Trek: Discovery each winning awards. But the most wins was a tie, with three awards each for Better Call Saul and Twin Peaks: The Return.
Here are all the winners and nominees:
Best Comic-to-Motion Picture Release
Winner: Black Panther
Best Science Fiction Film Release
Winner: Blade Runner 2049
Best Fantasy Film Release
Winner: The Shape of Water
Best Horror Film Release
Winner: Get Out
Tags: 2018 Saturn Awards, Better Call Saul, Black Panther, Blade Runner 2049, Bob Ducsay, Chandler Riggs, Chris Townsend, Coco, Dan Sudick, Danai Gurira, David Lynch, Gal Gadot, Get Out, Guy Williams, Hannah Beachler, Jacqueline Durran, Joel Harlow, Jon Fawkner, Ken Diaz, Kyle MacLachlan, Logan movie, Mark Hamill, Michael Giacchino, Michael McKean, Outlander, Patrick Stewart, Rhea Seehorn, Rian Johnson, Ryan Coogler, Saturn Awards, Sonequa Martin-Green, Spider-Man: Homecoming, Star Trek Discovery, Star Wars: Rebels, Star Wars: The Last Jedi, The Flash, The Orville, The Punisher, The Shape of Water, The Walking Dead, Tom Holland, Twin Peaks: The Return, Wonder
Buckle up, baby–We have a good feeling about the new Solo trailer
Filed under: Movies, Retro Fix, Sci-Fi Café — Leave a comment
A few hours ago Lucasfilm released a new, very long trailer for Solo: A Star Wars Story. If you're not already all-in for this next Star Wars adventure, this may get you there. Lucasfilm also released a new, retro style movie poster. But be forewarned: We're getting to the point in the cycle of a coming summer blockbuster where Hollywood starts showing audiences too much of the film. So if you have the patience, you may want to move along. It's doubtful any major spoilers are given away in this trailer, but it seems likely we've had a peek at at least 90% of the key environments in the film already.
What? You're still here?
If you're like us, you can soak in all the Star Wars goodness as Disney & Co. is willing to serve it up, spoilers be damned. The most exciting bit from this new look is Chewbacca. We hoped and expected he would be key to this film, and so far it seems director Ron Howard is going to deliver on that expectation. The other bit of note is Donald Glover's assimilation of Billy Dee Williams' performance from The Empire Strikes Back as Lando Calrissian, his summoning of all that cool from the actor now frequenting conventions across the country, his transmografication into the suave character we want to see. Everyone else looks great, too, including new Han Solo, Alden Ehrenreich. If you don't think he evokes Harrison Ford, so what? Consider if you'd seen this Solo movie in chronological order, before 1977. From the trailers Ehrenreich's entry into the franchise seems more like Mark Hamill's back in 1977. We hadn't heard of Hamill either, yet the unknown actor jumped in nicely to lead the way in the new galaxy, far, far away.
So get ready, if you dare, for the next dive into the past world of Star Wars in this new trailer from Solo: A Star Wars Story:
Tags: Alden Ehrenreich, Billy Dee Williams, Chewbacca, Donald Glover, Harrison Ford, Mark Hamill, Ron Howard, Solo: A Star wars Story, Solo: A Star Wars Story movie trailer
Studio Ghibli Fest returns to theaters starting this weekend with nine big films
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Following the success of last year's Studio Ghibli Fest, animated film distributor GKIDS and Fathom Events are bringing back to U.S. theaters nine critically acclaimed films throughout the year for Studio Ghibli Fest 2018. Starting this weekend the series will feature both dubbed and subtitled versions of Studio Ghibli classics, beginning with a 10th anniversary screening of the fan-favorite family adventure Ponyo (2008) on March 25 (dubbed), 26 (subtitled), and 28 (dubbed), with original actors Tomoko Yamaguchi, Kazushige Nagashima, and Yuria Nara in the subtitled version and Cate Blanchett, Cloris Leachman, Liam Neeson, and Matt Damon in the dubbed version. In a spin-off of the Hayao Miyazaki story Whisper of the Heart, the character Baron re-emerges in The Cat Returns (2002), back in theaters April 22 (dubbed), 23 (subtitled), and 25 (dubbed), with stars Chizuru Ikewaki, Yoshihiko Hakamada, and Aki Maeda in the subtitled version, and Anne Hathaway, Cary Elwes, and Tim Curry in the dubbed version. Miyazaki directs his tale of a pigman pilot bounty hunter in Porco Rosso (1992), back in theaters May 20 (dubbed), 21 (subtitled), and 23 (dubbed), with original stars Shûichirô Moriyama, Tokiko Katô, and Bunshi Katsura Vi in the subtitled version, and Michael Keaton and David Ogden Stiers in the dubbed version.
Studio Ghibli's village of magical raccoon dogs fight back in Pom Poko (1994), in theaters June 17 (dubbed), 18 (subtitled), and 20 (dubbed), starring Shinchô Kokontei, Makoto Nonomura, and Yuriko Ishida in the subtitled version, and Clancy Brown and J.K. Simmons in the dubbed version. One of Miyazaki's most thrilling films, the legendary Princess Mononoke (1997) is back July 22 (dubbed), 23 (subtitled), and 25 (dubbed), starring Yôji Matsuda, Yuriko Ishida, and Yûko Tanaka in the subtitled version, and Minnie Driver, Clare Danes, and Gillian Anderson in the dubbed version. Director Isao Takahata offers one of the finest World War II stories in all of cinema in his gut-wrenching Grave of the Fireflies (1988), back in theaters August 12 (dubbed), 13 (subtitled), and 15 (dubbed), starring Tsutomu Tatsumi, Ayano Shiraishi, and Akemi Yamaguchi in the subtitled version, and Adam Gibbs and Emily Neves in the dubbed version.
Everyone's favorite gentle giant cat is back September 30 (dubbed), October 1 (subtitled), and October 3 (dubbed), when My Neighbor Totoro (1988) returns, starring Hitoshi Takagi, Noriko Hidaka, and Chika Sakamoto in the subtitled version, and Dakota Fanning, Elle Fanning, and Tim Daly in the dubbed version. Perhaps Miyazaki's most acclaimed film, the fantastical, spiritual, riveting epic Spirited Away (2001) is in theaters October 28 (dubbed), 29 (subtitled), and 30 (dubbed), starring Rumi Hiiragi, Miyu Irino, and Mari Natsuki in the subtitled version, and Suzanne Pleshette, David Ogden Stiers, and James Marsden in the dubbed version. And finally, a boy and girl search for a floating castle in Miyazaki's Castle in the Sky (1986), in theaters November 18 (dubbed), 29 (subtitled), and 20 (dubbed), starring Keiko Yokozawa, Mayumi Tanaka, and Kotoe Hatsui in the subtitled version, and Anna Paquin, Mark Hamill, James Van Der Beek, Cloris Leachman, and Mandy Patinkin in the dubbed version.
Here is a quick preview of Studio Ghibli Fest 2018:
Tags: Adam Gibbs, Akemi Yamaguchi, Aki Maeda, Anna Paquin, Anne Hathaway, Ayano Shiraishi, Bunshi Katsura Vi, Cary Elwes, Cate Blanchett, Chika Sakamoto, Chizuru Ikewaki, Clancy Brown, Clare Danes, Cloris Leachman, Dakota Fanning, David Ogden Stiers, Elle Fanning, Emily Neves, Fathom Events, Gillian Anderson, GKIDS, Grave of the Fireflies, Hayao Miyazaki, Hitoshi Takagi, Isao Takahata, J.K. Simmons, James Marsden, James Van Der Beek, Kazushige Nagashima, Keiko Yokozawa, Kotoe Hatsui, Liam Neeson, Makoto Nonomura, Mandy Patinkin, Mari Natsuki, Mark Hamill, Matt Damon, Mayumi Tanaka, Michael Keaton, Minnie Driver, Miyu Irino, My Neighbor Totoro, Noriko Hidaka, Pom Poko, Ponyo, Porco Rosso, Princess Mononoke, Rumi Hiiragi, Shûichirô Moriyama, Shinchô Kokontei, Spirited Away, Studio Ghibli, Studio Ghibli Fest 2018, Suzanne Pleshette, The Castle in the Sky, The Cat Returns, Tim Curry, Tim Daly, Tokiko Katô, Tomoko Yamaguchi, Tsutomu Tatsumi, Yûko Tanaka, Yoji Matsuda, Yoshihiko Hakamada, Yuria Nara, Yuriko Ishida
Dispatches from Elsewhere is AMC's next quirky, strange drama
Rom: Dire Wraiths–Sci-fi monster tale pits the Apollo 11 astronauts against classic alien threat
Gears of War: Ascendance–Tie-in novel leads into the Gears 5 video game
Next Black Widow trailer arrives with Taskmaster face-off and a look back
First look–Team Jared leads Marvel/Sony's next comic book adaption, Morbius
Now streaming–Dark, vivid futurism awaits in Netflix's Altered Carbon, with new season on the way
New Back to the Future and Ghostbusters toys bring 1980s sci-fi favorites home
Now streaming–DC Universe's Swamp Thing is not a superhero series to skip
Supernova Era–Cixin Liu's ambitious sci-fi novel of children leading the world arrives in English edition
Designing Jaws–Production designer Joe Alves reveals concept art and more in new look at the 1970s blockbuster
Killing Quarry–Max Allan Collins puts Quarry in the crosshairs in latest novel
New trailer–Finally! X-Men origin story The New Mutants is almost here
The Moviemaking Magic of Star Wars–Ships and battles take center stage in new Star Wars guide
Doctor Who in theaters today, returns to regular timeslot tonight after strong opener
Retro fix–Vertigo, Boileau and Narcejac's novel that inspired the Hitchcock film classic
Retro fix–Bond on Bond, Roger Moore's reflections on 50 years of James Bond
Review–Approaching Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker from many angles
Start the new year with the hilarious new adventure, Jumanji: The Next Level
The 2019 Borg Hall of Fame
borg's Best of 2019–The Best Books of the Year
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Preview--Harry Potter Film Vault looks behind the fantasy films in 12-volume series
Rom: Dire Wraiths--Sci-fi monster tale pits the Apollo 11 astronauts against classic alien threat
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100 movies in a box--Warner Bros. releases gigantic set of hit movies
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All 84 variant Detective Comics #1000 covers complete checklist & gallery--Detective Comics reaches landmark issue this week
Stunning artwork highlights new Special Edition D&D Core Rulebooks Gift Set
Original Hollywood costumes featured at Comic-Con 2012
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