The summer blockbuster movie season is now upon us (it starts earlier and earlier every year), and if you're anything like me then you're always looking for something unexpected instead of the tent-pole releases.  That isn't meant to insult the studios: it's just an observation that serious moviegoers are always hoping for a new franchise to emerge from the fluff of SciFi, superhero, CGIfests playing on dozens of screens simultaneously.

A little something called Kill Switch dropped its teaser trailer onto the web last week, but I didn't have a few free minutes to check it out 'til today, and it does look to have some potential, though some of its 'found footage' might drive some in the audience to reach for the Dramamine.  Here's what I watched from YouTube.com below, and I hope you like it:
​

As always, thanks for reading ... and live long and prosper!

In case you missed it, all of the popular television networks have begun advertising their incoming properties for this fall's season, and The CW is expanding an already full docket of superhero programming with one more: Black Lightning!  This is yet one more costumed drama coming from wunderkind Greg Berlanti with creators Salim Akil and Mara Brock Akil and is slated to star Cress Williams as Jefferson Pierce aka Black Lightning.

​For what it's worth, this is looking thematically fairly similar to Arrow: the big city is growing criminals faster than it is do-gooders, so the aging Pierce once again dons the mask with a vow to clean up the streets of evil doers but perhaps with a more family-focus.

​Here's the upfront trailer below:
​

As always, thanks for reading ... and live long and prosper!

Regular readers of SciFiHistory.Net know all too well that I was raised a DC Comics man.  This isn't to say that I dislike Marvel's properties; I'm just not as emotionally attached to them as strongly as I am the titles of my youth.  Hence, I've spent much of my life just waiting on some great theatrical interpretations of Batman, Superman, Wonder Woman, and any of the other suited-up heroes on the silver screen.

​Now, Aquaman was never a personal favorite.  Most of the storylines I recall tied his action very close to the various oceans of the world, and I've always thought that was a bit limiting in terms of storytelling avenues.  But it looks like the movies are going to perhaps do both -- give the man under the sea stories for his particular realm but also allow him to join up regularly with the Justice League on land for a share of the action.

​Last week, some photos of the lovely Amber Heard in costume as Mera -- Aquaman's wife and Queen of Atlantis -- showed up on the World Wide Web, and they looked stunning (as does Heard without the spandex).  I'll throw a few links for those interested below, and I strongly encourage fans to check them out at your leisure.

The Los Angeles Times article

The Yahoo Movies article

The San Francisco Chronicle

As always, thanks for reading ... and live long and prosper!

Now, just because the most current installment of the Resident Evil franchise was labelled The Final Chapter you didn't think it was ending, did you?

​Variety has announced that Constantin Films has announced plans to reboot the entire franchise with an all-new series of films (as best as I can understand the short blurb of a news release).  And who knows will be taking over the center seat from the reliable and lovely Milla Jovovich?  I guess there's nothing wrong with a reboot at this point in film history: the Evil films have basically dished out acceptably cinematic violence for a fair price, and -- so far as this writer is concerned -- there just aren't enough female-centric action franchises anyway ... so count me in, though I'll probably do with the reboot as I did with the original in waiting for them to be available on home video as opposed to shelling out serious bucks to see them up on the silver screen.

​As always, thanks for reading ... and live long and prosper!

I've heard it said that a feature production can never have too many adlibs (which speaks volumes for the films of Will Ferrell), but an offhand observation from Mark Hamill to Harrison Ford was so inspired for both men that George Lucas decided to leave it in anyway.  Kudos to Mr. Hamill for -- if nothing else -- remaining honest and true to his craft!

​As always, thanks for reading ... and May The Force Be With You!

It's great that the behind-the-scenes folks involved with Star Wars were aware of possible comparisons to other science fiction films, and they went to great lengths to avoid such comparisons for their own universe.  Perhaps that's what makes Star Wars so unique for its era: Lucas and company wanted a feature that could stand all its own.

​As always, thanks for reading ... and May The Force Be With You!

It is beyond dispute that the original Star Wars pushed the boundaries of what was possible to accomplish on film, but rarely does a feature production push even the boundaries behind-the-scenes of the craftsmen who put the project together.  We've all heard stories of how these unsung heroes made the film come to life, but who knew a union almost kept us from our beloved space opera?

​As always, thanks for reading ... and May The Force Be With You!

"... I just had one of the greatest experiences in my life ..."

That quote -- all by itself -- conveys an incredible sentiment that quite probably many of us can understand and appreciate as it applies to the original Star Wars and its accompanying films.  Certainly, the saga has changed the way movies are made if not even the way culturally we look at motion pictures.  Sure, hardcore fans will always be the butt of jokes for those who don't appreciate our "worship" of the feature, but when you're participating in a phenomenon that has made history it's easy to overlook a little good-natured ribbing.

​As always, thanks for reading ... and May The Force Be With You!​

It's pretty clear that these space-based dogfights were mirrored after an Earthly inspiration, and I think it's massively cool that some fighter pilots had the chance to participate in the process of bringing the big finish over the Death Star to blazing cinematic life for the franchise.  The Prequel Trilogy featured some great aerial battles as well, but as the projects grew exponentially larger the features lost a more human connection that made A New Hope's combat so memorable.

​As always, thanks for reading ... and May The Force Be With You!

In a surprising move, Paramount and CBS All Access dropped the "First Look" Trailer onto the web today for their upcoming web-streaming property Star Trek: Discovery, and I'm posting the YouTube.com linkage below.  For those interested, check it out.  (I'll refrain from making any comments at this time as I'm still doing some research on streaming issues.)
​​

As always, thanks for reading ... and live long and prosper!