The 2015 summer movie season officially kicks off with Avengers: Age of Ultron. Needless to say that the bar has been set pretty damn high here. The prior installment, The Avengers (2012), was a well-received film that also had the third highest gross in history with $1.5 billion in ticket sales. That doesn’t even count all the merchandise the film sold. When critics and fans like your work, then ...[Read More]
With the release this weekend of both Disney’s live-action Cinderella and the Liam Neeson actioner Run All Night, we’re finally out of the early-year movie doldrums. And as I’ve said many times, dear readers, it’s never too early to look forward to what’s coming out. In that spirit, this week’s Trailer Trashin’ column takes another look at the first big mo...[Read More]
It’s an embarrassment of riches for fans of the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU), dear readers. Hot on the heels of last week’s examination of the Ant-Man teaser trailer, this week’s Trailer Trashin’ looks at what will probably be the biggest movie of summer 2015, Marvel’s Avengers: Age of Ultron. Premise: With S.H.I.E.L.D. destroyed and the Avengers needing a hiatus f...[Read More]
I don’t think anyone will disagree that William Shakespeare is the greatest and most influential writer in the history of the English language. He created numerous words and phrases that are still in common use today, his plays provided the inspiration for countless stories across all forms of media, and his name is still instantly recognizable almost four hundred years after his death. Now,...[Read More]
The Detroit Film Critics Society (of which CinemaNerdz Editor in Chief Mike Tyrkus is a member) is pleased to announce the Best of 2012 winners in ten categories. The society was founded in spring 2007 and consists of a group of seventeen film critics who write or broadcast in the Detroit area as well as other major cities within a 150-mile radius of the city including Ann Arbor, Grand Rapids, Kal...[Read More]
The Detroit Film Critics Society (of which CinemaNerdz Editor in Chief Mike Tyrkus is a member) is pleased to announce the Best of 2012 nominees in ten categories. The society was founded in spring 2007 and consists of a group of seventeen film critics who write or broadcast in the Detroit area as well as other major cities within a 150-mile radius of the city including Ann Arbor, Grand Rapids, Ka...[Read More]
Based on the record-breaking opening weekend The Avengers enjoyed, I think it’s safe to assume that most of you have seen the movie already, but just to be safe – read further at your own risk! There will be at least one major spoiler that will most definitely have a lasting impact on the future of Marvel’s characters on the silver screen. While I know it’s not on the slate just yet, my mind is al...[Read More]
What is the shortest amount of time a film has taken to make $200 million? Well, with the release of The Avengers, the answer is three days. No other film even came close to the big budget comic book film this week, which has not only garnered rave reviews from critics, but enough box-office green to make it an absolute smash. Having made an estimated $200.3 million its opening weekend (making it ...[Read More]
I’ve mentioned several times in the past that I was apprehensive regarding an Avengers movie. Logistically, teaming up all of those major superheroes would be something most people couldn’t do successfully. As the project grew closer though and all the ancillary films were released, I started to think that a team-up movie of this scope could work. Then, Marvel signed Joss Whedon to co-write ...[Read More]
Initially, I was opposed to the concept of an Avengers movie. Sure, I wanted it to happen and I thought it would be a cool idea, but I honestly didn’t think anyone could pull it off. When you look at most superhero movies, the franchise starts off well enough, but then drops like a rock. The studios want to capitalize on the marketing power of the movies as they progress, so they force too many ch...[Read More]
“You think you know the story;” it’s one you think you’ve seen dozens of times (Friday the 13th, Cabin fever, Evil Dead, etc.), but it’s not. It’s really not. When this movie was first brought to my attention I was anything but curious, then I heard that Joss Whedon was involved, and my curiosity level raised just enough for me to investigate, and after having viewed a few trailers and clips, my c...[Read More]