The Week in Movies discusses the last seven days in cinema – including the reactions to Star Wars: The Force Awakens, Quentin Tarantino accusing Disney of extortion, Spider-Man potentially crawling into another Marvel movie and much, much more…
The Week in Movies is an excerpt from the weekly Flickering Myth Super Newsletter. Subscribe here to get it delivered to your inbox every Sunday, along with The Top 5 Movies on Netflix, our Article of the Week, exclusive competitions and other stuff.
The spoiler police have been dispatched.
It’s finally here. After years of waiting and months of teasing trailers. One of the most anticipated movies of all time has arrived…
…Sherpa: Trouble on Everest is in cinemas now.
That’s no mountain documentary…
Of course, I kid. It’s Star Wars: The Force Awakens.
Haven’t seen it yet? Star Wars, that is; not Sherpa. Don’t worry, we’ve got you covered. Here are two spoiler-free reviews of the movie: Luke Owen’s written article, and mine and Scott Davis’ video version.
For those who have seen it already (let’s call them ‘real fans’ to save time), here are two, more spoilery reactions: Robert Kojder’s slightly spoilery piece, and a spoiler-FULL video with me and Scott again.
And how about that Jar-Jar Binks being revealed as a Sith Lord? Didn’t see that coming…
“There hasa been ana ‘wakening!”
“But I’m out and about all weekend”, you say. “How can I possibly read or watch these greatly considered reviews?” We’ve thought of that, too. Listen to this week’s Flickering Myth Podcast, which contains both spoiler-free (the first 15 minutes) and spoiler-FULL (the rest) reviews in one handy episode. The latter half includes a rather startling cameo theory that has since been proved completely true.
Which, thankfully, is not this guy.
But now Episode VII has been released, what’s next for the Star Wars universe? Not a Harrison Ford-starring Han Solo movie, that’s for sure. The LEGO Movie masterminds Phil Lord and Chris Miller are helming the Young Solo spin-off, which Ford wants “nothing to do with”. If LucasFilm chief Kathleen Kennedy is anything to go by, he’ll be far too busy making Indiana Jones 5 anyway.
They did it for Michael Douglas in Ant-Man…
But it isn’t all Star Wars exultation this week. Quentin Tarantino has accused Disney of forcing a Hollywood cinema to drop screenings of his new movie The Hateful Eight in favour of The Force Awakens. The best way to read Tarantino’s quote in that article, by the way, is with the opening track from Ennio Morricone’s score playing in the background. It’s those sorts of corporate extortion tactics that can drive directors to write books and direct theatre.
“I’m coming for you, Iger.”
In other movies-with-‘Star’-in-their-titles-names, the first trailer for Star Trek Beyond was released this week, where the warp speed was very much set to ‘Fast and Furious’. The Flickering Myth reaction was mostly disappointed, but nowhere near as catty as former Star Trek actors Will Wheaton and George Takei. Director Justin Lin understandably disagrees, arguing there is an element of philosophical debate in there. Somewhere. Just behind the explosions and clinging onto cliffs.
“Dammit, Jim. I’m a doctor, not a racing car driver!”
Head to the next page to watch the first trailer for Independence Day: Resurgence, the latest reports about who Marvel want as Star Lord’s father in Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2, in what other movie might Spider-Man make an appearance, and much, much more…
