‘Supergirl’ Midseason Review

 Is it a bird? A plane? No it’s @mitch_rated mid season review of Supergirl – Skatronixxx

Supergirls meteoric arrival onto the general publics viewing radar saw the often overshadowed and forgotten daughter-of-krypton thrust into the limelight. As CBS’s newest superhero show broke records and set people’s expectations to the nth degree. It rested on the shoulders of actress Melissa Benoist to fly or plummet to her doom. But as fans like me came to realise, we had nothing to worry about.

In stating whether Supergirl maintained those kind of viewing figures that the Pilot achieved is un-fair, given how modern viewership these days are rendered redundant with the advent of streaming services and catch-up capabilities. What Supergirl did do however was focus on creating a grounded reality that the early days of Smallville achieved in producing. Taking that and running with it; or should that be flying?

For a show that primarily focuses on the exploits of a flying-Alien superhero. Benoist and writers carefully crafted their Supergirl into a hero worth rooting for. Be it fighting the various fantastical Alien Big Bads that cropped up each week. Or dodging the delightfully catty (pun intended) barbs thrown her way by her overbearing Big Boss Cat Grant, played by the masterful Calista Flockhart. Benoist’s charm and adorkable personality injected Kara with an unwavering aura of goodness which is undoubtedly integral to the comic book characters fight for justice. But if left in the far less capable hands, has the danger of becoming preachy and bland. A blight which has shrouded various incarnations of Clark Kent in a number of comic-book-adaptations.

What helps the show in maintaining the light-hearted tone is the wealth of supporting characters that orbit Kara’s life. From the love interest of Superman stories mainstay James ‘Jimmy’ Olsen (Mehcad Brooks), to the ever-faithful sidekick of original character Winslow ‘Winn’ Schott Jr (Jeremy Jordan). Each supporting character are self serving rather than left feeling like a spare part, which complements the dramatic tone that each bring to various episodes they appear. A stand-out being Flockharts Cat Grant, a character who has been described as a Devils Wears Prada prototype by the shows own producers, has been handled particularly well. Escaping what could had been a two dimensional character has been build as a stern supporter of Supergirl which made that reveal in the shows midseason finale all the more poignant.

The show however hasn’t been without its problems. Plague by a couple of dodgy episodes that seem to tread water in favour of dragging out over-arching mysteries, such as the true allegiance of DEO Commander Hank Henshaw (David Harewood). The show floundered in maintaining what essentially is Kara’s biggest threat which is her Aunt Astra (Laura Benanti), whose plan to save Earth through nefarious means. Seemed bookended into the Finale leaving an unsatisfactory taste in our pallets when the cliffhanger hit. Assuming that Astra becomes the season’s Big Bad going forward, the show would feel more async in serialising Astra’s storyline to keep her threat in the minds of the viewers. Rather than cropping up here-and-there like a classic cartoon villain. Where’s Mutley when you need him.

Even with the tedious introducing characters, season 1 had a strong forefront that has build strong foundations allowing characters to breath and face stronger dramatic arcs to come. And with Cat’s estranged son Adam Foster (Blake Jenner) making his way back into her life and rumoured appearance of Superman Villain Bizzaro yet to come. It seems as if Kara and Co. will have a lot on their plate when Supergirl returns January 4 next year.

For all your Comic-Book news, stick with @mitch_rated throughout 2016 only on Skatronixxx.com

David Fincher Teams Up With Charlize Theron On Netflix Series

 

This looks goooooooooooood – Skatronixxx

Director David Fincher and Academy award winning actress Charlize Theron have finally found a new home for their long-gestated Tv crime series Mindhunter. Originally developed for HBO back in 2010, Mindhunter will now co-exist alongside Fincher’s other mega-hit House of Cards on the streaming service Netflix.

The Netflix exclusive series will be based on the 1996 book Mind Hunter: Inside the FBI’s Elite Serial Crime Unit, written by special agent John Douglas and Mark Olshaker. The novel offers a behind-the-scenes look at high-profile cases involving some of histories most notorious serial killers.

It is believed that both Fincher and Theron will serve as executive producers while Fincher is also tapped to direct. Additional reports also indicate that British writer Joe Penhall (Enduring Love, The Road) is handling the script.

For all your Mindhunter news, stick with @mitch_rated only on Skatronixxx.com

Release Date Set For Avatar 2

I wonder how much the budget will be for this sequel? No doubt the size of a small African country! – Skatronixxx 

For the time being James Cameron’s Avatar (2009) is still the highest grossing film of all time but could its very own sequel topple the Box-Office-behemoth when it eventually reaches theatres Christmas 2017?

In an interview with Montreal Gazzette, Cameron confirmed plans to release his next trio of sequels over consecutive years beginning Christmas 2017 and how they related to each other in a unique way.

“Christmas of ’17 is the target,” revealed Cameron. “At least, that’s what we’ve announced. But I don’t consider that to be as important as the fact that when we get all three films done, we drop them a year apart. I call it a met-narrative that runs across the three movies. Each film stands alone, but it also tells one much larger story.”

With the first film in the franchise dropping in 2009, fans of the Pandorian natives have wondered what has taken the director so long. “We have design more or less finished, which is an enormous task. It’s been about a two-year task. [We’ve finished] all the creatures and the landscapes, and the new worlds within the world of Pandora that you see.”

The director also confided that “the writing is ongoing, but almost finished. Technical development is done. Stages are done. Infrastructure. So we’re really poised to start after the first of the year.”

With his first film proving such a big hit, both critically and commercially, overtaking his Academy award winning film Titanic (1998) as the highest grossing film of all time. Cameron hoped that the Avatar sequel will prove that first film wasn’t just a “big fluke.”

For all you Big-Blue-Alien News, stick with @mitch_rated only on Skatronixxx.com

‘Spoiler Alert’: Which ‘The Force Awakens’ Character Was Meant To Die?

 Star Wars ‘The New Class’ – Skatronixxx

If you were one of the many that was fooled by Poe Dameron’s untimely death at the opening to Star Wars: The Force Awakens. Then you weren’t alone, as initially the star who brought to life the Ace-Fighter pilot, Oscar Isaacs. Had come to terms with his characters demise early on only to learn that he may see the sequels yet.

In an interview with GQ, The Force Awakens Director J.J. Abrams revealed that Isaacs was brought on board to portray Dameron in the action packed opening scene only to die after a hard fought battle. The director invited Isaacs to Paris to pitch the role describing the character as an “amazing” fighter pilot who battles the First Order and “opens the whole movie.”

After the pitch, the Academy nominated actor was enthusiastic to sign on the dotted line but was deflated after Abrams revealed the characters fate. Isaac exclaimed that “I’d done that before. Set up the plot for the main guy and then die spectacularly.”

Abrams would ultimately fight for the actors collaboration encouraging him that the character would live on in the extended universe through books, video games and more. “We talked about the story and who this character could be,” Abrams noted. “I loved the collaboration. People like Oscar are the people you listen to.”

After deliberating over the role, Isaac would later write to Abrams accepting the part, reasoning “I figured it would be a cameo: I’ll come in, do my thing, and maybe it’s actually better not to have to sign myself up for three movies.”  He was surprised to hear however that Abrams had gone back to the drawing board and surmised a situation that saw Poe survive, playfully informing the actor that “Never mind. I’ve figured it out. You’re in the whole movie now.”

Abrams disclosed that it was his talk with Isaac in Paris that convinced him to rework the characters storyline, discovering that the character was a worthy addition to the Star Wars universe: “Let’s say that it was in that conversation [in Paris] that we began to see a way that being in the movie would be worth his time and the audience’s.”

So The Force Awakens Fans, we’re you fooled by Poe Dameron’s death? Are you glad that Oscar Isaac will have another chance to portray the Ace-Fighter Pilot? Sound off on Twitter and as always. stick with @mitch_rated only on Skatronixxx.com

‘Pokemon Go’ Will Introduce Region Specific Pokemon

Regional Pokemon? Will we see a West Country Bulbasor and a Cockney Squirtle? – Skatronixxx

Pokemon Go will be the Mobile game that every pocket monster fan will be craving to download.  Essentially an Augmented Reality game that will drop Pokemon into the real world via you handheld devices display, gamers will be able to battle, capture and trade their favourite Pokemon.

The games developer John Hanke revealed that the little critters will be everywhere, “You can  walk out of the house and within five minutes, you can find Pokemon.” 

The developer also revealed that even though Pokemon will be easy to find but Gyms on the other  hand “will be a bit more rare.” Meaning to in order to level up your team and battle fellow trainers will be a concerted effort to find.

Hanke continued the list of new information confirming that different types of Pokemon will be discovered in their natural environment such as water types may only be found by the water. But also that some types, such as rare Pokemon “will only exist in certain parts of the world. Very rare  Pokemon may exist in very few places.”

This could mean that a Pokemon who is regular face down your street may be considered rare to other trainers, opening up the need to trade with other gamers as you compete to be better than all the rest.

It has already been confirmed that Pokemon Go will have regular competitive events when the game is released sometime in 2016.

If you can’t wait however enjoy the release trailer below.

For all you Pokemon news, stick with @mitch_rated only on Skatronixxx.com

Actors announced for ‘Harry Potter And The Cursed Child’

Harry Potter and Co. are all grown up – Skatronixxx 

The world of Harry Potter seems to have no limits. From spin-offs such as Fantastic Beast and where to find them to entire themed parks dedicated to the boy wizard. It was only a matter of time until the wizarding world of Harry Potter reached the stage with Harry Potter and the Cursed Child carrying on the story of Harry, Ron and Hermonie.

Don’t expect the actors from the series of films to once again assume their roles however as the cast for the stage-play was recently announced with Jaime Parker, Paul Thornley, and Noma Dumezweni taking on the roles of Harry, Ron, and Hermione respectively

Worry-not Pott-heads (is that a coined term, if not, make it happen!) because famed Author J.K Rowling has crafted the story that has been written by Jack Thorne which will see the trio nineteen years after the battle at Hogwarts. Where the thirty-something Harry Potter juggles his work at the Ministry of Magic and his family life, while his son Albus tries to come to terms with being the child of The Boy who Lived.

Jaime Parker, the actor taking on the role of Harry Potter, is a Shakespearian actor who is notably one of the original cast of the Tony-award winning History Boys. Thornley, who may be familiar to gamers as the voice of Olgierd von Everec in The Witcher 3 expansion DLC, will be taking on the role of Potter’s best friend Ron Wesley. While Dumezweni is an Olivier award winning actress who will bring her gravitas to the role of perpetual know-it-all Hermonie Granger.

The stage production will be directed by John Tiffany and will debut at the Palace Theatre in London’s West End. Although little information is known about the project, 250,000 tickets have already been sold.

So Pott-Heads, are you excited for the stage-play? Could the Death Eaters make their return? Sound off on Twitter and as always, stick with @mitch_rated only on Skatronixxx.com

NXT Takeover London Review

 Let’s meet the future stars of tomorrow at NXT – Skatronixxx

NXT Takeover London was a special night for this WWE live event virgin. Not only did the live crowd, the atmosphere and the event encapsulate a heady mixture of pro-wrestling euphoria and homeland pride. But is was also a capper to a whirl-wind tour of the U.K. for the NXT superstars, and you get the sense that they wanted to end their first tour this side of the pond with a bang.

Asuka Vs. Emma w/ Dana Brooke

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Boy did these women get the show off to lively start. With Baby-face heat going into this match-up, the crowd were ready to cheer for smiley-assassin Asuka. A Japanese indie darling who seemed at home in the 10 thousand strong Wembley Arena, playing to the crowd and Hulking-up at appropriate intervals.

The fans were strongly behind the Joshi grappler but that didn’t stop the delectable Aussie Emma from raining on our parade. The back-and-fourth match highlighted both women’s confidence to slow down the momentum, taking the action to the mat on numerous occasions with storytelling that put over Emma as credible threat in the women’s division. In fact I found myself doing something I never thought I’d do, admiring Dana Brooke’s charisma while at ring-side. The badass Barbie not only gained the suitable heat from the crowd, but used it to strengthen the surprising team that she and Emma have made success of late.

The heels didn’t stand chance however as the only instance of interference from Brooke saw her exiled backstage which opened the window for Asuka and a well placed spinning heel kick to the face for the win.

Highlight: Emma once again climbing through the ranks as a respect women’s wrestler after her team-up with Santino Marella on the main roster, killed any credibility she had. Welcome back Emma.

NXT Tag Team Champions Dash Dawson & Scott Wilder Vs Enzo Amore & Colin Cassidy w/Carmella

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 You can’t help but cheer for the quick-talking, hard-hitting combo which is Enzo & Cass. And no louder could you hear it then from inside the arena. The clear favourites coming into this match, surely it was their time to take the Tag Team gold home to Full Sail?

Dash & Dawson wouldn’t make it easy for the pair however as you can’t deny the chemistry that the Tag Team Champions have when they are on their game. Singling out Enzo, as so many teams choose to do, the scrawny motor-mouth took a hell of beating before tagging in the big-man who sought to clean house but was foiled by a well place chop-block to the rehabbed knee.

A few hot-tags build the crowd up into believing that team SAWFT could capture the gold but Dash and Wilder put an end to our dreams and retained the titles.

Highlight: Same-old-storytelling from Enzo & Cass but its something that the pair do to perfection, so it kinda makes it hard for you to get mad at. Tonight wasn’t their night to take the titles, after all it is their underdog status thats makes the scrappy pair endearing to chant for.

Baron Corbin Vs Apollo Crews

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This match held no reverence from me, maybe unfairly so but I don’t feel as if NXT has given us enough to cheer for, and I wasn’t the only one to feel that way.

Ignore the boring chants, although justifiable so. Baron Corbin was no match for Apollo Crews in terms of pro-wrestling ability so it was farcical that he would win this match leaving a bad taste in my mouth when he did just that.

Given the matches that preceded this, no storytelling was on display or a chance given to show the ability that Crews has in his arsenal besides a few stand-out moments.

Highlight: Match was long enough for me to get a much needed beverage.

NXT Women’s Champion Bayley Vs Nia Jax

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 Like Daniel Bryan’s ‘Yes’ movement, Bayley has cornered the market on scrappy-underdog-wrestler within the NXT. To such success that unlike other wrestlers who win the gold only to find their momentum dwindle. Bayley’s mixture of infectious personality and in-ring ability has catapult her to main event status within the NXT landscape.

This match needed to tell a story that Bayley could take on different opponent. We’ve seen the huggster take down similar opposition in comparison to herself with the likes of The Boss Sasha Banks proving a worthy opponent at Takeover Brooklyn. Nia Jax however is a different animal entirely. The figurative brick wall that Bayley would have to smash through to retain her long sought-after title.

The women’s champ did not shy away from the task, taking her A-game and throwing it at the foreboding Jax who seemed hell-bent on breaking Bayley in two. Nia Jax proved impressive, rag-dolling the champ with numerous Samoan slams and leg-drops that legitimately seemed a threat to take the title home. But Bayley knew that her usual approach would not succeed in the this instance, never once using her famed Bayley-to-belly suplex finisher, no matter how hard the crowd chanted for it.

Instead the Champion retained via a hard fought tap out that levelled the giant Jax to the delight of not only the crowd but this reviewer.

Highlight: Bayley … nuff said.

NXT Champion Finn Balor Vs Samoa Joe

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 An outsider would assume that with Takeover in London, NXT Champion Finn Balor would be the crowd favourite for the win. However the room was decidedly split, with a large contention cheering for heelish brute Samoa Joe. With this mind, Balor wasn’t about to be out mind-gamed. Channeling a hometown demon Jack The Ripper, Balor would slick his way into the arena looking strong to retain the gold.

For the most part Samoa Joe dominated the champion early on with Balor getting in a few strikes here-and-there showing that if Joe wanted to take the demon down, it wouldn’t be an easy feat. It was only a matter of time until the action spilled onto the outside with Joe nearly decapitating Balor with a brutal STO. The demon would later retaliate however with a sweet high flying over-the-top-rope-senton taking Joe off his feet.

The match ebbed and flowed encapsulating the story in the ring with both men unrelenting in pursuit of the biggest prize in NXT, trading brutal blows to one another. Even an appearance from suplex city saw Joe gain the upper hand. A high flying Coup de Grace however saw Balor retain but winded with medics rushing to the ring to check on the champ.

Samoa Joe was helped to backstage area but would not take his eyes off Balor. I have a feeling this feud isn’t over.

Highlight: Both men showed how a match can be put both men over without ending in a DQ. Both Samoa Joe and Finn Balor looked strong at the end of the match as they did going in.

Overall my first live experience has me stoked for another taste. The crowd was buzzing as were the superstars in the ring. A bonus match from a returning Sami Zayn against the Perfect Ten Tye Dillinger topped off the night and showed once again that NXT is the future of the WWE.

For all your NXT-fandom news and reviews. Stick with @mitch_rated only on Skatronixxx.com

 

New Information On CBS’s ‘Supergirl’ Comic Book Series

 

Wow all that flying and her make up isn’t smudged, that’s talent! – Skatronixxx

CBS’s Supergirl will receive a new ongoing comic book series penned by DC veteran girl-of-steel writer Sterling Gates.

Adventures of Supergirl won’t directly tie into the show but will tell original tales following Kara-Zor-El as she teams up with the DEO as she tries to keep her identity under wraps while working at CATCO Media.

The 13-part digital comic book series will be released bi-weekly every Monday to co-inside with new episodes on CBS in the US. DC has also confirmed that super villains such as Rampage, Vril, Dox and Psi will appear.

The comic book series will also have a rotating cast of artists including Bengal, Jonboy Meyers, Emanuela Lupacchino and Emma Vieceli. Currently Bengal is slated to pencil, ink and colour the first three chapters.

Supergirl won’t be the first DC Tv property to receive a comic book series with Arrow, The Flash and Smallville all enjoying ongoing success. Supergirl however will be the first to skip a paperback release with the entire series being released as a collected graphic novel after the digital issues have been posted online.

The series itself is enjoying rating success with CBS ordering a full season bringing the total episodes to 20 in its debut season.

Adventures of Supergirl will be released in January 25, 2016.

For all your Supergirl news, stick with @mitch_rated only on Skatronixxx.com

 

‘Guardians Of The Galaxy Vol.2’ Reportedly Cast Star-Lords Father

 

Who is Star-Lord’s father, we have to know!!! – Skatronixxx

Rumours have been abound as to the identity of Star-Lord Peter Quills father and who exactly will be playing the spectral figure in James Gunn’s sequel Guardians of the Galaxy Vol.2. As with rumours many have been wrong in the past. One particular rumour that draw the ire of Gunn himself was the reveal that Quills dad would indeed be the original Captain Marvel ‘Mar-Vell’. This was subsequently shot down in humorous fashion with a pointed statement from Gunn via FaceBook retorting that ‘We’re creating a film that doesn’t rely on plot twists to be an enjoyable experience. They’re only a very small part of what we’re cooking up for you.’

At the time the statement was posted, it had been reported that Academy award winner Matthew McConaughey had turned down a role in the Marvel sci-fi sequel, with the role of Mar-Vell indicated to be the part offered to the actor. Although the character of Mar-Vell has been chucked off the table, McConaughey did turn down a role in the film which may be offered to another Hollywood legend.

Sources close to The Wrap, report that Hateful Eight star Kurt Russell is Gunn’s favourite to portray Quills mysterious father for Vol.2. Although it has been stated that the actor has not been offered the role or read for the part, meetings are scheduled to take place soon.

In the Marvel comics it has long been known that Peter is half Spartax, a humanoid Alien race ruled over by King J’son of the Spartoi Empire who fathered Quill when he crash landed on Earth. In the comics father and son are often put at odds, with J’son believing his son too immature and roguish to inherent the throne and Quill viewing his father’s methods as underhanded and almost villainous. Which is often how J’son himself is presented to the reader with the King of Spartax being involved in numerous plots to overthrow other empires in the galaxy including the Kree, Shir’Ar and even Earth.

Although I could see Vol.2 using J’son as a character, I don’t see the MCU going down that path given that it is heavily indicated that the new Guardians of the Galaxy animated show on Disney X.D. could be using him, as Quill’s Spartax heritage has already been confirmed on the show.

With Star-Lord’s father proving a big tease towards the end of the first film its highly likely that whomever is cast will play an important role in Gunn’s much anticipated sequel. Production is slated to begin next year with a released date May 5, 2017.

So Guardians of the Galaxy fans, who should be Peter Quills dad? And who would you like to see bring the role to life? Hit us up on Twitter. And as always, stick with @mitch_rated only on Skatronixxx.com

‘Suicide Squad’ Synopsis Reveals Bad News For The Team

 How could you not love these guys and gals – Skatronixxx

DC’s Suicide Squad is easily the most fascinating out of the comic book outlets upcoming cinematic offerings. Not only will we see the latest incarnation of The Joker (Jared Leto) since Heath Ledger’s scene stealing interpretation of the Clown Prince of Crime in Christopher Nolan’s The Dark Knight (2008). The first live action appearance of The Joker fan-girl Harley Quinn (Margot Robbie) and countless possibilities for further cross-over’s down the line. Not to mention the delectable opportunity to see Cara Delevinge’s The Enchantress crop out in Guillermo Del Toro’s upcoming Justice League Dark film. But we will ultimately see DC pull the trigger on releasing their vault full of iconic villains on an unsuspecting movie audience and see what they make of it.

Now tell me you aren’t excited to cheer for the bad guys for once? Well those bad guys may well steal your heart yet if Warner Bros. latest synopsis is anything to go by:

‘It feels good to be bad… Assemble a team of the world’s most dangerous, incarcerated supervillains, provide them with the most powerful arsenal at the government’s disposal, and send them off on a mission to defeat an enigmatic, insuperable entity.

US intelligence officer Amanda Waller has determined only a secretly convened group of desparate, despicable individuals with next to nothing to lose will do.

However, once they realise they weren’t picked to succeed but chosen for their patent culpability when they inevitably fail, will the Suicide Squad resolve to die trying, or decide it’s every man for himself?’

With this in mind I guess the only question will be if any of the team will survive Director David Ayer’s (Training Day, Fury) film as the odds are certainly stack against them.

Suicide Squad will serve as the follow-up to the crown jewel in the franchise, Batman V Superman: Dawn of Justice, when it lands in theatres August 5, 2016.

For all your underdog news, stick with @mitch_rated only on Skatronixxx.com