SDCC ‘LUKE CAGE’ Trailer May Be Marvel’s Best – Also, ‘IRON FIST’ and ‘DEFENDERS’ Teasers!


Marvel’s Netflix corner of the MCU looks as though it will continue to blossom (not that anything can really grow in Marvel’s version of Hell’s Kitchen or Harlem).

At San Diego Comic Con Thursday, Marvel Studios unveiled trailers for their next three (3!) Netflix Series. To be fair, they range from as teaser-y as you can get to full-on-bad-ass action sequence.Comic Con SDCC Luke Cage Trailer Mike Colter Car DoorFrom what I have seen thus far, Marvel’s Netflix series (which are part of the official MCU of Marvel Studios Movies & Television – one shared universe) have been of the highest quality, standing toe to toe with the best films that feature any combination of Avengers’ Members. Daredevil raised the bar as far as what a superhero on TV could be, how dark Marvel Studios would go, and further proved the company can make any character interesting. Then the Studio doubled down with Jessica Jones, stepping back from the Superhero Genre into the shadows of Film Noir/ Detective Genre, all while upping the ante as far as darkness and reinventing a nearly unknown comic character. And while Daredevil is good, Jessica Jones is great,  even featuring one of the top 3 villains in all of the MCU; Kilgrave (David Tennant) alongside Loki and Baron Zemo.Comic Con SDCC Luke Cage Trailer Mike Colter Bring It Bullet HolesThis new, full Luke Cage trailer carries on the tone of Marvel’s “Defenders” shows (more on The Defenders in a bit), with a hallway action sequence that brings Daredevil Season 1’s famous shot to mind, but presents a completely fresh tone in a Guardians of the Galaxy or Ant-Man manner. Existing more as a scene than a full “theatrical” trailer (they actually do call longer TV Show Trailers that now), the San Diego Comic Con trailer for Luke Cage may be the best trailer the studio has cut in either medium. It does appear to lean more toward the Superhero Genre than Jessica Jones, though.

After a sabotaged experiment leaves him with super strength and unbreakable skin, Luke Cage (Mike Colter) becomes a fugitive trying to rebuild his life in modern day Harlem, New York City. But he is soon pulled out of the shadows and must fight a battle for the heart of his city – forcing him to confront a past he had tried to bury.

Watch it now, then onto Iron Fist and The Defenders!

Luke Cage (Mike Colter) certainly looks like he will be kicking ass AND taking names to a few jams come September 30th.

Not surprisingly, Marvel and Netflix had more to share at Comic Con, the 4th show in their Defenders Universe, following Luke Cage.Iron Fist SDCC Trailer Danny RandIron Fist doesn’t look nearly as good as Luke Cage, Daredevil, or Jessica Jones, but it is just a 51 second teaser showing me glimpses at characters and powers I don’t recognize. After all, Iron Fist is the hardest sell, as the most unknown of the characters appearing on Netflix similar to Guardians of the Galaxy, while also being the least grounded and hardest to sell, like Thor.

Returning to New York City after being missing for years, Daniel Rand fights against the criminal element corrupting New York City with his incredible kung-fu mastery and ability to summon the awesome power of the fiery Iron Fist.

I give you, Finn Jones as Danny Rand/Iron Fist.

Which finally brings us to The Defenders, as I promised. The Defenders lies at the end of Marvel’s Netflix version of Phase 1. Just as all four  Avengers were introduced one movie at a time (with Iron Man receiving two movies) before their team up film, these four Netflix characters that protect Hell’s Kitchen in their respective television seasons (with Daredevil receiving two seasons, as well) will assemble to form THE DEFENDERS! Marvel’s more brutal Heroes brought together and allowed to go into R-Rated territory, brought to you by Disney!

Marvel’s The Defenders will unite Daredevil, Jessica Jones, Luke Cage, and Iron Fist, as they face their biggest threat yet.

Here’s that most teaser-y of teasers you’ve seen since The Dark Knight teaser trailer!

No footage this early on, and is that voice over even from the show? Because have they started it yet? I am unsure, but it is a tease of a teaser as promised.

There you have it, teasers for the remainder of “Defenders: Phase 1.” There’s a bright, beautiful Marvel future out there, friends, even without going to the Cinema (though you should probably continue to do that too).

Podcast #20: Say, Would You Like A Chocolate Covered Pretzel?


Nick and Andrew have a full plate this week, starting with trailer talk about ‘Mission Impossible – Rogue  Nation,’ and the latest ‘Avengers: Age of Ultron’ TV Spot.

Tangents abound, our heroes hit topics like ‘Mallrats 2,’ the ‘Legend 0f Zelda’ Netflix show (or lack there of), Star Trek villain rumors,  live action ‘Star Wars’ TV Show rumors, which as always, a trip down superhero lane with ‘Batman Vs. Superman: Justice Begins’ rumors.

Rumors may be the theme of the week…

Some Extra ‘Daredevil’ Screen Grabs


I grabbed a bunch of… well… screen grabs from the latest ‘Daredevil’ trailer. Too many for the article showcasing the trailer.

So here are the rest!

Wilson Fisk / Kingpin (Vincent D’Onofrio)Wilson Fisk / Kingpin Cleans Up Daredevil Netflix kingpin artKingpin Radios  Daredevil Netflix

Who’s on the other side of that radio?Daredevil on the Radio Netflix

 

It’s Matt Murdock / Daredevil (Charlie Cox)!Matt Murdock in Court NetflixDaredevil in the Hall on NetflixDaredevil in the Rain NetflixDaredevil / Matt Murdock's Profile on Netflix

 

Action!Gunfire on Netflix's DaredevilExplosion on Netflix's DaredevilDaredevil Fights In The Rain on Netflix

 

Daredevil’s Origin ImagesDaredevil Origin Accident Netflix Battlin' Jack Murdock, Daredevil's Father Netflix

 

And the Mysterious Man with the CardsQuestion Mark Card Daredevil NetflixThe Man with the Cards Netflix DaredevilHouse of Cards Daredevil Netflix

That’s all I have for now, kiddies.

‘Daredevil’ hits Netflix on April 10th.

 

Official ‘Daredevil’ Trailer Is Feature Quality (Again)… AND Brings Us Kingpin


I said it before (when the teaser trailer dropped) and I can safely say it again after watching the official trailer for Netflix and Marvel Studios’ ‘Daredevil;’ it looks like we have the equivalent of ‘The Dark Knight’ in the Marvel Cinematic Universe on our hands. And a show with a truly cinematic scope and style.Daredevil Fights In The Rain on Netflix

Don’t get me wrong, I have no delusions that ‘Daredevil’ will be as good as DC’s ‘The Dark Knight,’ but the trailer still reminds me of ‘Batman Begins’ none-the-less. And that is a fantastic thing!

Unlike Marvel’s ‘Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.’ and to a lesser extent, ‘Agent Carter,’ ‘Daredevil’ is the 1st MCU show that doesn’t feel nor look like TV. It plays like it has the effects and intensity of a more down and gritty Marvel movie, but with the bonus of 10 episodes instead of 2 hours (2 and 1/2 if you’re ‘Age of Ultron’).Daredevil Jumps Through A Window on NetflixUnlike the globe-trotting/Earth saving, “Captain America and his colorful friends,”* Daredevil (played by Charlie Cox) sticks to the streets of his city, Batman style: Hell’s Kitchen in NYC.

But it doesn’t mean his struggle is any less intense then his could-be-eventual-allies’ silver screen adventures.

Watch the trailer now!

 “I have to be the man this city needs.”

Hmmm, Matt Murdock/Daredevil, that sounds like something Nolan’s Batman would say…

It’s not a copy, it’s just the darkest we’ve seen the MCU get, a trend that will continue with all five planned Netflix series: ‘Daredevil,’ ‘AKA Jessica Jones,’ ‘Luke Cage,’ ‘Iron Fist,’ and then the ‘Avengers’ style team up, ‘The Defenders.’

The UK rated ‘Daredevil’ a 15 (we here in the US don’t rate Netflix programming), the closest to ‘R’ that Marvel Studios has ventured. Mike Colter, who plays the title character of his own show, claims ‘Luke Cage’ will be equally dark and gritty.Matt Murdock's Scars on Netflix

Yet, the trailer doesn’t let you forget ‘Daredevil’ is part of the MCU:

“Maybe if he had an iron suit or a magic hammer, that would explain why you keep getting your asses to you.”

Why not get the whole NY gang together?
Why not get the whole NY gang back together?

Maybe one day, he’ll join the Avengers. Or, even cooler, why not have ‘Daredevil’ and ‘Spider-Man’ cross paths now that the web-head is part of the MCU? They’re both dedicated to saving NYC and would make interesting allies.

Whatever ends up happening with the Daredevil character down the line, it sure looks like Marvel Studios and Netflix are off to a great start!

Marvel’s ‘Daredevil’ hits Netflix on April 10th!

* Quoted from Baron Von Strucker in the mid-credit sequence for ‘Captain America: The Winter Soldier.”

It’s Time To Cancel Cable! And DirectTV! And Dish Network! Etc.!


My favorite IMPRACTICAL JOKER, Q, also from the genius podcast TELL 'EM STEVE-DAVE
My favorite IMPRACTICAL JOKER, Q, also from the genius podcast TELL ‘EM STEVE-DAVE

Do you pay for cable? DirectTV? Dish Network? (Is Dish Network still a thing?)

Fool of a Took!

The future  is now! And ‘now’ is the age of “Menu” TV! Between Netflix, Hulu (free Hulu, not even Hulu+), iTunes and/or Amazon Instant play, you can watch every show you love, and NEVER pay for any sort of cable service again!

Trust me, I’ve lived using the “Menu” model of TV for years, last paying for Time Warner Cable in 2009. In my past 3 years in Colorado, I have NEVER paid for Comcast (besides the internet service I am on now) and have still watched all my favorite shows from BREAKING BAD to AGENTS OF S.H.I.E.L.D. to IMPRACTICAL JOKERS.

My Days as an NBC Page
My Days as an NBC Page. I put the ‘cock’ in Peacock, baby!

During my year at NBC Universal as an NBC Page (yes, like Kenneth on 30 ROCK), I learned a great deal about cable. It didn’t hurt that I was working there during the period in which GE handed off the NBC keys to Comcast.

The basic idea behind cable is this; you pay the cable company (Time Warner, Comcast, etc) and a certain fraction of your payment goes to each and EVERY network. (Well, each corporate conglomerate that owns channels: Time Warner, Fox, Viacom, Disney, and Comcast’s NBC Universal gets paid.)

Based on the viewership of each channel, your money is distributed accordingly. ESPN is a channel that always reaps a big percentage of the pie for Disney. If MTV is having a good year due to shit like JERSEY SHORE, than Viacom gets a bigger cut.

You are paying for every channel! Every show! Even the ones you never watch!

And the show/channel you like the best may only be getting pennies compared to the shit you can’t stand.

Continue reading “It’s Time To Cancel Cable! And DirectTV! And Dish Network! Etc.!”