When George Miller released "Mad Max: Fury Road" in 2015 (our review here), he completely revolutionized action films forever. The long-awaited fourth installment of his post-apocalyptic Ozploitation franchise, "Fury Road" was over three decades in the making, but before Tom Hardy and Charlize Theron ever pressed their boot leather to the gas pedal of a war rig — there was Miller's script for "Furiosa." Almost entirely written before production began on "Fury Road," Miller outlined a thrilling epic about the life of Imperator Furiosa before she crossed paths with "Mad" Max Rockatansky.
Now, Miller has brought that story to the big screen, a prequel to "Fury Road" and an immersive dive into the life story of one of cinema's greatest characters of the last 20 years. Thanks to the extensive behind-the-scenes oral history of "Fury Road," we know that Miller is a meticulous director who storyboards out his films within an inch of their life.
Now, Miller has brought that story to the big screen, a prequel to "Fury Road" and an immersive dive into the life story of one of cinema's greatest characters of the last 20 years. Thanks to the extensive behind-the-scenes oral history of "Fury Road," we know that Miller is a meticulous director who storyboards out his films within an inch of their life.
- 5/15/2024
- by BJ Colangelo
- Slash Film
Seven strangers all harboring a secret descend on a hotel for one bloody, eventful night. It's the kind of premise that's fueled many a hard-boiled noir, one that continues to inspire pastiche filmmakers today. "Bad Times at the El Royale" director Drew Goddard spun an incredibly nuanced web out of this simple conceit, using it to comment on a myriad of themes that dominated the 1960s. Faith, morality, surveillance culture, the rise of cult mentality, bigotry, misogynoir, America's abandoned veterans ... it's all there, strung together with help from Goddard's ensemble.
"Bad Times" begins with singer Darlene Sweet (Cynthia Erivo), priest Daniel Flynn (Jeff Bridges), vacuum cleaner salesman Laramie Seymour Sullivan (Jon Hamm) and hippie Emily Summerspring (Dakota Johnson) checking into the El Royale. The hotel's cheeky "bi-state" gimmick (it straddles the Nevada/California border), as well as its relative remoteness, once made it a haven for high-rollers looking to hide away.
"Bad Times" begins with singer Darlene Sweet (Cynthia Erivo), priest Daniel Flynn (Jeff Bridges), vacuum cleaner salesman Laramie Seymour Sullivan (Jon Hamm) and hippie Emily Summerspring (Dakota Johnson) checking into the El Royale. The hotel's cheeky "bi-state" gimmick (it straddles the Nevada/California border), as well as its relative remoteness, once made it a haven for high-rollers looking to hide away.
- 12/3/2022
- by Lyvie Scott
- Slash Film
There is no franchise that is so big that it’s immune from some bizarre footnotes that become a forgettable part of its history. It’s inevitable. By the time The Empire Strikes Back had come out, Star Wars had already given us a bewildering TV special about Chewbacca’s version of Christmas, a comedy sketch of Richard Pryor working at the Mos Eisley cantina, and a comic book where Han Solo teamed up with a green Bugs Bunny. The bigger and more expansive the series, the more likely you’re going to see find some curious treasure buried between the couch cushions.
Video games are no different. There are so many great Bomberman games out there, but the series will forever be stained by the gritty, post-apocalyptic reboot, Bomberman: Act Zero. There are ten major Tekken fighting games, but even its fanbase needs to be reminded that Nina Williams...
Video games are no different. There are so many great Bomberman games out there, but the series will forever be stained by the gritty, post-apocalyptic reboot, Bomberman: Act Zero. There are ten major Tekken fighting games, but even its fanbase needs to be reminded that Nina Williams...
- 9/5/2022
- by Matthew Byrd
- Den of Geek
In the late ’80s, video games started featuring over-the-top, meaty musclemen. Metro City had Mike Haggar, a shirtless former wrestler who became mayor and decided that being “tough on crime” meant ridding the streets of criminals with his bare hands, his girlfriend’s psycho boyfriend, and a ninja in Nikes. Circus strongman Karnov scoured the world for adventure and treasure, fighting all kinds of mythical monsters. Bald Bull was trying to dominate both the boxing ring and the arm-wrestling circuit. Gutsman was a jacked construction robot who was later rebuilt as a 40-foot-tall tank centaur.
And then there was Abobo, the gigantic antagonist from Double Dragon. He wasn’t The antagonist. Hell, in the first game, you fight him within the first two minutes. Despite his low-level status, he’s still far more fondly remembered than the main Double Dragon bad guys like Willy and the Shadow Master. There’s...
And then there was Abobo, the gigantic antagonist from Double Dragon. He wasn’t The antagonist. Hell, in the first game, you fight him within the first two minutes. Despite his low-level status, he’s still far more fondly remembered than the main Double Dragon bad guys like Willy and the Shadow Master. There’s...
- 9/4/2020
- by Gavin Jasper
- Den of Geek
Stars: Mark Dacascos, Scott Wolf, Alyssa Milano, Robert Patrick, Kristina Wagner, Julia Nickson, Nils Allen Stewart, Henry Kingi, John Asher, Leon Russom, Al Leong, Michael Berryman, Vanna White, Andy Dick, Deanthony Langston, John T. Grantham, Ed Feldman, Roger Yuan, Ron Yuan | Written by Michael Davis, Peter Gould | Directed by James Yukich
There is a dark place in movie hell reserved for the beast known as the “video game movie”. There have been some that really aren’t that bad, take Doa: Dead or Alive as an example or Silent Hill. They knew how to keep things fun without being too cheesy in the process. But what about Double Dragon, which has just been released, in the Us, on Blu-ray from Mvd as part of their Mvd Rewind collection.
Set in the future (of 2007…) in a post-earthquake California, Jimmy and Billy Lee (Mark Dacascos and Scott Wolf) find themselves in possession...
There is a dark place in movie hell reserved for the beast known as the “video game movie”. There have been some that really aren’t that bad, take Doa: Dead or Alive as an example or Silent Hill. They knew how to keep things fun without being too cheesy in the process. But what about Double Dragon, which has just been released, in the Us, on Blu-ray from Mvd as part of their Mvd Rewind collection.
Set in the future (of 2007…) in a post-earthquake California, Jimmy and Billy Lee (Mark Dacascos and Scott Wolf) find themselves in possession...
- 2/14/2019
- by Paul Metcalf
- Nerdly
From director James Yukich (Shawn Mendes: Live at the Greek Theatre), producers Don Murphy, Jane Hamsher (From Hell) and Alan Schechter (Showdown), with a screenplay written by Michael Davis (Shoot ‘Em Up) and Emmy Award Winner Peter Gould comes Double Dragon, the cult classic movie based on the video game smash hit.
Double Dragon roars to life with amazing special effects, spectacular action sequences, and a knock-about sense of humor. It’s the year 2007, and what remains of La is now ”New Angeles”, a city ravaged by earthquakes, tidal waves and vicious gangs. The evil tycoon Koga Shuko is obsessed with finding the two halves of a talisman known as the ”Double Dragon”, which will give him awesome mystical powers. Two teenaged brothers, Jimmy and Billy Lee find themselves in possession of the amulet’s missing half, thrusting them into the adventure of their lives. With the help of...
Double Dragon roars to life with amazing special effects, spectacular action sequences, and a knock-about sense of humor. It’s the year 2007, and what remains of La is now ”New Angeles”, a city ravaged by earthquakes, tidal waves and vicious gangs. The evil tycoon Koga Shuko is obsessed with finding the two halves of a talisman known as the ”Double Dragon”, which will give him awesome mystical powers. Two teenaged brothers, Jimmy and Billy Lee find themselves in possession of the amulet’s missing half, thrusting them into the adventure of their lives. With the help of...
- 12/14/2018
- by Phil Wheat
- Nerdly
“I just want total domination of one major American City! Is that too much to ask for? Is it? Is it? Huh?” The ’90s are back! The Double Dragon (1994) Collector’s Edition Blu-ray and DVD will be coming on January 22nd as part of the “Mvd Rewind Collection”. Pre-order information can be found Here Who can forget this masterpiece?!?
From director James Yukich (Shawn Mendes: Live at the Greek Theatre), producers Don Murphy(Transformers, Natural Born Killers), Jane Hamsher (From Hell) and Alan Schechter (Showdown), with a screenplay written by Michael Davis (Shoot ‘Em Up) and Emmy® Award Winner Peter Gould (Better Call Saul, Breaking Bad) comes the cult classic movie based on the video game smash hit.
Double Dragon roars to life with amazing special effects, spectacular action sequences, and a knock-about sense of humor. It’s the year 2007, and what remains of La is now ”New Angeles”, a city ravaged by earthquakes,...
From director James Yukich (Shawn Mendes: Live at the Greek Theatre), producers Don Murphy(Transformers, Natural Born Killers), Jane Hamsher (From Hell) and Alan Schechter (Showdown), with a screenplay written by Michael Davis (Shoot ‘Em Up) and Emmy® Award Winner Peter Gould (Better Call Saul, Breaking Bad) comes the cult classic movie based on the video game smash hit.
Double Dragon roars to life with amazing special effects, spectacular action sequences, and a knock-about sense of humor. It’s the year 2007, and what remains of La is now ”New Angeles”, a city ravaged by earthquakes,...
- 12/13/2018
- by Tom Stockman
- WeAreMovieGeeks.com
Drew Goddard doesn’t write for actors, but the moment he finished “Bad Times at the El Royale,” his story about seven people colliding in a sketchy motel, he reached out to Chris Hemsworth.
Hemsworth, who appeared in Goddard’s directorial debut “Cabin in the Woods” just after his first turn as Thor, agreed to play the most dangerous character in “Bad Times,” a charismatic, would-be cult leader.
The writer-director spoke to Variety about reuniting with Hemsworth, the pleasure of working with Cynthia Erivo and Lewis Pullman, and the future of his X-Force project.
Let’s talk about casting Cynthia Erivo, who owns this movie.
Drew Goddard: When I was writing the movie, I knew I had this character, Darlene Sweet. She’s a lounge singer in the late ’60s. I knew I needed her to sing live. So much of it is not just about the singing, it’s...
Hemsworth, who appeared in Goddard’s directorial debut “Cabin in the Woods” just after his first turn as Thor, agreed to play the most dangerous character in “Bad Times,” a charismatic, would-be cult leader.
The writer-director spoke to Variety about reuniting with Hemsworth, the pleasure of working with Cynthia Erivo and Lewis Pullman, and the future of his X-Force project.
Let’s talk about casting Cynthia Erivo, who owns this movie.
Drew Goddard: When I was writing the movie, I knew I had this character, Darlene Sweet. She’s a lounge singer in the late ’60s. I knew I needed her to sing live. So much of it is not just about the singing, it’s...
- 10/13/2018
- by Russ Fischer
- Variety Film + TV
So what’s the ideal setting for a story filled with lowlifes and immoral and often illegal activities? You know, where dangerous dames and dudes can just appear, almost at random? Maybe a haunted house or creepy mansion just doesn’t ring true. Well, Hitch knew just the locale nearly fifty years ago. By 1960 the glamorous days of lavish, lush vacation spots were long in the past. And who could really afford a night or two at the Grand Hotel or Holiday Inn? But a dusty motel just off the road, why Alfred Hitchcock made it the perfect place murder and mayhem in 1960’s iconic Psycho. That dangerous destination has carried on through the decades, from the Overlook Hotel in The Shining, to Four Rooms, and most recently Hotel Artemis (a haven/hospital for the criminal class). This week an all-stars cast checks in, but might not check out. And who is their host/concierge?...
- 10/12/2018
- by Jim Batts
- WeAreMovieGeeks.com
Drew Goddard, who wrote and directed “Bad Times at the El Royale” for Fox, fulfilled one dream when Jeff Bridges agreed to take the role of Father Daniel Flynn, but it’s Chris Hemsworth, who plays charismatic and (of course) incredibly fit cult leader Billy Lee, with whom Goddard wants to work with for the rest of his life.
“[Chris Hemsworth] is such an extraordinary talent and an extraordinary person. He really is someone I could mix all the other actors around him he’s so conscious of everyone else, both cast and crew,” Goddard told TheWrap during a phone interview. “He’s just — he’s one of the radiant talents of our time… I hope he’s in everything I do for the rest of my life.”
This marks Goddard and Hemsworth’s second film together, the first being “The Cabin in the Woods” in 2012 — also the last time Goddard directed a feature film.
“[Chris Hemsworth] is such an extraordinary talent and an extraordinary person. He really is someone I could mix all the other actors around him he’s so conscious of everyone else, both cast and crew,” Goddard told TheWrap during a phone interview. “He’s just — he’s one of the radiant talents of our time… I hope he’s in everything I do for the rest of my life.”
This marks Goddard and Hemsworth’s second film together, the first being “The Cabin in the Woods” in 2012 — also the last time Goddard directed a feature film.
- 10/11/2018
- by Trey Williams
- The Wrap
The ads for the noirish new thriller Bad Times at the El Royale suggest that the plot revolves around seven strangers with a “secret to bury.” That certainly is truth in advertising as it seems to be exactly what writer-director Drew Goddard (The Cabin in the Woods) has in mind in a pic that recalls movies like Bogart’s Key Largo and film noirs of the 1940s but most recently the Quentin Tarantino oeuvre of blood-soaked multi-character flicks that bring a visceral edge to a more traditional Hollywood genre.
As I say in my video review (click the link above to watch), Bad Times at the El Royale (a cool title that had me at hello), is overlong at two hours and 20 minutes and a little plodding at times with a structure that introduces us to several characters individually by interrupting the present to delve into their backstories. Because these...
As I say in my video review (click the link above to watch), Bad Times at the El Royale (a cool title that had me at hello), is overlong at two hours and 20 minutes and a little plodding at times with a structure that introduces us to several characters individually by interrupting the present to delve into their backstories. Because these...
- 10/10/2018
- by Pete Hammond
- Deadline Film + TV
No good film is too long and no bad film is too short. That’s an old saying that does ring true most of the time. That being said, occasionally there are exceptions to the rule. This week, there’s a movie opening that threatens to be that exception. Bad Times at the El Royale is a fun flick, but it’s also way too long. The good outweighs the bad, but with a shaved down running time, this could have been a total blast. Credit where it’s due for getting something unique like this made, so kudos to Drew Goddard, but as much of a fan of his previous work as I am, I couldn’t help wishing that this one had been trimmed down, at least a bit. The film is a mystery/thriller set at the run down El Royale hotel in Lake Tahoe. During one long night,...
- 10/10/2018
- by Joey Magidson
- Hollywoodnews.com
In Bad Times Times at the El Royale, seven strangers check into a Lake Tahoe with a bunch of questions to be answered. Drew Goddard, who directed 2012’s twist infused Cabin in the Woods, brings a similar aesthetic to this film.
Chris Hemsworth plays Billy Lee, a cult leader whom the actor describes as a sociopath. [...]
The post Chris Hemsworth Takes A Walk On The Cult Side With ‘Bad Times at the El Royale’ appeared first on Hollywood Outbreak.
Chris Hemsworth plays Billy Lee, a cult leader whom the actor describes as a sociopath. [...]
The post Chris Hemsworth Takes A Walk On The Cult Side With ‘Bad Times at the El Royale’ appeared first on Hollywood Outbreak.
- 10/8/2018
- by Hollywood Outbreak
- HollywoodOutbreak.com
A fantastic ensemble cast keeps you watching a somewhat familiar story from writer/director Drew Goddard.
As both a writer and director, Drew Goddard certainly loves and brings passion to the genres he’s explored. He took a monster movie and told it through found footage in Cloverfield’s screenplay, upended the tropes of the horror film with The Cabin in the Woods, and brought an earnestness and sense of wonder to his script for The Martian that seemed fresh amidst the dystopian directions sci-fi has taken in recent years.
With Bad Times at the El Royale, Goddard has fashioned a neo-noirish crime thriller that is wholly his own original idea yet steeped in the trademarks of the genre. The title establishment is a rundown hotel in the Lake Tahoe area, literally situated on the border between California and Nevada, that has long since seen better days and is the...
As both a writer and director, Drew Goddard certainly loves and brings passion to the genres he’s explored. He took a monster movie and told it through found footage in Cloverfield’s screenplay, upended the tropes of the horror film with The Cabin in the Woods, and brought an earnestness and sense of wonder to his script for The Martian that seemed fresh amidst the dystopian directions sci-fi has taken in recent years.
With Bad Times at the El Royale, Goddard has fashioned a neo-noirish crime thriller that is wholly his own original idea yet steeped in the trademarks of the genre. The title establishment is a rundown hotel in the Lake Tahoe area, literally situated on the border between California and Nevada, that has long since seen better days and is the...
- 9/27/2018
- Den of Geek
This week, IndieWire is rolling out our annual fall preview, including the very best indie movies coming out this year, all the awards contenders you need to know about, and even some blockbuster fare that will please the most discerning viewers. Check back every day for a new look at the best the season has to offer. Be sure to check out our list of indie gems and festival favorites to see this season, too.
“A Simple Favor” (September 14)
Paul Feig has spent much of this decade directing films written by and starring women. Yet “A Simple Favor,” his latest example, hinges on more danger and intrigue than his signature comedies. Oscar and Tony nominee Anna Kendrick portrays Stephanie, a “mommy blogger” who idolizes, then befriends fellow parent Emily (Blake Lively), her glamorous, nonchalant opposite. Emily goes Mia after asking Stephanie to retrieve her son from school. Police locate what...
“A Simple Favor” (September 14)
Paul Feig has spent much of this decade directing films written by and starring women. Yet “A Simple Favor,” his latest example, hinges on more danger and intrigue than his signature comedies. Oscar and Tony nominee Anna Kendrick portrays Stephanie, a “mommy blogger” who idolizes, then befriends fellow parent Emily (Blake Lively), her glamorous, nonchalant opposite. Emily goes Mia after asking Stephanie to retrieve her son from school. Police locate what...
- 8/15/2018
- by Kate Erbland, David Ehrlich, Jude Dry, Michael Nordine and Jenna Marotta
- Indiewire
The sixth and final volume of the Disney Classic Short Films collection finally found a way to load a disc with cartoons of genuinely similar moral themes. While Mickey and the Beanstalk did well in that regard as far as plots are concerned, the cartoons accompanying The Reluctant Dragon all take a different stance on identity and what it means to measure expectations of who people think you should be against who you actually are. Each of the cartoons does this in its own way – some more deftly than others. While more consistently thematically, it’s also worth noting that the average age of the four cartoons in this set is noticeably lower than those in other volumes; where volumes 1-5 each had about 2-4 cartoons from the mid 1930s, this volume has but one – and its 1938 creation date gives it a stylistic leg up over its 1933/1934 brethren of past volumes.
- 5/17/2009
- by Lex Walker
- JustPressPlay.net
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