From the Midway

ALTERNATE CASTINGS OF THE MOST POPULAR SUPERHERO ROLES

2017-05-09T08:26:00.002-07:00

What if Robert Downey JR. never got the part of Tony Stark? What if Hugh Jackman was never considered to play Wolverine? What if Melissa McCarthy wanted to play Spider Man? (just kidding) Today we will cast a few of the most popular Superhero roles in film with actors/actresses that haven't played that particular role before, but we think would work. Hey, maybe some of these will actually happen one day.

Let us know what you think of our choices in the comment section!

Spider-Man/Peter Parker:

Dylan O'Brien

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Batman/Bruce Wayne:

Josh Brolin

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Superman/Clark Kent:

James Marsden

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Iron Man/Tony Stark:

Jake Gyllenhaal

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Wonder Woman/Diana Prince:

Olivia Wilde

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The Flash/Barry Allen:

Dave Franco

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Captain America/Steve Rogers:

Chris Pine

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Green Lantern/John Stewart:

Idris Elba

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Thor:

Charlie Hunnam

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HARRY POTTER PREQUEL: THE IDEAL CAST

2017-05-07T10:50:00.001-07:00

Harry Potter fans have been given what they have long wanted, a look into the wizarding world before Harry Potter himself, as "Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them" was the introductory film for this story line. J.K. Rowling has announced that future films will follow the paths of a young Albus Dumbledore and his friend turned foe Gellert Grindewald as they battle for the future of the wizarding world. But what fans want to see even more, are the events of the "First Wizarding War" during which Voldemort was at his most powerful, and people such as Harry's parents, James and Lily Potter, joined forces to fight against the Dark Lord. In this article, we created the ideal casting for the most important roles in this story line.

Lily Potter: Emma Stone

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Now officially an Oscar Winner, Emma Stone has proven her acting abilities. Not only would she do well with the mixture of grace and toughness that is attributed to Lily Potter, but as you can see above, she visually fits the part. With her red hair and pale complexion, she matches the description of Lily Potter to a T. In 2018 we'll see her take on the infamous role of "Cruella Deville", that will give us an opportunity to see her stretch her acting muscles a bit as that is a role far different than any she has ever done. Even so, she is a proven actress, and would do very well in the role.

James Potter: Aaron Taylor Johnson

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Most known for his leading role in the "Kick-Ass" films, Aaron Taylor Johnson has been spreading his wings in Hollywood. In "Godzilla" and "The Avengers: Age of Ultron" he proved he can hold up in more serious roles. This is also a casting that was made much easier by the physical fit, as he looks very much like the description of James Potter, and not all that different from Daniel Radcliffe. Another good thing about Johnson is he has acted in both action and non-action films, giving him the diversity needed for the role.

Sirius Black: Ben Barnes

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Most people first saw Barnes as "Prince Caspian" in the last two Narnia films. Caspian was a popular role, but a very surface level one. Where Barnes truly showed his acting potential was in the HBO series "Westworld". In "Westworld" Barnes played a character who was morally questionable, eerily mysterious, and sort of a "good-bad guy". That role is the motivation for casting him as Sirius Black. Black is a fan-favorite character of Harry Potter fans due to his relationship with Harry, making it a very important role to get right. Barnes would provide the crucial complexity to Sirius Black.

Remus Lupin: Andrew Garfield

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The film "Hacksaw Ridge" provided Garfield with the opportunity to prove that he is a capable Actor. He would do extremely well with the role of a damaged good-guy with a dark and dangerous secret. He has the image, and he has the demeanor. Signature to Lupin is his strange personality which makes him seem out of it and always scrambling around trying to get by. Lupin is a very emotionally deep character, something Garfield would do well at. Above all, he is relatable, which is the most important attribute important to the character

Albus Dumbledore: Damian Lewis

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Jude Law was recently cast to play Dumbledore in the sequel to "Fantastic Beasts", but we decided to make our own casting instead. Not only does Damian Lewis have the signature red hair of a younger Dumbledore, but he is also an extraordinary actor. Like Sirius Black, Dumbledore is a role that a filmmaker just can't get wrong. The best thing about Damian Lewis playing Dumbledore is his complexity. Dumbledore has a very, very dark past, and yet he is such a strong and vital relationship to so many of the characters. Damian Lewis would portray that complexity perfectly, as he has a soft, but tough and somewhat intimidating demeanor. He also has the perfect age difference in relation to the previously listed castings.

Lucious Malfoy: Ewan McGregor

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Ewan McGregor is a highly respected Actor, and the role of Lucious Malfoy could be one of his best roles ever. What McGregor would bring to the role of Malfoy is a sinister and clever aura to the character. McGregor is an extremely talented Actor, and it would be very interesting to see him take on a villainous role. All he would need is a bleached head of hair, and he would likely give a great performance.

Bellatrix Lestrange: Rosamund Pike

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Bellatrix Lestrange is one of the scariest characters in the Harry Potter films. Helena Bonham Carter was perhaps the ideal fit for that version of the character, but this one has to be younger and less physically worn. At one point in her career, Rosamund Pike would be an extremely peculiar choice for this role, but not anymore. In her role in "Gone Girl" she proved just how terrifying she could be. She was violent, mysterious, and eerily comfortable in her horrific actions. That kind of sinister and unpredictable attitude is what makes her a great fit for the role of Bellatrix.

Lord Voldemort: Michael Fassbender

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This is again one of the most important roles to get right, as Voldemort is crucial to every step of the story of Harry Potter. In the books, Voldemort at the time of the first war is described as damaged and physically altered by his dark magic, but not nearly to the extent of his life during the Harry Potter era. However, he is said to have still looked snake-like even then, and frankly, Fassbender doesn't NOT look a little bit snake-like, right? More importantly, on several occasions, Fassbender has displayed his ability to be terrifying as a villain. He has a dark persona to him, but at the same time gives the impression that he's intellectually one-step ahead at all times. Fassbender would do excellently at this role as he would demand both fear and respect, crucial to the role of Lord Voldemort.

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WITH DUNKIRK UPON US, WE RANK CHRISTOPHER NOLAN'S 5 BEST FILMS

2017-05-04T13:05:00.001-07:00

This July we will see Christopher Nolan's newest work "Dunkirk", a story about Allied Soldiers trapped on a beach (Dunkirk) as they are surrounded by surrounded by German forces in WWII. Nolan's films are known for their complexity and their mind-bending twists. Surely, this film will be a quality work, as he's given us nothing but just that. In honor of his return to the big screen, we rank his 5 best films (no spoilers). This list includes only films that he directed and/or wrote.

5. The Prestige (2006)

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The prestige, starring Christian Bale, who will be a frequent name on this list as he has worked with Nolan several times, Hugh Jackman, and Rebecca Hall, was a film following two rival magicians (Bale and Jackman) as they compete in the Victorian era to one-up each other in the world of stage illusion. This film has a great cast, and the two leading men gave one of the best performances of both of their careers. The story was brilliantly written, and of course, included the signature mind-blowing twist. This is a film that is often overlooked, perhaps because it's dramatic to the point where it's not for everyone. But nevertheless, it was an extremely well-done work.

4. Batman Begins (2005)

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Batman Begins was the first of Nolan's Batman Trilogy. What makes this film great is that for die-hard Batman fans and the casual superhero fans alike, it is the first time a filmmaker has taken on Batman's origin. This was the first film to depict the step-by-step path that Bruce Wayne followed to become Batman. A risky endeavor, but one Nolan succeeded in. This was also the most realistic superhero film we had ever seen. This version of Batman had impressive gadgets, of course, like the infamous grappling hook and other high tech military devices. But he was entirely reliant on his combat skills and stealth. On top of that, this film was casted brilliantly. Christian Bale was a uniquely rugged Bruce Wayne, while Michael Caine was the perfect fit to play Alfred. Morgan Freeman was perfect for his role as Lucius Fox, and Gary Oldman absolutely crushed the role of Jim Gordon. The villain, Scarecrow, portrayed by Cillian Murphy (another person on this list more than once, we'll also see him in Dunkirk) delivered an excellent performance of the intelligent and sinister villain. Though he wasn't physically intimidating, he was certainly terrifying.

3. Inception (2010)

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The beauty of Inception was it's uniqueness and complexity. Another all-star cast for Nolan (That's a common theme) with Leonardo DiCaprio at the helm, and Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Tom Hardy, Ellen Page, Marion Cotillard, and Cillian Murphy in supporting roles. The performances of DiCaprio and Cotillard in particular were stunning. DiCaprio's character is the leader of a team who hacks into people's dreams and steals information from their subconscious. His character has a dark and painful past, that you learn more and more about as the film goes on. Given this past his character is noticeably broken and suffering, a role DiCaprio plays extremely well. The source of his characters' pain and suffering is his wife, who was played by Marion Cotillard. Cotillard had a very limited amount of screen time, but her character was crucial to the plot, which made her performance so valuable. Cotillard was chillingly creepy, at one point staring into the camera as screeching violins play loudly in the background. It was extremely eerie, and that was very powerful. The best part of this film was the unbelievably complex details of the story. This is a film where you really have to pay attention to every minute in order to understand, but that's easy because it's so captivating. And, of course, you'll go into the credits questioning everything you ever thought you understood about dreams and the human subconscious. It will leave you with questions and curiosity. And with those, a lasting impression. This was, in my opinion, one of the single most genius films of all time.

2. Interstellar (2014)

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I've mentioned Nolan's knack for mind-bending themes that leave you in disbelief, this film brought that to a whole new level. Personally, I walked out of the movie theater with a blank face unable to even articulate the cinematic experience I had just gone through. This wasn't the first film about space travel in order to find a suitable planet for the future of the human race, and it certainly won't be the last. But Interstellar was so much different than anything before it, and it would be extremely difficult to make anything like it ever again. Yep, you guessed it, this film also had a fantastic cast. The two main characters were played by Matthew McConaughey and Anne Hathaway, both Oscar winners. In supporting roles were household names including Jessica Chastain, John Lithgow, Michael Caine, and Casey Affleck. When actors of that pedigree are in supporting roles...wow. Nolan worked with some of the top astrophysicists in the world to make this film as scientifically accurate as he could while still allowing for creativity. Nolan delved into concepts of time that were unheard of to the average person before seeing this film. On top of all of this, it is perhaps the most emotional film he has ever done. It has several moments that could produce tears from even the most stoic of individuals. But in the end, you walk away feeling inspired. "Inspiring" is by far the best way to describe this film. It takes the concept of the human race being one that is destined to explore, discover, and evolve, and applies it to futuristic theories. This is an absolutely unreal film because like inception, it leaves a permanent mark, but at an even greater level.

1. The Dark Knight (2008)

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This is certainly Nolan's most popular film, and is also widely regarded as his best. The sequel to the previously listed Batman Begins, The Dark Knight built on top of the brilliance of the former, and completely shattered expectations. This film absolutely blew away both the common viewer and critics as well. The great cast from the previous film was only made better by the additions of Aaron Eckhart portraying Harvey Dent, and the infamous portrayal of the Joker by Heath Ledger. Ledger's performance was transcendent, winning him an Oscar for best supporting Actor. Not only did Ledger play a role far different than he had ever done before, but he completely changed the identity of the Joker. The Joker is one of the most well-known and respected villain characters in all of film, so Ledger's ability to re-brand the character was astonishing. The Dark Knight created a knew sphere for superhero films in many ways. This film proved that superhero films could have complex and respectable story lines, substantive characters, and appeal to anyone, not just "comic book nerds". that is perhaps the greatest accomplishment of this film, it's ability to reach more than just the niche market most would have expected it to. Because of reputation, innovation, creativity, and extraordinary acting, this film earns the number 1 spot on this list. And frankly, it wasn't much of a debate.

WHAT DO WE WANT FROM STAR WARS: THE LAST JEDI?

2017-05-04T11:58:00.003-07:00

This Christmas, we will see the next installment in the Star Wars Saga, "The Last Jedi". Because of the success of "The Force Awakens" this film has unimaginably high expectations. "The Force Awakens" gave us everything we wanted and more. Even for the most intense Star Wars fans, it was surprisingly impressive. It over achieved. However, "Rogue One" was a bit disappointing. It was a good concept, but it wasn't all that exciting. The combination of those two films, and how they did, create these high expectations for the next installment. But what do we really want out of this film? Do we want it to be as much of a parallel to "The Empire Strikes Back" as "The Force Awakens" was to "A New Hope"? Or do we want something different? and what specific things do we HAVE to see?

One thing we can all agree that we want to see is Rey developing her Jedi skills. She has proven to have monumental potential, so to see what she can really do is exciting. Ideally, a considerable amount of time will have passed since the previous film, so that we can see a stronger Rey. The trailer showed her practicing her lightsaber skills, so that's encouraging. Considering the natural talent with the force that she showed in the previous film, that will be her strength. Hopefully, Rey will have become at least a slightly more formidable Jedi.

Just as much as Rey's improvement, Kylo Ren's is something we should all hope to see. From the moment he froze that laser in the opening sequence of "The Force Awakens", we knew his abilities could be unmatched by anyone we have seen before. Though disappointing in lightsaber battle, his force powers were exciting. On top of all of that, he has killed his father, removing one of the two things keeping him from fully embracing the dark side. Now, just his mother is left to slow him down. But with the death of Carrie Fisher, we may just see the demise of her character, giving Kylo Ren the opportunity to go all the way to the dark side. His character development could very well be the most important theme to this film. And it is important to remember that if they are following the same story landscape as the first trilogy, the dark side will be the victorious side in this film, just as they were in "The Empire Strikes Back".

(A selfish and overly-specific desire of mine is a montage scene flipping back and forth between Kylo Ren and Rey training in their different ways to battle each other with intense dramatic music playing....come on, that would be unreal)

The other thing we want is answers to all of our questions. Who are Rey's parents? What the heck does Luke mean when he says "It's time for the Jedi to end"? Why did Kylo Ren go bad? Who or what is General Snoke? Is Finn okay? There are so many questions going into this film, and we want answers. But do we want the answers to all of them? No, because that wouldn't be any fun. So what questions WILL be answered? We know the question of Rey's parents will be, thanks to JJ Abrams. And deep down, if we had to pick one, that's the one we all really want ASAP.

Most of all, what we really want out of this film is a dramatic, action packed film, and we want it to be darker than the previous. It has to be darker, and that seems all the more likely with the movie poster pictured above, and the red outline of the logo rather than the traditional logo. This film likely won't be as uplifting and inspirational as the last, but that's a good thing. We don't want "The Force Awakens" again, we want "The Last Jedi".

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THE TRUTH ABOUT LATE NIGHT TV

2017-05-04T11:14:00.000-07:00

The world of late night TV has undergone a massive renovation in the last few years. With legendary hosts like David Letterman and Jay Leno retiring at essentially the same time, this industry was sure to experience a period of adjustment. The new faces to the network shows, Stephen Colbert on CBS and Jimmy Fallon on NBC weren't really new faces. But they weren't Letterman or Leno. For that reason, and that reason alone, they have stood against intense scrutiny. Fallon is too goofy for some people, his show doesn't have enough substance and depth. Colbert, on the other hand, has the opposite issue. He's not as funny as Fallon. In fact, some view him as a conventional news anchor struggling to play the role of a comedian. In reality, both of these hosts are doing exactly what they're being asked to do.

Jimmy Fallon has been criticized for being a "YouTube bit host" with goofy surface level interviews that really carry no weight. He asks funny questions, plays funny games, and gives funny commentary during his interviews. He doesn't ask the really tough questions, instead he does things like rub Donald Trump's hair. No, Jimmy Fallon doesn't ask tough questions. He doesn't share his opinions very much. He doesn't get political. Why? Because that's not his show. That's not him. Jimmy Fallon is being unfairly criticized for doing what he does best. The vast majority of his fans love his show so much for exactly these reasons. In a world where politics is everywhere, he's an escape from all of the tension. He's made a successful endeavor to dominate YouTube, getting millions of views on his clips. Jimmy Fallon is winning at the game he's trying to play, not losing the game critics wish he was playing.

Stephen Colbert had a rough start on his show. But what was seen as a tragedy for over 65 million Americans in November was a blessing for Colbert: Donald Trump. Colbert took on the duty of being Donald Trump's biggest critic, and he's killing it. Like Trump or not, the constant barrage of jokes and insults Colbert makes at Trump's expense are working. His show's ratings and viewership have both skyrocketed. As a result of all of this, he is visibly more confident on his show, and the entire product is better. He's catering to what people have shown him they want, the right thing to do. Colbert has been brilliant, and yet he's still criticized for not being funny enough. He is funny, in fact he's hilarious, but his comedy caters to a different audience than others. What should be remembered is that he's not trying to be as funny as other shows, he's trying to be Stephen Colbert.

Jimmy Kimmel has masterfully positioned himself in between Fallon and Colbert. He's both hilarious and depthful. Just this week he gave a heartfelt monologue about his newborn son, who underwent open heart surgery, to make a point on healthcare in the United States. Kimmel is the host to watch if you want a little bit of everything. He'll toss in some politics one second, and then the next he'll make a goofy vulgar joke to lighten the mood again. Kimmel is all about balance, because that's who he is.

No matter who the host is, late night TV MUST make their audience laugh. No one wants to stay up until 11 do watch a dry, stone faced host review the news of the day. Late night TV is meant to provide people laughter and happiness to conclude their day. All of the hosts on TV make people laugh, they just make different people laugh. When we expect these hosts to all follow the same rules is when they lose what makes them great. We shouldn't ask Jimmy Fallon to get super political. We shouldn't ask Stephen Colbert to lighten up and play the "Wheel of impressions". And we shouldn't ask Jimmy Kimmel to choose between one of the two. In a time where we are so easily able to access what we want, that's what we should do. Watch whichever host you choose, but don't expect them to all be the same. Their goal is not to match each other, it is to make their own show. And they're
succeeding.

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THE NBA IS GIVING FANS A REASON TO HOPE AGAIN

2017-05-04T08:24:00.002-07:00

In the early 2000's, the NBA's future looked both uncertain and uncomforting. The average fan would have said that the leagues best days were behind them. This era had historic teams, of course, like the San Antonio Spurs who cemented Tim Duncan and Gregg Popovich as Hall of Famers, the dominant and controversial Shaq & Kobe Lakers, the re-branded Pistons, and a few other good characters. Despite there being great talent at the top, the NBA was going in the wrong direction. Whether you agree or not, it had the image of a "thug league". For example, if you were to really think about the early 2000's NBA for a few minutes, the "Malice at the Palace" incident would surely come to mind, what does that say? However there was one beam of hope. A figure of hope. An 18 year old from Akron, LeBron James. "The Chosen One". LeBron carried the burden of being the catalyst to save the NBA and restore its greatness. Every step of the way, he has done just that. LeBron led the NBA to a new era of greatness. It may not go down in history as an era quite as magical as the 80's or 90's, but it might be close. For the first time NBA fans can look at the league and see a bright future.

Anthony Davis, Giannis Antetokounmpo, Kyrie Irving, Karl Anthony-Towns, Devin Booker, Kristaps Porzingis. What do all of these players have in common? They are all under 25 years old. There is extreme talent in this next class of NBA stars, and each year we get 2-3 sure eventual All Stars out of college. We're still waiting on Ben Simmons, Joel Embiid has shown what he could become, Brandon Ingram is widely regarded by coach's and GM's, and this years draft has 5-6 players that are expected to immediately contribute. 3 years from now, these players will all be approaching their primes. Yes, APPROACHING. There is so much potential in the NBA under 25 club it is undoubtedly exciting.

Now to the next class of players, the one that came before the above. We have Russell Westbrook, Kawhi Leonard, Kevin Durant, James Harden, Paul George, Jimmy Butler, Steph Curry, John Wall, and so many more. All of these players are under 30 years old. Which means they have a lot more time to improve and assert their prowess. Harden and Westbrook proved this year that they're capable of the unimaginable. Kawhi Leonard has continued to legitimize theories that he is not of this Earth, and he's got one of the greatest coaches and front offices of all time behind him. Durant is arguably the second best player in the world, and now he's playing alongside another top 10 player in the league in Steph Curry, who also by the way will probably go down as the best shooter of all time. Paul George and Jimmy Butler are two of the more versatile players in the league, both could really rise to the top if they seek or receive assistance. Which, by the way, is less shameful than ever before since LeBron and Durant did just that. John Wall has made people say "Where did this come from?!" in these playoffs, an athletic freak who averaged a double-double this year, he too could use some assistance. If he get's it, watch out. In 3 years, these players will be in the midst or in the tail end of their primes. They still have time to get better, and they'll be seasoned veterans. Not bad options to have at the top.

And finally, the single greatest boost of hope for NBA fans: LeBron is still getting better. For fans, the one word that best fits this reality is "Exciting". For the rest of the league: "Terrifying". LeBron is having perhaps the best season of his career this year. Averaging 27-9-8, and continually chopping away at playoff records (He will almost undoubtedly end this year as the all time leader in playoff points, the second all time leader in assists, and the all time leader in steals). This was supposed to be when LeBron was going to start slowing down. Nope. So, what reason does anyone have to think he won't still be great in 3 years? He's already proven his body defies biology. He still gets his head above the rim 3 times a game and is the fastest player on the court. He still bodies even the biggest of big men and finishes through any contact. And best of all, he has proven that he's completely willing to take pay cuts and change his game to allow room for help. We thought LeBron hit his ceiling, he has shown us that ceiling is much higher than we thought.

With all of these things in mind, "hope" can once again be a word used in discussion on the NBA. The future looks bright, and fans are ready to see just how bright it becomes.

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FILM REVIEW OF "PATRIOTS DAY"

2017-05-02T12:38:00.001-07:00

Films based on true events are never easy. Seemingly inevitable is the back lash the film gets from all sides of inaccuracies, prejudices, or suggestions of the promotion of conspiracy theories. What's even harder is depicting an event that occurred shortly prior to the film.

Patriots Day took that challenge head on. The film follows a Boston police detective portrayed by Mark Wahlberg during the events leading up to, during, and after the Boston Marathon Bombing. That's the only background I'm going to give, because you all know what happened on that fateful day.

Throughout the film the viewer is given a glimpse into the lives of several victims of the tragedy, as per usual for a disaster film. In this case however, it was more touching because we knew their fate, we knew that this really happened to people, and it happened not long ago at all. In many films about tragedies, even true stories, the clear difference in time almost takes away some of the pain. But watching this film was like watching something that happened yesterday. Seeing people with their smart phones, seeing the high tech police technology being used, it was fresh. Even more so, even myself only 21 years old, remember that day. I remember seeing the horror on the news. That made the emotional effect of this film so much more impactful. That's what films are meant to do, touch you and illicit an emotional response, in that regard this film succeeded.

What I would have liked to see from the film that was absent was a deeper look into the lives and minds of the terrorists. One of my favorite aspects of film is the ability to explain the psyche of a villain. To humanize them in a way where there is still no forgiveness, no remorse for their own downfall, but at least a slight understanding of how they felt and how they thought. That was not apparent in this film. They did seem to highlight the youthfulness and immaturity of the younger Tsarnaev brother, but that was really it. In no way do I think they should have portrayed them positively, they don't deserve anything positive. They are murderers. However humanization I feel is important, and that is far different. At the same time, since the event is so recent and and the wounds so fresh as I mentioned before, they may not have had much choice.

I mentioned that I remember these events vividly, so to my surprise there were things that happened in the film that I didn't see coming because I wasn't 100% informed on the events. The film caused me to pull out my phone and look up a timeline of the events as I asked myself "did that really happen?" For example the shootout and the terrorist's use of explosives that happened in a suburban neighborhood, I had no idea it got to that extreme of a level. I also had no idea they were THAT close to escaping to New York, and the brave actions of a foreign college student were the only thing that stopped them. Any film that can enlighten the viewer did some good, and that is even more important for films based on real events.

The film ended in what in my opinion was the perfect way: David Ortiz's address to the crowd at the Boston Red Sox's first game back after the bombing. And even more satisfying, without censorship of his words. I felt it was important to include his exact words in the film. Because with the use of the "F-word" it was raw passion.

This film was great in many ways. It made the viewer think, feel, mourn, and then hope again. I am from upstate New York, and I went into the credits with a feeling of Boston Pride. The filmmakers achieved what every filmmaker hopes to achieve. Not entertainment, not excitement. Though those things are great, they're surface level. What they achieved was passion, emotion, and hope.

Rating: 8/10

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