At What Point Do Superhero Films Reach Their Saturation Point?

There is arguably no better partnership in entertainment media in recent years than the merging of comic book and film. Superhero films have become mega-hits at the box office and have forged an even mightier bond with both comic book and movie fans.

Box Office Mojo shows that the numbers say everything: among the top ten all time worldwide box offices, two happen to be superhero films in the form of Marvel’s The Avengers and Avengers: Age of Ultron reeling in $1,518.8 billion and $1,405,4 billion respectively.

While the superhero genre continues to be lucrative there is a growing feeling cinema audiences may be starting to feel superhero fatigue. Next year there are nine films based on either a Marvel or DC character coming out. The question is whether the potential box office still justifies their annual prevalence at the movie theaters? Or should Marvel Studios, DC Entertainment, and other primary proponents of the superhero-film genre realize that the enterprise is approaching its inevitable twilight phase?

Fans are forever…

Superhero stories have been appealing to fans since the first part of the 20th century. Superman first appeared in 1938 and Batman followed the next year. Especially in today’s comic-book aware society, superheroes have occupied the consciousness of more and more audiences as the films have opened the door to new fans. Where once the superhero industry had the reputation of appealing to a select audience, now it is a billion dollar industry.

One area of fandom that the superhero genre really lends itself to is merchandising. It shouldn’t come as a shock then that commercial brands have cashed in on the public’s fixation of these caped-crusaders. Brands like athletic apparel Under Armour have produced footwear, accessories, and fitness gear in recent years that’s been modeled on some of the most famous characters of the superhero realm.

The digital realm is another key area where the superhero genre has been able to expand its reach. Superheroes have formed the bases of popular games for both gaming consoles and less tradition gaming platforms. The Batman Arkham series is considered one of the best virtual representation of a superhero and has four titles listed in Rolling Stone’s top 25 superhero games.

Digital entertainment portal Slingo also pays homage to the popularity of superheroes by incorporating these beloved icons into several of their slot games. The games range across both Marvel and DC influenced slots with a Wonder Woman game and Thor inspired game called Thunderstruck for both gaming and comic book fans to enjoy. As these examples show, whether you are buying clothes or visiting a popular gaming site you are bound to come across a superhero-related tie-in.

So much gas in the tank…

Spin-off flicks are nothing new to the film industry. Expanding the universe of certain story plots by churning out prequels, sequels, reboots, and even totally new stand-alone films have been done by many movie franchises in the past. Superhero franchises are no different. Movie Drop points out that fans of Spider-man will stay happy for a long time as they can expect a Spider-Man related movie every year for the foreseeable future. Sony Pictures, who own the rights to the Spider-Man license, believe that Peter Parker’s journey, and the universe he occupies, is a sure route to box office success.

Flops don’t faze anyone…

When comic-book film fans think of what particular movies fell short of their expectation, many would turn to 2008’s The Incredible Hulk. The film is considered a forgotten part of the MCU (not least because Ed Norton left the franchise to be replaced by Mark Ruffalo). ET Online noted that the movie in many respects served as a case study for Marvel Studios to be more abreast with the pulse of their audience. The following films proved to be much more successful.

The public will only be able to answer the question of whether the superhero genre has reached a saturation point when the box office figures start to consistently drop. Until then we can expect to see many more superhero films being developed in the near future.

Padmaavat (2018) Review: Carnival of Rust!

‘History is the certainty produced at the point where the imperfections of memory meet the inadequacies of documentation.’ – Julian Barnes, The Sense of an Ending

Rani Padmavati of Chittoor has long fascinated historians. Was she a historical figure or a work of fiction? There are several accounts that try to ascertain her existence. True or not, she has remained a mystery. When Sanjay Leela Bhansali made news that he was directing Padmaavat, it did not go all too well. Sets were vandalized, censor intruded and even a school bus was targeted. I wonder what the Rajputs and Karni Sena were doing when Tamil Cinema saw its own adaptation way back in 1963. Sivaji Ganesan, Vyjayanthimala, and M N Nambiar starred as Ratan Singh, Padmavati and Alauddin Khilji in Chitoor Rani Padmavati, written by C V Sridhar (of Kadhalikka Neramillai fame) along with Elangovan and directed by Chithrapu Narayanamurthi. While that film was a commercial failure, the acting, songs, and sets drew attention. Just the kind of film Sanjay Leela Bhansali is known for.

Padmaavat (2018) Review

Ranveer Singh is a Beast here. Deepika is Charming & Elegant.

Padmaavat portrays Alauddin Khilji as the ruthless ruler whose greed for lust and power had no limits. Ranveer Singh is a beast here. Often keeping his hair double plaits, he is unkempt and evil incarnate. Nothing can deter him from his march to the throne. He screams and the world shudders. We see him first becoming the son-in-law of Jalaluddin as he proposes to marry Mehrunisa (Aditi Rao Hydari). He lusts for another woman and kills a man on the day of the wedding making Mehrunisa fear him. Her fears turn to numbness when she learns of how low he can stoop to in order to usurp power from her father Jalaluddin.

On the other hand, we see Ratan Singh falling to the beauty and grace of Sinhala Princess Padmavati. Fortuitously struck by her arrow, she nurses him back to health and receives his love in return. Deepika Padukone is charming and elegant even if Shahid Kapoor seems to be mouthing dialogues like a school kid standing attention to hide what he is munching while attempting to answer a question. On returning to Mewar, the people in the court seem to graciously accept the new queen. She dances to perfection in Ghoomar winning the hearts of the women even when ‘history’ does not recall her for her dancing.

A trusted aide turns a peeping Tom to receive the wrath of King Ratan. Banishment and curses follow. Alauddin makes Delhi his own with his effeminate slave, Malik Kafur (Jim Sarbh) while Mehrunisa mourns. In a film filled with men, it is the two women who come across as humans filled with wisdom and compassion. You wish to see more of Mehrunisa. Like Mandodari was to Raavan, she remains loyal to Alauddin even if she questions his moral compass. When Alauddin learns about Chittoor in much the same way as Raavan learns about Sita, he immediately sets off on his next conquest. With truce abandoned and a war called, all hell breaks loose.

Ratan seems to stick to his moral scruples and ethics against the cunning Alauddin who does not care about the means to achieve what he seeks out for. The most moving scene of the film occurs later when Padmavati, being questioned of her honor, seeks out a tactful way to ensure she returns from Delhi with her husband without meeting Alauddin. In those brief moments when Padmavati and Mehrunisa meet, you empathize with all the women whose marriages with cruel or insipid rulers trapped them from living a free life. You wish such moments in Padmaavat lasted longer for us to be emotionally invested in the film.

Rather, Sanjay Leela Bhansali’s Padmaavat is a dreary, tediously long film that seems like a weaker follow-up to his stellar Bajirao Mastani. His films are attractive to look at and there is a rhythmic flow to the visuals. However, in Padmaavat, there seems to be a glaring disconnect between the film and the audience. That it has come out in 3D takes out the visual splendor of Sudeep Chatterjee’s cinematography. The songs, generally the strong point in Bhansali films intrude like acquaintances initiating small talk in chance encounters.

Actors do more to the film than the film does for them.

Padmaavat, despite all these, holds your attention because of Ranveer Singh, Deepika Padukone, Aditi Rao Hydari and Jim Sarbh. These actors do more to the film than the film does for them. I wonder how much had been tweaked from the initial film. However, if the same care and attention with which the CGI protected Padmavati’s midriff being exposed was paid to the lack of depth in the story, perhaps the movie would have been a lot more compelling to watch. Padmaavat comes out as that history lesson in school we were compelled to read. Wish the film was more than just information and breathed life. Failing, it becomes a carnival of rust.

Baskin (2015) Review: Movie Explained!

This mythological thriller/horror film from Turkey offers irrepressible terror wrapped in mystery. The beauty of this gory, biblical dream-ride is how much it provides with such a thin plot. The story is about a bunch of cops, who while trying to explore an abandoned police station, experience perdition in its ultra-violent ways.

After trying his hand at quite a few short horror movies, director Can Evrenol marks his silver screen debut with Baskin, based on 10 minutes short of the same name. He put his heart and soul into this somewhat precarious venture. It’s not easy to bind myths, terror, and enigma in a single narrative within a cocoon of entertainment. But Evrenol does it with elan. Being a horror movie buff, some French horror movies worked as his inspiration in creating this masterpiece. He shot the whole film in just 28 nights with an Arri Amira. In spite of the tight budget and novice cast, Evrenol managed to pull off his project triumphantly.

Baskin (2015) Trai

About the cast: Due to budget constraint, Evrenol could not manage to rope in established actors, so he was compelled to engage an ensemble cast, who were absolutely newcomers. But these actors, with their relentless efforts and raw talent, helped Baskin to achieve its true essence. The show stealer was definitely Mehmet Cerrahoglu, the actor, who effortlessly personated Baba. Mehmet, the 40-year-old car park attendant in real life, is suffering from a very rare medical condition, which caused his deformity. He is definitely an amazing discovery of the filmmaker

Baskin (2015): Movie Explained!

The level of ambiguity this film carries makes it absurdly difficult to provide an overall explanation. So, I have decided to dissect every scene, which deserves some kind of elucidation. The opening scene of Baskin is inspired by a nightmare, which Evrenol’s father often experienced as a child. This scene is used quite a few times throughout the movie. It leaves us with two questions, was the whole story just a mere nightmare of Arda or was Arda actually Devil’s own son? I will try to figure out the most plausible answer through decrypting the myths and symbols.

This bucket full of meat delivered to the guy at the restaurant surely looks abhorrent. Probably it was the same meat, which was extracted from the rotten bodies of the police station. And the hooded figure carrying this was presumably Baba’s sidekick.

This scene, where the man puked and found a frog in the soap holder, and Baba’s faint image at the backdrop clearly give an indication that the restaurant was also an extension of Hell (police station). It can also be the premonitions of their future happenings.

In an interview Can Evrenol decrypted this goat-faced woman sex scene: “This element of sexuality reflects the male-dominated society in the areas where I was born and raised.” The different sexual scenes reflect some ambiguous carnal cult.

Baskin (2015) – Ending Explained!

Now before trying to deduce the climax, we need to bring forth some theories. The first thought which crossed my mind after completing the whole movie was, “Is Arda Devil’s son?” The seed of this idea rests in the opening scene. Was his mother having sex with the Devil? Was the nightmare actually a figment of the truth, which recurred to him multiple times? The bedroom was lit with red light, did it indicate Hell? Another supposition is the ‘loop theory.’ It is very much possible that Arda and all the other cops were caught in a time-loop. They underwent those torments again and again until Arda destroyed Baba and his curse.

The last hypothesis is probably the most accurate one. Here I am assuming that the story starts with the death of Arda and other cops due to drowning and the whole build-up is apparently bits and pieces of their past life and their actual hellish experience at Baba’s lair.

M.S. Dhoni: The Untold Story (2016) Review & Analysis!

Many people are usually under the misconception that to enjoy a movie associated with the sport, you have to be sports savvy yourself, but this isn’t true. Many sporting fans and film fans alike can enjoy an integrated subject matter and gripping storyline, as long as the portrayal is accurate in a ‘based on a true story’ film. So, how did MS Dhoni: The Untold Story perform after its release? Truly, it isn’t black and white at all, as where the film had some peaking moments, it also had some severe downfalls as well.

A Quick Rundown Of The Plot

The film plummets straight into the ICC Cricket World Cup Final, with Sri Lanka against India, where the famous Mahendra Singh Dhoni is watching the match live on screen. Defiant, Dhoni claims to the authorities that, a wicket fall, he will bat. Upon grabbing his bat and heading downstairs, a flashback of Ranchi ensues, which is the day that Dhoni is born. From this moment onward, the film documents Dhoni’s life, from school all the way until he secured a victory at the World Cup in 2011. Fact-wise, Fox Star Studios certainly don’t miss anything, but did they manage to portray each event and character in a way that’s true to the original anecdote?

The Portrayal Of The Cricketing Hero

Attempting to portray such a massive sporting star within a film can be quite the challenge for film producers. What is also daunting is the fact that cricket is almost a religion in India and surrounding countries, with it being the most heavily wagered sport and claiming the highest number of players followed by Soccer and Hockey, India’s national sport. However, Fox did manage to get this right… most of the time.

In the beginning, Dhoni is presented as a simple natural athlete, with no particular interest in cricket. Instead, he’s more interested in football, tennis, and badminton. With this in mind, Dhoni was known for playing cricket at school, with club cricket and school cricket proving as frequent curricular hobbies, so this definitely could have been portrayed more clearly during his early school life.

Generally though, as a sportsman, Dhoni is represented exceptionally well. While the herculean portrayal attempts may have gone a little far at first, he suddenly epitomizes hope and determination for sportsmen. The film becomes a documentary about how even though the strokes and bats came easily to Dhoni, being invited into a privileged sporting enclave is severely tough and requires a lot of hard work.

How Are Other Characters Represented?

The sad part about this point is simply, well… not at all. Dhoni is pretty much the central focus throughout the entire film, and while this is mostly expected since he’s the protagonist, there is virtually no representation or screen time for other characters. While Fox was able to positively portray Dhoni as the determined sportsman he was, his other experiences within the cricketing industry are very rarely touched on. Where is his banter with other sportsmen in the changing room? Where are the scenes with his fellow players at all? Throughout the film, we simply see his teammates in mere flashes, and even then we don’t get a good look at their physical profile, excluding that one scene where Dhoni is with Yuvraj Singh.

Moreover, the family representations are also incredibly bland, and heavily stereotypical. His dad is there to tell him that his career can go much further than sport, his mum is there to put all of her belief in him, and his sister is extremely supportive, but where is the real friction? This film is all about uncovering the true, untold story behind Dhoni’s career. However, it feels as though it isn’t an untold story.

Is It Just Typically Bollywood?

While we wouldn’t go as far as to say that MS Dhoni: The Untold Story is the new Slumdog Millionaire, there are moments in the film where you find yourself cringing and thinking “really?”

At one point within the film, there’s a legitimate love song, as well as overly dramatic scenes that you simply don’t expect to see in films that are designed to portray someone’s true story. At times, the film did seem quite muddled, with a few too many dramatically blurry scenes that almost lost the overriding message of the film entirely. Plus, when the song montage began, we saw three versions of the same action, which made the montage appear a bit sloppier.
However, in general, the film is directed and scripted very well, as there are moments where we’re exposed to Dhoni’s tender and more emotional side, which is something that fans wanted when watching his untold story. While the Bollywood style scenes aren’t everyone’s cup of tea, they are still entertaining for audiences who perhaps aren’t as knowledgeable about Dhoni, or simply cricket, for that matter.

The Final Verdict

Coming to a final verdict with MS Dhoni: The Untold Story is a difficult one. As long as you can overlook the slightly poor production, the plot and message of the film are incredibly appropriate to Dhoni. Unfortunately, though, the lack of character representations makes this film a disappointment for many, as well as the random Bollywood moments that take away from the powerful and empowering messages that Dhoni’s career communicates. IMDb gave the film 7.8/10, but what do you think?

Pixar’s Latest “Coco” General Overview

“Coco” is the latest animated film released by Pixar. It discovers the culture of Mexico, demonstrating the importance of family and its past. It consists of a big chunk of humor, a little history of Mexican traditions, a huge amount of light, and many unpredictable moments. This is not the story that you can read a short overview of it written by https://essayhelper4you.com or some reviewer and pretend that you know what it is about. You have to watch it, to hear and feel it to realize the depth of the plot.

Meaningful and really nice plot

The animated movie tells us the story about Miguel, a twelve-year boy that lives in Mexico. He has a big family that is run by a grandmother. This family has its own shoe-business, and every member is involved in it. Miguel loves music, he is keen on playing guitar, and he wants to be a musician. The problem is that in his family any kind of music is banned. That is why the young boy has to keep his talent and his dreams under the secret. Once, when his guitar is broken and nobody wants to lend him a musical instrument, Miguel decided to borrow a guitar that belonged to Ernesto De La Cruz, a famous musician ever. But, when he touches the strings, something supernatural happens – he finds himself in the Land of the Dead. Now, he has to escape this place before dawn or he will stay here forever.

A wonderful course of events

At the first sight, this animated movie is a kind of adventuring story with a bunch of distinct characters. However, the main accent here is on the family relationships and the problems we encounter in our ways of loving each other. It is possible to understand the real depth of the idea only at the end of the story. However, you cannot just skip the most of the movie, watch the end, and understand what it is about. The story is built carefully and very consistently. The actions that are taking place on the Land of the Dead is interlaced with the actions in our world, and the actions from the family’s past. This film does not look like a separate story; it seems that it has a deep history and all those characters really existed before.

Animation and sound effects are at a height

Unbelievably attention to the details brings this movie to the top of its genre. Everything here looks amazingly real: generously lightened streets, picturesque houses and squares, people, and even the nice-ugly dog. It is insanely detailed and there are specific shots of city structure, streets, and cobblestone walkways that just look photorealistic. It feels like creators thoroughly elaborated every tiny detail, making the movie gorgeously animated. The music in the movie is just wonderful. The guitar work, the singing, and the passion that those songs are performed with. It all sounds very beautiful and it seems to be the heart of the story. That is why it is impossible to stop watching it.

In conclusion, this film is dramatically rich, it has many good surprises from a story standpoint. It has many appreciated characters, and a good message about family love inside. “Coco” is a very beautiful and touching story that will wrap everybody in it. Despite the fact that it is an animated film, it will be interesting for every age category. This movie definitely worth the time to be watched.

Zack Snyder To Direct Justice League Movie After “Batman vs. Superman”

It’s like a dream come true. Remember all those excitements we had for “The Avengers (2012)” and now it’s time for “Justice League”. I have this habit of watching almost anything that has the word “Batman” on it, so the excitement for this movie is higher than expected.

Man of Steel (2013) director Zack Snyder will be directing this as well. He is busy with “Batman vs. Superman” flick which is believed to be the sequel of Man of Steel.

Zack Snyder To Direct Justice League Movie

Warner Bros president of worldwide production Greg Silverman announced that,

“It will be a further expansion of this universe. Superman vs Batman will lead into Justice League.”

Henry Cavill as Superman and Ben Afflect as Batman are for sure, we can also expect Gal Gadot to join as Wonder Woman. Justice League script is currently in development and we can expect the movie to hit big screens around 2018. We can expect some of the biggest superheroes from the DC universe.

These 4 People Could Be The New “Fantastic Four” Superheroes

The Fantastic Four is a fictional superhero team appearing in comic books published by Marvel Comics.

Fox is making sure their second round of making a Fantastic Four franchise should make justice to their respective roles. The first round which had two movies in 2005 and 2007 got Ioan Gruffudd as Richards, Jessica Alba as Sue Storm/Invisible Girl, Chris Evans as the Johnny Storm and Michael Chiklis as Grimm.

We got sources saying “Fox Studios” is making a deal with Miles Teller, Kate Mara, Michael B. Jordan and Jamie Bell for the reboot. Fantastic Four reboot is slated for release on June 19, 2015. Jordan will be doing the role of Johnny Storm (Human Torch), Mara as Sue Storm (Invisible Girl), Bell as Ben Grimn (Rockman), and Teller as Reed Richards (Stretchable). This will be directed by Josh Trank.

Black Panther (2018) Review The Wonder of Wakanda and the Power of Vibranium

Even before we register the names, it is the name of the place that arouses interest. Wakanda, considered a third-world country locked out from world trade but within it is a paradise on earth. Rich with resources, the people from different tribes live in harmony protecting themselves from evil forces with Vibranium, not available anywhere else on the planet but Wakanda. It has not just helped them build highly-advanced technology but enabled its warriors to become truly invincible. A Black Panther is chosen with the unanimous approval of all the tribal leaders and must definitely emerge victorious in case of any opposition. Following the ritual, a heart-shaped herb laced with Vibranium is made finer as a thicker solution to be drunk by the Black Panther to gain superhuman abilities. The Jabari tribe alone, for generations, stands apart in its decision to not follow the Black Panther rule.

When did superhero movies take Shakespeare to heart?

T’Challa is the son of T’Chaka and in Captain America: Civil War, we see him losing his father in an explosion. The people of Wakanda need to choose their new leader. On the other hand, a wrong done by his father, decades ago, returns to haunt him and the people of Wakanda. They have, for generations, shielded Wakanda in order to protect the Vibranium reserves from being discovered and misused. A South African black-arms dealer and smuggler Ulysses Klaue (Andy Serkis) who had infiltrated Wakanda in the past with a portion of Vibranium helps Erik “Killmonger” Stevens (Ryan Coogler regular Michael B. Jordan) towards his obsession to go to Wakanda seeking vengeance for his father’s death. Tribes take sides. There is moral ambiguity. You are as much rooted in Erik’s need for justice as T’Challa’s need for peace and righteousness. When did superhero movies take Shakespeare to heart? When the movie ends, you walk out of the theatre with a huge grin wanting to see it all over again.

The All-Blacks!

Chadwick Boseman as T’Challa looks straight out of a protagonist imagined by the great Nigerian writer, Chinua Achebe. His eyes provide a calming assurance even as his body language suggests that T’Challa is a King who relished walking among men in the valley. The romantic subplot involving Nakia (a charming Lupita Nyong’o) from the River Tribe, working as an undercover spy works great too without coming as a hindrance to the story. The pick among the supporting cast is Letitia Wright, playing Shuri, the witty and intelligent 16-year-old sister of T’Challa, instrumental in creating advanced gadgets and innovating superior technology. She would even make Tony Stark look like an enthusiastic science pre-teen school kid. Daniel Kaluuya as W’Kabi is impressive, and Michael B. Jordan as Eric Stevens roars. What you absolutely love about these minor characters is even their story arcs have been paid a lot of attention to. The women shine through the film, more than the men. In this case, the women guards, protecting Black Panther remind one of Dahomey Amazons, a sub-Saharan band of warriors, who were dominantly existent till the 19th century. It is wonderful to see a dominant black cast in a superhero movie. How welcoming! The New Zealand rugby team is fondly called as the All-Blacks. Like the team, the people of Wakanda shine with both their brain and brawn.

Technically superior

The writing by Ryan Coogler and Joe Robert Cole, be the subtle jibes at the colonial and imperial mindset or the historically aware dialogues, is perfect. Cinematographer Rachel Morrison treats Black Panther with just the sense of grandeur that is pleasing to the eye showing the contrasts within Wakanda, the earthen appeal of its exterior and the vibrant tech-laden interior that does not pop out but draws you in. Marvel films, long known for staying faithful to temp music (rehashing old scores), stays away from its notoriety by roping in Swedish composer Ludwig Göransson. He creates the most compelling score we have listened to in a Marvel film. Adding to this smart move is making Kendrick Lamar as in charge of the soundtrack. When the film ends with the rousing ‘All the stars,’ you feel that the dazzling stars on the black night sky are the protective gaze of the Black Panther from above.

All hail the new King of Wakanda! The King among Superheroes!

Every generation needs a fictional hero it can identify itself with. The idea of the fictional hero when taken on an individual level speaks of the virtues the individual considers as valuable. They help in shaping your identity. For years, we have watched in mute surmise Batman to Superman, Spiderman to Ironman, taking on the bad guys and winning the good vs. evil battle. Nothing wrong in that, you may tend to wonder. But what it has culturally established is an unwanted inferiority complex for people from other regions and cultures. We need a fictional superhero who can make us comfortable in our skin, who can speak the language in the tongue we are familiar with, and above all, we need a fictional superhero who takes pride in his culture while respecting others equally. It is therefore not surprising that the TIME magazine featured Chadwick Boseman on the cover. He is the fictional hero of our times. By not being distant and unapproachable like the other superheroes, Black Panther emerges as a Hero who builds bridges across regions and cultures to unite the world at large. In that context, Black Panther may go down to be the most relevant superhero in the extended comic universe of DC and Marvel heroes.

The Journey Begins

Thanks for joining me!

Good company in a journey makes the way seem shorter. — Izaak Walton