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When Sam Raimi Lets Loose, ‘DOCTOR STRANGE IN THE MULTIVERSE OF MADNESS’ Is Pure Dark Magic. Otherwise, Meh.

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Not Quite What the Doctor Ordered

The multitude of successes and failures of the larger MCU brand is put on full display with its most recent entry, Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness. The film directed by Spider-Man and Evil Dead director Sam Raimi, more than any other Marvel effort to date, underscores issues of creative overlording (Kevin Feige, master of the box office, checking in) that has long plagued the comic book production house. The push and pull between actual directorial style and ownership of said style and the larger corporatized Marvel Brand has never been so readily apparent in the finished product, resulting in one of Marvel’s most split-identity entries to date. One that also houses some of its most daring and dazzling segments across all of its 28 films and six Disney+ TV events. Read More

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Out in Theaters: POLTERGEIST

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When a film foregoes the press screening circuit, only to play for a slim number of us amidst a general public promo screening just two hours before it opens its doors to the rest of the movie-going community, you enter with an expectation of a product hauntingly bad. Take Hercules for example, which screened under similar circumstances last year before landing at number five on my worst movies of the year segment. Just one month later, As Above/So Below (which was also largely critically derided) proved this model wrong by delivering an edgy horror throwback that I simply adored. Again at the Thursday night 6 o’clock showing. So going into Poltergeist, I wasn’t quite sure what to expect, and with low critical ratings – as of writing this, it stands at a 39% on Rotten Tomatoes and 48 on Metacritic – the writing was on the wall, thusly establishing the low expectations that allowed me to sit back and let this somewhat cruise-controlled remake take me on an enjoyable – if not great – horror thrill ride. Read More

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AMAZING SPIDERMAN 2 Trailer Features 3 Villians Because That Worked So Well Before

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In a move of unprecedented studio genius, The Amazing Spiderman 2 has decided to go big or go home, introducing a stable of villains for this second installment of a franchise that people could not be more excited about. While the film originally seemed like it would just be a Spidey vs. Electro showdown, the villians have been adding up piece-by-piece to make up the much-loved triple villain assault. As you’ll probably remember, fans and critics alike swooned over Spiderman 3, easily the favorite of Sam Raimi‘s trilogy, with many pointing to the inclusion of three separate villians, each with their own origin storyline, as the highlight of the film. Celebrated critic Roger Ebert said, “Spiderman 3 soars but I couldn’t help but wish that there were 4 villians.”

Joined by Rhino – Paul Giamatti in a big Rhino-shaped robot suit – and Green Goblin – Harry Osborn (Dane DeHaan) encouraged to be a dick to ol’ friend Peter Park by a bed-ridden Norman Osborn (Chris Cooper) – Electro aims to wipe out Spiderman because he’s a man dressed like a spider and that kind of nonsense just won’t fly. Because, honestly, what’s worse in life than a wackjob in a costume going around stopping petty crime? That’s right – nothing.

Even more exciting is the fact that you can clearly see hints for EVEN MORE VILLAINS TO COME in this trailer. The most obvious of which is Doc Octopus’s evil eight-armed-suit that is chilling in a tank. It likes like even though dear Robert won’t have lived to see the day when his dream came true, the rest of us living will finally be granted our ultimate wish of seeing four (no five, oh god let it be six) supervillains in one Spiderman movie.

Take a look at this trailer which looks nothing like a video game and makes complete sense. 

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Sam Raimi Confirmed to Direct ARMY OF DARKNESS 2

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While last week saw Bruce Campbell confirmed to return to his most iconic role as the chainsaw-armed Ash, today sees confirmation that Sam Raimi will step behind the camera and actually direct Army of Darkness 2. Although Raimi’s involvement was a strong possibility, there was no official word as to whether he or 2013’s Evil Dead director Fede Alvarez would helm the project. Now, rest assured that the campy horror maestro is officially directing. News that Raimi will direct comes straight from the horse’s mouth as Alvarez confirmed that he would not be directing and Raimi would via his official Twitter account.

Although Raimi has had a bit of an unpredictable track record of late – and his last film, Oz: The Great and Powerful, was absolutely dreadful The 2013 remake/reinvention of the Evil Dead franchise saw life return to the franchise, life that Army of Darkness 2 looks to capitalize on. Speculation has already started to stir about hopes of “world building” – a tactic that could bring together the events of both the old and new franchise in an Avengers style mash-up.

Whether or not Ash will end up crossing paths with Jane Levy‘s Mia or not, you can rejoice in the fact that Raimi is returning to his bread and butter: campy horror. Raimi build his name around this brand of funny, gory films before stepping in to helm the Spiderman trilogy. 2009’s utterly terrific Drag Me To Hell proved that Raimi can easily jump back onto the saddle and direct horror like the back of his hand. While Army of Darkness 2 won’t see a release date for at least a few years, we can only cross our fingers that it will signal a return to form for the auteur.

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Bruce Campbell Confirms He'll Reprise Ash in ARMY OF DARKNESS 2

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Good news, fans of the Evil Dead series, especially the 2013 remake of the original Evil Dead: Bruce Campbell has confirmed he will return as Ash in the upcoming sequel to Army of Darkness. The director of the original series Sam Raimi has had a slower schedule since directing Oz the Great and Powerful and producing the Evil Dead remake, reportedly due to writing the sequel to the Army of Darkness, the 1992 spin off of the Evil Dead series. Potentially drawing on the teaser at the end of the credits of 2013’s Evil Dead, this may hint at a melding of the two timelines for a crossover film coming later.  

55-year-old Campbell has played Ash Williams, the original hero of the Evil Dead series voted the “24th Greatest Movie Character of All Time” by Empire Magazine, in 4 films not including the upcoming Army of Darkness sequel. Speaking at Wizard World Nashville Comic Con, Campbell spoke on the role the possibilities of him reprising it given the time that has passed: “The last one was twenty-two years ago. I just haven’t been racing to do it. Sam Raimi is just a little bit busy making the biggest movies in Hollywood. I used to be busy. Now I’m not. That’s why I’m here. Ash would have to stop occasionally from chasing some deadite to catch his breath. Maybe we could do that, I guess. That would be exciting. Fight in a walker. That would be all right. Hit them with my cane. Fake them out, have a fake heart attack, distract a zombie. I like it…[Seriously] All right, sir, the answer is yes.”

Amusingly enough, this story has yet to be  confirmed by Campbell himself.  Rumors for the sequel have circulated since March, and the teaser at the end of the Evil Dead  remake has primed the pump for a triumphant return to the role, no matter how long the role might end up being. No release date has been given for the sequel – it’s in 2016 – and no word has been given as to who else will be cast or whether Raimi or Fede Alvarez, the most recent Evil Dead’s director, will helm the Army of Darkness remake.  However, as the Rumor wheel spins up and Raimi finishes writing the script, more information about Campbell’s involvement, other casting, and the overall production will come to the service. In either case, it’ll be a long three years.

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