Author: Matt Conway

The Matrix is one of the most controversial trilogies in existence, having a lasting impact on film culture despite the mixed quality of the separate projects. The Matrix changed the action genre forever, with its introduction of slow-motion setpieces redefining the genre and influencing it ever since. The follow-ups, Matrix Reloaded and Revolution, failed to reach the heights of their groundbreaking predecessor, dividing fans as to whether the trilogy concluded on solid ground. After nearly two decades have passed, the Matrix brand is getting a much-needed continuation with The Matrix 4. Set for a March 5th, 2021 release date, filming for The Matrix 4 is currently underway, with footage from a…

Video games and film are two art forms that mix like oil and water. While there’s the occasionally good movie-based video game (Spider-Man 2 comes to mind), there are almost no video game-based movies that people find merit in. With the release of Sonic the Hedgehog, I wanted to take the time to highlight a video game movie that has more entertainment value than it gets credit for, Street Fighter: The Legend of Chun-Li. Released back in 2009, Street Fighter was labeled a massive failure both critically (holds a putrid 5% rating on Rotten Tomatoes) and financially, with fans of…

Since being cast back in May 2019, many fans have been unsure how to feel about Robert Pattinson being Batman/Bruce Wayne in Cloverfield director Matt Reeves’ Batman reboot. To many, his name and image will always be synonymous with the sparkling vampires of Twilight, but what many of these people don’t realize is how much talent he has shown since that franchise. Along with his Twilight co-star Kristen Stewart, Robert Pattinson has reinvented himself as one of the best actors of his generation, showing versatility and commitment with performances in Good Time, The Lighthouse, and Cosmopolis. Most of these projects…

Starting up a new phase of Marvel’s cinematic universe, Black Widow has a lot of pressure to follow up on the unprecedented success of Avengers: Endgame. Many are excited to see Scarlett Johanson finally get a leading role in her own superhero project, but her untimely death in Endgame does make Black Widow’s inclusion feel somewhat odd as a follow-up (why Kevin Feige couldn’t work this movie in earlier in the MCU is still a mystery to me). Still, there’s interesting wrinkles that this Black Widow film will introduce, including the big-screen debut of the Taskmaster. While the character has appeared in only a few frames of trailers and…

Before its release, Sonic the Hedgehog underwent a roller coaster experience. Many felt the project was destined to fail after its initial trailer, which revealed a janky version of Sonic that failed to impress fans. After delaying its release for a few months to rework Sonic’s design, fans were then encouraged by new marketing material that showed a look that was more in line with the original source material. Still, considering the murky history of video game movies, there was no guarantee that the film would be a success. Thankfully, it seems that Sonic the Hedgehog has been able to crack the video…

Birds of Prey has experienced a mixed reception since its release. Despite scoring strong reviews from critics (holds a 79% rating on Rotten Tomatoes), many have criticized the movie since due to its disappointing opening at the box office and sudden change of title (now entitled Harley Quinn: Birds of Prey). In reality, a lot of this negativity derives from the sexist culture that exists within comic book fandom, as some fans tend to be harsher towards female-driven projects like this and Captain Marvel. While fans may have their complaints, one of the key figureheads in DC Comics Jimmy Palmiotti has…

The Jurassic World series has been a decidedly mixed bag. While both films have performed exceptionally well at the box office (each earned over a billion dollars worldwide), the quality of both World and Fallen Kingdom has fallen short of its Jurassic Park predecessors. Where World blandly plays up the nostalgia angle, Fallen Kingdom tried to create its own identity with poor results, with a third-act climax equaling with silly twists and lackluster thrills. With filming soon undergoing for Jurassic World 3, new details are emerging about what this entry will be, including a new look for one of its central stars Bryce Dallas Howard. Howard, who plays scientist Claire…

One of the most intriguing aspects of Venom was its cliffhanger post-credits scene, which revealed Cletus Kasady (aka Carnage), who is played by Woody Harrelson. Whereas Venom looked solely to establish its central anti-hero, Venom 2 presents the unique opportunity to put Eddie Brock toe-to-toe with a foe who possess similar abilities and strengths. It’s also exciting to see an actor of Harrelson’s caliber embody the role of Cletus, with his skills likely making for a great villain. With Venom 2 currently filming, behind the scenes looks continue to leak out. The leak today came from none other than the film’s star Tom Hardy, who posted a…

DC has a plethora of intriguing releases on their upcoming slate, including Robert Pattinson’s debut as The Caped Crusader in The Batman and Dwayne Johnson’s superhero debut in Black Adam. Perhaps the most intriguing of them all is The Suicide Squad, which features Marvel director James Gunn crossing over to DC to revive the franchise after 2016’s lackluster final product. With only a few returning stars, The Suicide Squad will serve as a sequel/reboot of sorts that looks to correct the wrongs of DC’s past. With filming currently underway for The Suicide Squad, a video from set has been revealed showing stars Margot Robbie and newcomer Idris Elba in action.…

In Sony’s effort to build its own cinematic universe, the studio is stretching their wings by exploring different characters from Spider-Man lore, including Morbius. The character, who was a dying scientist before a mysterious cure turns him into a vampire, has yet to have a big-screen appearance, making the upcoming Jared Leto-led project an intriguing opportunity to see if the character can connect with the masses in his own solo project. Ahead of the film’s July 31st release date, Jared Leto announced via Instagram that project is currently undergoing reshoots to put in some final touches. Check out his post…