Pharrell Williams and Michel Gondry are ending editing work on their movie ‘Golden.’
Kelvin Harrison Jr., Halle Bailey and Da’Vine Joy Randolph were among the stars.
The film is unlikely to ever see the light of day.
It’s a hard, old truth in Hollywood and beyond that movies can hit roadblocks at any stage in the process. Some are lost forever in the deep wells of development hell. Others reach production, but money issues curtail shooting, or problems arise.
And then there are the unusual stories of movies that make it all the way through the shoot, only to fall apart at the final hurdle.
In the last couple of years, we’ve seen the frustrating behavior of Warner Bros., overseen by money-grubbing CEO David Zaslav, who has decreed that movies he and his accountants aren’t sure will be financially viable should be locked away or deleted forever, the studio instead taking a tax hit: ‘Batgirl’ and ‘Coyote Vs. Acme’ are the two that we know about.
But ‘Golden,’ the movie formerly known as ‘Atlantis,’ a collaboration between musician Pharrell Williams and visual stylist/filmmaker Michel Gondry, is a different case altogether.
According to Variety, they’ve been editing the new movie, and have decided it simply doesn’t work. And that’s despite Universal assigning a release date for May.
‘Golden’ came about following Universal’s collaboration with Pharrell on ‘Piece by Piece.’ Distributed by the company’s Focus Features arm, the unusual biopic told his life story through the medium of LEGO animation.
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‘Piece by Piece’ was not exactly a success for the company –– it actually lost money, taking in $10 million worldwide on a $16 million budget –– but given the musician’s long connection to the studio (he’s provided hit music for the ‘Despicable Me’ franchise among others), it was seemingly happy to keep working with him.
Described as a musical expedition set in the summer of 1977 in Virginia Beach, it was to have told more of a coming-of-age story than anything directly influenced by Williams’ story (aside from the setting).
Here’s what he told Empire about the movie and how it differs from his previous project:
“ ‘Piece By Piece’ is about my life, whereas ‘Golden’ is about a neighborhood that I grew up in. It’s a coming-of-age story about self-discovery and pursuing your dreams, but it’s so much more magical than that. It’s a celebration of Black life, Black culture, and most importantly, Black joy.”
And while it was originally named ‘Atlantis’ after the building from Williams’ early life, he also explained the title change:
“It just speaks to the narrative, the area, the energy and literally everything about the film, which is this analysis of what being ‘golden’ is. Children and grown-ups with inner children within them can connect to it and realise that there’s a golden aspect to them too, whether it’s realised or latent.”
Grammy Award-winning songwriter and producer Pharrell Williams serves as music consultant for the 84th Academy Awards, telecast producers Brian Grazer and Don Mischer. Credit/Provider: Jam Sutton.
Unfortunately for those anticipating the new movie, it has now been shut down after unanimous agreement from producers and Gondry that the film did not live up to its developed conceit.
Gil Netter (‘The Blind Side’) was serving as producer alongside Williams and his creative partner Mimi Valdes.
Here’s what the main duo told Variety about the decision to halt work:
“When all of us got into the editing room we collectively decided there wasn’t a path forward to tell the version of this story that we originally envisioned. We appreciate all the hard work of the talented cast and crew. While we’re disappointed we can’t deliver this film, we have incredible partners at Universal and will collaborate in a different capacity again soon.”
And in case you’re wondering whether it’ll find release in some other venue, the disappointing news is that it’ll apparently never see the light of day. So your visions of Gondry and Williams somehow whipping up a hand puppet version of the story are unlikely to come to fruition.
What else are Pharrell Williams and Michel Gondry working on?
Kerry Washington in ‘The Six Triple Eight’. Photo: Netflix.
It’s not the pair doesn’t have plenty of other projects to keep them busy.
Pharrell is currently serving as the men’s creative director at fashion house Louis Vuitton.
His next project is the animated ‘Maya, Give Me A Title,’ about his relationship with his daughter. It will screen at this month’s Berlin Film Festival.
(L to R) Chris Hemsworth (Orion Pax/Optimus Prime), left, and Brian Tyree Henry (D-16/Megatron) star in Paramount Animation and Hasbro Present In Association with New Republic Pictures a di Bonaventua Pictures Production a Tom Desanto / Don Murphy Production a Bay Films Production ‘Transformers One’.
Opening in theaters on September 20th, ‘Transformers One’ winds the clock further back than the usual ‘Transformers’ movies to focus on what happened before Optimus Prime and Megatron –– the respective leaders of the Autobot and Decepticon forces –– assumed those roles.
Plenty of ‘Transformers’ fans who were kids in the 1980s will have fond memories of ‘Transformers: The Movie’ And while the franchise has, in the years since Michael Bay launched the live-action/CG series of movies, varied greatly in quality, the key to success here appears is in returning the story to its animated roots.
Chris Hemsworth (Orion Pax/Optimus Prime) stars in Paramount Animation and Hasbro Present In Association with New Republic Pictures a di Bonaventua Pictures Production a Tom Desanto / Don Murphy Production a Bay Films Production ‘Transformers One’.
Prequel stories are always an uphill struggle. You’re balancing audience expectation –– since we already know that at least one of the characters will survive to go on and have further adventures, so where’s the sense of jeopardy? –– and those who would complain that turning back the clock to the early days of established characters is a form of creative bankruptcy. After all, does anyone really need to know how Darth Vader ended up in that iconic suit, no matter the tease about his past offered in the original ‘Star Wars’? And you risk being accused of cheapening stories that people love.
Spare a thought, then for the team behind ‘Transformers One,’ who have found way to take very recognizable franchise archetypes and give them a welcome coming-of-age twist. Did you ever think that Optimus Prime and Megatron might have been buddies way back before they were enemies? No? Well, the new movie is here to show you why that works as a story.
Script and Direction
(L to R) Brian Tyree Henry (D-16/Megatron), Scarlett Johansson (Elita-1), Chris Hemsworth (Orion Pax/Optimus Prime) and Keegan-Michael Key (B-127), star in Paramount Animation and Hasbro Present In Association with New Republic Pictures a di Bonaventua Pictures Production a Tom Desanto / Don Murphy Production a Bay Films Production ‘Transformers One’.
The script here originated –– at least, according to the credits –– with Andrew Barrer and Gabriel Ferrari (who have the likes of ‘Ant-Man and the Wasp,’ ‘Die in a Gunfight’ and ‘Haunt’ on their shared resumes) and was then worked on by Eric Pearson (who contributed to such movies as ‘Black Widow,’ ‘Thor: Ragnarok’ and ‘Godzilla vs. Kong‘). And since director Josh Cooley is a graduate of Pixar (he oversaw ‘Toy Story 4’) you’ve got to figure he had a hand in tuning the story too.
Together, the writers have put together something that is vital, entertaining and energetic (energon-etic, perhaps?) fusing the tropes of young men finding their way in the world with some of the unexplored lore of the planet Cybertron, home to the Transformers.
Perhaps more importantly, they’ve come up with credible explanations for why and how Optimus Prime and Megatron became the leaders that they did (for good and ill), and what sparked their ongoing conflict, one that spilled over to our planet.
The dialogue is witty and fun for kids, but also works for older fans who grew up with these characters. Yes, there will be those who question quite how human these robots feel, but the Transformers have always had relatable human characteristics.
Chris Hemsworth (Orion Pax/Optimus Prime) stars in Paramount Animation and Hasbro Present In Association with New Republic Pictures a di Bonaventua Pictures Production a Tom Desanto / Don Murphy Production a Bay Films Production ‘Transformers One’.
Perhaps the biggest issue –– and one the creative team is mostly able to overcome –– is that this new movie represents just the latest example of the hero’s journey/find the MacGuffin journey story to hit screens. That in itself has sunk many a film that doesn’t do anything fresh or new with those age-old concepts, but here Cooley and co. find a way to graft on entertaining layers while following familiar paths.
On the visual front, the movie (with animation chiefly crafted by Industrial Light and Magic) might not challenge the best of Pixar or DreamWorks for sheer quality, style and depth, but it’s impressive enough, particularly when it ventures onto the surface of Cybertron.
Plus, while some of the fight scenes verge into the over-frenetic, there’s enough logic behind them that you won’t end up rubbing your eyes at all the CG clashes on display.
Performances
The vocal cast for the movie all does good work, with a few highlights:
Chris Hemsworth (Orion Pax/Optimus Prime) stars in Paramount Animation and Hasbro Present In Association with New Republic Pictures a di Bonaventua Pictures Production a Tom Desanto / Don Murphy Production a Bay Films Production ‘Transformers One’.
The biggest issue legacy fans of the franchise may have is in the movie replacing Peter Cullen, long the voice of Optimus Prime on the big screen. But it helps to remember that this is Prime before he was Prime. Orion Pax is a garrulous ambitious, sometimes irresponsible type who has dreams of being more than the mining worker he’s seemingly destined to be. In Hemsworth’s hands –– well, vocal chords –– he’s an enthusiastic, likeable presence and you can see how he ends up as the character we know.
Brian Tyree Henry (D-16/Megatron) stars in Paramount Animation and Hasbro Present In Association with New Republic Pictures a di Bonaventua Pictures Production a Tom Desanto / Don Murphy Production a Bay Films Production ‘Transformers One’.
Likewise, Henry might not have quite the vocal power of Frank Welker (Megatron’s traditional performer), but D-16 never needed to start out as the scheming, power-hungry Decepticon of the cartoons and (some of) the live-action movies. Here, he’s more subdued and thoughtful, a good friend to Orion and willing to go along with his ideas at least until they reach a true dividing point.
Keegan-Michael Key (B-127) stars in Paramount Animation and Hasbro Present In Association with New Republic Pictures a di Bonaventua Pictures Production a Tom Desanto / Don Murphy Production a Bay Films Production ‘Transformers One’.
Key is a proven comic performer and playing the robot who will become Bumblebee feels like the perfect role for him in the movie. He’s a chatty sort, desperate for friends (so desperate that we meet the ones he has built at one funny moment paid off in a mid-credits sting) and eager to tag along with Orion and the rest. Cooley and co. find a way to utilize his comic relief without it becoming annoying.
Scarlett Johansson (Elita-1) stars in Paramount Animation and Hasbro Present In Association with New Republic Pictures a di Bonaventua Pictures Production a Tom Desanto / Don Murphy Production a Bay Films Production ‘Transformers One’.
Johansson has perhaps less to do than the others, but she’s still fun, offering a no-nonsense foil to Orion in particular and giving the world’s least encouraging pep talk at one point.
Supporting Cast
(L to R) Keegan-Michael Key (B-127), Scarlett Johansson (Elita-1), Brian Tyree Henry (D-16), Chris Hemsworth (Orion Pax) star in Paramount Animation and Hasbro Present In Association with New Republic Pictures a di Bonaventua Pictures Production a Tom Desanto / Don Murphy Production a Bay Films Production ‘Transformers One’.
The cast around the leads is peppered with strong performances –– Laurence Fishburne slips easily into Morpheus mode when dishing out gobs of exposition about the hidden history of Cybertron, and helping our heroes find their new path(s). Jon Hamm, meanwhile, is the feted Sentinel Prime, the powerful leader of Cybertron whose has the planet’s best interests at heart… or does he? Hamm’s not called upon to do much more than be heroic and then something less than that, but he does it well.
Final Thoughts
‘Transformers One’. Photo: Paramount Pictures.
‘Transformers One’ should prove entertaining to those who grew up playing with the action figures or watching the cartoons and the generations that have embraced the Autobots and Decepticons since then. It’s not a perfect film, with a few gaps of logic and one or two cliches still lurking, but it’s easily one of the best movies to feature the characters, and never needs human interaction to keep it grounded.
The new ‘Transformers’ animated movie has the touch. It also has the power.
‘Transformers One’ receives 9 out of 10 stars.
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What’s the plot of ‘Transformers One’?
The film depicts the origins and early relationship of Optimus Prime (Chris Hemsworth) and Megatron (Brian Tyree Henry) and how they forever changed the fate of Cybertron, the home planet of the Transformers.
Explore the depth of Hollow Earth as Kong finds his family when he uncovers an unbelievable threat to mankind – the Skar King. Kong and Godzilla team up in this next installment in the Monsterverse, helmed once again by Adam Wingard (‘Godzilla vs Kong’).
The film premiered at the Grauman’s Chinese Theater on March 25, 2024, and arrived in theaters on March 29. The movie received mixed reviews, with a 53% Rotten Tomatoes score from critics and a 91% from the audience it has grossed over $196.3 million domestically and over $567.6 worldwide, making ‘Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire’ the highest-grossing movie in the Monsterverse franchise. The film has a runtime of 1 hour and 55 minutes.
Missed it in theaters? Don’t worry. The movie is now available for rent or purchase on digital for $19.99 and $24.99, respectively, on platforms such as Amazon, Apple TV, YouTube, Vudu, and more. If you’re looking for a deal, it is currently on sale for $5.99 for rental or $12.99 for purchase. There’s no telling how long this deal of a titan proportion will last, so take advantage of it while you can. Subscribed to Max? The title is available to stream on the platform as of July 4, 2024, so you can enjoy all the action from home.
After directing two films in the MonsterVerse, Adam Wingard has departed the franchise due to scheduling conflicts. However, the studio already has the next film in motion. The next installment is scheduled for release on March 26, 2027 with a new director – Grant Sputore, at the helm. The sequel could see the returns of characters such as Rebecca Hall’s Dr. Ilene Andrews, Kaylee Hottle’s Jia, Brian Tyree Henry’s Brnie Hayes, and potentially Dan Stevens’ Trapper.
For physical media lovers, the monster action flick is now available on DVD, Blu-ray, and 4K UHD, and will include featurettes such as an in depth look at Hollow Earth and the Monsters of Hollow Earth, behind-the-scenes look at some of the film’s most epic scenes, and a commentary track featuring director Adam Wingard, visual effects supervisor Alessandro Ongaro, production designer Tom Hammock, and editor Josh Schaeffer.
For fans of the Monsterverse, a new five-film collection celebrating the 10th anniversary will be available, including 4K UHD copies of ‘Godzilla,’ ‘Kong: Skull Island,’ ‘Godzilla: King of the Monsters,’ ‘Godzilla vs. Kong,’ and ‘Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire’.
Watch the official trailer for ‘Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire’ below:
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The official synopsis for ‘Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire’ is below:
This latest entry in the Monsterverse franchise follows up the explosive showdown of Godzilla vs. Kong with an all-new cinematic adventure, pitting the almighty Kong and the fearsome Godzilla against a colossal undiscovered threat hidden within our world, challenging their very existence – and our own. The epic new film will delve further into the histories of these Titans, their origins, and the mysteries of Skull Island and beyond while uncovering the mythic battle that helped forge these extraordinary beings and tied them to humankind forever.
Who’s In the Cast of ‘Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire’
The ‘Transformers One’ Panel at this year’s San Diego Comic-Con featured casting news about Laurence Fishburne and Steve Buscemi.
Chris Hemsworth and Tyree Henry are among the leads.
‘Toy Story 4’ director Josh Cooley made the new movie.
While this year’s outing of the San Diego Comic-Con has so far proved to be a relatively quiet one (at least until the likes of Marvel show up to offer tantalizing news tidbits), there was some new information about an animated movie that is garnering some positive buzz off the back of early screenings: ‘Transformers One’.
(L to R) Keegan-Michael Key, Chris Hemsworth and Bryan Tyree Henry at the Comic-Con 2022 ‘Transformers One’ presentation. Photo: Paramount Pictures.
It kicked off one of the early presentation panels, and the actors (minus Johansson, who was busy on the new ‘Jurassic World’ film) were on hand alongside director Josh Cooley (‘Toy Story 4’) and producer Lorenzo di Bonaventura to debut some fresh footage and provide some new insight into the movie.
And the panel also offered up the latest trailer, which you can watch above.
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What’s the story of ‘Transformers One’?
‘Transformers One’. Photo: Paramount Pictures.
The new movie is the untold origin story of Optimus Prime and Megatron, better known as sworn enemies, but once were friends bonded like brothers who changed the fate of Cybertron forever.
Hemsworth voices Orion Pax, who will become Autobot leader Optimus Prime, while Henry is D-16, the future Megatron. Key plays B-127, a chatty ‘bot who’ll later be known as Bumblebee, and Johansson is Elita-1.
What did we learn about the ‘Transformers One’ cast?
(Left) Jon Hamm as Vice Admiral Beau “Cyclone” Simpson in ‘Top Gun: Maverick.’ Photo: Paramount Pictures. (Center) Laurence Fishburne in ‘Clipped’. Photo: FX. (Right) Steve Buscemi in ‘Boardwalk Empire’. Photo: HBO Entertainment.
The panel included word (or rather, confirmation) that Jon Hamm is playing Cybertron leader Sentinel Prime, with Laurence Fishburne taking the Morpheus-alike role of Alpha Prion.
Perhaps the biggest revelation was word that Steve Buscemi voices Starscream, who we know will become one of Megatron’s (usually) loyal lieutenants. In ‘Transformers One’, they’re in opposition, with Starscream proclaiming that “the idea of a unified Cybertron is a myth” –– though it’s clear D-16 is starting to have doubts about his alliances.
Chris Hemsworth at the Comic-Con 2022 ‘Transformers One’ presentation. Photo: Paramount Pictures.
Among the panel highlights were funny moments, including Hemsworth remarking that he and Henry –– who never shared a recording booth –– prepped to play best friends by sleeping in bunk beds.
Key, meanwhile (whose character is the comic relief for the movie), looked to lead the Hall H audience in a rendition of the ‘Transformers’ cartoon theme tune, only to find few takers. “Good, now we know who’s over 40,” he quipped.
Producer Lorenzo di Bonaventura at the Comic-Con 2022 ‘Transformers One’ presentation. Photo: Paramount Pictures.
This is what producer di Bonaventura had to say about the advantages of animation for a Transformers movie:
“If we did this as a live-action movie, it would probably cost $500M. What has been tricky in live-action is that every time a robot talks, it costs a lot of money. In animation, you can have them build out their character.”
And for Cooley, it was a chance to dig into the characters lore.
“Hasbro gave me the bible of ‘Transformers’, this Tolkien-length history –– so much to play with, a huge sandbox –– I wanted the feeling of what it was like to play with the toys as a kid, that feeling of nostalgia and joy trying to make these things work.”
When will ‘Transformers One’ be in theaters?
‘Transformers One’ will be released on September 20th.
(L to R) Producer Lorenzo di Bonaventura, Keegan-Michael Key, Chris Hemsworth, director Josh Cooley and Bryan Tyree Henry at the Comic-Con 2022 ‘Transformers One’ presentation. Photo: Paramount Pictures.
Other Movies and TV Shows in the ‘Transformers’ Franchise:
Shameik Moore as Miles Morales / Spider-Man in ‘The Spider Within: A Spider-Verse Story.’ Photo: Sony Pictures.
A Spider Within: A Spider-Verse Story’ originally premiered at the Annecy International Animation Film Festival last June and was made widely available by Sony Animation Pictures on March 28th, 2024. The short film takes a closer look at the superhero Miles Morales (Shameik Moore) as he struggles to balance his life as a teenager, a friend, and the responsibilities of being Spider-man. As the pressure continues to build on Miles, he experiences a panic attack that forces him to face the manifestation of his anxiety in this thriller short film.
Initial Thoughts
Spider-Man/Miles Morales (Shameik Moore) in Columbia Pictures and Sony Pictures Animations’ ‘Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse.’
Fans of the ‘Into the Spider-Verse’ animated franchise will be excited to see another chapter of the story, no matter how short it is. Especially when it carries an important message – that everyone, even superheroes, struggles with mental health.
While there are no explosive action scenes, this 7-minute and 14-second short still packs a punch. It’s eerie and unsettling, and as Miles’ anxiety kicks in, his world warp into chaotic visuals that represent how anxiety or a panic attack can feel like. Going the horror route definitely feels like the right choice for this story.
Aside from creepy optics, the short did a good job of communicating the feeling of being overwhelmed and when anxiety takes over your body. Small details like Miles’ heavy breathing as he tries to calm his nerves, the sleep paralysis, and his shaky hand on the doorknob made it feel even more real and relatable.
‘A Spider Within’: Story and Direction
Miles Morales (Shameik Moore) in Columbia Pictures and Sony Pictures Animation’s ‘Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse.’
‘A Spider Within’ is directed by Jarelle Dampier, who took a horror angle for this story. In an interview with The Wrap, Dampier says the inspiration came from his own experience with sleep paralysis. Aside from the performance from Shamiek Moore, what really sold the horror aspect was the sound effects and music. It wasn’t anything we heard in pervious films. For example, when Miles’ anxiety shifts from a large spider into millions of smaller spiders crawling all over his body is paired with the rapid plucking of strings, much like we often hear in horror films. The sound will have your hairs standing on ends and feel like there are spiders crawling all over you too.
As a juxtaposition to the jump scares and loud sounds are the quiet moments. This comes right after Miles’ mind is plagued with overlapping dialogue from the day – “These grades are unacceptable. You need to apply yourself. You always seem so distracted.” These conversations grows so loud, which makes the following silent moment standout even more.
‘A Spider Within’: Performances
Shameik Moore as Miles Morales / Spider-Man in ‘Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse.’ Photo: Sony Pictures.
Returning to the role of Miles Morales is Shameik Moore. Aside from a quick exchange with his father Jefferson (Brian Tyree Henry) before heading into his room, Miles is alone for most of the short. This means it was solely up to Moore to deliver all the emotion Miles was feeling. With two ‘Spider-Verse’ movies under his belt, Moore delivered on all fronts, perfectly portraying the panic in Miles’ voice, as well as the tone of frustration as he shoulders the pressure of living a double life.
‘A Spider Within’: Final Thoughts
Spider-Man/Miles Morales (Shameik Moore) in Columbia Pictures and Sony Pictures Animations’ ‘Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse.’
Spider-man has always struggled with the pressure of living the double life, and the sense of doing too much and not enough is well conveyed in this short film. The moments of Miles feeling overwhelmed, and his struggle to open up about it is so relatable. By putting this story into the ‘Into the Spider-Verse’ world is great way to deliver the message of the importance of mental health and reaching out for help.
Horror and jump scares aside, the final moment when Miles opens up to his dad will surely drum up some emotions in the audience.
‘A Spider Within: A Spider-Verse Story’ receives 8 out of 10 stars.
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What’s the Plot of ‘A Spider Within: A Spider-Verse Story’?
Miles Morales is feeling the pressure of being both Spider-man and a teenager. As he struggles to juggle everything in his life, anxiety and panic kicks in and inevitably manifests itself, forcing Miles to come face-to-face with it.
Sony Pictures Animation has teamed up with the Kevin Love Fund to digitally release the animated short film, ‘The Spider Within: A Spider-Verse Story’, that will be incorporated into the Kevin Love Fund’s new mental health focused lesson plan, “The Hero Within”. The lesson plan invites students to tell their own story through the lens of mental health awareness via an interactive curriculum including a creative storyboard activity. Visit kevinlovefund.org for additional information.
‘A Spider Within’ was developed and produced by Sony’s LENS (Leading and Empowering New Storytellers) program, a 9-month leadership training program that provide candidates from underrepresented groups with an opportunity to gain valuable leadership experience in animation.
Who is in the cast of ‘A Spider Within: A Spider-Verse Story’?
Returning to reprise his roles as Miles Morales is Shameik Moore. Brian Tyree also returns as the voice of Jefferson Davis.
‘A Spider Within’ is written by Khailia Amazan and produced by LENS program creators Michelle Raimo-Kouyate and David Schulengurg. Clara Chan served as VFX supervisor ad Joe Darko served as animation supervisor.
Spider-Man/Miles Morales (Shameik Moore) in Columbia Pictures and Sony Pictures Animations’ ‘Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse.’
Other Movies Similar to ‘Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse’:
It’s definitely not one for newcomers, stuffed full of continuing story threads, though it doesn’t exactly put storytelling depth ahead of big beasts destroying infrastructure as they do battle.
Here’s the big, main, glaring problem with ‘Godzilla x Kong’… It very much takes an “if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it” attitude. But a lot about ‘Godzilla vs. Kong’ was broken, and this latest effort definitely doesn’t do anything to fix it.
So while there are certainly elements that work to some degree, the movie as a whole falls down whenever (most of) the humans are on screen. And unless you’re the world’s biggest fan of monsters hitting/blasting/whatever-ing each other, the feeling is very much one of numbing familiarity. While Wingard certainly knows his way around a witty, wrestling move-inspired set piece, even he can’t paper over the giant cracks appearing.
‘Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire’: Script and Direction
In truth, though, this really is one of those movies that leaves you wondering how it took so many experienced writers to come up with something so basic. There’s a new monster threat. Kong and Godzilla end up forming an unlikely alliance to deal with it. The humans either deliver exposition or quips (sometimes both). That’s it. There are times where the storytelling has all the complexity of a kid smashing their toys together.
Naturally, no one comes to these movies expecting Dostoevsky-level depth, but ‘The New Empire’ really doesn’t offer much in the way of anything beyond creature rumbles.
As mentioned, Wingard (and the effects team) conjure up some fun fights and brings plenty of knowing winks to monster mythology within them –– one of the big new threats, for example, is a classic kaiju, while our main duo is helped by a well-known creature (we’d joke about their name, but it’s too much of a spoilery giveaway).
Yet so much of the movie takes place within the Hollow Earth that it devolves into a mess of CGI that sometimes looks rubbery and fake (and far less effective than some atmospheric shots of Godzilla that could have been ripped straight from a classic Toho title.
Most people are coming to these movies for the bigger names, and we don’t mean any of the humans. In keeping with Wingard’s style, all the monsters have their own personalities (even if Godzilla is more animalistic than Kong’s recognizable emotions) and offer up perfectly serviceable actions. Highlights include the sight of the big lizard curled up to nap in Rome’s coliseum and Kong meeting a new mini version of himself).
Beyond the beasts, there are far slimmer pickings. Rebecca Hall has proved in the past she’s adept at bringing humanity to genre characters, but her Dr. Ilene Andrews serves either as an exposition delivery service (she might as well as be the narrator of the movie, stitching together plot threads and scenes because the title characters can’t) or the emotional heart of the movie alongside adopted daughter Jia (Kaylee Hottle).
Yet her connection with Jia is so cliched and basically emotional that it’s never satisfying. Of the other returning characters, Brian Tyree Henry’s Bernie Hayes is once more very standard comic relief, beneath his talents.
Possibly the best character in the new movie is Trapper, the wackily charming character brought to life by Dan Stevens, who completely understands the assignment and clearly looks to be having a blast working with his old friend Wingard (who directed him in the excellent ‘The Guest’ in 2014 –– which we’d heartily recommend watching instead of this film). In fact, he’s having more fun than most people in the audience are likely to.
Exhausting in its CG mishmash, the new monster movie seems unlikely to appeal to all but the monster committed fans of the title characters. It doesn’t re-invent the wheel and it still has no idea what to do with its characters besides have them explain what is going on or look scared.
“Big and dumb” isn’t always a criticism for a giant movie such as this, but in the case of ‘Godzilla x Kong’, it’s an apt description.
‘Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire’ receives 5.5 out of 10 stars.
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What’s the story of ‘Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire’?
The new installment in the Monsterverse puts the mighty Kong and the fearsome Godzilla against a colossal deadly threat hidden within our world that threatens the existence of their species and our very own, as well as diving deep into the mysteries of Skull Island and beyond.
Delving straight into the origins of Hollow Earth, this film will explore the ancient Titan battle that brought man and monster together forever.
Who else is in ‘Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire’?
Alongside the giant creature characters (who play themselves), the human cast for this one includes the returning likes of Rebecca Hall as Dr. Ilenes Andrews, Brian Tyree Henry as monarch conspiracy podcaster Bernie Hayes and Kaylee Hottle as Jia., who has a connection to Kong.
‘Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire’ is in production right now and will be in theaters on March 15th next year. Photo courtesy of Warner Bros. Pictures and Legendary Pictures.
Movies Similar to ‘Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire:’
Spider-Man/Miles Morales (Shameik Moore) in Columbia Pictures and Sony Pictures Animations’ ‘Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse.’
Following the events of ‘Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse,’ Miles Morales and Gwen Stacy reunite as the Spider-man universe expands further than either of them has ever anticipated.
“Miles Morales returns for the next chapter of the Oscar®-winning Spider-Verse saga, an epic adventure that will transport Brooklyn’s full-time, friendly neighborhood Spider-Man across the Multiverse to join forces with Gwen Stacy and a new team of Spider-People to face off with a villain more powerful than anything they have ever encountered.”
‘Spider-man: Across the Spider-Verse’ opened in theaters domestically on June 2, 2023. Initially, the movie was slated to release in April 2022 but shifted to a later release date due to the COVID-19 pandemic. ‘Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse’ opened to $120.6 million domestically and so far has grossed $371.8 million since its release. Worldwide, the movie has earned $666.5 million. This film serves as part one, with part two slated for a 2024 release.
The first film not only received positive reviews from critics and fans alike, but it also won the Academy Award for “Best Animated Feature” in 2019. The highly anticipated sequel once again dazzled the audience and is certified Fresh on the Tomatometer.
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Who’s in the cast of ‘Spider-man: Across the Spider-Verse’?
This movie further expands what we already know of the Spider-Verse through the lens of Miles Morales. The film’s protagonist, The Spot, figured out that his spots can be used as portals for dimension jumping, but also the reason why Miles Morales became Spider-Man in the first place. The Spot uses his portals to travel to universes with colliders by absorbing its power to further increase his power, making him quite formidable for the team of Spider-man and Spider-woman.
Gwen Stacy also gets some much needed attention in this movie as we dive into her past on how she became Spider-Woman, her struggle to keep her identity a secret from her father, and how losing her best friend catapulted her into the frenzied world the “Spider Society.”
For the first time on the big screen, we’re introduced to Miguel O’Hara/Spider-Man 2099, Spider-Punk, Jessica Drew/Spider-Woman, and Pavitr Prabhakar/Spider-man India – all of them working together under the direction of Spider-Man 2099 to prevent catastrophic canon events.
Ben Reilly in Columbia Pictures and Sony Pictures Animations’ ‘Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse.’
We’ve already seen in the first film how many variants of Spider-people exist. We’ve met Spider-Ham, Spider-Noir, and Peni Parker in ‘Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse’, and the amount of cameo and easter eggs is dialed up in ‘Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse.’ Here are some of the easter eggs you can find in the movie:
Ben Reilly/Scarlet Spider
Mayday “May” Parker/Spider-Girl
Spider-Byte
Spider-Rex
Peter Parkedcar
Web-Slinger
Bombastic Bag-Man
The Spectacular Spider-Man
It’s not easy to catch all the easter eggs and cameo while watching in the theaters, but once the movie arrives on digital or a streaming platform, the audience will have the ability to pause and rewind to spot all the references and appearances.
Are There Two Version Of The Film Floating Around?
Sharp-eyed audience members begin to wonder if there were two versions of the film being shown in theaters The differences are subtle and do not affect the overall story. An example is when Miguel O’Hara/Spider-Man 2099 speaks with Lyla – In one version, Lyla takes a selfie with a bunny ear filter that shows up on Miguel’s face, and one version shows Lyla giving a fist bump. The films’ associate editor Andy Leviton has confirmed this on Twitter. Which version did you see?
Where Can I Watch ‘Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse’?
(L to R) Gwen Stacy (Hailee Steinfeld), Peter B. Parker (Jake Johnson) and his daughter Mayday in Columbia Pictures and Sony Pictures Animations’ ‘Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse.’
The movie premiered on May 20, 2023, at the Regency Village Theater in Los Angeles and was released domestically on June 2, 2023. It is still playing in theaters, so be sure to check Moviefone below for showtimes in your area. ‘Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse’’ has a total runtime of 2 hours and 14 minutes.
Watch the official trailers for ‘Spider-man: Across the Spider-Verse’ below:
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Can’t make it out to the theater? The multi-Spider-Verse jumping movie will soon be available digitally on Prime Video. Currently, it is listed as available for pre-order for $19.99. As far as streaming goes, since Sony does not have its own streaming platform and currently has a deal with Netflix, it is likely to end up on the major streamer in the fall.
What is the plot of ‘Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse’?
‘Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse’ takes place one year after the events of ‘Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse,’ as Miles Morales (Shameik Moore) is unexpectedly approached by his love interest Gwen Stacy (Hailee Steinfeld) to complete a mission to save every universe of Spider-People from the Spot (Jason Schwartzman), who could cause a catastrophic disaster. Miles is up for the challenge, where he and Gwen journey through the Multiverse together and meet its protectors, a group of Spider-People known as the Spider-Society, led by Miguel O’Hara (Oscar Isaac). However, Miles finds himself at odds with Miguel and the Spider-Society on how to handle the threat.
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Who is in the voice cast of ‘Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse’?
While more mature and character-driven than the original, ‘Across the Spider-Verse’ builds off of the first film exceedingly well and dives deeper into Miles’ struggles with being Spider-Man, as well as Gwen Stacy’s origin story. The movie is also larger in scope than the previous film, with even more breathtakingly beautiful animation, and explores the Spider-Verse further by adding some excellent new characters and setting up an exciting conclusion in ‘Spider-Man: Beyond the Spider-Verse,’ which is scheduled to be released next year.
Spider-Man/Miles Morales (Shameik Moore) in Columbia Pictures and Sony Pictures Animations’ ‘Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse.’
Story and Animation
The sequel starts off with a bang featuring Gwen Stacey’s heartbreaking origin story, which also introduces Jessica Drew, Miguel O’Hara, and the Spider-Society. We then return to Miles Morales and his struggles with school, his parents, and being Spider-Man. Miles soon encounters The Spot, a new super-villain who’s own origin story is tied to Miles’. Miles doesn’t take his new “archenemy” seriously and The Spot vows his revenge
against Spider-Man by amassing as much power as possible.
Meanwhile, Miles is visited by his old friend Gwen and soon learns of the Spider-Society and wants to join. He eventually follows Gwen to their headquarters, reunites with Peter B. Parker, who now has a baby daughter, and meets O’Hara and learns that they have all been keeping a terrible secret from him. Now knowing the truth, Miles must decide what path he wants to take with his future.
(L to R) Gwen Stacy (Hailee Steinfeld), Peter B. Parker (Jake Johnson) and his daughter Mayday in Columbia Pictures and Sony Pictures Animations’ ‘Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse.’
Ordinarily, I do not like sequels that just set up other sequels and don’t have a satisfying conclusion of their own (I’m looking at you ‘Fast X’). But ‘Across the Spider-Verse’ is different and has an extremely satisfying conclusion, even if it is a cliffhanger. The story overall is more mature, a bit darker, and even larger in scope than the original, but never loses focus of Miles, his family, his friends, and his point of view. The movie is long at almost two and a half hours, but never feels too long and the quitter, character-driven moments, for example between Miles and his parents, raise the stakes of the overarching story. The movie also takes more time to examine Gwen Stacy and her backstory, which is one of the highlights of the film.
Not unlike the original, Oscar-winning movie, the animation is absolutely gorgeous and some of the most impressive I’ve ever seen. The movie itself has a specific style and tone, which gives it a certain comic book quality. But at the same time, each character has his or her own specific style which is very unique. Because of the multiverse aspect to the story, the filmmakers can have some fun with the animation styles, and they do, mixing and matching what style works best for which character. Some are a representation of the medium or time the character was first created, but the movie also mixes different types of animation as well as even Legos (a nod to Lord and Miller’s ‘The Lego Movie’) and live-action. It’s also worth noting how the animators successfully make Miles and Gwen look older than they did in the first movie.
(L to R) Jessica Drew (Issa Rae), and Gwen Stacy (Hailee Steinfeld) in Columbia Pictures and Sony Pictures Animations’ ‘Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse.’
Miles Morales and Gwen Stacy
The movie wisely begins a year after the original, giving Miles some time to grow and mature, but at fifteen, he’s still just a kid. The sequel really takes its time to set up Miles now, how he’s changed, how he’s not, and what his personal problems are before his new journey truly begins. These are some of the most touching moments of the movie, especially Miles scenes with his parents, where he desperately wants to tell them the truth but can’t. Shameik Moore is even better, if that is possible, as the voice of Miles this time around, and seems to have even made his voice more mature to age appropriately with Miles.
The first 20 minutes or so of the movie is Gwen Stacy’s origin story, and it could really be a short film of its own. It’s a heartbreaking beginning, but fitting for the character who has always been a bit more emotionally broken than Miles, and now we know why. Gwen’s relationship with Miles also grows in this movie and is completely believable, while there is a fun rivalry between Miles and Spider-Punk for her affections. Hailee Steinfeld gives a great voice performance and adds a lot of emotion and vulnerability to the character.
Issa Rae as Jessica Drew / Spider-Woman in ‘Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse,’ which opens in theaters on June 2nd, 2023.
There are too many new Spider-People introduced to mention them all, and some are just fun cameos that I won’t spoil. But Jessica Drew definitely stands out. If you are old enough, you will remember a Saturday Morning cartoon in the early 1980s called ‘Spider-Woman,’ which featured Jessica Drew. Well, this interpretation is completely different and extremely refreshing. Issa Rae plays the character like a complete boss, and the addition of a Spidy-Cycle was a nice touch.
Also a standout, Oscar-winner Daniel Kaluuya as Hobert “Hobie” Brown/Spider-Punk. Certainly a lesser known Spider-Man, Kaluuya makes the character come alive with an authentic attitude, Johnny Rotten accent, and punk animation style. Another new Spider-Person worth mentioning is Spider-Man India, hilariously voiced by ‘Deadpool’s Karan Soni, who is a nice addition to the Spider-Team.
Miguel O’Hara as Spider-Man 2099 (Oscar Isaac) in Columbia Pictures and Sony Pictures Animation’s ‘Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse.’
The Villains
While not a villain per se, Miguel O’Hara/Spider-Man 2099 is definitely an antagonist in the film and very tough on Miles. The character was first introduced in the end-credit sequence in ‘Into the Spider-Verse,’ and I have to say, I was slightly disappointed. The character was very one-dimensional for me, and I hope he will be explored further and perhaps redeemed in the next movie. Oscar Isaac is fine in the role, but not given enough time to really explore the character. He’s angry through most of the movie, and with the exception of a few funny lines, his emotions never really change. While his true motivations are revealed before the movie’s end, we’re never really given enough time to truly understand how he feels about what he’s doing.
But the main villain in this movie, and it would seem the following film, is The Spot, wonderfully voiced by Jason Schwartzman. The actor is goofy, bumbling, funny, scary, menacing, brilliant, and a bit dumb, all at the same time. While the character does not seem much of a threat for Miles at first, he certainly is by the film’s end and his transformation is completely logical. It was also a nice touch retconning Miles origin so it would be tied to The Spot’s.
Miles Morales (Shameik Moore) takes on The Spot (Jason Schwartzman) in Columbia Pictures and Sony Pictures Animation’s ‘Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse.’
Is ‘Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse’ set in the MCU?
No, ‘Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse’ is not set in the MCU. However, this is a multiverse story, and there are definitely references, Easter eggs, and other surprises linked to the MCU and other Spider-Man film and television projects from the past.
Are there any End-Credit scenes in ‘Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse?’
No, at least there was not at the press screening. There is a mid-credit bumper that says, “Miles Morales will return in ‘Spider-Man: Beyond the Spider-Verse,’” which of course we already knew. But that doesn’t mean that an end-credit scene wasn’t kept from the press as not to spoil, so if you don’t have anywhere urgent to be, you should probably stay in your seats after the movie just in case.
Final Thoughts
In the end, it’s hard to believe that ‘Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse’ is just as good if not better than the Oscar winning ‘Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse,’ but it is! The sequel recaptures the magic of the original, while broadening the scope, raising the stakes, and delivering a more mature movie with a satisfying ending, even if it is “to be continued.” The movie takes a deeper look at fan-favorites like Miles and Gwen, but also introduces great new characters like Spider-Punk, Jessica Drew, and The Spot, while featuring eye-popping, beautiful, fresh, and groundbreaking stylistic animation.
‘Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse’ received 9.5 out of 10 stars
‘Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse’ lands in theaters on June 2nd, 2023.
Other Movies Similar to ‘Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse’:
‘Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse’ is produced by Columbia Pictures, Sony Pictures Animation, Marvel Entertainment, Lord Miller Productions, Pascal Pictures, and Avi Arad Productions. It is set to release in theaters on June 2nd, 2023.
While Legendary and Warner Bros.’ “Monsterverse” movies –– the series of connected films featuring giant beasts such as Godzilla and King Kong –– have seen mixed fortunes at the box office, they have enjoyed enough success that it is continuing.
Partly that’s thanks to 2021’s ‘Godzilla Vs. Kong’, which saw the two headliners face off against each other (and another dangerous, more human-forged creature). The movie itself had to contend with a troublesome patch in the ongoing pandemic and a day-and-date release on HBO Max as well as theaters but managed to overcome both challenges to become the second film of the Covid era to cross the $100 million mark at the domestic box office, en route to $468 million globally.
Yes, it does sound a little bit like the two beasties are starting a fashion collab together, but in reality, it’s just the next big movie to feature them.
So, the next question of course, is…
‘Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire’ is in production right now and will be in theaters on March 15th next year. Photo courtesy of Warner Bros. Pictures and Legendary Pictures.
What’s the story of ‘Godzilla x Kong’?
Here’s the official synopsis…
This new movie follows up the explosive showdown of Godzilla vs. Kong with an all-new cinematic adventure, pitting the almighty Kong and the fearsome Godzilla against a colossal undiscovered threat hidden within our world, challenging their very existence –– and our own.
The epic new story will delve further into the histories of these Titans, their origins, and the mysteries of Skull Island and beyond, while uncovering the mythic battle that helped forge these extraordinary beings and tied them to humankind forever.
‘Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire’ is in production right now and will be in theaters on March 15th next year. Photo courtesy of Warner Bros. Pictures and Legendary Pictures.
Wingard made his name with clever, low-budget horror, but has gone on to a varied genre career that also included a new ‘Blair Witch’ movie and manga adaptation ‘Death Note’ before he was hired to wrangle giant CG creatures.
He has several returning cast members, including Rebecca Hall as Dr. Ilene Andrews, Brian Tyree Henry as fan-favorite Bernie Hayes and Kaylee Hottle as young human Kong friend Jia.
The screenplay is by Simon Barrett, a regular colleague of Wingard’s, who is building on work from Jeremy Slater and Terry Rossio.
‘Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire’ is in production right now and will be in theaters on March 15th next year.
‘Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire’ is in production right now and will be in theaters on March 15th next year. Photo courtesy of Warner Bros. Pictures and Legendary Pictures.
Movies Similar to ‘Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire:’
Releasing in theaters on October 28th before premiering on Apple TV+ on November 4th is the new drama ‘Causeway’ from Lila Neugebauer (‘Room 104’).
The film stars Oscar-winner Jennifer Lawrence (‘Silver Linings Playbook’) as Lynsey, a U.S. soldier who reluctantly returns home to New Orleans to live with her alcoholic mother (Linda Emond) after she suffers a traumatic brain injury during a tour in Afghanistan.
As Lynsey struggles to adjust to civilian life, she meets James Aucoin (Brian Tyree Henry), a car accident survivor and amputee that blames himself for a family tragedy. Soon, Lynsey and James become friends and help each other cope with their grief and try to move on with their lives.
Moviefone recently had the pleasure of speaking to Brian Tyree Henry about his work on ‘Causeway,’ his character’s grief, the challenges of playing an amputee, James and Lynsey’s friendship, and working with Jennifer Lawrence.
Brian Tyree Henry stars in ‘Causeway,’ premiering November 4, 2022 on Apple TV+.
You can read our full interview below or click on the video player above to watch our interview with Brian Tyree Henry.
Moviefone: To begin with, can you talk about your approach to playing James, and embodying the grief and regret that he feels on a day-to-day basis?
Brian Tyree Henry: My approach? Well, I first wanted to just figure out a little bit about who he was, and where he came from, and why that grief was a part of his life. James, as you know, is from New Orleans. He was born and raised there, and suffered a great loss, and stayed there. I always wanted to really figure out what that was for somebody who suffered a loss that was in their home, or a place that they call their home and why they choose to stay there.
Is it because they feel like they deserve to go through this, that they deserve to have these reminders, or is it that there was no other way? I think that James is a little bit of both. I think that we find James in this place feeling like he deserves to stay where he was, especially with the loss that he suffered of losing his leg, which made it a little harder to run and leave. So, I think that I really wanted to just figure that out and get to the heart of what that meant for somebody who endured a great loss like that and chose to stay.
Brian Tyree Henry in ‘Causeway,’ premiering November 4, 2022 on Apple TV+.
MF: As an actor, can you talk about the challenges of playing an amputee?
BTH: Well, most amputees live their lives of rehabilitation trying to remain the same way they were before they were an amputee. So, I didn’t want there to be a huge movement of James always being uncomfortable walking, because that’s not how he wanted to be treated either.
So, what I really wanted to discover was what it was like for him to mask it more than to showcase it? What does it look like for someone to try to move like that? Because I think most of the times when we suffer great tragedies, we do this huge thing of trying to mask it and cover it. We don’t want the scars to show. I think that that’s where the truth shines through the most, is that you can see through that.
So, for me, I wanted to just make sure that James felt like he was standing on his own two feet. That he felt like he was the same person he was before he suffered that tragedy, so I really leaned into that. Now, when it came to removing the prosthetic and moving about with that, I did talk to a few people. I talked to a few amputees to make sure that I knew that I was putting the sleeve on the right way and things like that. But I think in essence, truly, it was about him moving in a normal way.
MF: Finally, can you talk about Lynsey and James’ relationship, why they gravitate towards each other and what it was like working with Jennifer Lawrence?
BTH: Well, there’s a thing called trauma bonding that’s been very common, especially after everything we had gone through in 2020. There’s a thing that we started relating to each other in a way of comparing traumas. It was this thing of really linking to somebody, this weird codependency that we created in our relationships through trauma. You see that in a big way in this movie between James and Lynsey, but what we also wanted to show is what the other side of that looks like. Because we didn’t want to just show the one side of these two characters steeped in their trauma, and that’s all it is.
We really wanted there to be a showcase of a connection and hope of what could be on the other side, which is an actual friendship. That was a part of a lot of the conversations that Jennifer and I had, because we realized that our connection was growing a lot in between takes. We realized that the sinew of what the movie was, was based on how we were connecting with one another, how we called each other out on our stuff, how we talked about all, it was about us. So, we discovered that, that is in essence what we wanted to see between James and Lynsey as well.
(L to R) Brian Tyree Henry and Jennifer Lawrence in ‘Causeway,’ premiering November 4, 2022 on Apple TV+.
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