Ben Silverio – ScienceFiction.com

Movie Review: ‘Ant-Man And The Wasp’

Ben Silverio — Thu, 05 Jul 2018 06:00:40 +0000

As the saying goes, big things come in small packages. Since his debut in the Marvel Cinematic Universe back in 2015, Paul Rudd’s Ant-Man has proved it. The charming thief-turned-superhero even took the old adage quite literally in ‘Captain America: Civil War’. But in the aftermath of ‘Avengers: Infinity War’, the House of Ideas unleashes Scott Lang and the gang once again in ‘Ant-Man and the Wasp’ for a theatrical experience for True Believers of all sizes. Following his mission with Steve Rogers, Lang finds himself under house arrest for two years. During that time, he managed to build a life for himself outside of the Ant-Man suit. Not only does he have a stronger relationship with his daughter, but he and his friends have built a security business from the ground up. However, when Dr. Hank Pym, Hope Van Dyne, and their new quantum experiment face opposition from a mysterious operative known as Ghost, Scott has to team up with his former allies to right the wrongs of the past. Now, up until this point, we’ve talked a lot about Scott Lang. There certainly isn’t anything wrong with that as he has become one of the most beloved characters […]

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Movie Review: ‘The Incredibles 2’

Ben Silverio — Mon, 18 Jun 2018 08:17:03 +0000

Fourteen years ago, filmmaker Brad Bird invited us into a 1960s-esque retro-futuristic world where superheroes are real. Of course, they were in hiding thanks to laws that made them illegal. However, by the end of ‘The Incredibles’, we entered a new age of Supers thanks to the Parr family. And that’s where we left Mr. Incredible, Elastigirl, Violet, Dash, and Jack-Jack. But fourteen years later, we’re finally ready for a trip back to Metroville to catch up with this amazing family thanks to ‘The Incredibles 2’. And while it doesn’t exactly capture the same trademark Disney/Pixar magic as the first one, it’s safe to say that it’s incredible to see everyone again. Picking up moments after the original, we catch up with our heroes just after the Underminer emerges from deep underground to try to take over the world above him. As the Incredibles and Frozone take on the villain, the level of destruction caused by the unsuccessful attempt to save the day causes the authorities to remember why Supers were outlawed in the first place. Although, Winston and Evelyn Deavor of DEVTECH see things differently and work towards reinstating the heroes of old by making Elastigirl the poster girl […]

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Movie Review: ‘Deadpool 2’

Ben Silverio — Wed, 16 May 2018 16:00:27 +0000

There’s something about your first time. It definitely holds a special place in your heart. And despite your best efforts, every subsequent time after that will be different. Sometimes there are new positions, there could be new toys, and there’s almost certainly a number of new collaborators, frequently all at the same time. Although, that doesn’t necessarily mean the sequel will be bad. Did I mention that we were talking about movies? Because we totally are. Specifically, the newest movie starring everyone’s favorite Merc With A Mouth, ‘Deadpool 2.’ After being reunited with his beloved Vanessa at the end of the first movie, Wade Wilson is ready to start a family. But since the work of a wisecracking mercenary with superpowers is never done, our hero sets out on a mission to save a young mutant named Russell from a time-traveling cybernetic soldier named Cable. In order to do this, he assembles a team of his own called X-Force to face off with this futuristic foe and stop him from doing something unthinkable. And that’s really all we can talk about in regards to the plot. Anything else worth talking about like specific scenes, lines of dialogue, performances, or even […]

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Movie Review: ‘Avengers: Infinity War’

Ben Silverio — Wed, 25 Apr 2018 17:54:33 +0000

Back in 2008, when Robert Downey Jr. donned an iconic suit of armor as Tony Stark and proclaimed, “I am Iron Man,” we entered a world unlike anything we’ve ever seen on the big screen. Ten years and eighteen movies later (on top of a handful of short films, TV shows, and comic book tie-ins), there’s a full blown Marvel Cinematic Universe filled with a plethora of beloved characters like Captain America, Thor, Hulk, Spider-Man, and even the previously obscure Guardians of the Galaxy still going strong. Up until now, they were all enough to keep this world safe. But as Nick Fury alluded to all those years ago when he first spoke of the Avengers Initiative, one day a threat would require these extraordinary individuals to unite to fight a foe that no single hero could withstand. And that day has finally arrived in ‘Avengers: Infinity War.’ In the years following the events of ‘Captain America: Civil War’, Earth’s Mightiest Heroes remained fractured. However, when the mighty Thanos and his forces arrive on Earth in search of the Infinity Stones, the Avengers must put their differences aside and join forces with Star-Lord and his ragtag team of miscreants to […]

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Latest ‘Mary Poppins Returns’ Trailer Soars In

Ben Silverio — Mon, 05 Mar 2018 19:00:40 +0000

Considering that they’re known as “The Windy City”, Chicago is very accustomed to the blustery weather hitting the Midwestern city today (even though that moniker actually has nothing to do with the weather). However, theaters in the Chicagoland area, as well as all over the world, will experience a familiar wind blowing in that hasn’t been experienced on the big screen in over 50 years as the nanny that is practically perfect in every way makes her comeback this holiday season. But before she brings a spoonful of sugar to your local cinema, we have a brand new look at the upcoming film featuring the beloved character made famous by Julie Andrews. During last night’s broadcast of the Academy Awards, Walt Disney Pictures released the official teaser trailer for ‘Mary Poppins Returns’. Featuring ‘Hamilton’ virtuoso and national treasure Lin-Manuel Miranda as streetlighter Jack, Ben Whishaw and Emily Mortimer as the grown up versions of Jane and Michael Banks, and Emily Blunt as the supercalifragilisticexpialidocious Poppins, this trailer is truly the definition of a teaser. While we get reacquainted with the area of London surrounding 17 Cherry Tree Lane (including the admiral’s house with the massive mast sticking out of his […]

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Movie Review: ‘Black Panther’ Lives Up To The Hype And Changes The Superhero Movie Game

Ben Silverio — Thu, 15 Feb 2018 15:00:41 +0000

With the Marvel Cinematic Universe celebrating its ten-year anniversary in 2018, True Believers have the perfect opportunity to reflect and revisit the House of Ideas’ filmography from 2008’s ‘Iron Man’ to 2017’s ‘Thor: Ragnarok’. And while many will look back on those movies fondly, it’s important to note that Marvel Studios has received its fair share of criticism amidst the sea of praise that usually accompanies their feature films. Two of the most common knocks against many of the films is that A) the plots are very similar and B) the villains are very bland. While they’re not necessarily wrong in some cases, the architects of the MCU have been deviating from this formula a great deal lately. All you have to do is look to the work of James Gunn, Taika Waititi, Jon Watts, and the Russo Brothers as the most recent examples to see that we’re not simply getting your cookie cutter superhero movies anymore. But if you’re not completely sold yet, then look no further than ‘Black Panther’ to change your mind and change the game. Following King T’Chaka’s death at the hands of Helmut Zemo in ‘Captain America: Civil War’, T’Challa returns to his home in […]

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Brian K. Vaughn & Fiona Staples Open To A ‘Saga’ Musical By Lin-Manuel Miranda

Ben Silverio — Thu, 18 Jan 2018 14:44:34 +0000

If a story sounds remotely interesting, then there’s a good chance that someone in Hollywood will look to adapt it and make a number of sequels. You don’t have to look very far an example as many TV shows and movies these days are often based on a book or a comic or even a literal house cat. Seriously, internet celebrity/adorable meme Grumpy Cat stars in her very own movie. But not every creator is in the business of adaptations. For instance, ‘Saga’ creators Brian K. Vaughn and Fiona Staples have famously said that they didn’t want to turn their acclaimed Image Comics space opera into a blockbuster motion picture franchise or the latest hit Netflix series. However, as ‘The Million Dollar Man” Ted Dibiase always says, “Everybody’s got a price.” It’s just sometimes that price is a collaboration with the man that took a shot on one of America’s unsung Founding Fathers. Back in April, the New York Times interviewed Lin-Manuel Miranda of ‘Hamilton’ and ‘Moana’ fame about what he was reading. Among a number of top notch recommendations, the award-winning writer/composer/lyricist/actor/all-around great guy listed Vaughn and Staples’ ‘Saga’ as the “last great book” he read. Vulture recently interviewed […]

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WWE Superstar John Cena Joins ‘Rise of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles’

Ben Silverio — Thu, 18 Jan 2018 14:10:16 +0000

For more than fifteen years, John Cena has been a mainstay of the WWE Universe. In that time, wrestling fans have seen him champion his mantra of “Hustle, Loyalty, and Respect” from Monday Night Raw and Smackdown Live to Wrestlemania and everywhere else in between. However, just as many former WWE Champions have done before him, the leader of the Cenation has started to branch out into other universes as well. After appearing in a number of WWE-produced films over the years, Cena began to appear in comedies such as ‘Trainwreck’, ‘Sisters’, and ‘Daddy’s Home’. He then went on to voice the titular bull with a heart of gold in ‘Ferdinand’. And later this year, the 16-time World Champion can be seen in the upcoming ‘Transformers’ sequel/spinoff ‘Bumblebee’. But now it looks like he’ll be teaming with Nickelodeon to have an expanded presence on their network, including a role that pits him against four formidable foes in the form of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles. In a recent video released on the network’s YouTube channel, Cena announced that he would be hosting the Kids’ Choice Awards once again. Additionally, he and his Hard Nocks South production company will produce an all-new […]

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New ‘Black Panther’ Trailer Touches Down During National Championship Game

Ben Silverio — Tue, 09 Jan 2018 04:33:25 +0000

While the Georgia Bulldogs and Alabama Crimson Tide go to war over the National Championship tonight, True Believers were given a special sneak peek at another battle taking place in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. But rather than competing for a prestigious athletic title and bragging rights, this fight is over the mysterious African nation known as Wakanda. Following a special halftime performance from Kendrick Lamar, ESPN debuted the latest trailer for Ryan Coogler’s highly anticipated ‘Black Panther’. The action-packed promo not only shows off more of T’Challa’s impressive abilities and a slightly extended look at the Wakandan people, but it also features more destruction caused by Erik Killmonger and Ulysses Klaue. You can check out the new preview below followed by the synopsis of the film: Marvel Studios’ ‘Black Panther’ follows T’Challa who, after the death of his father, the King of Wakanda, returns home to the isolated, technologically advanced African nation to succeed to the throne and take his rightful place as king. But when a powerful old enemy reappears, T’Challa’s mettle as king—and Black Panther—is tested when he is drawn into a formidable conflict that puts the fate of Wakanda and the entire world at risk. Faced […]

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ScienceFiction.com’s Most Anticipated Movies Of 2018

Ben Silverio — Tue, 02 Jan 2018 17:00:30 +0000

With December quickly coming to an end, 2017 is basically in our rear view mirrors and we can start looking towards 2018. But when it comes to previewing the major motion pictures premiering in the new year, it might be a fairly daunting task to figure out just which releases you’re most excited for. I mean, there will likely be something from Marvel or possibly a ‘Star Wars’ story on your list (and they’d be on mine too), but here are a few more films that fall under the ScienceFiction.com banner that may or may not get you as excited as we are to get to a movie theater next year. (And, you know, the ‘Star Wars’ and some Marvel stuff too.) Honorable Mention: ‘Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom’ For the record, ‘Jurassic World’ was not a good movie. But somehow Colin Trevorrow still managed to turn the extremely lazy and generally lackluster script into an immensely entertaining theatrical dino-spectacle that hit all the right nostalgic notes and reminded the audience of the iconic film that started it all, ‘Jurassic Park’. So to say that the sequel ‘Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom’ is highly-anticipated is quite the over-statement. In fact, it’s […]

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ScienceFiction.com’s Top Ten Movies Of 2017

Ben Silverio — Fri, 29 Dec 2017 18:45:33 +0000

By most accounts, 2017 has been an absolutely insane year on so many levels in both good and bad ways. Arguably, the bad may have outweighed the good (by a considerable amount), but your local cinema has certainly provided some very solid offerings over the past twelve months to help you escape the trudges of the real world. So whether the big screen took you on an adventure to New York City, 1962 Baltimore, the Land of the Dead, the Sunken Place, or galaxies far, far away, let’s take a look back at some of the best sci-fi, horror, fantasy, and superhero movies of 2017 to remember some of our favorite escapes. Honorable Mention: ‘Wonder Woman’ While the DC Extended Universe has been delivering miss after miss after miss, it finally got a hit with ‘Wonder Woman’. Following her cinematic debut in ‘Batman V Superman: Dawn of Justice’ in 2016, Diana of Themyscira finally got her chance to shine thanks to director Patty Jenkins and writer Allen Heinberg. Not only did fans get an extremely fun superhero blockbuster, it was proof that Warner Bros. and DC didn’t need to continue to be dark and brooding with all of their […]

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Stephen Amell Is Planning One Sweet Bullet Club Invasion For ‘Arrow’

Ben Silverio — Tue, 12 Dec 2017 18:09:57 +0000

As the vigilante superhero Green Arrow, Stephen Amell has fought his fair share of armies. From Russians to ninjas to aliens to Nazis, the Emerald Archer and the rest of Team Arrow have taken down all threatened Star City. But if the star has it his way, the characters of the popular CW series will be facing off against one of the biggest armies in professional wrestling today. Amell’s connection to professional wrestling has been well documented. Aside from being a long-time fan, he stepped into the WWE’s squared circle to take on the mischievous Stardust after a bit of a feud throughout 2015. Later, after the wrestler left the land of Vince McMahon last year and reverted back to his Cody Rhodes moniker, the actor seemed to bury the hatchet with his nemesis and actually fought alongside the reigning Ring of Honor champion and his buddies from the stand out New Japan Pro Wrestling stable known as Bullet Club at a recent ROH event in Texas. Now, just as Rhodes was brought into the Arrowverse as Derek Sampson, the ‘Arrow’ leading man hopes to enlist the elite faction for a future episode. During his appearance at Heroes and Villains […]

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First Look At Stan Lee’s ‘Runaways’ Cameo

Ben Silverio — Tue, 12 Dec 2017 14:59:14 +0000

As if getting excited for the next Marvel movie wasn’t enough, many True Believers anxiously anticipate Stan Lee’s traditional cameo appearance. Eagle-eyed fans are always on the lookout for the Generalissimo because you never know where he might pop up. Sometimes he’s out in the open as part of a crowd, but other times his image may be hidden in the background. He has even found himself acting as a DJ in a strip club for that lovable Merc With A Mouth in ‘Deadpool’. But no matter how it happens, he’s almost always present for a House of Ideas production and now it appears that he’ll be there for Alex Wilder and the rest of the gang on Hulu’s ‘Runaways’. Entertainment Weekly recently revealed that the comic book icon would be dropping by this week’s installment of the latest Marvel Television series. Executive producer Josh Schwartz spoke to the publication about how the guest spot came about and their process of finding the right cameo: “We heard it was something he was potentially interested in doing. Since we shoot in Los Angeles, it seemed more possible that we might be able to get him to come. Then, we created various […]

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Is John Cena Hinting At A Role In HBO’s ‘Watchmen’?

Ben Silverio — Tue, 05 Dec 2017 23:55:54 +0000

16-time WWE Champion John Cena has gone through many nicknames throughout his illustrious professional wrestling career. He’s been known as the Doctor of Thuganomics, the Leader of the Cenation, and the Prototype. However, one title that has always stuck with him is Super Cena because there are times where it seems like he never loses, just like Superman. And while that may hold up in the ring, the nickname hasn’t exactly carried over to his film career in regards to superhero movies. Despite landing some major roles in ‘Trainwreck’, ‘Daddy’s Home 2’, the animated ‘Ferdinand’, and the upcoming ‘Transformers’ spinoff starring Bumblebee, he has yet to score a place in a major comic book movie franchise after being rumored or discussed for ‘Superior’, ‘Thor: Ragnarok’, and ‘Shazam’ (which would have been opposite his in-ring rival Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson). But based on a few mysterious posts on social media, that may soon change. Though many wrestlers turn to Instagram to share photos from the road, the gym, or whatever arena they’re in that night, Cena’s page is filled with random images. From dogs to veterans to cars to weightlifters, Mr. Hustle Loyalty Respect probably has one of the most random […]

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How Does ‘Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.’ Season 5 Connect To Marvel’s Movies?

Ben Silverio — Sun, 03 Dec 2017 02:00:45 +0000

Ever since Nick Fury first approached Tony Stark about the Avengers Initiative, we have been introduced to more and more of Earth’s Mightiest Heroes on the big screen. As the Marvel Cinematic Universe continued to grow over the years, it has come to include the characters from short films, comic books, and TV shows across various networks. And though it may not always be obvious, True Believers have constantly been told that it’s all connected. Now with a new season of ‘Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.’ beginning this week, the showrunners are weighing in on just how connected to Agent Phil Coulson and his team will be to the major events happening in the House of Ideas’ blockbuster films. While attending a recent press event in Los Angeles, Comic Book Resources spoke with executive producers Jed Whedon and Maurissa Tancharoen about the direction that the show will be taking during their upcoming fifth season. For starters, Whedon tells us that they’re taking a page from this year’s more cosmic-focused features ‘Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2’ and ‘Thor: Ragnarok’: “We try to a little bit follow in the wake of the films as they plot new territory in the MCU. Last year […]

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