Dark Yet Stunning Batman V Superman: Dawn Of Justice Teaser Arrives

He's a god amongst men and on the flipside stands a man whose infamous cape and cowl have seen him stalk the shadows of Gotham for years - but now the ultimate showdown must commence between two heroes.

Batman V Superman: Dawn Of Justice has already tempted us with its dark delights in previous trailers, but this little teaser - leading up to a new trailer reveal in just a day - looks the business.

A captured Bruce Wayne is unmasked by Henry Cavill's Superman as the ultimate in face-offs slowly comes to a head. It's brilliant marketing, heightening the tension and ensuring that this one if going to be a smackdown like few others.

Watch the new teaser below in all its glory.

Interview - The Flash star Danielle Panabaker

Source: blastr

*Originally posted at Filmoria* 

Danielle Panabaker has seen her career slowly blossom over the years, from minor appearances in horrors such as The Ward, The Crazies and Friday the 13th, a regular spot on television show Shark, to becoming a regular fixture on hit show, The Flash. Having led her latest film, the sci-fi mind-bender Time Lapse, we had the opportunity to speak to the bubbly and immensely friendly actress about the film and also tried to get more information about season two of The Flash...

How did you first get involved with the film, Time Lapse?
I was at SXSW a number of years ago with a film I did then called Girls Against Boys and Lee and Coop [the writers] saw the film and Q&A and I came onto their radar. They then wrote the script and a couple of months later asked me if I would be interested.

This is a very clever and unique take on the time travel element; is this what drew you to the project or was it something different?
When I was first approached I was very impressed with how the guys had so much into this film and how they had really cleaned it up. As an actor what was incredibly appealing to me was the layers and the twists throughout the movie.

Did you enjoy working with what is a predominantly male cast? Do you enjoy representing that strong presence for women on-screen?
It's funny, it hadn't occurred to me until you mentioned it, but they were all great guys and it was nice to have them to collaborate with.

The film takes place, for the main, in one location. Were there limitations to this or was it more advantageous?
The location was found because it was about to be torn down, so we managed to rent it out and make it our own for the film. We rented out various apartments, for example, one for the grip room, one for the sound room, and it made it that easier to make it very much customised for the film's purpose. It was actually a real luxury to have such a location.

How does filming a television show compare to working on a movie?
There is something different about it. On television you are obviously working at a certain speed as you have to have an episode done in eight or nine days so there's everything to do whereas in films you have the whole run of the production. I think there are some luxuries of working on a television show and on a low budget film, but every situation is different.

Was it nice to move on from minor horror movie roles to a character who is very much in the core of the film and has many layers?
It was. The character and the ability as an actor to play with lots of different layers and innovation was great.

You recently attending Supanova (comic convention) in Australia; how fun was it to meet and interract with the fans?
It was great. I feel so lucky that people enjoy the show [The Flash] so much and even feel compelled to say hi and introduce themselves. The Australians were all so friendly, I was expecting them to be much more rambunctious and rowdy! It was so nice to see everyone and it was invigorating with us going back into production for season two. To get that interaction can be very motivating at four o'clock in the morning when you're standing on set!

Talking of The Flash, how has the show impacted on you considering the mass fan base it has already built up?
It is overwhelming and so flattering that people in so many places have responded well to the show. I just feel very grateful. It's not something we necessarily experience when we're shooting but it was great to meet some fans and it's amazing that these stories connect with people internationally.

With so many unanswered questions and twists in Season One of The Flash, what can we expect from Caitlin in Season Two?
I'm really excited with what you can expect from Caitlin. The first episode of season two is going to be a doozy because it's going to include some changes as well that are really going to affect Caitlin. I'm excited and hopefully season two will see her out of S.T.A.R. Labs a little bit more...

That sounds very exciting! If you could sum up and tease what we can expect from the next series what you you say to fans?
I'm not allowed to reveal much as I will get into big trouble with the producers! We've already received emails warning us, so the fact that we've received them should tell you that they have so many great things in store.

Finally, Grant Gustin says that Superman is his favourite superhero, who is yours?
I think Mums are superheroes, those are definitely my superheroes!

Man Of Steel: My Dark Knight of superhero movies

It's somewhat of a fact that whenever I get a glimpse of it on the TV listings or I'm purely out for a superhero movie to fill a spare two hours, Man of Steel is my one-stop solution. For all your Avengers, Batmans and beyond, MoS is the superhero outing that resonates most with me, with its stark ambition, pure scope and ultimate entertainment. 

Of course, many will disagree profusely to my claims that is among - if not the - best superhero offering out there, but allow me to divulge my thoughts and give you a number of reasons why this really is my Dark Knight of the genre. 

Origins 

You only have to look at Marc Webb's The Amazing Spider-Man and the opinions towards that film to see that recycling an origin story tends to be a risk. With Zack Snyder's Superman rebirth, that risk proved a calculated one as he brought to us a thoroughly realised and refreshed version of Kal-El's first steps to becoming a hero. Most notably, Snyder's showcase of being a true visionary came through his representation of the dying Krypton, a vast, awe-inspiring planet staggering in its scale and exceptional in detail. Needless to say, the cries for a Krypton-focused spin-off movie soon followed. 

The new Clark Kent

There's no arguing that Henry Cavill built up an incredible physique to be rightly considered for the role of Krypton's famous son, but his all-round performance makes for enthralling viewing. Channeling the heroics of his super-powered alien nature, while maintaining that human core with some truly grounded moments, Cavill's Superman is the superhero we all know, but with an added depth we've rarely witnessed. 

Flashbacks

The way in which Snyder and his scribe David S. Goyer dealt with Clark's past is one of the most refreshing things about Man of Steel. The growing pains of evolving within a school environment as someone very different from others, the careful mentoring from Earth father Jonathan and beyond, there are some strong flashback sequences ripe with emotion. These make for a wider approach to the nature of Clark Kent and the man he will become.

Multiple nods

Skyfall did it incredibly successful in recent times, as well as many others, but Man of Steel too gave us a handful of neat little Easter eggs and treats throughout its duration, some whetting the appetite for future endeavours. From the little touches such as Sullivan's farm (one for the Smallville fans), the Luthercorp and Wayne Enterprises inclusions, and even a hint of Cavill-Reeve face transformation, this film knows it's fan base and treated us aplenty.

The threat

We all know Kryptonite is Superman's big weakness, so when it was announced it would be left out of MoS there was rightly some questions raised. Thankfully, this was dealt with both intelligently and in a way to keep this new iteration on course and not veering too far away from its source. With that perfectly arranged, the key threat came in General Zod and his followers, with Michael Shannon in suitable dark and dangerous form. While he scowled and stalked his way through a successful villainous venture, there was a superb support act in Antje Traue, proving that women too can hammer home in the villain stakes. I sincerely hope we see more of Faora more in the future.

The bigger picture

One of the qualms many had regarding the film was the mass destruction caused by Supes in his attempts to take down Zod. Personally, I found that this showcased the sheer God-like nature of the Kryptonians, cementing their brutal abilities in some enthralling action sequences. It too proved that Warner Bros and its staff have a long-game in plan, with Superman at the core and his actions consequenting in retaliation (Batman vs Superman being the start). We all know Superman should be saving lives, avoiding destruction etc but clearly this has been utilised in order to play out a much bigger scenario down the line. One can imagine Batman will have something to say about his satellite being destroyed, let alone the levelling of Metropolis. Next year will no doubt put some of the doubters to rest.

There are many more reasons I could go into but for now I think this is a justifiable list to explain why I honestly believe Man of Steel among the best in the superhero stakes. Agree or disagree it would be great to get your views.

Man Of Steel Gets A New Poster

I cannot deny I am one of those superhero fans that has always stood by Superman. Christopher Reeves' efforts in the suit have always remained iconic, albeit the sequels gradually turning down a rather laughable path, but the son of Krypton has always been my favourite.

Even through what some people thought was a poor return in Superman Returns, I rather enjoyed the man of steel back on the big screen and am hugely anticipating the return of DC Comics' finest hero in Man Of Steel. 

After a teaser trailer that did a great job of ramping up the excitement and a nifty close-shot poster of new man in the cape Henry Cavill, a new poster has recently been released and boy is it an interesting one. Click here for my story on the new poster via Filmoria.

Cinema Review - The Dark Knight Rises

As one of the most celebrated directors in the business today, Christopher Nolan has done what many people thought unimaginable. Like a phoenix from the ashes, the Batman franchise has been transformed from the infinitely hammy (I’m talking about you, Batman & Robin) to a stunning real world representation of one of DC Comics’ finest. Opening with Batman Begins, Nolan set the bar high with a superb origin story of how Bruce Wayne came to become Gotham’s cowl-wearing savior and instilled a breath of fresh air into proceedings. 

Once he had cracked the nut, Nolan went on to greater levels with The Dark Knight. With Christian Bale continuing his reign as the lead character, and Heath Ledger given the task of bringing a new age Joker to screen, expectations were at a high and audiences were far from let down. Ledger put in a career defining performance as a chilling and dark nemesis for Batman and the continuation of real world issues, coupled with a distinct level of darkness helped the film become one of, if not the, best comic book hero movies of all time. Needless to say, The Dark Knight Rises has been the most anticipated film of 2012 so does it live up to the abominable hype?

Eight years after the events that saw the death of Gotham District Attorney Harvey Dent, it appears the city is in a state of peace, with the 'Dent Act' in place seeing a staggering fall in crime levels. A place now revelling in a state of calm, Gotham no longer needs Batman in Bruce Wayne's eyes and following the death of his true love, Rachel, lives as a recluse in Wayne Manor, avoiding any outside contact. 

When he encounters a thief within the manor, breaking into his almost impenetrable safe, Bruce sets out to discover the mystery of the woman's identity and, in turn, uncovers a new and brute force waiting to take over Gotham and unleash pure destruction and chaos, Bane.

Christopher Nolan's final return to the streets of Gotham City and into the world of Batman is once again a piece of cinematic mastery. To follow such an astounding entry as The Dark Knight would be an unbelievable task for any director, no matter their reputation, and once again he does not fail to deliver a film that will go down in history as a modern classic.

Dark, gritty and unrelenting, TDKR is a tale of the highs and lows of an individual in the role of a hero and certainly manages to continuously convey the highs and lows through some intense and emotional scenes between some of the main characters, most notably Bruce (Christian Bale) and Alfred (Michael Caine). From Bale and Caine's emotively strong exchanges to the slick and sexy purrings of Anne Hathaway's Selina Kyle, the dialogue is a treat and, despite his voice appearing odd at times, even Tom Hardy as Bane is given some extra meat with some truly scary instances of dialogue.


As well as exceptional talent on display in the acting department, TDKR once again showcases a willingness to keep the viewer on the edge of their seat with a pulsating change in direction throughout, from the gradual catch up events in the first half hour to the stunning final hour. Nolan is a man who knows how to draw his audience in and he never lets up in giving us what we want.


Whilst not quite matching the magic of The Dark Knight, Nolan's final Batman movie is another instance of his pure genius and brings a poignant and utterly satisfying conclusion to the darkest saga in comic book film history. 


Film rating: 5 out of 5 F's

Cinema Review - Green Lantern

DC comics' films have been very few and far between compared to the comic book-to-movie juggernaut that is Marvel. With Batman and Superman (in the very near future) carrying the torch for the company it was time for a new player to enter the game, in the form of Green Lantern. 


With 'Mr Charisma' Ryan Reynolds in the role of Hal Jordan supported by Gossip Girl's Blake Lively on paper the green hero didn't really have much going for it, with more of a teen drama look about it. But if there was one man to bring the Lantern to screen it was Martin Campbell, the man who brought to screen possibly one of Bond's greatest outings. Unfortunately this was far from the case.


The film opens with a somewhat convoluted world of characters explained in a little less than a few minutes, where we are introduced to the planet Oa, home planet of the Green Lantern Corps. The Corps contain an individual from each sector of the universe who have the responsibility of retaining peace and order. Some time ago, one of the Green Lanterns, Abin Sur, defeated a fearsome enemy known as Parallax and imprisoned him, only for the bringer of fear to escape in present day and fatally wound the Lanterns' most influential protector. 


Abin Sur, close to death, crash lands his ship on Earth and is soon found by irresponsible test pilot Hal Jordan. It soon becomes apparent that the ring that all Green Lanterns wear has chosen the first ever human to join the Corps after Abin Sur passes away. Jordan is then transported by the ring to Oa where he experiences the world of the Green Lanterns and becomes acquainted with some of the warriors from other galaxies including Tomar-Re (voiced by Geoffrey Rush) and Kilowog (voiced by Michael Clarke Duncan). Finally he meets the leader Sinestro (Mark Strong), who opposes the idea of a human as a Lantern. 


After the news of Parallax's escape is confirmed by Sinestro, a galaxy-wide search begins for the evil fear-bringer. Meanwhile on Earth, an autopsy of Abin Sur's body by Dr Hector Hammond (Peter Sarsgaard) unleashes an evil, with a sample of Parallax's DNA from the body of the hero transferring to the doctor. This evolves constantly inside Hammond and eventually he gains powers of mind control, fuelled by the fear-inducing DNA inside him. 


Hal is soon summoned into action by this evolution in Hammond and is forced to protect the woman he loves, Carol Ferris and the people around him before the bigger threat of Parallax arrives on Earth, hell-bent on ridding the galaxy of the planet. His time to prove himself as a Green Lantern arrives. 


After viewing various trailers for this superhero romp the expectation levels were not high at all and following the viewing of this film nothing changed. It is fair to say that Campbell has created nothing more than an average film, with few positive points to surface. Granted, the CGI used can look impressive at times but is immensely over-used and it is almost as if Campbell is trying to stick two fingers up at Branagh's Asgard, albeit greatly underwhelming compared to the Marvel option. 


Reynolds is in usual lead character form, with humour ruling over all else and his jokes soon grow tiresome, the pick of the worst being a reference to Toy Story's Buzz Lightyear. Equally, if not more disappointing is Lively as love interest Carol Ferris, wooden, uninteresting and easily spared, Lively does not command her scenes whatsoever and is an unnecessary distraction. 


One outstanding performance does shine though, and that is from the hugely underrated Peter Sarsgaard, who portrays the unwanted Hector Hammond pristinely as a tormented soul under the influence of evil. Despite Sarsgaard's stellar performance, Lantern's villain duo is weak and hardly threatens our main hero with much oomph. 


DC comics foray into new territory for viewers is a welcome change but unfortunately such a complex universe as Green Lantern's required much more explanation and depth. Reynolds and Lively are far from perfect in the lead roles and a pitiful villain all contribute to what is just another below-par superhero film.


Film rating: 2 out of 5 stars


Closing comments: Green Lantern is easily forgettable amongst many far superior superhero outings on the big screen. Ryan Reynolds should have stuck with Marvel and focused solely on adapting Deadpool.