Uncategorized

Artemis Fowl fans have waited a long time for author Eoin Colfer’s beloved book series to make it to the big screen. The film’s first trailer was released way back in November 2018, which was roughly 37 years ago. Then director Kenneth Branagh’s adaptation, originally set to hit theaters in August 2019, was pushed back to May 2020. But now, with just a couple months until its long-awaited premiere, Artemis Fowl has a new trailer. Just maybe not the one many fans were hoping for. In a version that completely flips the story we know, the movie appears to be turning literature’s youngest villain into a hero.

From Disney’s official synopsis:

“Disney’s Artemis Fowl, based on the beloved book by Eoin Colfer, is a fantastical, spellbinding adventure that follows the journey of 12-year-old genius Artemis Fowl, a descendant of a long line of criminal masterminds, as he seeks to find his father who has mysteriously disappeared. With the help of his loyal protector Butler, Artemis sets out to find him, and in doing so uncovers an ancient, underground civilization—the amazingly advanced world of fairies. Deducing that his father’s disappearance is somehow connected to the secretive, reclusive fairy world, cunning Artemis concocts a dangerous plan—so dangerous that he ultimately finds himself in a perilous war of wits with the all-powerful fairies.”

Disney’s official synopsis for the movie sounds exactly like the plot of the first Artemis Fowl book. However, this latest trailer features some significant changes. Here young Artemis (Ferdia Shaw) appears to be a hero, not a villain like in the novel. He’s working with magical creatures to stop an even bigger enemy. Fan favorite Holly Short (played by Lara McDonnell), a fairy captain in the Lower Elements Police Reconnaissance force, is Artemis’s main foil in the novel. She’s the “good guy.” Here though she’s immediately presented as someone specifically sent to be Artemis’s ally.

As is the dwarf Mulch Diggums (Josh Gad). That’s another major departure from the book where Mulch is definitely not helping the young human. Disney seems to have made the decision to skip ahead in the story when it comes to character relationships. But without laying the groundwork for how those changes happen organically, they run the risk of those relationships not meaning as much.

Disney

And by presenting Artemis as a hero, it completely upends one of the most appealing aspects of the character. He’s 12 and clearly the bad guy. (Even if he can only be so bad.) There are plenty of YA heroes. Why not adapt one of those stories if you wanted a good guy main character?

Could these changes work? Of course. Movies are a different medium, and some of the best adaptations make major changes. However, that hasn’t prevented the ire from fans of the book.

Probably not a great sign for enthusiasm when your trailer makes people commiserate with Percy Jackson readers.

Upset by this trailer? We get it. Our advice though is to keep doing what Artemis Fowl fans have done for a long time: wait until you see the movie. Then judge it. Hopefully it can find the right kind of magic to make your patience pay off.

Colin Farrell, Judi Dench, Hong Chau, and Nikesh Patel also star in the film.

Artemis Fowl comes to theaters (finally) on May 29, 2020.

Featured Image: Disney

The post ARTEMIS FOWL’s New Trailer Teases Major Changes appeared first on Nerdist.

Source: JEAN-BAPTISTE LACROIX / Getty

Vanessa Bryant is deeply hurt by the sharing of graphic photos of the crash site where Kobe Bryant and their 13-year-old daughter Gianna died back in January. She is now calling for the deputy sheriffs to be disciplined for allegedly snapping and sharing the photos, which reportedly show the remains of the victims and the debris of the crash.

Bryant had asked that the crash site be  a no-fly zone and be protected from photographers after her husband’s and daughter’s death out of respect for them and the other seven victims.  This request still didn’t keep the site safe. Two days after their untimely death, photos of their remains were shared and it was noticed after they became a topic of discussion between the first responders, the LA Times reported.

“This is an unspeakable violation of human decency, respect, and of the privacy rights of the victims and their families,” reads a section of a lengthy statement posted to Bryant’s Instagram from her lawyer Gary Robb. “We are demanding that those responsible for these alleged actions face the harshest possible discipline, and that their identities be brought to light, to ensure that the photos are not further disseminated.”

An anonymous person filed a complaint regarding the photos which brought the matter to Bryant’s attention.

“Mrs. Bryant is grateful to the individual who filed an online complaint exposing these acts of injustice, and for the choice to protect human dignity,” the statement continues.

The other victims of the crash were Christina Mauser, Payton and Sarah Chester,  John, Keri and Alyssa Altobelli and pilot Ara Zobayan.

Bryant also filed a wrongful death lawsuit against the helicopter company.

“Defendant Island Express Helicopters’ breach of its duty and negligence caused the injuries and damages complained of herein and Plaintiffs’ deceased, Kobe Bryant, was killed as a direct result of the negligent conduct of Zobayan for which Defendant Island Express Helicopters is vicariously liable in all respects,” the lawsuit reads.

View this post on Instagram

CORRECTED: The department at issue is the Los Angeles County Fire Dept (LACoFD) NOT the LAFD KANSAS CITY, Mo.–(repost: BUSINESS WIRE)–Statement From Gary C. Robb, Legal Counsel on Behalf of His Client, Vanessa Bryant: Our client, Vanessa Bryant, is absolutely devastated by allegations that deputies from the Lost Hills Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department and Los Angeles County Fire Department publicly disseminated photos from the helicopter crash site. Mrs. Bryant personally went to the Sheriff’s office on January 26th and requested that the area be designated a no-fly zone and protected from photographers. This was of critical importance to her as she desired to protect the dignity of all the victims, and their families. At that time, Sheriff Alex Villanueva assured us all measures would be put in place to protect the families’ privacy, and it is our understanding that he has worked hard to honor those requests. First responders should be trustworthy. It is inexcusable and deplorable that some deputies from the Lost Hills Sheriff’s substation, other surrounding substations and LACOFD would allegedly breach their duty. This is an unspeakable violation of human decency, respect, and of the privacy rights of the victims and their families. We are demanding that those responsible for these alleged actions face the harshest possible discipline, and that their identities be brought to light, to ensure that the photos are not further disseminated. We are requesting an Internal Affairs investigation of these alleged incidents. Mrs. Bryant is grateful to the individual who filed an online complaint exposing these acts of injustice, and for the choice to protect human dignity. We ask that anyone else who has information as to the facts underlying these alleged grievous and shameful incidents contact our office at 816–474-8080 or email via www.robbrobb.com

A post shared by Vanessa Bryant (@vanessabryant) on Mar 1, 2020 at 8:22am PST

Regardless of which side of the fence you find yourself on in regards to The Rise of Skywalker, one thing is known – it had a very interesting production and post production. The final film we saw in theaters was significantly different than what was originally conceived of by J.J. Abrams and crew. They deleted many scenes and concepts. However, we know about them thanks to production art from various sources. But if you’re wondering what a “J.J. cut” of Episode IX might have looked like, then Marvel Comics will have you covered very soon.

Marvel Comics

According to an interview with the comic’s writer Jody Houser for StarWars.com (via SlashFilm),  Marvel Comics’ forthcoming adaptation of the film will include several new scenes and longer versions of existing ones from the film. Houser said “I think one of the great things about adaptations in other mediums is you do get the chance to build out elements of the story there may not have been time or a place for on the screen. Giving light to new scenes gives the creators in these other mediums a chance to add to the story, rather than just translating it for the page.”

These scenes could possibly involve things like Kylo Ren’s meeting with a mysterious oracle, which would show how he learned the location of Vader’s Wayfinder device. This and other lost moments recently surfaced via The Art of the Rise of Skywalker book. So with the inclusion of these scenes, could we finally see Finn actually tell Rey that he’s Force sensitive? Will we also see excised scenes of Rose Tico’s? I for one would really like some mention of who the heck Grandma Palpatine was.

I imagine we could see more scenes explaining things like the Sith Eternal cult, the planet Exegol, the Sith Fleet, and other things the movie left pretty vague and mysterious. Although, with some of those I’d be surprised if we got that much more of an explanation than the recent Visual Dictionary already gave us. But it would be way less awkward in a comic book for a character to just stop in the middle of a scene and give a giant exposition dump. That’s just a staple of the medium.

Marvel Comics

This is a tradition that goes back to the original Marvel adaptation of Star Wars way back in 1977. The writers and artists from that comic were basically working from concept art and script pages, not the final film that everyone eventually saw in theaters. So there were references in the comics to things that later changed. These included a humanoid (but still alien) Jabba the Hutt. The word “Sith” made in into print in the comic adaptation decades before anyone spoke it on film. But it was a word in the original shooting script.

The Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker comic adaptation will drop its first of five issues in May, from the creative team of Jody House, with art by Will Sliney, and cover designs by Phil Noto.

Featured Image: Marvel Comics / Lucasfilm

The post THE RISE OF SKYWALKER Comic Will Contain Deleted Scenes appeared first on Nerdist.

Here’s what we reviewed in comics this week that you might want to check out:

Finger Guns #1

This type of magical realism is really wonderful, because it captures the essence of being a teenager so succinctly with the finger gun conceit. The innate desire to have others feel the same way you do just by pointing and having an instant pivot. Richards captures the emotions of the principle characters perfectly, and the dialog is straight forward and to the point. And equally crucially, Richards also knows when to let to the art speak for itself.

Read the Full Review Here

Batman Beyond #41

After this revelation is made, Elainna is seen leading her own Batman-esque internal monologue as she goes on her own investigation into Blight’s actions, only to be surprised when she finds Terry McGinnis being held captive. Remember, she knows who he is, but he has no idea who she is. Even after he gets his memories back.

Read the Full Review Here

Action Comics #1020

Meanwhile, the rest of the Young Justice team got to prove their value by getting a blessing from Superman to do their thing and help him hold down the fort until the Justice League arrives. The banter was also enjoyable. A special shoutout goes out to Lex Luthor telling his accomplices “Don’t aim for the buildings with my name on them,” as if that’s at all possible.

Read the Full Review Here

Suicide Squad #3

Harley Quinn continues to be a delight in everything she does, but especially shines when she’s in a comic book surrounded by people who don’t know what to do with her. Her commentary is hilarious, as always and she makes light of otherwise dark moments. Taylor is having a blast writing this, you can just tell. And Redundo’s art is beautful and efficiently used. Bravo to those two.

Read the Full Review Here

Jessica Jones Blind Spot #4

De Iulis’ art suits this comic. The story is character driven, not having a lot of physical action, so the faces need to be on point. There is a subtlety to the differences in expression that feels genuine. A favorite set of panels was when Jones sees Spider-Man. From the initial, hard ass look there is a slight opening of the eyes to accompany a clasped mouth. It is an easily unnoticed touch that conveys the quick waver in her composure seeing a friend in anguish.

Read the Full Review Here

What books did you check out this week that we didn’t cover? Hit us in the comments or on our social media!

Want to get Black Nerd Problems updates sent directly to you? Sign up here!
Follow us on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram!

The post The Pull – 02/26/2020: Goes Bang Bang! appeared first on Black Nerd Problems.