David S. Goyer & Christopher Nolan Should Be Blamed For Man of Steel & Batman v Superman

 Zack Snyder has been the DCEU's scapegoat for years when, in fact, other creatives were involved, namely David S. Goyer and Christopher Nolan (Man of Steel's writer).

Despite his relatively early departure, for many fans, the entire previous phase of the DCEU seemed like Zack Snyder's only creation. Every aspect of Man of Steel seems to permeate the core concept of the DCEU, culminating in a much darker tone than some fans expected.

While the Marvel Cinematic Universe revels in its light-hearted comedy and exhilarating action, the DCEU is focused on giving some of its most iconic characters a fresh, edgy look. The only problem is that Zack Snyder -- and only Zack Snyder -- made some of the most divisive changes to the source material. At least, that's what some DC fans believe.

When most people think about why they disliked Snyder's version of the DCEU so much, most mention how Superman spends more time brooding than the shining beacon of hope he's supposed to be, or how Batman gives criminals Branding to effectively sentence them to death was his mark. This follows Snyder's usual approach to the superhero genre -- after all, we've seen some of the same trademarks in his Watchmen adaptations.

However, some fans seem to be consciously ignoring a key aspect of Snyder's role as creative head of the DCEU: he's only here to direct, not write. Of all the films in the DCEU, Snyder directed just two: Man of Steel and Batman v Superman.

If we're going to engage in a blame game for what happened in the DCEU, it's only fair to point our collective finger at David S. Goyer. The writer began his DC live-action career in 2005 when he wrote the script for Christopher Nolan's Batman Begins -- a film that essentially set the tone for most future DC films.

Now, it's worth noting that there's nothing wrong with Goyer's script. The writers were just expressing their claim to him, a more "mature" version of these classic comic book characters. Seeing the success of Batman: The Dark Knight, producers may have thought that casting darker characters in the lead roles would be better profitable, but they were wrong.

Considering that Nolan's Batman was already more "serious" than the Batman in the comics, Goyer had to go to extremes and make a more aggressive caped fighter. That's probably why Batman v Superman featured that shady Dark Knight using his armored Batmobile to take out criminals for good. Likewise, it could explain Snyder's more "realistic" take on Superman in Man of Steel.

Arguably, the "damage" Nolan's Batman trilogy did to the larger DCEU was convincing the studio that they needed darker colors to compete with Marvel's usually lighter tone. The result was the confusing timeline we know today and the slander of Zack Snyder as a filmmaker.

The truth is, if we're judging him on his merits, Snyder has been fantastic in the DCEU. Not only has he left us with some of the most memorable visual work of comic book stories in live-action cinema, but he also oversaw the production of Wonder Woman and Aquaman, two of the most successful non-Marvel superhero films of the past decade.

I think it's time to re-evaluate Snyder's role in the DCEU, especially now that he's likely to be out of the cinema for a while. At the very least, the Snyder Cut will forever serve as a reminder of what could have been and the power fans really have over studios.

So the next time you're thinking about putting all the blame for the DCEU's Man of Steel and Batman v Superman on Zack Snyder, consider that Christopher Nolan produced both films (and with David Goyer shared the Man of Steel story credit) and Chris Terrio and David S. Goyer wrote Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice. Snyder was not the mastermind behind the entire operation. He's just directing.

K-drama Reborn Rich, portrays the harsh realities of the economy- What makes it so appealing?

 K-drama Reborn Rich starring Song Joong-gi, Shin Hyung-Been, and Lee Sung-Min have been topping the rating charts with each new episode.

This JTBC drama is based on The son of a conglomerate by Sang Gyung. It tells the revenge story of Yoon Hyun-Woo (Song Joon-Gi) who works as head secretary of Soon Yang Group. He gets murdered and wakes up in 1987 as the mysteriously disappeared grandson of the Soonyang Group.

The story of rags to riches isn’t new in the K-drama land but until now they all have been Cinderella stories. It was pure love and morality that lead to monetary benefits. While if we see the latest stories of pauper-to-prince, they all fall under the genre of Fantasy.

Just like Reborn Rich, The Golden Spoon is also a recent hit that falls into this category. Lee Seung-Cheon (Yuk Seung-Jae) tired of being born into a poor family, decides to exchange his fate with a rich classmate with the help of a magical golden spoon. This MBC drama stars Lee Jung-won, Jung Chae-Yeon, and Yeon-Woo in lead roles.

Apart from the fantasy element, there are couple more similarities between them. Let’s check them out.

Failed Hardwork

In Reborn Rich, Yoon Hyun-Woo has been the main breadwinner of his family. He has sustained by facing humiliating treatments and compromising himself. He has worked hard to reach where he was but that hard work betrays him. Ultimately, it is the fantasy of rebirth that takes him to a luxurious life.

Similarly, In The Golden Spoon, Lee Seung-Cheon gets bullied and sweats in part-time jobs but doesn’t find a way out of his situation. In the end, he gets the once-in-a-lifetime chance to exchange his life for a more comfortable one with fantasy.

The Price of Riches

There is a price for everything- even in the fantasy world and it’s costly. In Reborn Rich, the price is of life. After being reborn Song Joong-gi needs to find out what happened to his character in history. He might die or find some other harsh situation as staying in that family tree isn’t as easy as being reborn into it.

Similarly, The character played by Yuk Seung-Jae has an Uncle (The Name famed Yull Chang) who bullies him ruthlessly with the danger of life.

The Blame

In Reborn Rich and The Golden Spoon, the main blame for the situation the characters are in falls on the head of their parents. It is their failure in life which has invited these struggles into leading life. And hence they are sacrificed for riches.

This change into Dramaland which is getting success makes you wonder if the fantasy of being rich is what people find more relatable. Perhaps, these shows can deliver a cathartic experience that Romance dramas weren’t able to.

Either way, it is a concerning yet entertaining change. In The golden spoon, Lee Seung-Cheon fails to keep his riches. Will that harsh reality be an outcome of Reborn Rich as well? we shall find out in the upcoming episodes.

Henry Cavill Would Be A Perfect Reed Richards for Fantastic Four

 Now that Superman is off the table, fans are hoping Henry Cavill will join Marvel's Fantastic Four as Reed Richards. Honestly, he could really pull it off.

Henry Cavill has had a long list of acting accomplishments throughout his acting career. However, one of the most important roles he acquired and is best known for was his contribution to the DC Universe as Iron Man himself in a series of DC products such as Man of Steel, Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice, Justice League, Zack S. Ned's Justice League, and most recently (to everyone's shock after a long hiatus) Black Adam.

Henry Cavill as Fantastic Four Reed Richards

Henry Cavill is one of the most famous names among those who want to see actors play roles. Everywhere on the internet, you can find new parts that fans think are a good fit for him. It's almost impossible to deny that seeing him in any outfit would be stunning. One of the latest roles fans want to see Henry Cavill take on is Reed Richards in Marvel's upcoming Fantastic Four.

Playing many roles in many different genres, Cavill is perfect for almost anywhere. Proving he's a great hero in Iron Man clearly shows that he can fit into almost any hero universe. His later pursuits in films like Mission: Impossible: Fallout further proved that he could pull off almost any role he set his mind to.

Reed Richards first appeared in Fantastic Four #1 in 1961 and is commonly known as Mister Fantastic. He was a genius among his peers before being struck by a mutation that gave him superhuman resilience, plasticity, and durability. Richards is an engineer, physicist, biologist and chemist. He later became the leader of the Fantastic Four, as the other three were exposed to the same radiation that gave him his powers.

Kevin Feige himself announced that Marvel will be looking to reboot the Fantastic Four, which will be set in the Marvel Cinematic Universe and will be in development as part of Phase 4, which the Marvel Cinematic Universe is currently in. While Marvel doesn't have our cast list, we have a lot of people who would like Cavill's name to be on the cast list.

With his incredible acting ability and ability to play any role, as well as his good looks showing great intelligence, the actor would be a great choice for the next Mister Fantastic, especially in the world against John Krasinski The character reacts after Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness.

As one of the most popular people in the world today, a hero to most men and a handsome guy to most women, any movie or franchise will feature him and he has certainly proven himself An accomplished actor, he has played many roles over the past 20 years.

Past Roles

Since starting his acting career in the early 2000s, the nerdy heartthrob has dabbled in just about every genre imaginable. Although he has been cast as a hero in recent years, he has played many different roles, from supporting roles to leading roles, from love affairs to sometimes villains. For example, he's barely recognizable as Humphrey from Stardust.

His most recent pursuits have seen him play Geralt of Rivia in Netflix's The Witcher (adapted from the book and the game), and Sharon in Enola Holmes. Rock Holmes, this is the story from his sister's point of view. He is also widely known for playing Charles Brandon, 1st Duke of Suffolk in The Tudors. He was also Napoleon Solo in UNCLE's The Man and Walter Marshall in Night Hunter.

For Argyll, he has stepped into the role of super spy. Plus, he's sort of an August Walker counterpart in Mission: Impossible: Fallout. His early performances include The Huntsman in Little Red Riding Hood, Melotte in Tristan and Isolde, Simon Mayfield in Midterm Murder, Theseus in The Immortals, and Alfred in The Count of Monte Cristo. Bert Mondego, Hell Chaser: Mike in Hellworld, Wilshaw Daylight in Hellworld, Captain Sandcastle Severson, Blood Creek Evan Marshall, Hotel Laguna Thomas Aprea, and Randy Lee James in Whatever Works.

With all these great roles, it's no wonder he's a fan of many. To say he is popular in the media would be an understatement.

Accept a New Role

Although he thought he would be returning to the role, his own announcement that Warner Bros. Discovery Channel directed him to produce it and his appearance in Black Adam confirmed that, that's not the case. DC Studios co-heads James Gunn and Peter Safran met with Cavill to discuss their plans for Superman in the DC Universe and basically told him that Superman had no place in it.

Although they broke up in a very amicable way, the internet was devastated. However, Gunn stated that they are willing to work with Cavill differently in the future, just not in the role of Superman. That means that without Man of Steel and his decision to leave The Wizard after season three, he'd have a lot of options in his acting career and come clean for the first time in what could be a decade.

Reports say everyone's favorite nerdy actor has been offered an opportunity he couldn't pass up. He will be involved and executive producing the Warhammer 40K project. The franchise has held most of the cast's hearts over the years. It's a dream come true for him, but that doesn't mean the actor can't do anything else during this time.

The British-born actor often mixes his name into movies as fans want to see him star in everything from the next James Bond to a host of superhero choices. The latest suggestion is that Cavill makes a perfect Reed Richards for Marvel Studios' upcoming Fantastic Four.

Will Alan Ritchson Return For James Gunn’s Aquaman?

 Now that Jason Momoa will no longer play Aquaman in the DCU, fans are demanding that Alan Ritchson return to the role.

James Gunn's DC Universe is making waves with the Warner Bros. Discovery. Now that it's been confirmed that Henry Cavill won't be returning as Superman, even though they announced before James Gunn and Peter Safran took over, anything can happen in the DC Universe. The pair are looking for a young actor to play a version of Superman we've never seen before as he establishes himself as a hero and starts working on the Daily Planet. Does that mean they'll also be looking for younger versions of other heroes to emulate?

Alan Ritchson is perfect for Aquaman

Many of us grew up watching Smallville, young and handsome Tom Welling as Clark Kent, who discovers his powers and learns to be a superhero, and eventually he moves to Metropolis, and we know him is the story of a reporter for the Daily Planet. Many other characters from the DC universe make brief appearances in the series, such as Supergirl Carazor; Green Arrow, aka Oliver Queen; The Flash, aka Barry Allen; and even It's Cyborg, aka Victor Stone.

One of the sweetest superheroes to ever appear in the series is none other than Arthur Curry, aka Aquaman. Alan Ritchson plays Aquaman, a young man with the power of Atlantis, a strong sense of justice for marine life, and the ability to control water and breathe underwater. Alan Ritchson's Aquaman is different than Jason Momoa's Aquaman because his character is much younger.

Although old now, Alan Ritchson could still play Aquaman in James Gunn's new universe if the co-CEO of DC Studios tries to completely break away from the old DCEU. I'm not the only one who thinks so, as many fans are offering his name as a suggestion to play the next Lord of Atlantis.

Multiple social media posts harked back to Ritchson's days in Smallville, where the handsome, athletic actor was young enough to play the role convincingly. "I know Allen played Arthur Curry in Smallville, but this new James Gunn DC movie is coming out. How would you feel if he came back as Aquaman on the big screen? I'll see it Look I think he did a great job as Arthur (aka Aquaman). I'm not saying let's bring Smallville to the big screen. I'm saying he's already done it, so why not have him on the big screen How about a show?"

Seeing the actor back in the saddle of Seaworld considering he came across as closer to the character in the comics, innocent and loving not only humans but Seaworld and Atlanteans It's amazing. A more aggressive portrayal of Aquaman might suit a younger universe, and it looks like Gunn is headed in that direction.

Actor is channeled

Everyone's favorite Iron Man is one of many who may have been fired from the DC Universe recently. Gunn and Safran, as the new co-heads of DC Studios, are effectively trying to bring an end to the DC Extended Universe that Zack Snyder started. After the controversy surrounding Zack Snyder and his DCEU, it's no surprise that Gunn and Safran wanted a clean break with their previous creative world.

Along with the former Witcher cast, there's no indication Gal Gadot's Wonder Woman will be returning for her proposed third film. For all intents and purposes, this movie has come to a complete stop. For a while there were some rumors that the director was the reason the film wasn't moving forward at this point. Still, those rumors were quickly put to rest when the director took to Twitter to explain that wasn't the case. With Gunn and Safran changing the plans for the entire DC Universe, and their 10-year plan, Wonder Woman doesn't seem to be taking that into account right now.

Another member of Zack Snyder's Justice League that hasn't been seen since the film's release is Ray Fisher's Cyborg. No surprise in that regard either, because according to him and many fans. Of course, Fisher only dabbled in the DC Universe because of Snyder, so his loyalty makes sense, but his beliefs may have prevented him from having any future chances with the studio.

Jason Momoa's Aquaman: The Lost Kingdom may also be his last adventure as the character. There have been several reports that many of these actors will find their contracts terminated once the current slate of films hits theaters. The wrestler-turned-actor may find himself in the same boat as the Aquaman actor after Black Adam's snub and Dwayne Johnson's release of financial statements sparked controversy.

While the cast versions of the characters may no longer be part of the DC universe, they will always be part of its IP, which means they will be looking for new actors to fill them in the future. There are already many unique options available. The fact that Gunn is looking for a younger version of Superman, does that mean they might be looking for younger versions of the rest of the Justice League?

James Gunn and Peter Safran have an entire universe to create and play with. The director-turned-CEO has always had brilliant ideas for the superhero world. Whatever you get out of it, it's sure to be an enjoyable experience. If they're looking for a new actor to fill out the roster, they need only look to Alan Ritchson to reprise his role as Aquaman.

Artist Creates The Sylvester Stallone X Logan Fan Art We Never Knew We Needed

 Over on Instagram, fan favorite @samukarts gives us another perfect cast that could take place in an alternate universe. He imagined Sylvester Stallone as Wolverine, aka Logan. What would have happened if Hugh Jackman had never been hired to play Wolverine? Which other extraordinary action actor will take his place? @samukarts has a great suggestion for what Logan would look like without Jackman.

Stalogan

In an epic art post, @samukarts portrays everyone's favorite boxer-turned-action icon Sylvester Stallone as X-Men's Logan. Hugh Jackman first played Wolverine in the X-Men in 2000. His breakthrough in this role defined his career and role to such an extent that no one could really imagine the role as anyone but him.

At least until @samukarts did what he does best and reimagined the role with another actor as the cast. Hard to imagine anyone else making as much sense as Logan, but @samukarts chose well. Stallone has always been an action star and icon in Hollywood. So ideally, the only person who could fill the role would be someone as level-headed and strong-minded as Stallone.

Logan has always been a badass icon. Since first appearing in the comics in the 1970s, he has quickly become a star, not only as a member of the X-Men, but also as an epic stand-alone hero in his own right. While he's a hero, he's a bit of an anti-hero at times, and a good guy. Life would have been different if Stallone hadn't been Jackman. However, the character remains the strong, diamond-clawed hero we know and love.

Back in 2000, when the X-Men came out, Stallone started filming the thriller Get Carter. Imagine how different the movie would be in an alternate universe where the characters were swapped. Stallone is a badass, no doubt about it. While his shenanigans can be a little more comic than Jackman's at times, he's definitely more than capable of pulling off the role.

Samukarts

@samukarts on Instagram has been in the game of fan art and perfect fan casting for a while now. Every time they create a post, you can expect to find a great choice for a role among the understudies. We cover everything from Ruby Rose to He-Man's Teela to many more fan actors on our site.

While some fan casting makes sense, it takes a special kind of artist to take a concept and really bring it to life in a believable way, and @samukarts has mastered that skill. He set out to imagine characters from many of his favorite games and cartoons that would ideally bring the actors to life, as well as re-imagining some of the live-action characters as they would have looked if the actors had been replaced.

The odd thing about all of samukart's fan characters is that only a few seem out of place. Each is believable and artful, whether at the behest of his followers or his own imagination. Let's say you like fan art and watch fan castings. In that case, I recommend checking out their Instagram profiles to see what we've covered and more.

Horror With a Side of Cheese: THE KILLING TREE

 Hello, horror lovers! I am back to dish up a fondue pot full of cheesy goodness with a new edition of Horror With a Side of Cheese! If you are new to the column, I’m hunting for the cheesiest horror movies to grace the genre. Every month, on the first and third Fridays, I talk about my latest find. I rate each film on a scale of one to five cheese slices. Several factors go into the rating, including story, acting, dialogue, effects and re-watchability. In this edition, I dive into the 2022 film, The Killing Tree. Stick around to find out how many cheese slices this film gets.

About Killing Tree

A widow is desperate to resurrect her criminal husband who was executed for his crimes. On Christmas Eve, she tries a spell to make her wish come true. He came back to life, but with a small problem; his spirit entered the Christmas tree. Now, lights flicker, ornaments sparkle, and Killer Tree hunts down the executioner he blames.

Killing Tree stars Marcus Macy, Sarah Alexandra Marks, Kelly Lane Sanson, Judy Chernyak and Sarah T. Cohen. The story is directed by Craig McLearie and directed by Rhys Frake-Waterfield. Run time is 1 hour 13 minutes.

My thoughts

The bad guy is a decorated Christmas tree! Lamps, garlands, baubles, pieces. Before anything else is considered, this has got to be one of the cheesiest horror movies I've ever had the pleasure of seeing. Take a moment to imagine a veritable tree scurrying around and killing people. Only one word comes to mind: epic.

While The Killing Tree has a lot of potential talking points, I want to start with the effects. In particular, I want to talk about the tree itself. Multiple mediums are used throughout the film to create the titular villain. In some scenes, the tree is entirely CGI; others feature generic store-bought Christmas trees. My favorite, however, is the scene where the tree is the man in the suit. A moment like this made me giggle. Our villain falls and you can see the legs of the man inside the costume. Surprisingly, the CGI is pretty good.

The next topic I want to talk about is the story itself. On the surface, it's basic and straightforward. A criminal is executed and his wife uses magic on his ashes to reincarnate him. The only difference is, instead of turning into a doll, cookie or snowman, his soul turns into a Christmas tree. The ending is unique, but I won't go into details and risk spoilers. I'll say I feel like it's an escape.

Starting with the story, the dialogue was what I expected, possibly worse. For example, at one point, the tree is said to grow in the forest; however, an earlier scene reveals that the pine needles are fake. Perhaps that changed when the killer's soul entered the plastic.

The show is so cheesy, it belongs in a deli. period. Between the hyperbole and the ridiculous lines, it's wild. Even the screams are underwhelming and on the kitschy side.

Finally, rewatch rate: 10/10. I'll watch Killing Tree again. I don't like a lot of holiday horror flicks, especially the cheesier ones. This one, however, is ooey gooey cheesy goodness.

Final Thoughts

In total, The Killing Tree has 4.5 slices of cheese. I almost gave it a full five, but I didn't like the ending, which knocked it down by half. Otherwise, it's an excellent cheesy horror. There's a scene in the woods you don't want to miss!

Horror fans, here's another cheesy horror flick in the books. Check out the trailer for the film below, and let me know what you think in the comments. Also, tell me which movie needs to be added to my list.

Until next time, keep it spooky, keep it cheesy, and most of all, watch more horror movies.

Movie Review: M3GAN

 As a child, I never found such a creepy doll. I even have a few. I remember being traumatized by the Child's Play trailer when I was very young. Other than that, though, I never really thought about them...until recently, that's it. Weirdness. Incredible. Pop culture is rapidly learning to capitalize on our ingrained fears of dolls. It is in this way that the audience can understand M3GAN. Would this apparent amalgamation of Barbie and Terminator delight and frighten? Or will it end up in a cheap DVD case in the blink of an eye?

M3GAN follows Gemma (Allison Williams), a toy designer who has just about everything going for her. Well, her boss (Ronny Chieng) is a bit of a challenge. However, her life is thrown into a loop when her older sister dies in a car accident, leaving her daughter Cady (Violet McGraw) in the care of Gemma.

Suddenly, Gemma had an idea. Cardi is lonely and desperately needs a friend. Therefore, Gemma designed M3GAN. The robot does everything, including important parenting tasks that Gemma can't. However, things get bloody when M3GAN starts overtaking her programming (we've all seen those movies).

To be honest, I don't think M3GAN is that scary. Most horrors are based on jump scares. The richness of these will work for some (I'm a natural neurotic.) For seasoned horror viewers, these will likely fall flat. At the same time, most of the violence and gore is relatively light and takes place mostly off-screen.

That said, the movie does tap into some of the inherent "doll" eerieness, and the movie shines when it plays with the bizarre. You know these moments. M3GAN's expression changes, of course, only the audience noticed. Even seeing M3GAN leaning on her charger in a dark room was enough to induce a slight shudder.

Beyond this mild horror, the film's tongue is firmly in its cheek. M3GAN seems to enjoy playing with the ambition inherent in this narrative.

Many moments left the audience laughing out loud in a sold-out theater, making this a great movie to watch with the audience. This ranges from tongue-in-cheek doll commercials that should feel familiar to anyone who remembers "My Buddy," to M3GAN singing Cady's wistful "Titanium."

Perhaps it's the very nature of "Dolls" horror that somehow counteracts the horror. Even when the M3GAN was chasing down a victim wielding a greatsword, it was surprisingly easy to laugh. You cringe in a way because it's creepy, but you're still giggling. After all, it's a doll. It's funny in its absurdity. Dolls can't kill us...at least, not yet.

But at the same time, M3GAN's character designs go a long way in emphasizing the creepiness and mystery. Although her face is doll-like, the pint-sized character is impressive. That's mostly because this isn't just a computer-generated depiction. Both performers bring vibrancy and astonishing momentum. That said, she's not quite real either. There's a tricky line here, and the movie does a good job with the character.

At the same time, the film isn't afraid to tackle a complex and challenging story. Of course, the main storyline is an examination of grief. Cardi lost her parents. Gemma lost her sister. These characters hurt, and for better or worse, M3GAN is a Band-Aid. oops.

M3GAN finds an exciting relationship between Gemma and Cady. It's a complex situation that revolves around a child struggling with some real issues. McGraw certainly has more going on as it relates to the narrative, and she goes through a wider emotional arc. The young performer is charming, but some of her compositions feel abrupt, especially towards the end of the second act. While the narrative is hands-on between the two protagonists, the script could have benefitted from spending more time with Cardi. This will help develop some of what happens to her character by the end of the film and ease the rough transition of the character.

At the same time, there is an interesting examination of technology and its role in our lives. Come to think of it, this story may be even weirder than the main story of M3GAN. The idea that robots, smart speakers and automated assistants are increasingly present in our daily lives is creepy. Fans of shows like Black Mirror may find these low-key narrative elements particularly fascinating. There is definitely more to be said here, M3GAN has only scratched the surface.