Nerd News; Spider-Man Sequels

NERD NEWS!

Amazing Spider-Man 2

         If you're like me, and you like what Marvel Studios has been doing, you would probably love to see them get their hands on Spider-Man, X-Men, or the Fantastic Four, and roll them into the rapidly expanding Marvel Movieverse. Looks like other people are holding on to those movie rights though, so we have to deal with it. That said, I'm becoming very intrigued with the direction the Spider-Man movies are taking. The subplot about Peter's parents made the first film seem less like a re-hash of the previous movies, and the man in the shadows who paid Dr. Connors a visit in prison and disappeared in a flash of lightning instantly had me interested. My theory is that they are building up to a Sinister Six movie and that the man in the shadows is actually Gustav Fiers, the criminal mastermind known as the Gentleman, who is known to have brought Spideys's villains together. Adding to the interest I already have is the fact that Columbia Pictures has released specific dates for installments 3 and 4,* and 2 isn't even out yet(set to come out May 2 2014). As far as 2 goes, I already like Jaimie Foxx's Electro, though I'm a little iffy about Paul Giamatti's Rhino, who admittedly would be difficult to get right, since the character is based on such a goofy concept. The shots I have seen of Giamatti show him in some sort of mech or robot suit, but it doesn't remotely resemble a rhino. Another intriguing bit of information, Dane Dehann, bad guy from Chronicle, will be playing Harry Osborn, who comes back into Peter's life after being away at boarding school since they were young. I'm interested in how this will affect Peter, and what kind of relationship the two will have. Chris Cooper has been cast as Norman Osborn I'm curious to find out more his mysterious life-threatening condition, which was hinted at in the first film.

       Altogether I am excited to see what direction they are planning to take this franchise.

       The attached image gives us a look at Spidey's new, more traditional costume, and some other production photos.

*On June 17 Columbia announced that installments 3 and 4 of the Amazing Spider-Man series would be out June 10, 2016, and May 4, 2018 respectively.

 

Spotlight On: The Guardians of the Galaxy

Spotlight On:

The Guardians of the Galaxy

          When I first heard that Marvel Studios was planning a Guardians of the Galaxy movie, I almost didn't believe it.  At any rate, I became more exited for it than for any of the other projects Marvel had in the works, simply because it seemed like more like a long-shot than any of the other projects. That made me believe that they must have had something good planned. I've so far been keeping up with all the news about the movie, but the other day I realized that I know next to nothing about these characters. I hate going into a movie blind, so here's all my compiled research in the first ever amalgamation Nerd News/Spotlight On Crossover Article! Enjoy.

Chris Pratt as Peter Jason Quill/Star-Lord

Star-Lord is the leader of the Guardians. A Human/Spartoi hybrid, Quill joined NASA after his mother was killed in by his plotting great uncle. From his post on the Eve space station, Quill jumped at an opportunity presented by the Master of the Sun who accepted Quill as the Star-Lord, granted him a sentient ship and helped him come to terms with his need for vengeance on his mother's killers. He originally used his alien father's element gun, which was later destroyed in battle with the Fallen One, and after his service to the Kree(an alien race I'll be doing an article on soon) he receives a heat dampening espionage battle suit and helmet, and Kree submachine guns. This uniform has become the norm for the Guardians. After Star-Lord witnessed battle on a galactic scale during the Annihilation Wave, he decided to found the Guardians of the Galaxy, a group of cosmic heroes who try to foresee threats and prevent disasters.

 David Michael Bautista Jr. as Arthur Sampson Douglas/ Drax the Destroyer
When the Mad Titan Thanos beleives he has been seen by a family of Earthling, he kills them. The spirit of the father, Arthur Douglas, however, is captured by Thanos' father Mentor, and Kronos and put into a powerful new body, to be used as a weapon of vengeance against Thanos. Now known as Drax, he has increased strength, and durability and fights with knives.








 Zoe Saldana as Gamora, The Most Dangerous Woman in the Universe

After her species, the Zen Whoberi were wiped out by the Badoon, Gamora was left as the last of her kind. Taken in by Thanos and trained as his assassin, Gamora became the most dangerous woman in the universe. She went on to later join the Guardians. Gamora possesses enhanced strength, speed, endurance, agility, and healing, and has at times wielded a knife that could kill almost anything.

 

Michael Rooker as Yondu UdontaA Centaurian archer, with connections to the Guardians, Yondu is highly trained and has sound sensitive arrows that he can direct by whistling. He also has a spiritual connection to nature, allowing him to locate things, or people, and replenish his energy by communing with nature. 












Groot
The Monarch of Planet X, Groot is a highly intelligent plant based life form. He is very durable, and even if destroyed, can regrow himself from a single sprout. He can also absorb other trees as sustenance or command them to attack. Although Groot only ever utters the words "I am Groot", Maximus the Mad claims that his tone and inflection varies and that he is actually saying a wide range of different things. Rocket Raccoon seems to be able to understand him. Although Groot may appear brutish, he has been educated by the best tutors of his race, and has a working understanding of quasi-dimensional super-positional engineering. He will be voiced by Mark "Vin Diesel" Sinclair.









Rocket Raccoon 
Rocket comes from an asylum planet for the mentally challenged called Halfworld, where animals were slowly evolved to bipedal form to help care for the patients. He is a gifted tactician and expert marksman. He usually wields two laser pistols, and has an affinity for heavy weaponry, he may also suffer from excessive-compulsive disorder. He has all the abilities of a normal earth raccoon, but on an                                                                                                                   enhanced level.

Nerd News Report

Nerd News

New Thor: The Dark World trailer shows Thor battling what appears to be a Kronan. Long time fans will recognize the Kronans from Thor's first appearance in Tales to Astonish. They reappeared more recently in Planet Hulk and World War Hulk. I like how they seem to be digging up older concepts to put in this new movie, and leaning more heavily on the actual Norse mythology, bringing in the Dark Elves. Also, take a look in the background when they show Loki in the Asgardian prison, and you'll notice someone in the other cell wearing a horned helmet. The first person I thought of was Kurse, also known as Algrim the Strong, another Dark Elf, and already confirmed for as a secondary antagonist to Malekith the Dark Elf.  In addition, we know that the characters from the first movie will be back, and the trailers thus far have hinted at a partnership between Thor and his imprisoned half-brother Loki. Thor indicates that Loki may be the only person with knowledge about the returning threat of the Dark Elves. Catch Thor: The Dark World in theaters November 8, 2013.

Kurse

First appearance of Thor and Kronans

Malekith the Accursed