Editorial: A Spontaneous Look at the Movie News

Okay, to cut a long story short, a few things have been picked up on my radar these past few days and I feel like I should have a say on a few of them - no matter the legitimacy nor the topic (so yes, a couple of trailers may be discussed). Consider this an opinionated news round-up, if you may.

Transformers - Expanded

Okay, let's start with an easy one. It's been under discussion for quite some time that Paramount Pictures were planning on expanding their financial juggernaut (but critically failing) Transformers franchise, following its China-approved fourth entry back in 2014 managed to gross over $1bn. And whilst director Michael Bay has been wanting to leave the franchise or quite a while, the studio isn't quite as willing to let go of their prized possession while there's still fuel in the tank. Discussions for a franchise expansion have been going on for a few months now but news has finally broke on three new instalments to the series, including a spin-off feature based entirely around Bumblebee (the yellow Chevrolet who only communicates via radio broadcasts or various noises). As a franchise growth point it makes sense from a financial standpoint, but a series with quite the reputation for being terrible across nearly nine years of cinema and with the decision to base a solo movie on a mute character? Yeah, Paramount aren't doing good here. I understand maybe a further two instalments to the main series of features to make up two trilogies, but the spin-off could likely be done with a better character at the helm...and a better franchise which isn't pandering to foreign audiences to save it.

In Too Depp

Johnny Depp is here for two reasons. The first is the news that he's scheduled to play the Invisible Man in Universal Studios' planned cinematic universe based on its classic monsters line (which despite having a bad start with 2014's Dracula Untold starring Luke Evans is still going ahead, with Tom Cruise reportedly playing the Mummy in the reboot). While it's harrowing to think that Alex Kurtzman of all people is supposedly in charge of this series - bear in mind he's half the brains that brewed up the likes of Star Trek Into Darkness, The Amazing Spider-Man 2 and two Transformers movies - it's interesting that Depp would want to go for a faceless performance. Is it to do with audiences starting to reject him following such failures as Mortdecai, Dark Shadows and The Lone Ranger (hell, even Black Mass to an extent failed), or are Universal opting for big names rather than suitability? Because the cast so far makes me think that audiences will be pulled out of the experience and say "Hey, it's *such and such*!"

Oh, and there's also this:

You see this thing? This is terrifying.

Game Time

So despite a seven-film franchise to its name with a 2010 finale, it appears Lionsgate aren't through with the series (just like with their multitude of YA novel adaptations, they can't let anything die) and are reviving it for an eighth instalment. This seems like a bad idea - the majority state that the subsequent sequels to the 2004 original horror highlight are standard 'gore porn' productions with nothing overly enticing about them, and with the age of the Paranormal Activity knock-offs finally reaching their climax after that six-picture series concluding on a foul 3D note, it's best if the horror genre avoided taking a step backwards and rather ventured elsewhere. I hear the likes of The Babadook and It Follows are pretty good - take a page from them, Hollywood!

Fox Wins the Dead Pool

With a $58m budget, a R/15 certificate, and no headlining actors other than a box office poison in the form of Ryan Reynolds, most had assumed that Deadpool would come second in its opening weekend to the critically-mauled 2oolander/Zoolander No. 2. But after a huge opening day and reaching around $150m over the four-day holiday in America alone (it did big business abroad too), it's safe to call Deadpool a success - especially when you consider that it grossed more in its opening weekend than The Wolverine did in its entire domestic run. This, of course, means that Hollywood are going to have faith in R-rated movies again, as James Gunn excellently explained via Facebook will lead to the same process that Hollywood has been going through for the past few years. But oh well, at least more Deadpool is guaranteed. Yay!

Sing to the Lord

Earlier today, Universal Pictures released a teaser stating that the trailer for the new Illumination Entertainment production Sing would be released next week. Six hours later, the full trailer was released - no explanation as to why, but ho-hum it's here. And normally I'd discuss it in Trailer Talk in a couple of weeks, but the state that this film is in has deemed a comment sooner rather than later. And that comment is...Jesus Christ this looks dreadful. I've knocked Illumination Entertainment down before thanks to such mediocre efforts as Minions or the upcoming Secret Life of Pets, but man is this a new level of lazy. Despite a fine voice talent, the animation just looks average and the story itself taken from every other animated film on par with the 2014 Postman Pat production. And with reportedly 85 songs attached to a likely 90-minute production, you have to wonder...who gave up? And with this film and all their previous productions, and indeed their unprecedented success, is it safe to call the studio the Transformers of the animation industry?

...Nah, people actually seem to like the Despicable Me series.

Quickie Comments

1. Daniel Craig may be leaving the Bond series for a TV show. Okay then. Spectre does set up a good ending but also a fine continuation, so who knows.
2. Star Wars Episode VIII starts filming this week. Nice.
3. There are some "sources" stating that Warner Bros are worried about Batman V Superman: Dawn of Justice doing badly and stating that the audience won't like it because of its Oscar-winning screenwriter. I'd do a full post on this, but seeing as it's not got an official source I'll only say this - that's stupid Warner Bros. Shame on you.
4. The Revenant won 5 BAFTAs including Best Film. I'd have gone with either Spotlight or The Big Short but still a worthy winner.
5. Danny McBride is being sought after for Alien: Covenant. Because...?

There, spouted a few things. Back to normality now.