A Reel 30: BRAVEHEART and APOLLO 13

Thirty years ago this month, there were two historical dramas in theatres competing for box office glory and Oscar gold: Mel Gibson’s BRAVEHEART and Ron Howard’s APOLLO 13. 

 

The first to arrive (in May), was BRAVEHEART. 

Mel Gibson directed and starred in this epic which recounted the legendary Scottish warrior William Wallace in the First War of Scottish Independence. Written by Randal Wallace (no relation), the 178-minute epic would also star Sophie Marceau, Patrick McGoohan, Catherine McCormak, Angus McFadyen, David O’Hara, and Brendan Gleeson. It would finish as the 19^th highest earner at the worldwide box office. 

 

In June, Ron Howard’s APOLLO 13 blasted off. 

It was a dramatization of the aborted Apollo 13 mission to the Moon, and was an adaptation of the book Lost Moon: The Perilous Voyage of Apollo 13 by astronaut Jim Lovell (who crewed the mission), and Jeffrey Kluger. The ensemble cast included Tom Hanks, Bill Paxton, Kevin Bacon, Ed Harris, Gary Sinise, and Kathleen Quinlan. It would finish as the third-highest earner of the year worldwide, behind TOY STORY and SE7EN. 

 

At the 68^th Academy Awards, BRAVEHEART led all nominees with ten nominations, and APOLLO 13 came in second with nine. The late great James Horner, who composed music for both films, would be nominated for both. BRAVEHEART would be the big winner, taking home five Oscars including Best Picture. APOLLO 13 would win two (Best Sound and Film Editing). 

 

Today, debate still rages over BRAVEHEART’s win over APOLLO 13. BRAVEHEART gets criticized for its historical inaccuracies (although APOLLO 13 took liberties too), and also for the much-later bad behavior of Mel Gibson. Despite this, both films are remembered as two of the best of 1995 and of the 1990’s. Both films pack an emotional punch, and provide some of the most memorable big-screen moments. Both Gibson and Howard are at the top of their game, and both films deliver iconic characters and quotes. The two could not be further apart in form, style, and timeframe, but share a kinship in telling stories of human resilience. If you happen to have 318 minutes to spare, this will make for a great double-feature.    

A Reel 50: THE ROCKY HORROR PICTURE SHOW

“I’m just a sweet transvestite, from Transexual Transylvania!” 

 

This week marks the 50^th anniversary of THE ROCKY HORROR PICTURE SHOW. 

 

Directed by Jim Sharman and based on the 1973 musical stage production of the same name, ROCKY HORROR was a musical comedy horror centered around a young, engaged couple (Susan Sarandon and Barry Bostwick), whose car breaks down near a castle. Seeking help, they meet the head of the house, Dr. Frank-N-Furter (Tim Curry, in his debut), a mad scientist and alien transvestite. 

 

After the stage production made its debut in London in 1973, the following year it came to the United States, where the theatrical rights were bought. The film would then head back to England, where filming would take place at the famed Elstree Studios and a country house in Berkshire, England. Most of the cast was from the original stage production, and the sets re-used many dressings from the Hammer horror films. 

 

The film would open in England in August of 1975, before its American debut a month later. Reactions were mixed and audiences were small. A new marketing campaign was put together with a re-designed poster with the tagline “A different set of Jaws”, a spoof of the poster of JAWS which had released the same year. By using midnight showings, ROCKY HORROR would find its audience and become one of the biggest cult-favorites of all time. By never being officially pulled from release, it still runs in midnight showings today, and is considered to be the longest-running film in history. 

 

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Over the years, THE ROCKY HORROR PICTURE SHOW has become more than a cult classic. It is a phenomenon whose legacy is defined by its enduring influence on film, theater, and pop culture. Through midnight showings, where audiences interact with the screen shouting lines, and dressing as characters, it transformed into a living performance, blurring the line between spectator and performer. Its brash celebration of queerness, camp, and sexual liberation was groundbreaking for the time. The film’s themes of self-expression resonated and made a safe space for people to explore identity without judgment. Characters like Dr. Frank-N-Furter challenged gender norms decades before such conversations entered the mainstream. Its legacy lies not only in its longevity but in how it empowered audiences to embrace individuality, turning a flop into a timeless celebration of self-expression and community.

 

“And crawling on the planet’s face, some insects, called the human race, lost in time, and lost in space..”

A Reel Preview: The Year in Film 2025 - Episode VIII

The final month of the Summer Movie Season for 2025 includes a legacy sequel to a beloved comedy series, a new film from one of our best working directors, and two re-releases in celebration of their respective, significant anniversaries. Here is everything coming to the big screen in August: 

 

THE NAKED GUN – Liam Neeson plays the son of Frank Drebin, as famously played by Leslie Nielsen in the popular NAKED GUN films in this legacy sequel. The co-stars include Pamela Anderson, Paul Walter Hauser, Kevin Durand, and Danny Huston. 

 

 

THE BAD GUYS 2 – The direct sequel to the 2022 Dreamworks animated film, which this time sees the crew of animal outlaws adjusting to being good guys. The voice-cast includes Sam Rockwell, Marc Maron, and Awkwafina. 

 

 

WEAPONS – In this mystery/thriller, seventeen kids from the same classroom vanish without a trace. It stars Josh Brolin, Julia Garner, Benedict Wong, and Alden Ehrenreich. It is directed by Zach Cregger, who brought us the horror hit BARBARIAN in 2022. 

 

 

FREAKIER FRIDAY – The long-overdue (ha), sequel to the 2003 hit, with Jamie Lee Curtis and Lindsay Lohan reprising their roles. 

 

 

TEENAGE MUTANT NINJA TURTLES – The 1990 hit film returns to the big screen in celebration of its 35^thanniversary. 

 

 

CAUGHT STEALING – Master filmmaker Darren Aronofsky (BLACK SWAN, THE WRESTLER), returns with this dark comedy about a former baseball player getting caught up in underworld crime. It stars Austin Butler, Regina King, Zoe Kravitz, Matt Smith, Vincent D’Onofrio, and Liev Schreiber. 

 

 

JAWS – Steven Spielberg’s masterpiece returns to the big screen in celebration of its 50^th anniversary.

 

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Next month, Reel Speak previews the first month of Oscar Season. 

 

 

 

A Reel Review - THE FANTASTIC FOUR: FIRST STEPS

Since 2008, the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) has produced 36 (!) films, bringing us some iconic cinematic moments and elevating their legendary superheroes into a new level of pop culture. But, as a good friend of Reel Speak has often said, Marvel may not have played their best hand yet. And that hand starts with THE FANTASTIC FOUR: FIRST STEPS. 

 

On another Earth, in another universe, The Fantastic Four; Reed Richards (Pedro Pascal), along with his wife Sue Storm Richards (Vanessa Kirby), her brother Johnny Storm (Joseph Quinn), and their best friend Ben Grimm (Ebon Moss-Bachrach), are the protectors of humankind. When a planet-devouring entity, Galactus (Ralph Ineson), threatens the Earth, the F4 travel into space to face him…

 

Directed by Matt Shakman and serving as the Fantastic Four’s first film in the MCU, FIRST STEPS does what Marvel does best: a team of super-powered individuals coming together to stop a planet-ending threat. What makes it different this time are several clever choices. First, despite the title of the film, this is no origin story. The setting of an alternate universe allows the team to be assembled at the film’s beginning. Although the backstory for the team is given, there is no waiting around for them to suit up and get to work. 

 

Second, despite the galactic threat and eventual devastation, this FANTASTIC FOUR film has a strong emphasis on family. This team is a family by blood, and Reed and Sue’s newborn baby plays into Galactus’ plans. Familiar, down-to-earth elements such as new parents figuring things out, proud uncles, and guys trying to figure out car seats…all give the film a familiar feel that really works. The heart and emotion behind it makes this 37^th MCU flick feel new. 

 

Once the action and fun starts, FIRST STEPS delivers in that special MCU way. The fights and tension building are teriffic, and each character’s powers used very well. The design is outstanding; a futuristic 1960’s world that looks like it fell out of a sci-fi pulp comic. Visual effects are excellent; Ben Grimm’s The Thing is stunning to look at. 

 

Acting is great all around. Pedro Pascal and Vanessa Kirby have great chemistry and we buy into their relationship in the first few minutes. Joseph Quinn and Ebon Moss-Bachrach are a blast. Julia Garner flies in as a version of the Silver Surfer and is fascinating. Ralph Ineson is perfectly cast as Galactus. 

 

After 17 years of superhero adventures, it’s easy to say that Marvel has done it all. FIRST STEPS brings something new to the table with an emphasis on family, and it speaks to every mom, dad, uncle, and best friend that we are and that we know. That gives it a very special identity, and judging by the traditional mid-credits scene…that best hand is ready to be played. 

 

BOTTOM LINE: See it 

A Reel History: THE FANTASTIC FOUR on Film

This week, famed superheroes THE FANTASTIC FOUR finally enter the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU), as the 37^th film in the series that began in 2008. The “first family” of superheroes, which had its comic book debut in 1961, has had an up-and-down career on the big screen. Here is how it began, and what’s next: 

 

The F4 was created by Marvel legends Jack Kirby and Stan Lee as a reaction to rival DC Comics’ success with The Justice League of America. It was Marvel’s first superhero team, and it was made up of Reed Richards (Mister Fantastic), the leader of the group with super-stretchy ability, Sue Storm (The Invisible Woman), Reed’s girlfriend and later wife who can turn invisible and render force-fields, Johnny Storm (The Human Torch), Sue’s younger brother who can generate flames, and Ben Grimm (Thing), who has stone-like flesh and tremendous strength. The team was often at war with Dr. Doom; arguably Marvel’s greatest Big Bad. With various personalities and (ahem), fantastic abilities, the team was ripe for big-screen adventure. And it began with: 

 

THE FANTASTIC FOUR (1994, unreleased)

 

This now infamous abortion of a movie was made by low-budget effects specialists Roger Corman and Bernd Eichinger, with no intention of ever releasing it. It was made only for Eichinger to keep the film rights to the property. Although never officially released, the film has been around online via pirated copies. With low budgets, lousy acting, and hilarious special effects, this F4 was probably better off never hitting the big screen, as it may have killed the superhero genre for decades. 

 

 

FANTASTIC FOUR (2005)

 

The movie rights to the F4 eventually went to 20^th Century Fox, and they produced this earnest and fun origin story. Despite mixed reviews and dodgy early CGI in places, this F4 was a box office hit, finishing as the 11^thhighest grossing film worldwide. The cast included Ioan Gruffud as Reed, Jessica Alba as Sue, Chris Evans as Johnny, Michael Chiklis as Ben, and the late great Julian McMahon as Doom. It would be nominated for Best Science Fiction Film at the Saturn Awards, losing to STAR WARS: REVENGE OF THE SITH. 

 

 

 

FANTASTIC FOUR: RISE OF THE SILVER SURFER (2007)

 

The team and cast were re-assembled for this 2007 sequel that had them meeting another one of Marvel’s iconic characters, The Silver Surfer (voiced by Laurence Fishburne), and teaming up to save the Earth from yet another one of Marvel’s Big Bads: Galactus. It was again met with mixed reviews and was a box office hit, although it earned less than its predecessor. 

 

 

 

FANTASTIC FOUR (2025)

 

A third film with the original cast was planned but scrapped, leaving Fox to reboot the series and delivering this joyless mess that deserved to flop. Supposedly directed by Josh Trank, this F4 had chaos behind the scenes, a ho-hum cast (Miles Teller, Michael B. Jordan, Kate Mara, Jamie Bell), and watching the film…it was apparent it had gone through a wood-chipper in the editing. It was met with bad reviews and bombed. 

 

 

THE FANTASTIC FOUR: FIRST STEPS (2025)

 

In 2019 Disney acquired 20^th Century Fox and mercifully brought the F4 back home to Marvel. This reboot will forgo any origin story and have the team active in an alternate universe, doing battle with Galactus. The cast includes Pedro Pascal (TV’S THE MANDALORIAN), as Reed, Vanessa Kirby (THE CROWN), as Sue, Joseph Quinn (Eddie from TV’s STRANGER THINGS), as Johnny, and Ebon Moss-Bachrach (TV’s THE BEAR), as Ben. Galactus will be voiced by Ralph Ineson (NOSFERATU). The film opens wide July 25^th in IMAX and standard formats. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

A Reel Review: SUPERMAN

Much like James Bond, Superman, the most iconic superhero of all time, is a character that is rich and large enough to earn a reboot/refresh/clean-slate every 10 years or so, with each era having its ups and downs. The late great Christopher Reeve started it all by playing Supes in 1978, followed by the good-but-not-great Brandon Routh in 2006, and most recently, the dour and joyless Henry Cavill era in 2013. Now, newcomer David Corenswet dons the cape and boots (and trunks) for a new flight in SUPERMAN. 

 

Superman/Clark Kent (Corenswet), has his reputation destroyed by the morally corrupt billionaire Lex Luthor (Nicholas Hoult). As Superman struggles to gain favor back with the people of Earth, he also finds his relationship strained with Lois Lane (Rachel Brosnahan) while a possible world-ending threat looms. 

 

Directed by James Gunn of Marvel fame, SUPERMAN is the first film in a brand-new line of continuity for DC Studios. Despite being the first film in this new cinematic universe, SUPERMAN mercifully, and smartly, forgoes any A-to-Z origin story; there is no waiting around 60 minutes to see our hero get into the blue suit. The film drops us right into a world already populated by super-powered heroes and super-powered threats. With that established, this version of Superman isn’t spending a lot of time chasing down bank robbers or kitties in trees…and is instead fighting threats equal to his great speed and strength. With the odds being even, this Superman takes a wallop more than once which is something new for us to see. 

 

With Supes taking a beating, the character is revealed as more human than ever. His struggles to win physical battles with galactic monsters, coupled with a startling mid-film twist involving his birth parents, allows Gunn to dive deep into the character. For once, the man in Man of Steel gets priority over the Steel. 

 

While Gunn is making Superman new again, he’s also crafting a film packed with excellent action, adventure, and romance. The action scenes are a thrill, and the emotional bits between Supes/Clark with Lois, his family, and his dog (!) really hit. The film is saturated in Superman lore, pulling from the comics and past films to help craft his new universe…and this time there is no need to keep it grounded with real-world logic or science. But despite the heavy sci-fi, the film draws from current events and it really works. The score by John Murphy and David Fleming is excellent, with new renditions of John Williams’ classic SUPERMAN theme from 1978. 

 

Also working well is the acting. David Corenswet is tremendous in the role. He spends a lot of time in the suit and not much as Clark, but he makes the most of his time when he has the glasses on. Rachel Brosnahan is a great Lois, and Nichols Hoult is one of the most evil versions of Lex we’ve ever seen. The show is nearly stolen by the Justice Gang (Nathan Fillion, Isabela Merced, Edi Gathegi), and watch out for some sneaky fun cameos. 

 

For the first film in a new universe, SUPERMAN delivers. The film’s focus on a human character makes a solid connection with us all, and we love him for his humanity, his morals, and his care for all living things; all the right pieces and parts for this new line of continuity to build on. This is the uplifting, inspirational SUPERMAN film that we have been waiting a long time for. DC has a reason to look up. 

 

BOTTOM LINE: See it 

 

A Reel History: Superman on Film

It’s a bird, it’s a plane…no it’s Superman: making his return to the big screen this weekend in SUPERMAN. Directed by James Gunn of GUARDIANS OF THE GALAXY fame, this reboot of the popular and iconic DC hero (and arguably the greatest superhero of all time), will be the fourth version of the Man of Steel to appear in feature-length films. Here now is the history of Superman on the big screen, sorted by the actors who played him.

 

 

The Christopher Reeve Era: 1978 – 1987

 

Superman got off to a magnificent start with this Richard Donner-directed masterpiece of fun, drama, and good old-fashioned heroics: SUPERMAN: THE MOVIE. The late great Christopher Reeve donned the cape and boots, and in a performance that has yet to be matched, gave Superman and Clark Kent humanity and heart. With an excellent cast that included Marlon Brando, Gene Hackman, Margo Kidder, Ned Beatty, Glenn Ford, Jackie Cooper, and Valerie Perrine…and a tremendous score by John Williams, SUPERMAN set a gold standard for superhero films that every comic-book film has been chasing. Reeve would reprise the role for the well-received SUPERMAN II in 1981, and the zany comedy SUPERMAN III (1983) alongside Richard Pryor. Reeve’s up-and-down run would end on a sour note, with the low-budget and ill-conceived SUPERMAN IV: THE QUEST FOR PEACE (1987)…one of the worst superhero films ever made. 

 

 

The Brandon Routh Era: 2006

 

Superman would see success on television for many years, but he would be absent from the big screen for a long time, until X-MEN director Bryan Singer brought him back to Earth with SUPERMAN RETURNS in 2006. Brandon Routh played Clark Kent/Superman that served as a homage sequel to the Reeve films. Routh was joined by Kevin Spacey, Kate Bosworth, James Marsden, Frank Langella, and Parker Posey. SUPERMAN RETURNS delivered some genuine moments of stand-up-and-cheer and take-your-breath-away, but was met with mixed reviews and only earned enough to be the ninth highest grossing film of the year. Routh’s run as Superman would begin and end here. 

 

 

The Henry Cavill Era: 2013 – 2021

 

After another long break from film, Superman returned in 2013 in the Zack Snyder-helmed MAN OF STEEL. Produced by THE DARK KNIGHT TRILOGY mastermind Christopher Nolan, MAN OF STEEL went for a grounded approach that worked in some places but fell on its face in others. Henry Cavill looked great in the suit, but was sadly asked to play the character as a miserable, unhappy shit. The cast was stacked (Amy Adams, Michael Shannon, Kevin Costner, Diane Lane, Laurence Fishburne, Russell Crowe), and Hans Zimmer delivered a thundering score, but MAN OF STEEL did not click with audiences…met with mixed reviews and finishing as the ninth-highest grossing film of the year. 

 

Things did not improve for Cavill over his next appearances. Next came another Snyder mess: BATMAN V. SUPERMAN: DAWN OF JUSTICE in 2016 which felt like 54 different movies mashed together. Cavill was joined by Ben Affleck (Batman), and Gal Gadot (Wonder Woman), and was once again asked to play our beacon of hope as the most miserable person on the planet. 

 

It is no spoiler to say that Cavill’s Superman would be killed at the end of DAWN OF JUSTICE, and Snyder and parent studio Warner Bros. would treat Cavill like yesterday’s news leading up to the super-messy JUSTICE LEAGUE (2017). Cavill was left out of the marketing as if audiences had no idea he would be coming back, and once he did return, it amounted to an extended cameo. JUSTICE LEAGUE would go through more than one recut until they thought they got it right, but not much improved. 

 

 

The David Corenswet Era: 2025

 

After the SnyderVerse of DC heroes mercifully came to an end, the time had come to wipe the slate clean. Enter James Gunn of Marvel fame with a brand-new version, SUPERMAN. David Corenswet plays Supes, and he is joined by Rachel Brosnahan, Nicholas Hoult, Nathan Fillion, and Isabella Merced. The film follows Superman’s journey to come to terms with his alien heritage with his adapted human family. 

 

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SUPERMAN lands in theatres this weekend. 

A Reel Preview: The Year in Film 2025 - Episode VII

This July will be a true test for movie theatres. With so many original films flopping this year, studios are betting big on this month, with two of the most legendary superheroes returning to the big screen, along with one of the most lucrative franchises of all time. Here is what’s coming to theatres this month: 

 

 

 

JURASSIC WORLD: REBIRTH – The seventh installment in the box office monster of a franchise. This time a team of operatives are dispatched to a dino-populated island on a secret mission. The cast includes Scarlett Johansson, Mahershala Ali, Jonathan Bailey, and Rupert Friend. It is directed by Gareth Edwards (ROGUE ONE). 

 

 

SUPERMAN – Writer and director James Gunn (GUARDIANS OF THE GALAXY), jumps over to DC Studios and brings the Man of Steel back to the big screen in this first film of the new, rebooted film series. The cast includes David Corenswet as Clark Kent/Superman, Rachel Brosnahan as Lois Lane, and Nicholas Hoult as Lex Luthor. It also stars Nathan Fillion and Isabela Merced. 

 

 

 

EDDINGTON – Acclaimed horror director Ari Aster (MIDSOMMER, HEREDITARY), brings us this black-comedy following the social turmoil in New Mexico during COVID. The cast includes Joaquin Phoenix, Pedro Pascal, Emma Stone, and Austin Butler. 

 

 

 

I KNOW WHAT YOU DID LAST SUMMER – The fourth film in the horror/slasher series that started way back in 1997, with another hook-wielding killer appearing and targeting a group of friends who covered up a car accident. Jennifer Love Hewitt, Freddie Prinze Jr., and Madelyn Cline star. 

 

 

SMURFS – A reboot of the SMURF film series with Smurfette on a mission to find the kidnapped Papa Smurf. The voice-cast includes Rihanna, James Corden, John Goodman, and Nick Offerman. 

 

 

THE FANTASTIC FOUR: FIRST STEPS – The 37^th film in the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU), welcomes the famed four-some back to the big screen. The cast includes Pedro Pascal (Reed Richards), Vanessa Kirby (Sue Storm), Ebon Moss-Bachrach (The Thing), and Joseph Quinn (Johnny Storm). 

 

 

 

TOGETHER – In this supernatural body-horror film, a couple (Alison Brie, Dave Franco), move to the countryside and encounter a supernatural force which horrifically changes their bodies. 

 

 

 

THIS IS SPINAL TAP – Rob Reiner’s 1984 mockumentary about a rock band gets a limited theatrical run to serve as a promotion for its upcoming sequel. 

 

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Next month, Reel Speak previews the month of August. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

A Reel 50: JAWS

You’re gonna need a bigger boat.”

This month marks the 50th anniversary of JAWS. 

 

Directed by Steven Spielberg and considered to be one of the greatest films of all time, JAWS was based on the best-selling novel by Peter Benchley, and told the (fish) tale of a killer shark that terrorized a summer resort town. With the summer revenue at risk, the town’s police chief enlists the help of a young marine biologist and seasoned shark hunter to head out to sea and kill the beast. 

 

The beast that would become JAWS began in 1973, when the rights to Benchley’s novel was picked up by famed producers Richard D. Zanuck and David Brown at Universal Pictures. Steven Spielberg, who was 26 at the time, had just finished shooting his first theatrical film, THE SUGARLAND EXPRESS for Zanuck and Brown…and would be chosen to direct. The first pass at the script would be done by Benchley himself, with further rewrites by Howard Sackler. Carl Gottlieb would come on board to do further rewrites during production. 

 

Veteran actor Roy Scheider would land the part of Chief Brody, with another veteran actor, Robert Shaw, taking on the role of the shark hunter Quint. Richard Dreyfuss would play the part of Hooper, the young marine biologist. The rest of the cast would include Lorraine Gray, Murray Hamilton, and Susan Backlinie. Carl Gottlieb would pull double-duty; revising the script on location and playing the part of the town’s newspaper editor. Shooting would take place across various locations on Martha’s Vineyard. Production problems would plague filming, ranging from bad weather to technical difficulties with the three mechanical sharks. John Williams would provide the score. 

 

Upon release, JAWS was an instant sensation with critics and audiences. It would spend 14 weeks as the top box office earner, swimming its way to the biggest selling film of all time; a position it would hold until STAR WARS arrived in 1977. At the 48th Academy Awards, it would be nominated for four Oscars and would win three: Best Editing, Sound, and Score for John Williams. Today, JAWS is considered to be one of the most influential films of all time, inspiring generations of filmmakers while holding the title of the first summer blockbuster. 

 

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When Alfred Hitchcock delivered his psychological terror PSYCHO in 1960, the famous shower scene scared people so well that they were hesitant to enter their own bathrooms alone. Fifteen years later, Spielberg would pull the same cinematic miracle; bringing so much terror to the beach, vacationers avoided the water. Such was the impact JAWS had in 1975 and into today. 

 

Impacting culture and filmmaking is what JAWS has bitten into the most. The movie is endlessly quotable, with Scheider’s famous line of the bigger boat becoming a permanent part of our lexicon when facing an insurmountable problem. John Williams’ score is probably the most recognizable piece in cinema music, and to call the poster iconic would be an understatement. 

 

There is no understating the impact JAWS has had on the world, and in film. It inspired at least two generations of filmmakers, resulting in movies such as PREDATOR and even indie directors like Wes Anderson. The simple themes in JAWS, exploring fear and man vs. nature, hits our natural, primal nerves. The classic storytelling elements of three main characters representing science, order, and chaos, are ground zero for all stories. And scenes such as Robert Shaw’s chilling monologue about the doomed U.S.S. Indianapolis have set a template and a standard for blockbuster and action films. 

 

Today, action films are dominated by franchises and caped and masked crusaders. They keep the lights on for the big screens, and it was JAWS that primed our appetites for fun and adventure…with a little bit of scares along the way. When the fun of the Summer Movie Season begins, there is thanks to be made…and it wasn’t a Jedi, it wasn’t a superhero, and it wasn’t a Transformer…

 

“…It was a shark.”  

A Reel 20: BATMAN BEGINS

“I’m Batman!”

 

This month marks the 20th anniversary of BATMAN BEGINS. 

 

Directed by Christopher Nolan, BATMAN BEGINS was the first big-screen treatment for the famed superhero since the 1997 critically drubbed BATMAN & ROBIN. This new version, which would coin the term “reboot” for the next 20 years, would reset the franchise and track the origins of the Caped Crusader; the story of Bruce Wayne from the death of his parents, his training, and eventual confrontation with those looking to destroy his beloved Gotham City. 

 

After BATMAN & ROBIN made a mockery of superheroes, parent company Warner Bros. shelved any future caped films. After several stops and starts in the early 2000’s, WB hired up-and-coming director Christopher Nolan to bring the Bat back to the big screen. Nolan’s pitch of favoring humanity and realism would be the selling point, and he co-write the script with David S. Goyer, taking inspiration from famous Batman comics such as The Long Halloween and Year One. 

 

Actor Christian Bale, who had reached status as a cult-favorite after his chilling performance in AMERICAN PSYCHO (2000), would be cast as Bruce Wayne. He would be joined by an A-list cast including Gary Oldman, Michael Caine, Morgan Freeman, Liam Neeson, Cillian Murphy, Tom Wilkinson, Ken Watanabe, and Katie Holmes. Filming would take advantage of stunning worldwide locations in Iceland and England. Hans Zimmer would provide the score. 

 

On release, BATMAN BEGINS was met with excellent reviews from critics and fans. The box office earnings would have it finish as the seventh highest grossing film in the U.S., and it still stands as the fourth-highest earning Batman film. It would be nominated for an Oscar for Best Cinematography. Today it is considered to be one of the most influential films of the 2000’s and one of the best superhero films, while giving the Batman character a new cinematic life for the next two decades. 

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In 2005, superheroes on film were scarce. Spider-Man and X-Men were just getting going, and we were still three years away from the MCU. With the sour taste of the previous Batman films still in my mouth, I had little interest in seeing a rebooted Batman (little did I know, it wouldn’t be the first reboot). And then I got a phone call from my fellow cinephile, the late great Sid Michaels. I can still hear him telling me: It was tremendous. I trusted him, so I (bat)caved, and I was pleased to agree with Sid; it was tremendous. 

 

What made it so? Gone was the camp and cartoonish nonsense of the previous four Bat-films. In its place was a grounded hero that easily could have existed in our world. The death of Bruce’s parents sparked memories of JFK, Jr. standing at his father’s funeral, and the class-distinctions between the haves and have-nots hit hard. For the first time, Batman felt real. 

 

BATMAN BEGINS was also finely crafted. The non-linear storytelling was a challenge to the audience, but proved that a movie with capes and masks could be cerebral. The script boldly got into the psych of Bruce Wayne, and gave the character a depth he never had on the big screen before. The rest of the cast was perfect, and Zimmer’s score contained one of the most recognizable themes of all time. All the pieces came together correctly in BATMAN BEGINS, but we would still be unprepared for what would come next.

 

“…has a taste for the theatrical. Like you.”

 

 

 

 

A Reel Preview: The Year in Film 2025 - Episode VI

The Summer Movie Season of 2025 has begun. As one of our favorite smugglers once said, this is where the fun begins, as theatres will be enjoying a full slate of releases ranging from franchises to horror to the return of some old friends. Here is a preview of what’s coming to the big screen in June: 

 

 

 

 

BALLERINA – Ana de Armas plays an assassin out for revenge in this spin-off to the JOHN WICK franchise, which takes place between the third and fourth films. The cast includes Anjelica Huston, Gabriel Byrne, Lance Reddick, Norman Reedus, Ian McShane, and Keanu Reeves. 

 

 

DOGMA: RESURRECTED – Kevin Smith’s fantasy comedy about angels and The Almighty returns to the big screen for it’s 25^th anniversary. 

 

 

THE LIFE OF CHUCK – Tom Hiddleston (LOKI), stars in this adaptation of the Stephen King short story. It is directed by Mike Flanagan, who helmed DOCTOR SLEEP (2019). 

 

 

THE PHOENICIAN SCHEME – Stylistic director Wes Anderson has his espionage film move into wide release this month. The massive cast includes Benicio del Toro, Michael Cera, Riz Ahmed, Tom Hanks, Bryan Cranston, Jeffrey Wright, Scarlett Johannsson, Benedict Cumberbatch, and Rupert Friend. 

 

 

THE RITUAL – Two priests (Al Pacino and Dan Stevens), attempt to put aside their differences to help a possessed young girl. 

 

 

HOW TO TRAIN YOUR DRAGON – DreamWorks gets into the business of adapting their own animated films to live action with this re-do of their 2010 hit. 

 

 

MATERIALISTS – Chris Evans, Pedro Pascal, and Dakota Johnson star in this rom-com. 

 

 

THE UNHOLY TRINITY – The Old West returns with a young man looking to reclaim his legacy in a frontier town. Pierce Brosnan and Samuel L. Jackson star. 

 

 

28 YEARS LATER – Danny Boyle returns to the post-apocalyptic horror franchise with the third film in the series, which started with 28 DAYS LATER (2002), and continued with 28 WEEKS LATER (2007). It stars Jodie Comer, Aaron Taylor-Johnson, and Ralph Fiennes. 

 

 

ELIO – Pixar Animation Studios is back with this sci-fi adventure about a young boy who accidently becomes the intergalactic ambassador of planet Earth. 

 

 

BROKEBACK MOUNTAIN – Ang Lee’s Western/romance film gets an IMAX re-release for its 20^th anniversary. 

 

 

F1 – Joseph Kosinski, director of TRON: LEGACY (2010), and the magnificent TOP GUN: MAVERICK (2022), brings us this racing drama set in the Formula One World Championship. Brad Pitt is in the lead, and he is followed by Kerry Condon, Tobias Menzies, and Javier Bardem. 

 

 

M3GAN 2.0 – In this sci-fi/horror sequel to the 2022 hit, M3GAN the dangerous doll has her A.I. stolen by a defense contractor to create a military robot. Allison Williams stars. 

 

 

*

 

Next month, Reel Speak previews the super month of July. 

A Reel Opinion - Ranking MISSION: IMPOSSIBLE

In 1996, Tom Cruise elevated himself to the level of a genuine action star with the explosive MISSION: IMPOSSIBLE; a loose adaptation of the TV series (1966-1973), where his IMF (Impossible Mission Force) Agent Ethan Hunt races around the globe to prevent one global disaster after another. The series has proven to be resilient and immensely popular, earning over $4 billion at the box office and bringing the best pieces and parts of the franchise into pop culture. Arguably, it has nudged over James Bond with its worldwide locations and world-saving missions. This month, the eighth and (perhaps), final installment for Cruise landed (read Reel Speak’s review HERE), and with the series for Cruise ending, now is the time to accept the mission of ranking the franchise. 

 

 

This blog will self-destruct in…

 

 

 

8. MISSION: IMPOSSIBLE 2 (2000)

 

Hong Kong action director John Woo helmed the first MI sequel which had Hunt chasing down a genetically modified disease. This film started a 25-year tradition of each MI film trying to top the other in spectacle and stunts, and while some of the action here is pretty cool, other pieces come off as silly. To date it is the worst reviewed film in the series, and is fortunate it didn’t become a franchise killer. 

 

 

 

7. MISSION: IMPOSSIBLE III (2006)

 

J.J. Abrams took over six years later and delivered this serviceable, yet flawed entry. The action was decent but criticized for too much CGI and an intrusive romance plot. Still, there is much to enjoy here. The film looks great, and the late great Phillip Seymour Hoffman is electric. 

 

 

 

6. MISSION: IMPOSSIBLE – THE FINAL RECKONING (2024)

 

The supposed final film for Cruise in the role of Hunt gave him and his team a proper sendoff, but it is often bogged down with way too much exposition that repeats itself. The plot of Hunt chasing down an A.I. before it takes control of the world’s nuclear arsenal does work, even if it pushes the realm of believability in places. But again, there is much to enjoy. Cruise dangling off a biplane is fantastic to see, and an extended sequence underwater with no dialogue literally leaves us breathless. 

 

 

 

5. MISSION: IMPOSSIBLE - ROGUE NATION 2015)

Hunt takes on an international group of rogue government agents in this hit directed by Christopher McQuarrie. This is where the series really started to get going, opening with one of the most impressive stunts of all time: Cruise hanging off a transport plane at 8,000 feet. Not to mention later on he holds his breath longer than a Navy SEAL.

 

 

 

4. MISSION: IMPOSSIBLE (1996)

 

The one that started it all with legendary director Brian DePalma. Hunt goes on the (ahem), hunt for the killer(s) of his team on a mission that had gone terribly wrong. Although the stakes seem low, it’s a tight look at international espionage and switching allegiances, and it gets to the point that we never know who to trust. It’s also the home to some of the most iconic scenes in cinema; the exploding fish tank, the helicopter and train chase, and Hunt’s dangling theft by wire. 

 

 

 

3. MISSION: IMPOSSIBLE – GHOST PROTOCOL (2011)

 

Brad Bird of THE INCREDIBLES fame made this one his live-action debut, sending Hunt and his team on the run after the Kremlin gets bombed. Cruise stuns again by climbing up the side of the tallest skyscraper in the world in a scene that is an achievement in filmmaking. Highly praised in many areas, it would be the highest-grossing film in the franchise before FALLOUT in 2018. 

 

 

 

2. MISSION: IMPOSSIBLE – FALLOUT (2018)

 

McQuarrie was back for this one which served as a direct follow-up to ROGUE NATION, with Hunt and his team preventing a nuclear attack. By this film Cruise and McQuarrie had really hit a stride, ramping up the tension and dialing up the stunts to stunning effect; Cruise pulling a HALO jump at 25,000 feet is another cinematic achievement. The ensemble cast is terrific, and Henry Cavill is quite super. 

 

 

 

1. MISSION: IMPOSSIBLE – DEAD RECKONING (2023)

 

When this Blogger reviewed DEAD RECKONING in 2023, I called it the best in the series and I’m still standing by that. Backed by a breakneck plot trotting around the world to stop that pesky A.I., the cast was beefed up by welcome additions by Hayley Atwell (CAPTAIN AMERICA), and Pom Klementieff (GUARDIANS OF THE GALAXY). Hunt gets some real characterization here, and Cruise’s real-time dirt bike jump off a cliff is another stunner. Action is top-notch, with extended scenes in an airport and a runaway train making for incredible cinema with a lot going on at once. So good that that the next film suffered in comparison. This is the film that accomplishes it all. 

 

REEL SPEAK’S MISSION IMPOSSIBLE RANKINGS

1. MISSION: IMPOSSIBLE - DEAD RECKONING
2. MISSION: IMPOSSIBLE - FALLOUT
3. MISSION: IMPOSSIBLE - GHOST PROTOCOL
4. MISSION: IMPOSSIBLE
5. MISSION: IMPOSSIBLE - ROGUE NATION
6. MISSION: IMPOSSIBLE - THE FINAL RECKONING
7. MISSION  IMPOSSIBLE III
8. MISSION: IMPOSSIBLE 2