Universal has already assembled plenty of star power for its Dark Universe, and it seems they could be looking to add another A-lister, with THR reporting that Channing Tatum is being eyed for the role of monster hunter Abraham Van Helsing. Van Helsing made his debut in Bram Stoker’s original Dracula novel, and has made […]
Transformers: The Last Knight box office struggles, Blade Runner 3, Spider-Man: Homecoming a hit and more – Weekend News Roundup
THE LAST OUTING? Back in 2014, Transformers: Age of Extinction was roundly trashed by critics but the film ended up being the only release to pass $1 billion at the box office that year. It seemed like Transformers was a critic-proof franchise. However the fifth outing, Transformers: The Last Knight, has had a very poor […]
Universal will reportedly lose around $95 million on The Mummy
Yesterday we brought you some comments from Alex Kurtzman, director of The Mummy, who responded to the critical backlash against the Dark Universe-launching reboot, where he towed standard the “we made it for the fans, not the critics” line. Well, it seems that the fans haven’t responded to the movie as well as Universal would […]
The Mummy director fires back, Spider-Man in MCU update, Pirates of the Caribbean passes $650 million and more – Daily News Roundup
NOT FOR CRITICS It’s becoming a cliched response for directors, but Alex Kurtzman has played the “not for critics” card following the poor reviews for The Mummy. Although completely asinine, this isn’t the first time a filmmaker has fired back at critics for not liking their films, claiming they were made “for the fans” (which suggests […]
Alex Kurtzman says he didn’t make The Mummy for critics
The Mummy didn’t exactly have the warmest welcome when it released earlier this month, with critics absolutely savaging the movie. It currently sits at a 16% on Rotten Tomatoes, with the general consensus stating that “The Mummy suggests a speedy unravelling for the Dark Universe.” There have even been rumors, in a frantic attempt to […]
Director John Landis says Universal’s Dark Universe isn’t “respectful of the monsters”
Director John Landis (An American Werewolf in London, National Lampoon’s Animal House) is at it again. Last week he criticized the current state of the Marvel Cinematic Universe while praising the DCEU’s first critical hit Wonder Woman, and this week he is dropping some harsh words on Universal’s Dark Universe that launched last Friday with […]
Reports say Tom Cruise had too much control over The Mummy, and is to blame for its failings
The Mummy was supposed to be the launching pad for Universal’s Dark Universe, a inter-connected world that brought together the classic Monsters from the studio’s history. However a trashing by the press [read our reviews here and here, although Luke Owen loved it on the Flickering Myth Podcast] and a tepid domestic opening of $32 million […]
In Defence of Conventional Storytelling
Henry Bevan defends conventional storytelling… One of the most annoying and backhanded critical compliments is “it’s great but conventional.” So many films met with critical acclaim are often simultaneously bashed for presenting their stories in a popular way. It is lazy and naive thinking to dismiss something as conventional without engaging with why it is. […]
Director Alex Kurtzman intended The Mummy to be a Tom Cruise movie that felt “different and interesting”
The Mummy is officially in theaters, and is currently being mummified by critics (apologies for that). Many reviews have stated that the The Mummy is simply a series of mind-numbing action set-pieces strung together into a feature-length film. Worst of all, reviews have stated that Tom Cruise actually seems bored in the movie. That’s right. Tom Cruise… […]
The Mummy gives Tom Cruise his biggest ever global opening with $174 million worldwide
Universal kicked off its Dark Universe this weekend with the release of The Mummy, and despite mostly negative reviews, the film has given star Tom Cruise his biggest ever global opening at the box office. Domestically, The Mummy disappointed with just $31.5 million, coming second behind Wonder Woman, but it pulled in an estimated $142 million […]
