The Sadistic Seven- Extreme Cinema

Extreme cinema is not everyone's cup of tea, a lot of people find it hard to sit there and watch ninety minutes of explicit violent and sex without feeling nauseous. Conversely, many other people (including myself) enjoy extreme cinema and are curious to see how far the limits can be pushed onscreen. Now when I say extreme cinema I'm not talking Tarantino or your run of the mill torture porn, it's a lot more than that; films that push the limits of violence, sex etc. to their extreme limits. These are films that have no fear in dwelling into the unconventional and taboo and because of this they are an acquired taste (not everyone's into watching people getting chopped up onscreen). Many people believe that extreme cinema is in poor taste, and although in some cases that may be true, a lot of extreme films can be much more than just dismemberment. Now there are plenty of extreme films out there that span across decades, however the following seven films are my pick for the best of extreme cinema.

7. Eden Lake (James Watkins, 2008)

In terms of violence and gore this is the most tame film on our list (having said that there are some bloody scenes) but Eden Lake is more than just violence, it is a disturbing film that will reach you on an emotional level as well as making you cringe at the grizzly bits. The film follows young couple Jenny and Steve (Kelly Reilly and Michael Fassbender respectively) taking an idealistic holiday to the scenic Eden Lake, however the irony of the name could not be greater as the two are plunged into their own private hell. They are soon terrorised by a group of youths (including a young Jack O'Connell and This is England's Thomas Turgoose) who are brutal and relentless towards them and will not stop until they have taken out the young couple. Along with having several violent moments, it is the psychological terror that makes Eden Lake so memorable. The dark tone is set from the beginning and the sense of dread and hopelessness is carried on throughout until the rather depressing climax. Reilly and Fassbender give excellent performances and we really fear for these characters lives, Eden Lake is both brutal and harrowing and will remain in your mind for ages after watching it.

6. The Human Centipede (Tom Six, 2009)

"100% medically accurate" was the tagline for Tom Six's vomit enducing torture porn, and although this may or may not be true The Human Centipede is 100% certain to make you gag. Incase you don't know already, the bare bones plot of the human centipede is three people getting sewn together, mouth-to-ass, by a rather insane doctor (Deter Laser). It is a bizzare concept but intriguing at the same time and the film has since gained a cult status since its release in 2009. Laser steals the show as the psychotic Dr. Heiter and it is interesting watching the mad doctor interact with his new pet (his victims), while at the same time it is disgusting watching the eponymous centipede..eh-hem.. digest. It has since spawned two sequels which I have not seen but neither have been as iconic as the first installment that shocked the world. 

5. Inside (Alexandre Bustillo & Julien Maury, 2007)

In recent years, France has become one of the front runners in extreme cinema and Inside is a prime example of why exactly that is. It follows Sarah (Alysson Paradis), a young pregnant woman who recently lost her husband in a car accident. Sarah is soon terrorised by a mysterious woman (Béatrice Dalle) who appears to be after her unborn child, and so the bloodshed begins. Although there are a few plot wholes and the film can be sloppy here and there, Inside takes the concept of the isolated thriller and brings it to its most extreme level as we see the young Sarah fight for not only her own life, but also for that of her unborn child. The two female leads both give excellent performances and Dalle is almost terrifying at times as the maniacal antagonist. Full of brutal gore and shocking scenes, Inside is one of the most harrowing thrillers I've ever seen.

4. Ichi the Killer (Takashi Miike, 2001)

Japanese cinema is know for not holding back when it comes to things like violence and director Takashi Miike exhibits this explicitly. Ichi the Killer follows the story of Kakihara (Tadanobu Asano) searching for the killer of his former Yakuza boss while utilising his sadistic methods on his enemies, he soon encounters the shy yet violent Ichi (Nao Omori) who gives Kakihara more than he bargained for. As expected from a Miike film it is filled with hardcore violence and needle scenes yet balanced out by a strangely dark sense of humour. Watching Asano's performance as the sadomasochist Kakihara is thoroughly entertaining as he really steals the show, subjecting his enemies to his extremely violent methods. It is off-the-wall and insane with strong violence and gore and along with its comedic tone it is an enjoyable flick. How many films have a title card spelled out in semen anyway?

3. Cannibal Holocaust (Ruggero Deodato, 1980)

The thing that made Cannibal Holocaust so notorious was its animal cruelty which even I found hard to watch, it was a strange decision and something which I feel was unnecessary. However, this is extreme cinema and Cannibal Holocaust is exactly that, a slow burner which follows an expedition to the Amazon in search of a lost film crew. Violence, rape, mutilation, torture, this one ticks all the boxes which makes it one of the most extreme films ever made. More notorious was the initial belief that Deodato, the director, killed several of his stars however this was later proven to be false. Looking past the excessive violence and unnecessary animal cruelty, Cannibal Holocaust is a satirical look at human nature and how barbaric we can really be. It gives an insight in to the darkest and sleeziest depths of humanity as we see how the film crew and cannibal tribe interact. I don't want to spoil anything about the ending, but it does make you think about who the real monsters are in the scenario.

2. Martyrs (Pascal Laugier, 2008)

Another one from the French, Martyrs follows two women Anna and Lucie (Morjana Alaoui and Myléne Jampanoi respectively) seeking out revenge on those who abused them as children. Sounds like your typical revenge-horror right? Wrong, but let's not get into what's really going on. The film does set itself up as a psychological revenge horror but the events soon take a horrific turn leading down a road of bloody and brutal violence. The film is considered to be one of the most shocking and extreme films of the 21st century and rightfully so as Martyrs takes violence to new levels from start to finish. Apart from that, it is a clever and unpredictable film and will leave you waiting in anticipation to see what happens next, it also takes flaying to a new level. The film looks into issues such as religion and abuse and can at times be somewhat philosophical, along with this its cinematography is also quite visually pleasing with many memorable shots throughout. This is another film getting the unnecessary US remake treatment so I am curious to see whether the violence will be toned down or pushed to more extreme levels.

1. A Serbian Film (Srdjan Spasojevic, 2010)

I'm usually fine when it comes to extreme films, but when I first heard about A Serbian Film I thought no way José. Recently I finally came around to watching the iconic horror and despite being disgusted at times, I did like it. It follows aging pornstar Milos (Srdjan Todorovic) who takes a role in a new "art film" to get the money to finally retire and support his wife and son. However, things take an extremely dark turn into the world of unspeakable sexual acts that are truly shocking. There are many reasons to dislike this film, it is upsetting and features many scenes of taboo subject matters that are all truly shocking. However, the film is more than just extreme torture porn. First of all the main character of Milos is very well-written, he is a likeable character who loves his family which makes it even more hard to watch the events that unfold. Secondly, it must be praised for its cinematography by Nemanja Jovanov. It is extremely well shot and I believe it is a must see for any budding cinematographers out there. Stylistically is is perfect, thematically it is shocking and brutal, along with some clever writing and impressive acting, A Serbian Film is a psychotic, surreal nightmare that pushes every limit imaginable. According to the director the film is his way of poking fun at the extreme political correctness of the film industry in Serbia, whether or not you take that into account, A Serbian Film is without a doubt one of the most shocking and extreme films of all time.

So if you are a fan of hardcore violence and disturbing films I urge you to check out the films on this list, however if you have a weak stomach or are easily upset then these are not for you. There are countless other films just as extreme as the films in my list so if you have any personal favourites I'd love to know about them. Next time I will be presenting my list for my top 10 best horror film directors so stay tuned for that within the next week. Until next time!

2016, Oscar Predictions

No this is not a prediction of how Oscar Isaac's career will go in 2016, (although we can only presume it will be just as flourishing as it is now) it is my list of predictions for this years Academy Awards. The beginning of the year marks the beginning of awards season which is like a Christmas of sorts for film fans everywhere, we've already had the likes of the Golden Globes and the Critics Choice Awards but it's all leading up to this years Oscars ceremony. Now I know the Oscars usually tend to focus on what dress that person's wearing and more recently cringe-worthy Oscar selfies, but it is still hard to not get excited to see who will win big at this years ceremony. With comedian Chris Rock set to host it is looking out to be another great ceremony, but the question is who is going to win what? We all have our own predictions, so here are mine (I haven't done all the categories, only the ones which I feel I'm able to judge).

Best Cinematography 

For me, this one would have to go to Sicario due to Roger Deakins' brilliant cinematography. I distinctly remember watching one scene just before the team enter the tunnel in the desert and there's this beautiful shot of the sunset and I thought to myself, that better get a cinematography nomination. Deakins has been nominated 12 times beforehand but never actually winning so hopefully this will be his year. He's almost like the DiCaprio of cinematography, just give the man an Oscar already!

Actor in a Supporting Role

I would have to go with Mark Ruffalo on this one as he gives such a powerful performance in Spotlight standing out as the young, enthusiastic journalist Mike Rezendes. Ruffalo was nominated both last year and in 2011 but again, he did not manage to get the win. Hopefully his excellent performance in Spotlight will give the diverse actor the award he deserves. 

Actress in a Supporting Role

Maybe I'm being biased because I love Rooney Mara but in fairness she gives a brilliant performance in Carol alongside her co-star Cate Blanchett. Mara plays a young woman named Therese who begins a relationship with Blanchetts Carol. Her character is curious yet conflicted and Mara's performance is very strong and convincing. Nominated once before for her role in David Fincher's The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo remake, if Mara doesn't win this time then I don't know who will (probably Winslet).

Visual Effects

This was a tough one to call as I was torn between The Force Awakens and Mad Max for their brilliant practical effects. To be honest I can't really make a proper decision so I'm going to leave it between those two films, personally I think the practical effects have a much better chance at getting the Oscar. However I could be wrong, Ex_Machina also had some nifty effects.

Production Design

Mad Max: Fury Road certainly deserves this one, from all the vehicles to the caverns, the set really is otherworldy. It is evident that a lot of care was put into the production design and it definitely pays off, I would also say that Fury Road could be up for best costume design too.

Adapted Screenplay

As an Irishman I feel obliged to say Room, but I don't just say this because of my nationality, the film is brilliantly written and although I have not yet read the book I have heard that the film is very close to it. So I am hoping that Emma Donaghue will get her Oscar for best adapted screenplay and make us all proud here at home.

Original Screenplay

I'm going to say Ex_Machina for this one simply because it was one of the most original sci-fi films that I've seen in a long time. It was a great story that focused on the concept of realistic A.I.'s and the dark secret behind their manufacture. Plus, any film with a scene where Oscar Isaac dances deserves some sort of accolade. I would love to see Alex Garland win something for Ex_Machina.

Original Score

This one is hands down Morricone. The godfather of western soundtracks, Morricone came back to what he does best in Tarantino's The Hateful Eight and oh boy did he deliver. From that opening shot of the statue of Jesus when Morricone's sinister score begins to play I could already tell it would be one to remember and I haven't stopped listening to it ever since. Although he has been nominate five times before, the Italian composer has never actually won for best original score but by god, he deserves it.

Best Director

Although Lenny Abrahamson shined as the director of Room, I am 90% certain that Mexican director Alejandro G. Inarritú will win for the second year in a row. His directorial skills are fully on show in The Revenant with it's long, continuous takes and its smooth camerawork and like Birdman last year, his style is very noticeable. You go Alejandro.

Actress in a Leading Role

I was a bit disappointed to see no nomination for Charlize Theron for Mad Max: Fury Road but looking at the nominees I think that Brie Larson without a doubt deserves this one for her role as Ma in Room. Larson gives everything in what is one of the most powerful performances of the year, playing a woman who has been held captive in a room for several years and escapes with her young son. Her onscreen chemistry with the young Jacob Tremblay is incredibly realistic and if Jennifer Lawrence wins this instead of her there will be murder.

Actor in a Leading Role

I think this could finally be the year that Leonardo DiCaprio finally gets his well deserved Oscar for his role as Hugh Glass in The Revenant. After missing out on numerous best actor awards over the years (some of which he really deserved) I think it's about time Leo was recognised for his talent. He doesn't have a lot of dialogue in this film but his performance as the revenge seeking frontiersman fighting for survival is captivating to watch, I mean he ate raw bison for god's sake. Leo is excellent in The Revenant and I think it's high time he finally got his award.

Best Picture

Now this is a tough one, the big daddy of awards. It's a tough one to call to be honest, I would love to see Mad Max: Fury Road win as it was one of my favourite films of last year while at the same time I think Room deserves the award. However, in the same fashion as last year I think Inarritú has it in the bag again as The Revenant is a phenomenal film. From its brilliant cinematography and camerawork to its gorgeous setting and its harrowing story, it is deserving of the best picture award. That will make it another successful year for the talented Alejandro G. Inarritú and to be honest the man deserves it. 

So those are a few of my predictions, I've left out certain categories mainly because I haven't seen some of the films nominated or I don't know enough about the category to make a judgement. With just over a month till the Oscars take place on February 28th it is hard not to feel excited for the awards. I won't be posting as frequently as I recently have now as I am back in college however stay tuned for some horror posts over the next week, until next time!

5 Shows Cancelled Before Their Time

Like all good things in life, every television show must come to an end at some point. Some go out with dignity, giving audiences a satisfying ending and a sense of closure while others go on for years until every possible scenario is milked and audiences rejoice when it finally ends. As a friend of mine once said, "You either die a Futurama or you live long enough to see yourself become The Simpsons". However, there are some unfortunate shows that are taken from us before their time, the dreaded cancellation. This tragic fate is usually down to lack of interest or low ratings and a lot of the time leaves the fan base of the show enraged. There have been many shows in the past that were cancelled before there time so here are five that I have chosen.

5. Samurai Jack

Long before Adventure Time or (shudders) Teen Titans Go! were around, there were a whole other bunch of cartoons of Cartoon Network. One of the most iconic of these was Samurai Jack, a series which followed a skilled samurai who gets trapped in the future by the evil demon Aku and must find his way back to the past. Unfortunately the eponymous swordsman never got back to the past as the show was cancelled after 4 seasons. This show was really cool and I have fond childhood memories of it, the animation style was unique and the creatures and characters in it really stood out. It took obvious influence from old samurai flicks, the works of Frank Miller and ancient mythology but the show was certainly packed with originality and had many memorable episodes. Thankfully the show has been picked up for a revival set to air later this year so that should be exciting, but I decided to put it on the list anyway due to the frustration of my eight year old self.

4. Hannibal

Back in 2013, fans of Thomas Harris' Hannibal novels and their film adaptations were treated to a rebooted series focusing on the early days of the titular cannibal and his rivalry with FBI agent Will Graham. The show was an instant hit praised for its dark tone and its talented cast including Mads Mikkelsen as Hannibal Lecter and Hugh Dancy as Will Graham. It was full of bizzare and grotesque murders with surreal elements and was one of the best crime thrillers of the decade, however last year in its third season Hannibal was cancelled. This was upsetting for many of the 'fannibals' (including myself) especially after how brilliant season 3 was and although we initially hoped it would be revived, the season finale killed our hopes. However there is still a chance that Hannibal could return, with developer Bryan Fuller expressing his interest in reviving the series along with Dancy and Mikkelsen. However, for now it looks as though we have seen the end of Hannibal.

3. Twin Peaks

This psychological mystery series from the mind of David Lynch followed FBI Special Agent Dale Cooper arriving in the small town of Twin Peaks after a young girl named Laura Palmer was murdered. This is one of my favourite shows of all time and has become a cult classic since it first aired in 1990, known for its memorable characters and elements of surrealism. Frequent Lynch collaborators also starred in the extensive cast including the likes of Kyle MacLachlan and Jack Nance and Twin Peaks became extremely popular during its run. However after Laura Palmer's killer was revealed halfway through the second season, people began to lose interest and ratings severely dropped. This led to the cancellation of Twin Peaks which was shit because it ended so ambiguously. Lucky for us, a revival is currently in the works and due for next year (I wrote a post about it which you can read here) but I put it on the list due to how long it took for it to come back, that being almost 26 years.

2. Freaks and Geeks

The show that launched the careers of the likes of James Franco and Linda Cardellini with Judd Apatow as an executive producer has gained a cult status since it originally aired in 1999. Set in 1980, it followed former mathelete Lindsay Weir who gets mixed up with a group of underachievers in high school and their exploits that follow. The show found the perfect balance of comedy and drama and was extremely well-written, it was full of likeable characters and plenty of memorable moments. It also had an excellent soundtrack. Unfortunately after only eighteen episodes, Freaks and Geeks was cancelled which was a real shame as it leaves you wanting more from these characters. It left certain things ambiguous despite its lighthearted ending and it is hard not to speculate what could have happened if it was picked up for another season. However, Freaks and Geeks gave us the likes of the previously mentioned Franco and Cardellini along with the likes of Seth Rogen and Jason Segel so we have that to thank it for. Maybe a revival could happen someday if we're lucky.

1. Utopia

Now this one was frustrating. Utopia was a British thriller series that aired on Channel 4 in 2013 and 2014 that followed a group of individuals who find a mysterious manuscript for a graphic novel which prompts them to be followed by an evil organisation called The Network. The show was brilliantly written full of memorable characters and shocking sequences along with its clever dialogue. Not only that, but it was visually stunning due to its colour schemes and beautiful cinematography. It was a pleasure to watch and the score from Cristobal Tapia de Veer is one of the most memorable scores from any television show. The second season of Utopia ended on an intense cliffhanger which made it all the more frustrating when the show was later cancelled. It was a real shame seeing such an original show being taken off the air while shows like Geordie Shore still plague our screens but unfortunately that's life. HBO had developed plans for an American version of the show directed by David Fincher and written by Gone Girl author Gillian Flynn, Rooney Mara was even in negotiations for the role of Jessica Hyde. However the plans were scrapped last year and for now, it looks as if we have seen the end of Utopia.

So those are just 5 of the many shows that have faced the cruel fate of cancellation, those are my picks but if you have any I'd love to hear about them  in the comments. I'll have some Oscar predictions up soon once I watch more of the entries so stay tuned for that soon, until next time!

5 Things We Want From The 'Twin Peaks' Revival

It has been almost 25 years since the end of David Lynch and Mark Frost's cult series Twin Peaks closed its red velvet curtains for good. The series followed FBI special agent Dale Cooper (Kyle MacLachlan) coming to the quaint town of Twin Peaks to investigate the murder of young Laura Palmer (Sheryl Lee). The series has become a cult classic and known for its colourful cast of characters, its surreal elements and its jazzy score by Angelo Badalementi. Despite its success and wide fanbase, the show was cancelled after two seasons and although a film directed by Lynch entitled Fire Walk With Me was released in 1992, it was a prequel and did not continue the story of the show. Back in 2014 it was announced that Twin Peaks was coming back to television for a limited series penned by Lynch and Frost. Fans went wild with this incredible news and have high expectations for the new series. There has been a lot of mystery surrounding the new series and not much is known about the production. With old cast members like Kyle MacLachlan and Sherilyn Fenn set to return alongside new cast members like Peter Sarsgaard and an air date set for early next year it is hard not to be excited. So what exactly are we looking for in the next season? Here are five things.

5. The Music

The original series of Twin Peaks along with the theatrical film had memorable scores from composer Angelo Badalamenti. They were jazzy and cool with lots of bass and percussion with snapping fingers here and there and it's safe to say the score is one of the most memorable ones of any television show. It set the general mood for the show and was one of the many things that made it so iconic. It has been confirmed that Badalamenti will be returning to score the limited series which is excellent news as I don't believe that anybody else could score the show. Although I would love to hear some of the old tracks, especially that iconic opening theme, I am also excited to hear some new material that Badalamenti has in store for the show.

4. Familiar Locations

The world of Twin Peaks is full of memorable locations such as the Double R Diner, The Great Northern Hotel and the Sheriffs Department. Along with these areas the town itself is also a beautiful place from its waterfalls to its forests and it really is a breathtaking area. These locations have been some of the defining features of the show and without them I don't think the revived series would be the same. With filming taking place in Washington it is safe to say that we will be treated to more beautiful locations and with set photos revealing the Sheriffs Department and Twede's Cafe (the Double R Diner) one can't help but feel excited to return to the iconic town.

3. Classic Lynchian Madness

David Lynches filmmaking style is known for being surreal and unconventional. From the likes of Eraserhead and Mulholland Dr. to the original Twin Peaks he is known for his unique, surreal style with elements of noir and psychological horror. Lynch has not directed a feature film in almost ten years and has been since making short films and the odd music video, so to see him return to one of his most beloved creations is a real treat. His unique imagination brought Twin Peaks to life in the first place and is what made it so memorable, having him back as both a writer and director for the revival is a real gift and has us looking forward to plenty of disturbing and surreal moments. I can only imagine what he has in store for us in the mysterious Black Lodge this season.

2. Closure on Season 2

Due to the cancellation of Twin Peaks, the shows cliffhanger ending left many loose ends that fans have been speculating about ever since. Did Audrey, Pete and Andrew survive the explosion in the bank? What became of Nadine when she regained her memory? Did Ben or Leo die? Most importantly what exactly happened to Dale after the events of the black lodge? With MacLachlan and Fenn being some of the only actors confirmed to return we may get closure on their respective stories but as for everyone else it is uncertain. With such a cliffhanger of an ending it is only fair that we learn the fates of these characters over 25 years later and what they have been up to since we last visited the town of Twin Peaks. 

1. Familiar Faces

Things have been kept pretty under wraps during the production of the new series and not a lot is known about the casting. Although several actors have been confirmed to return along with several new cast members, it is uncertain of who exactly is back. Plenty of cast members supported the revival with the likes of Dana Ashbrook and Wendy Robie taking part in a video prompting David Lynch to return (which you can view here) so hopefully we will see the majority of the original cast returning. Unfortunately the likes of Jack Nance, Frank Silva and most recently Catherine E. Coulson have passed away so that means no Pete, BOB or Log Lady for the revival which is a real shame. Conversely, deceased characters such as Leland Palmer could make a return as actor Ray Wise has hinted. Michael Ontkean who played Sheriff Harry Truman has since retired from acting and it is a real shame that he won't be back for the revival. Hopefully the majority of the original cast will return but once Michael J Anderson is back as the man from another place I'm happy. 

So those are just a few things I hope to see in the revival and it's safe to assume that most of it will be there. We may be missing a few cast members for various reasons and there is only so much you can fit into 18 episodes but I have faith in David Lynch and Mark Frost. It is fortunate that they are returning as I don't think anybody could do Twin Peaks the way they do. The show is set to return in early 2017 so until then let's look forward to some warm cherry pie and some damn fine coffee.

What If- 'Fantastic Four'

Last month I did the first of my 'what if' articles where I look at potential film ideas that almost happened, could possibly happen or existing films that need better treatment. This is the second installment of 'what if' (you can read the first one here) and in this post I will be looking at the superhero team, The Fantastic Four. The Fantastic Four are known as Marvel's first family and consist of Mr. Fantastic, The Human Torch, The Invisible Woman and The Thing. The team are iconic members of the Marvel universe yet when it comes to cinematic adaptations, they are not so successful. The first attempt at bringing them to the big screen was in 1994 with The Fantastic Four, the film was completed, a trailer was released and the cast went on a promotional tour however it was never officially released. Eleven years later another attempt was made with 20th Century Fox' Fantastic Four which was not so bad. I enjoyed this film and felt it really captured the family aspect of the team, however it didn't do much justice for its bad guy Doctor Doom. Its sequel Rise of the Silver Surfer was disappointing and with last years reboot 'FantFourStic' being a flop, Marvel's first family have seen better days. So what if a good Fantastic Four film was made? Well here's how I think it would go.

First of all I think in order for it to be good, the film rights to the characters should revert back to Marvel Studios (sorry Fox) as the Marvel Cinematic Universe has been thriving in the past few years. Secondly, I don't think it should be an origin story. There are too many origin stories in the superhero genre these days so I think to make this film stand out it shouldn't be an origin story. So how would the four fit into the MCU? Here's how I see it:

The Plot

In the comics, the four gain their powers after being blasted with cosmic rays during a space mission. In this version, the four would be a team of astronauts sent on a space mission after the events of Avengers Assemble which would make sense considering there was just an alien invasion. The four go on an ambitious mission into space before being blasted by cosmic rays and crash landing back on earth, realising their powers several days later. The initial space accident will be shown in a dream sequence by Reed Richards/Mr. Fantastic in the opening scene before getting into the action.

For the events to take place it would need to be during a time of weakness in The Avengers so that they are not available during the events. With films such as Captain America: Civil War and the Infinity War movies it's safe to say that there will be a huge fracture in the team to come. So that's where the four come in, but where have they been till now? Well the way I see it is that during their brief existence they have been residing in the Baxter Building under the supervision of Dr. Franklin Storm. He believes they need to learn to control their powers before using them and has kept their conditions a secret since the accident. So what calls them into action all of a sudden?

Why Doctor Doom of course! Doom is the primary antagonist of the team and the cruel ruler of the fictional country of Latveria. In this version, Doom would be essentially that, a leader of rebels who overthrow the current rulers of the war torn Latveria and take over. To the citizens of the country, Doom would be a hero but to the rest of the world he is a threat. After coming to power, Doom would go all Iron Man 3 on America, threatening it and condemning it etc. and after he launches an attack on somewhere in America, the president decides to react. But oh wait? The Avengers have split, who you gonna call?

Reed Richards recognises Doom as his former college friend Victor Von Doom. Richards prompts the other three to take action, to be sent to Latveria to combat Doom, however Franklin Storm is reluctant. Eventually he agrees and the team are sent to combat Doom. So that's the basic premise, the four head to stop Doom who is building superweapons or whatever evil villains do, and at some point someone says 'fantastic four'. It's not exactly original but I think it could work.

The Cast

Reed Richards/ Mr Fantastic: The super stretchy team leader and intellectual powerhouse would be played by Matthew Gray Gubler. The lanky actor has shown that he is used to playing intelligent characters and also looks the part so I think he would be a good choice.

Sue Storm/ Invisible Woman: Reed's lover and matriarch of the four would be played by Jessica Chastain. She is a talented actor who is used to playing strong female roles and I believe she would excel as Sue Storm.

Johnny Storm/ Human Torch: The comic relief and ladies man of the team would be a perfect role for Garrett Hedlund. The actor has shown that he can play charming and humorous characters like Johnny and I believe he would make a good human torch.

Ben Grimm/ Thing: A hulking character who is slightly unhinged but at heart he is really a sweet guy. I think Tom Hardy would be brilliant as Thing as he as all the qualities needed to play such a complex character, along with having the build for it.

Victor Von Doom/ Doctor Doom: This is something that the films still have not gotten right but I think a good actor for the role would be Andrew Scott. Scott has become well known for his role as the villainous Moriarty in Sherlock so if he could channel some of that into the role of Doom I think he would make a formidable foe.

Franklin Storm: Sue and Johnny's dad who looks after the team. I think a veteran actor would be good for the role, someone like Martin Sheen or even Henry Winkler would make a good Franklin Storm.

So those are just my thoughts on the matter, maybe someday we will get a good Fantastic Four adaptation and maybe Marvel Studios will get the rights to the characters back but until then I like to think this is what the film would look like. I will have more 'what if' next month but until then I'll be talking Twin Peaks and Oscars in the coming weeks so stay tuned!

Top 10 Vampire Films

In recent years vampire films are a lot less frequent as they used to be thanks to a certain Twilight saga pissing all over vampire lore. Since then we have seen a decline in the vampire genre and it looks as though films about bloodsucking creatures of the night have lost their popularity. However, there was a time when vampire films were popular, up until recent years vampires were some of the most beloved of the supernatural creatures (zombies now seem to be taking the top spot). As a big fan of vampire films, I have decided to compose a list of my top 10 vampire flicks, before the genre became worn out, before the Twilight saga.

10. From Dusk Till Dawn (Robert Rodriguez, 1996)

Robert Rodriguez and Quentin Tarantino are known for collaborating together on numerous projects over the years, and From Dusk Till Dawn is one of their most memorable ones. It follows the Gecko Brothers (George Clooney and Quentin Tarantino), two criminals who attempt to cross the border into Mexico by forcing a family to take them in their RV. Once they arrive in Mexico, the brothers and the family led by pastor Jacob Fuller (Harvey Keitel) must wait in the Titty Twister Bar from dusk till dawn before being picked up. Unfortunately for them, the bar is filled with vampires. A fun, black-comedy with a memorable script from Tarantino and appearances from horror and B-movie legends such as Tom Savini and Danny Trejo from the always entertaining director Robert Rodriguez. The film has been recently adapted into a television series which isn't so bad and spawned two sequels that I haven't seen, but they don't sound too promising.

9. The Hunger (Tony Scott, 1983)

Tony Scott's stylish vampire film saw ancient vampire Miriam (Catherine Deneuve) as she attempts to seduce scientist, Dr. Sarah Roberts (Susan Sarandon) following the death of her former lover John (David Bowie). This dark fantasy is more of a gothic romance than horror and the vampires of The Hunger differ from the ones we're used to, mainly due to their lack of fangs. However, Miriam is just as bloodthirsty as any vampire and Deneuve is excellent as the seductive vampire. Despite his role being smaller than expected, the late David Bowie gives a brilliant performance as vampire and musician and vampire John and both he and Deneuve are two of the most stylish vampires to ever grace the big screen. The film also has one of my favourite opening scenes ever as the two vampires stalk a nightclub to the tune of Bauhaus' Bela Lugosi's Dead.

8. Near Dark (Kathyrn Bigelow, 1987)

What do you get when you cross vampires and bikers with elements of the western genre? The answer is Kathyrn Bigelow's gritty vampire flick Near Dark which sees teenager Caleb (Adrian Pasdar) join with a group of roaming vampires after falling in love with one of their members Mae (Jenny Wright). For me, the real highlights of this film were Bill Paxton and Lance Henriksen as Severen and Jesse Hooker respectively. The former is a psychotic and blood thirsty killer and Paxton is entertaining as always while the latter is the charming leader of the group who is suspicious of the young Caleb. One of the more grittier vampire films, it follows the transition from human to vampire and the reluctance to feed on human blood. Since its release almost 30 years ago, Near Dark has become a cult film.

7. Fright Night (Tom Holland, 1985)

Teenager Charley Brewster (William Ragsdale) is your average American 80's teenager from the suburbs, only his next door neighbour is a vampire. That is the premise of Fright Night and what follows is one of the most entertaining vampire comedies of all time, mainly due to Planet of the Apes star Roddy McDowell as Peter Vincent, actor turned vampire hunter. Chris Sarandon is extremely charismatic as the mysterious vampire next door, Jerry Dandridge who begins to target Charlie's loved ones, succeeding in turning his friend 'Evil' Ed Thompson (Stephen Geoffreys) into a vampire. It is both creepy yet funny and like almost every 80's vampire film has become a cult classic due to memorable performances from McDowell and Sarandon. It even spawned a remake in 2011 with Colin Farrell as Jerry and David Tennant as Peter Vincent, while being thoroughly entertaining and very bloody, it was still no match for the original.

6. The Lost Boys (Joel Schumacher, 1987)

The last 80's vampire film on the list, released in the same year as Near Dark, this iconic vampire film sees brothers Sam and Michael Emerson (Corey Haim and Jason Patric respectively) moving to the sunny town of Santa Carla only to find it infested with vampires. Before Joel Schumacher went and ruined Batman, he gave us a pretty brilliant vampire film that has gone on to become a massive cult classic. Corey Feldman stands out in one of the highlights of his careers as Edgar Frog, one half of the self proclaimed vampire hunters the Frog Brothers. Kiefer Sutherland is also excellent as David, the menacing leader of the psycho pack of vampires who reside in an underground hotel. Full of twists and turns with some memorable death scenes and music, The Lost Boys is the king of 80's vampire films.

5. 30 Days of Night (David Slade, 2007)

Based off Steve Niles' comic book miniseries of the same name, this horrific vampire romp sees a small Alaskan town being invaded by vampires during their annual thirty days of nightfall. What makes this film so memorable his how terrifying the vampires are, they are not the charismatic and sensual blood suckers we are used to. They are relentless and bloodthirsty monsters with pale white skin and black eyes led by the brutal Marlow (Danny Huston). Josh Hartnett and Melissa George play Eben and Stella Oleson and are forced to combat the monstrous vampires while Ben Foster plays the maniacal stranger, a Reinfield type character who works with the vampires. Lots of blood and terrifying vampires, 30 Days of Night is one of the darker films on our list (as you can tell from the title) and is a milestone in the vampire hall of fame.

4. Let The Right One In (Tomas Alfredson, 2008)

Based on the novel by John Ajvide Lindqvist, it follows a troubled young boy named Oskar (Kare Hedebrant) who befriends his new neighbour, the mysterious Eli (Lena Leandersson) only to discover that she is a vampire. The two young leads both display immense talent in this Swedish vampire romance and really make the characters convincing and likable from start to finish. Eli is a vampire who does anything for survival, killing innocent locals but her relationship with Oskar shows that she is more than just some monster. It is interesting seeing the two contrasting characters have such excellent chemistry and watching them develop is a pleasure to watch. It was remade for American audiences in 2010 with Let Me In starring Chloe Moretz and Kodi Smith McPhee in the lead roles, being one of the better horror remakes. Darkly beautiful and gripping, Let The Right One In is a modern classic.

3. Horror of Dracula (Terence Fisher, 1958)

The first of Hammer's Dracula series sees the duo of Christopher Lee and Peter Cushing team up as the eponymous vampire and his rival Van Helsing respectively. Loosely adapted from Bram Stoker's iconic novel, it sees Van Helsing hunting down the count after the death of fellow vampire hunter Jonathan Harker (John Van Eyssen). The film puts more emphasis on the character of Arthur Holmwood (Michael Gough) who takes up a lot of Jonathan's role from the novel as in this version it is he and Van Helsing who race to save Mina from the sinister Count Dracula. With plenty of adaptations of Dracula over the years, I chose this one as it marks the first time Christopher Lee took on the role and since then his portrayal has become one of the most memorable. It also introduced the Counts signature hiss. In classic Hammer style, the film is gothic and somewhat bloody and is one of Lee's finest roles.

2. Nosferatu (F.W. Murnau, 1922)

An unauthorised adaptation of Bram Stoker's Dracula, this German expressionist film has become one of the highlights of Weimar cinema and to this day is still as unsettling as ever. It is essentially the Dracula story only with names switched, the vampire is renamed Count Orlock for example while the town is changed from London to Wisborg. Max Shreck's performance as the terrifying Orlock has become iconic, from his rat-like appearance to his creepy movements his character is one of the most unsettling in cinematic history. Memorable moments such as Orlock's shadow being cast on the wall and him standing in the frame of the door are just as unsettling today as they were back then. The film was made by F.W. Murnau, one of the pioneers of German expressionist cinema, and its gothic style, exaggerated performances and distorted sets make Nosferatu not only one of the best vampire films ever but also an expressionist masterpiece.

1. Dracula (Tod Browning, 1931)

Of all the adaptations of Bram Stoker's acclaimed novel, this one has to be my favourite. Although it does differ a lot from the book and certain characters are omitted, it marks the first time Bela Lugosi played the titular Count. Lugosi's performance set the standard for the modern vampire and has gone on to inspire multiple other performances and parodies, since then he has become an iconic figure in cinematic history. It is one of the first Universal studios horror films along with James Whale's Frankenstein and although Lugosi excelled in the role, he would only play the character once more onscreen in Abbot and Costello Meet Frankenstein. If not for Lugosi's performance as Count Dracula, I believe that vampire films would have been very different, even the character of Dracula could have been very different in later adaptations. Tod Browning's Dracula, to me, is the greatest vampire film of all time.

So there are ten of the best vampire films from over the years that I recommend you all watch if you haven't already. I had this post planned for later in the week, after my next 'what if?' post but after hearing the horrible news of David Bowie's death this morning and due to his role in one of the films on the list I decided to write it up today. I would just like to briefly say that Bowie was an icon who excelled in his music and acting career, he inspired millions and is recognisable worldwide, rest in piece. If you want to read more about Mr. Bowie, my friend Liam did a great post on him which you can read here. Until next time!

'The Hateful Eight' Review

Ever since his directorial debut almost 24 years ago with Reservoir Dogs, Quentin Tarantino has become one of the most acclaimed and controversial directors in the business. Over the years his films have ranged from crime capers to martial arts flicks and now, westerns. Django: Unchained was Tarantino's first attempt at a western and after seeing how well he could handle the genre I was delighted to hear that he would be doing another one in the form of The Hateful Eight. Last night I finally got to see The Hateful Eight and once again Tarantino delivered, however this time around he gives us something different. This is not the fast paced, action packed thriller we usually associate with a Tarantino film, despite its three hour run time it is a rather slow-burner and takes a while to get into the actual story. This is new ground for Tarantino, but it works and the director gives us one of his most suspenseful films yet.

The plot follows bounty hunter Major Marquis Warren (Samuel L Jackson) who hitches a ride from fellow bounty hunter John 'The Hangman' Ruth (Kurt Russell) and his current bounty Dasiy Domergue (Jennifer Jason Lee) to escape an oncoming blizzard. They find themselves taking shelter at Minnie's Haberdashery along with soon to be sheriff Chris Mannix (Walton Goggins) where they meet Bob (Demián Bichir), the Mexican who is watching Minnie's while she is away. Along with Bob, another trio take shelter at Minnie's in the form of Oswaldo Mobray (Tim Roth), General Sandy Smithers (Bruce Dern) and Joe Gage (Michael Madsen). They all have their respective reasons for being there but it soon becomes clear that there is something more sinister going on at Minnie's and that one of them is not who they say they are.

 As expected from a Tarantino movie, many of the characters are memorable individuals that stand out in the film. Characters like Walton Goggins' Mannix and Jennifer Jason Lee's Daisy in particular stood out for me, the former having some of the most memorable dialogue in the film while the latter plays a hard as nails psychopath who knows how to take a punch (she takes quite a few). However, certain characters felt a little underdeveloped. The first two chapters of the film (there are 6 in total) set up four of the titular eight characters and give us an insight into their general backgrounds and motivations which I think Tarantino done nicely. However, the other half of the cast who are already at Minnie's don't get such an in depth description and personally I was left wanting more from these, especially Roth's character. Another thing to note is that there were actually nine in total despite the title. The ninth character comes in the form of stagecoach driver O.B. played by James Parks who gets just as much screen time as some of the eight. Despite certain characters lacking in development, the cast members manage to bring these memorable characters to life and each execute their roles perfectly.

Unlike a lot of Tarantino's films it is a slow-burner, think of scenes such as the tavern one in Inglorious Basterds, but dragged out into a feature length film. This is not a bad thing however, as Tarantino manages to build a great level of tension throughout with help from a chilling score from the maestro himself, Ennio Morricone. I was very excited when I heard that Morricone would be scoring the film, known for his collaborations with directors such as Dario Argento and Sergio Leone and his memorable score was one of the highlights of the film for me. With the help of this sinister score and a slow yet steady pacing, Tarantino manages to build tension from the moment the gang set foot inside Minnie's. The film reminded me a lot of John Carpenter's The Thing, from its setting to the whole concept of the bad guy hiding among them (along with the presence of Kurt Russell). I dare say that The Hateful Eight is one of Tarantino's most tense films to date.

One thing that stood out for me was the interval, due to its long running time there was an interval about halfway through the film which compensated for the 187 minutes of film. Going into this film I was worried that it would be a bit dragged out and there are some parts that feel somewhat unnecessary, this includes several instances of a door being nailed shut which happens a lot more times then it should in the film. However there is always something happening to keep the viewers intrigued, from Jackson's characer's confrontation with Dern's character (In a rather unpleasant but memorable scene) to the whole whodunnit aspect of the film. By the time Tarantino's insidious tale nears its climax you won't want to look away as the sinister mystery finally unravels and we find out what is really going on at Minnie's. The films beautiful location alone is enough to keep you glued to the screen as it was filmed in the snow capped hills of Colorado. Along with excellent cinematography from Robert Richardson, the film is just as encapsulating visually as it is in its story.

While it ends quite abruptly and certain characters feel a bit underdeveloped, The Hateful Eight is new territory for Tarantino. Contrasting his more action packed films like Kill Bill and Django: Unchained, the film is much more of a slow burner and replaces action with suspense while keeping in line with classic Tarantino conventions such as memorable dialogue and brutal violence. Tarantino manages to build up this tense atmosphere throughout with help from the sinister score from Ennio Morricone, which comes together in the end in the film's bloody climax. Although it may not live up to his previous films such as Pulp Fiction or Kill Bill, the film shows a new side to Tarantino in that he can build suspense for a films entirety, and that becomes evident when watching The Hateful Eight. 

'This is England', a modern classic

A couple of weeks back I did a post about my top 5 shows of 2015 (which you can read here) and afterwards I only realised that I had left out one of my favourite shows of last year, This is England '90. For those of you who don't know, This is England began back in 2006 when British director Shane Meadows gave us the film This is England. The coming of age film followed a troubled young boy called Shaun who gets involved with a group of skinheads, he soon begins to follow their racist leader Combo (Stephen Graham) in his English nationalist ways. The film was extremely powerful and quickly gained acclaim from critics worldwide, being labelled one of the greatest films of the year. In 2010, Meadows brought This is England to the small screen with the 4 episode miniseries This is England '86, followed by This is England '88 in 2011 and concluding with This is England '90 last year. Both the film and the television series have gained universal acclaim, but why is that?

First of all, there is Shane Meadows' writing and directorial skills. In both the film and the series, Meadows presents audiences with harrowing story lines from start to finish that really make This is England the emotional powerhouse that it is. There is one particular story line in '86 that involves the return of a characters abusive father (Johnny Harris) and how his actions are not only felt in '86 but are also echoed in later episodes. The characters of This is England are also very well written. Meadows creates these memorable characters, some lovable and others utterly vile, but they all have different impacts on us. Throughout the course of the film and series they develop in their own different ways and we really feel for them during their times of struggle and anguish. We care about these characters, and along with Meadows' incredible writing it is mainly due to the highly talented cast.

Although throughout the course of This is England we have seen characters come and go, there is that core group of characters who have been there from start to finish. From the humorous Woody (Joseph Gilgun) to the strong-willed Lol (Vicky McClure) there are various characters that we come to know and love over the course of the show, all portrayed by actors with immense talent. Thomas Turgoose who plays the central character of Shaun was only 13 when he first appeared in the film and his performance is just as captivating as his fellow castmembers. To see a boy so young get involved in such a serious conflict is harrowing to watch and Turgooses performance is fantastic. Two other stand out actors of the show are Vicky McClure and Stephen Graham who play Lol and Combo respectively. Both have been through their own struggles, Lol with her abusive father and Combos redemption from racist nationalist to a man at peace with himself. They become more central to the plot as the series goes on and we really feel for them. Joseph Gilgun as Woody and Andrew Shim as Milky were, for me, some of the highlights of This is England and I look forward to seeing the two appear in more in the future.

The talents of the cast are most evident, in my opinion, in a particular scene in This is England '90 when the majority of them gather around a dinner table as Lol informs her sister Kelly (Chanel Cresswell) of their fathers abuse. The conflict that ensues is extremely tense and knowing that the scene was ad-lib highlights the talents of the actors involved. A lot of the dialogue was ad-lib according to some of the actors, which explains how the dialogue and relationships between the characters appears so natural onscreen, they are a real pleasure to watch. However, one of the things that defines the show is its style, the clothes, the hair, the music, it all highlights the youth culture at the time. From the skinhead attire in the original This is England to the mod threads and finally the 90's rave gear, the characters styles reflect the evolution of youth culture and how time has passed since we first met them. Music is also parallel to the style, earlier installments including a lot of ska and reggae music while later episodes saw bands like The Stone Roses and The Happy Mondays included on the soundtrack. Both the film and the series represent the evolution of a generation and people growing up.

The show excels in its writing, its cast and its style and I believe it is a modern classic. Accompanied by a beautiful score by Ludovico Einaudi, the show is emotionally harrowing and can be quite upsetting at times but it is one of the most gripping dramas I have ever seen. It will have you hooked from start to finish and certain episodes may even have you on  the edge of your seat (or hiding behind your hands). It is one of the most gripping and stylish dramas of the century and I encourage everyone to give it a look at some stage.

5 Things We Want From MCU Phase 3

Ever since it began in 2008 with Iron Man, the Marvel Cinematic Universe has been dominating the world of superhero films for almost eight years and with films like Doctor Strange and Captain America: Civil War hitting our screens this year, we brace ourselves for the beginning of MCU's third phase. Phase one began back in 2008 with Iron Man and The Incredible Hulk and continued with such films as Iron Man 2, Thor and Captain America: The First Avenger before finishing off with Avengers Assemble. It's safe to say that phase one had Marvel fans everywhere pretty satisfied, especially with Avengers Assemble rounding things off. Then phase two kicked in with a bit of a rocky start with the rather disappointing Iron Man 3 and for a while, myself and other fans of the franchise began to lose a little faith. However this was restored by memorable films such as Captain America: Winter Soldier, Guardians of the Galaxy and last years Ant-Man. The second Avengers film Age of Ultron and Thor's second solo outing The Dark World still felt like they were lacking something however. This year, phase three begins with Civil War and with numerous titles announced for the next four years there are many things us fans are hoping for.

5. The REAL Mandarin

Iron Man 3 for me was full of disappointments, disappointments which all spawned from that one dreadful plot twist in which (SPOILERS) Ben Kingsley's formidable Mandarin turns out to be nothing but a drugged up actor called Trevor Slattery while Guy Pierces Aldrich Killian claimed to be the real Mandarin. Why was this so disappointing you may ask? For those of you who know Iron Man you will know that The Mandarin is one of his greatest foes, an ancient Chinese sorcerer who uses the power of the ten rings to give him immense power. Initially, the film portrayed The Mandarin in a more realistic fashion, a terrorist leader obsessed with the culture of ancient China who also sported ten rings. For the first half of the film I was quite impressed with this version, however it all went downhill after that plot twist and I felt extremely let down. In comes the Marvel one shot All Hail The King which featured the character of Slattery where it is mentioned that a real Mandarin does in fact exist, but will we ever see him? I would love to say yes but it looks unlikely seeing as there are no Iron Man solo films scheduled for phase 3. However, a man can dream.

4. Thanos starting some shit

Ever since we all pretended to know who he was in the credits of Avengers Assemble, Thanos has been a bit of a background figure in the MCU, having small appearances in Guardians of the Galaxy and a cameo in the credits of Age of Ultron. However, for such a formidable looking villain, he hasn't really done much. Josh Brolin voices the mad titan and I am excited to see the actor use his talents to fully bring this bad guy to life, but why is Thanos so formidable? Well in the comics the brutal Thanos gets hold of the infinity gauntlet and wipes out almost all of Marvels superheroes, this is later undone by his daughter Nebula (played by Karen Gillan in the MCU) and Thanos is neutralized by Adam Warlock. As the whole MCU seems to be building up to The Infinity Gauntlet storyline coming together in Infinity War parts 1 and 2, it is fair to say that we may see Thanos (temporarily) destroying some of Marvels most beloved heroes. Only time will tell with Thanos as we still have just over 2 years until the first half of Infinity War, but until then expect plenty more teasers of the mad titan.

3. Less disposable villains

Over the past few years we have seen a variety of memorable villains in the MCU, from Tom Hiddleston's Loki to.. em..yeah. The majority of these villains were never seen again after their first outing which is such a shame because a lot of them didn't even have much time for development. Ultron was destroyed, Emil Blonsky was beaten half to death and Red Skull just kind of teleported(?) and since their initial appearances we have not seen them again. These villains have just been kept for one installment before being disposed of at the end and being replaced by another disposable villain in the next installment, this has become a common trend for Marvel and hinders character development. Sure, Loki has had plenty of time to develop, but Malekith was severely underdeveloped despite the potential he had. Mickey Rourke even criticised Marvels lack of villain development when he starred in Iron Man 2 as Whiplash, he stated that Marvel just wanted a "one dimensional bad guy" which is evident in the film. I want to see more of Red Skull, I want to see more of The Abomination, I want more villains in the MCU with the level of depth that Loki has. Hopefully phase 3 will have these but again, only time will tell.

2. Spidey!

I was thoroughly excited when I heard that Spider Man was coming to the MCU, making his debut in this years Civil War played by actor Tom Holland. Spidey is undoubtedly one of Marvel's most popular heroes so to see him finally join the MCU is a real treat for fans such as myself. The only thing is, how will this one differ from the previous two big screen web heads? If they're bringing him in they need to make him count, not just another pointless reboot like The Amazing Spider Man, he needs a reason to be here. Luckily for him, he plays a major role in the Civil War story arc in the comics, but how will his role in the film differ from that of the comics? Holland himself is also faced with a challenge as taking on the role of Spidey is essentially taking on two roles. One being the awkward and nerdy Peter Parker and the other being the wise cracking web slinger. Tobey Maguire nailed the Peter Parker side but as Spider Man he didn't seem as charismatic as we had hoped. Conversely Andrew Garfield was great as the humorous Spider Man, but his Peter Parker just seemed too cool. Hopefully Holland can find the balance between the two and give us a memorable portrayal as Spider Man.

1. Better use of female characters

One of the advantages that DC has over Marvel is Wonder Woman. She is without a doubt one of the strongest female heroes ever and as of now the MCU doesn't really have anything to match her. In fact, the MCU has been quite male dominated over the years despite its existing female characters. Scarlett Johansson's Black Widow has proven herself to be just as powerful as her male teammates in The Avengers, similarly Lady Sif (Jaimie Alexander) has proven that she is well able to fend for herself in combat. Last year we saw Elizabeth Olsen's Scarlet Witch take down Ultron himself which makes her one of the most promising newcomers in the MCU. However, there has been no female solo film as of yet which is really disappointing as the MCU is entering its eighth year. Characters like Black Widow and Gamora (Zoe Saldana) have only appeared as supporting characters and have yet to see their own solo outing. Phase 3 has teased at the character of Captain Marvel getting her own solo film which would be a milestone for the MCU, Evangeline Lilly is also set to return but as The Wasp alongside Ant-Man so we have those to look forward to. Hopefully before then the MCU will make more extensive use of its already established female characters but for now all we can do is wait.

So those are some things that I, and a lot of fans would like to see in the next phase of the MCU. We may not get all of that as it is a lot to ask for, but if we get a few better developed baddies and more prominent female characters then Marvel will be going in the right direction. The next MCU outing we have to look forward to is Captain America: Civil War which will be released in Ireland and the UK on April 29th and a week later in the US and it's looking out to be one of the biggest films of the franchise yet. In my next post I will be addressing one of the shows I left out of my Top 5 post so stay tuned for that, until next time!

Coming Attractions for 2016

After an exciting year in film, 2016 is beginning to look just as promising. Batman will face off against Superman, there will be a new generation of female Ghostbusters and Ryan Gosling will return to acting! The next 12 months are looking pretty eventful and if its anything like last year, there will be plenty of things to look forward to. So here are a couple of reasons why 2016 will be an eventful year for film.

Year of The Hero

I already did an extensive post about this (which you can read here) so I'll keep this short and sweet. This year will see the expansion of the DC Cinematic Universe with both Suicide Squad and Batman vs Superman: Dawn of Justice set to rival the already established Marvel Cinematic Universe. On the Marvel side we have both Civil War and Dr. Strange to look forward to while 20th Century Fox offer us Deadpool, X-Men: Apocalypse and possibly Gambit. The competition between the lighthearted MCU and the grittier DCCU (?) will be fierce this year and we will get to witness it in all its glory on the bigscreen.

For the Gamers

Video game adaptations have not exactly been very popular in the past thanks to films such as Super Mario Bro's. but this year will see four iconic video games adapted to the bigscreen. The popular Angry Birds game on mobile will get its own animated film this year with A-listers such as Peter Dinklage and Bill Hader among the voice cast. The iconic MMORPG World of Warcraft will also hit bigscreens and will see Vikings star Travis Fimmel as Sir Anduin Lothar side with Toby Kebbell's orc chieftain Durotan in an epic war across the land of Azeroth. One of my favourite childhood video games Rachet and Clank will get its own big screen adaptation too which is something I've dreamed about since childhood, surprisingly stars such as Paul Giamatti and Sylvester Stallone are set to star in it. Finally in what looks to be one of the greatest video game adaptations yet, Michael Fassbender dons the iconic hood in Assassins Creed, reuniting with Macbeth director Justin Kurzel, with all that talent it looks to be a promising film. 

To Infinity and Beyond

No not Toy Story, two sci-fi giants get new installments this year, those being Star Trek and Star Wars. Unfortunately we will not be getting episode VIII this year, instead we will be treated to the Star Wars anthology film Rogue One which will involve a group of rebels stealing the Death Star plans before the events of A New Hope. With the likes of Mads Mikkelsen and Felicity Jones set to star, it looks like it will be an excellent addition to the Star Wars canon. On the other side of the sci-fi galaxy Star Trek: Beyond is set to take off this year too, this will be the third installment in the rebooted franchise and the first not to be directed by J.J. Abrams. It sees the crew of the Enterprise stranded on a mysterious planet while facing a new threat (played by the talented Idris Elba) and is directed by Justin Lin. Although there was initial controversy over the trailer 'lacking depth', co-writer and star Simon Pegg assured us that this will be more than just your average sci-fi film.

Return to old Territory

In my last post I stated how last year there was a lot of return to old territory with old franchises returning for a new installment and although that won't be as extensive this year, there are still a few old franchises ready to return. 20 years after Roland Emmerich gave us Independence Day, Jeff Goldblum and the gang are back with a sequel entitled Independence Day: Ressurgance. Another iconic franchise set to return is Ghostbusters although not how you might think, the new film will see an all female cast as opposed to the original paranormal investigators. In a world where strong female characters are becoming more plentiful I think that this could be a good move for the franchise. However, what seems to be one of this years most anticipated films is Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them, the spinoff to the Harry Potter series. It will follow Eddie Redmayne as wizard Newt Scamander as he faces conflict between the magical and non-magical world in 1920's America. 

For The Kids

Children's animation has become more renowned in the past few years, especially from the likes of Disney and Pixar. This year will see the long awaited return to the beautiful world of Finding Nemo with Finding Dory which will follow the titular fish regaining her memory and going off in search of her family. It doesn't stop there however as Disney offer up two animated films this year. The first is the buddy cop film Zootopia set in a world of anthropomorphic animals while the second is the fantasy adventure Moana following a young female navigator in the South Pacific. 

There are plenty of other films in store such as the Coen Brothers' hilarious looking Hail, Caesar!, Ryan Gosling and Russell Crowe's black comedy The Nice Guys and the comedy sequel we've all been waiting for, Zoolander 2. These are just a small taste of what's in store for 2016 as there are hundreds of other films set to be released this year, from supernatural horrors like The Forest to Steven Spielberg's BFG adaptation there is just too much to fit into one blog post but if one thing is for sure, we'll all be broke by the end of 2016.