Movies and Shows

Kang Out Doom In

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Disney knows something we don’t know. I’ve read multiple reports that Marvel wants to move away from Kang and bring in Dr Doom to be the new big bad of the MCU. Everything I’m reading says this is in response to Quantumania flopping and the Loki show bleeding viewers. I disagree because a good writer can turn shit into Shinola quickly.

I think this is directly in response to Jonathan Major’s ongoing legal battle. You know, the legal battle that everyone online was saying it was resolved, and he was innocent and whatnot. I think Disney knows something’s up with it and wants to push him aside now and not have to deal with the trail looming over their heads.

But what do you guys think about this? Is switching to Doom this late in the game a good move for Marvel or should they stay the course with Kang and Jonathan Majors?

World War Joe

Movies and Shows

James Gunn Has Killed Superman Legacy

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It didn’t take long, but James Gunn has successfully killed Superman Legacy and his version of the DC Universe. I’d like to read something I came across online, and I imagine we will get more clarity on this as we get closer.

PROMISE INCLUSION: James Gunn confirms that the Velma he wrote for Scooby Doo was LGBT and vows that his DCU will be full of non-heterosexual or non-conforming gender protagonists and not in supporting roles as it has been done so far. He says the world should be ready for a Superman G or a Batman T and promises that in #SupermanLegacy there will be not one but TWO community characters.

James, I hope you enjoy the unemployment line and DC I look forward to who’s going to buy the company from you. Black Adam flopped. Blue Beetle flopped, Shazam 2 flopped, The Flash flopped, Aquaman 2 is going to flop. Joker 2 looks dumb. Gotham Knights is canceled. Superman and Lois is in its final season. DC comics are in the toilet. The Batman is the only thing to look forward to from this company.  

At first, I thought that James Gunn simply doesn’t get it, but obviously, DC is signing off on his choices, so they don’t get it either. There isn’t any product thriving from its diversity and sexual inclusion. Hollywood is flopping simply because of woke, which I define as including diversity to push a product and then using that diversity as a shield to ward off criticism.

I remember Rachel Zegler spilling the beans on the Snow White movie. If she hadn’t said anything, the movie would’ve flopped, and that’s it. Now that she’s constantly talking about it, the movie is delayed another year, hundreds of millions of dollars will be spent in reshoots, and it’ll lose even more money when it comes out.

If James Gunn had been silent about this movie and his future plans, Superman Legacy would’ve come out, flopped, of course, and faded off into nonexistence. But now, more stories about this will come out and keep coming out until the 2025 release date, which will hurt the movie’s profits even more. And at the end of the day, you have nobody to blame but yourselves.

What do you guys think about thinking about this? Do you think James Gunn just killed his movie? Do you think the movie will even make it to theaters?

World War Joe

Movies and Shows

Have You Learned Nothing?

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It has been reported that a temporary agreement has been made by the Hollywood strikers to allow Peter Dinklage, Viola Davis, and Rachel Zegler to promote the new Hunger Games prequel…..yes…you read that correctly…they want Rachel Zegler to promote a movie.

After everything that transpired with Snow White, why would they want Zegler to speak? It would be more beneficial to your movie if she’s never able to promote it. Just imagine what would’ve happened if she never talked about Snow White. The movie would’ve come out, flopped, and that would’ve been it. Now that Zegler has opened her mouth, they have to delay the movie for a year, reshoot it, and it’ll still flop, but this time, it’ll cost the studio another couple hundred million dollars to reshoot it.

The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes doesn’t look good. Everything I’ve read by the cast and directors makes me think it’ll be another big-budget Hollywood flop. One line, in particular, was about how Zegler’s character “wears her sexuality on her sleeve,” not a quote that makes me want to see a movie.

It will be interesting to see how Zegler tries to promote this movie. Will she torpedo it or actually sideline her ego and shut up and just act.

World War Joe

Movies and Shows

The Punisher Can Never Be in the MCU

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Imagine you’re The Punisher, and your brain is in a constant state of anxiety, and then one day, a wormhole opens above you, and a horde of aliens fly out…..I don’t think fighting street-level criminals is what you’re going to be concerned about. Fast forward a few years, and there are over a million Skrulls on Earth who could impersonate every political leader. The Punisher would be waging war on everyone if he was in the MCU.

I think the best idea for The Punisher would be keeping the Netflix characters in their own corner of the Multiverse without the Avengers, without the events of Infinity War or Endgame. A universe of more grounded heroes and villains without all the magic and aliens. Maybe even give them Andrew Garfield’s Spider-Man.

Whatever the plan is for the Punisher’s TV show, I know it won’t revolve around any of the universe-ending situations. It won’t be dealing with the Multiverse, which may actually be a good thing. I thought Homecoming was a great movie because it was a grounded story, and it didn’t have Spider-Man saving the world by himself.

What do you guys think?

World War Joe

Movies and Shows

Is Echo the new Andor?

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The Echo trailer just dropped today, and it looks surprisingly cool. There is a lot of rated Mature violence, blood, and death, but I still don’t trust the trailer. This is the first MCU Disney+ show to have all the episodes drop on the same day, which does show a lack of faith in the show by Disney. Having a weekly premier adds online buzz and would have viewers debating theories each and every week.

There have been some rumors from the cast that Disney is reportedly “unhappy” with the project, and many speculate if it would get the Batgirl treatment (meaning it was canceled and the company would recoup the tax write-off), which makes sense given the state of Disney now. Disney+ is hemorrhaging money on its shows and movies that go straight to the streaming service. Secret Invasion cost Disney 200 million dollars and had some of the worst ratings and fan reactions.

If the show is as fantastic as the trailer, then the best-case scenario is for this show to end up like the Star Wars show Andor, which was a good show but came and went without any significant impact on the franchise.

I do wonder how this show will treat Matthew Murdoc, AKA Daredevil. The character and Netflix show was an absolute hit, but his time in the MCU has been nothing short of disrespectful to the character and fans alike. If he does battle with Echo, I imagine he will be beaten senseless.

World War Joe

Videogames

No Man’s Sky: A Redemption Story with Limitations

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Before its release, “No Man’s Sky” promised an unparalleled gaming experience. The journey from a disappointing debut to its rise in popularity has been well-documented by The Internet Historian, and it’s indeed an inspiring story of dedication and persistence. However, having delved into the vast universe of the game, I find it boring.

Yes, “No Man’s Sky” is visually stunning. The sheer variety of planets and their unique landscapes can be breathtaking, and space battles are entertaining. Yet, at its core, the game revolves around mining. While the concept is intriguing, the repetitive nature of the task tends to overshadow the brilliance of its aesthetics.

Though its expansive universe boasts countless planets, there’s an underlying feeling of monotony. The lack of a compelling storyline or memorable gameplay elements makes it hard to find a reason to revisit.

While many praise its phoenix-like resurgence, for me, “No Man’s Sky” remains an interesting, albeit incomplete, experiment. Perhaps future updates or additions will change that perception, but until then, it remains a once-explored galaxy in my gaming universe.

World War Joe

Movies and Shows

Was “Shang-Chi” a Success or Flop?

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Shang-Chi garnered considerable attention upon its release. Despite being a couple of years late to the discussion, many wonder whether the movie was a financial success or a box office flop. Let’s dive into the numbers and dissect its profitability.

Box Office Numbers: According to data from The Numbers, Shang-Chi raked in $432,224,634 at the box office, along with an additional $14,436,748 in video sales, resulting in a total of $446,661,382.

Profit Calculations:

  1. Theaters typically take about 50% of box office earnings, so after this split, the movie’s revenue stands at approximately $223,330,691.
  2. Subtracting the reported budget cost of $150,000,000, Shang-Chi’s net profit amounts to $73,330,691.

One notable aspect of Shang-Chi’s financial performance is its relatively modest marketing budget, which was $11.2 million. In comparison, Disney’s “The Little Mermaid” had a reported marketing budget of $140 million. Removing the marketing expenses leaves us with an estimated total profit of around $62,130,691.

However, it’s crucial to acknowledge the ongoing lawsuits Disney faces regarding box office numbers and production budget costs. Some sources suggest that Shang-Chi’s actual budget could be as high as $200 million.

If we assume the budget was indeed $200 million, the profit figure needs to be adjusted to account for this larger expense. This adjustment results in a profit of $12,130,691. The critical question is whether the lawsuits surrounding box office and production budgets are valid. If they prove to be accurate, it raises the possibility that the movie may have incurred financial losses.

The financial performance of “Shang-Chi” is a topic of debate due to the conflicting reports surrounding its budget and ongoing legal disputes. While the initial numbers suggest a modest success, it remains uncertain whether the movie ultimately turned a profit or faced financial challenges. Only time and the resolution of legal matters will provide a clear answer to this intriguing question.

World War Joe

Videogames

JoJo’s All-Star Battle: A Disappointing Stance

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Given the immense popularity and cultural impact of the JoJo series, a fighting game made the most sense. However, from the moment I booted it up, it felt as though I had been transported back over a decade.

Rather than feeling like a fresh, 2022 release, the game seems reminiscent of something from 2012, both in aesthetics and gameplay mechanics. Its lack of inventiveness, sluggish pace, and unimpressive visuals make it stand out—for all the wrong reasons. One can’t help but wonder: what could have been if the developers had partnered with renowned franchises like Tekken or Street Fighter? A crossover reminiscent of “Marvel vs Capcom” could have revitalized the game with superior graphics and gameplay physics, not to mention tapping into the fan bases of these established series.

In its current state, “JoJo’s All-Star Battle” offers little to no redemption. A score of 0/10 might seem harsh, but it’s truly reflective of the experience. Die-hard JoJo fans might find some solace in WWE 2K23’s Community Creations, which offers the chance to don JoJo skins and immerse oneself in a far superior gaming environment.

World War Joe

Movies and Shows

Djimon Hounsou’s Hollywood Discontent

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I read a recent article about Djimon Hounsou and how he’s unhappy with his current status in Hollywood explaining that its hard for him to earn any money now. I have been a big fan of Hounsou’s work for a long time and was a little curious of why he wasn’t getting bigger roles, so I decided to do a quick dive into his movies and see what’s the problem. After a 30 second search I instantly found the issue with his career. Hounsou has an agent that seems to only cast him in side roles.

He started acting in 1998 and the first role I remember him in was Gladiator in 2000 where he played Juba, a side character.

Biker Boyz, a movie that I’ve seen dozens of times, yet I can’t remember him in it.

Tomb Raider which I don’t remember him in.

Constantine, which I again don’t remember him in.

The Island was great and I actually remember his character, but it wasn’t one of the main characters.

Blood Diamond is where it gets interesting. One of my favorite movies and I’m surprised Hounsou didn’t walk away with an Oscar that year, but that is the kind of movie that starts the rise in stardom for most actors. BUT he followed the role with Eragon which he wasn’t the star and the movie wasn’t good.

Never Back Down he wasn’t the main star.

Push he wasn’t the main star.

He was T’Challa in Black Panther…the cartoon show. How to Train Your Dragon 2 he was the villain who didn’t get a lot of screentime. Gurdian of the Galaxy he was random robot man.

 Seventh Son was bad and he wasn’t the star.

Furious 7 he wasn’t in the main group.

Legend of Tarzan he wasn’t the star.

King Arthur he wasn’t the star.

He reprised his role in Dragons: Race to Edge for one episode.

Aquaman he was a voice over.

Reprised his role of Robot Man in Captain Marvel

Shazam his character was Wizard.

Charlies Angles he was Bosley.

Quiet Place 2 he was Man on Island…..not even a name.

NBA 2K21 he was Coach Bishop

Invincible he was Martain Emperor, not even a name

Reprised his role again in What If as Robot Man

 The King’s Man he wasn’t the lead

Paw of Fury: The Legend of Hank I didn’t see, but since his role was Sumo, I imagine he wasn’t the lead

And lastly Black Adam and Shazam 2 he came back as Wizard for both.

One hand, he has been in a lot of big budget and highly successful movies. On the other he is always the bridesmaid and never the bride. So what is causing this? Is it a bad agent? Is it a lack of roles? Is this just a cry for attention?

If I was in his position and I felt like I’m not getting the roles that I earned, I would make my own movies or try to be casted in some emotional movie kind of like The Whale. Maybe step into the writing, directing and producing chair and make the movie you always felt you earned. He does have an interesting story. Grew up in Africa, moved the France, became a model and then went into acting. That would be a pretty interesting movie.

So instead of complaining about your place in Hollywood, maybe take a look at how far you’ve come over the years and use that motivation to propel your career to new heights.

World War Joe

Movies and Shows

No One Will Save You: A Missed Opportunity

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Around the 22-minute mark of this movie, I started writing this elegant silique about how this movie reminds me of 80s action flicks where it was just good guy vs. tons of bad guys. We didn’t need a massively overcomplicated plot, and all we needed was good entertainment, but the rest of the movie jumped between “Wow, that’s cool” to “Wow, this is terrible”. No One is Coming to Save You suffers from identity disorder, where it doesn’t know what it wants to accomplish.

The story revolves around Brynn, a woman living in a remote small town, grappling with her anxieties. The film attempts to explore her inner struggles and relationships with others, but it loses its focus. At its core, “No One Will Save You” could have been a modern-day “Home Alone” with a twist, where a woman uses household traps to fend off aliens and gather supplies. Instead, it wastes time with unnecessary subplots, including Brynn’s interactions with an older couple and her deceased friend or ex-girlfriend.

The aliens were perfectly done. Loved the simple design of them. I don’t imagine the budget for this movie was in the Marvel 300 million range, so making the scenes darker would hide any CGI errors. My only criticism was that the aliens were telepaths, and I didn’t like that because that’s a Game Over power. There is no reason for any alien to try to overpower Brynn when they can just pull her with their minds.

I don’t know if I’m right about this, but I think maybe the aliens aren’t the real threat, and they are being controlled by a parasite that takes over the body. Humans are being fed some mind-control-looking plant, so maybe the planet is conquering the galaxy by taking in all these hosts? I don’t know, but it’s never fully explained. A similar plot was done in the tv show Fallen Skies.

The ending was ambiguous, of course. I figured things were going too perfect initially to not end up as an artsy movie. It’s revealed that Brynn got into a fight with, I guess, her sister and killed her in anger with a rock and has been living with Trama….am I supposed to feel bad for her? Did the aliens pity her and reward her for being a murderer? If they stop by a prison, they’ll find many guys who feel bad for murdering someone.

The story ends with Brynn waking up happy, the sun shining, and everything seems to be back to normal. Brynn goes into town, gets a lot of happy waves, and dances in an old-time-looking Italian town…. then the camera pulls back, and we see the UFOs just hanging around.

So, what the hell is all this? Is she captured? Is she in the real world? Why are the aliens granting her this? I think it should’ve ended where she is in this happily ever after, and then you see that she’s just on the ship in a mind control field with the rest of the people on the dance floor, and that’s it. It’s just a wasted opportunity of a movie.

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