In just over 24 hours, the official trailer for Martin Scorsese’s The Wolf of Wall Street has received over 1.2 million hits on YouTube.
The film, based on the memoirs of Jordan Belfort (the real “Wolf of Wall Street), stars Leonardo DiCaprio, Jonah Hill and Matthew McConaughey as stock brokers who have more money than they know what to do with. Unfortunately they didn’t get it all legally, and the fun eventually comes to and end when they are investigated by the SEC and FBI. However it looks like a majority of the film focuses on the good times in-between.
Release Date: November 15, 2013
Watch the trailer for The Wolf of Wall Street:
Synopsis: A New York stockbroker refuses to cooperate in a large securities fraud case involving corruption on Wall Street, corporate banking world and mob infiltration.
Director: Martin Scorsese Writers: Jordan Belfort (book), Terence Winter (screenplay) Stars: Leonardo DiCaprio, Jonah Hill, Matthew McConaughey, Jon Favreau, Spike Jonze
In Columbia Pictures’ White House Down, Capitol Policeman John Cale (Channing Tatum) has just been denied his dream job with the Secret Service of protecting President James Sawyer (Jamie Foxx). Not wanting to let down his little girl with the news, he takes her on a tour of the White House, when the complex is overtaken by a heavily armed paramilitary group. Now, with the nation’s government falling into chaos and time running out, it’s up to Cale to save the president, his daughter, and the country.
Director: Roland Emmerich
Cast: Channing Tatum, Jaime Foxx, Maggie Gyllenhaal, Jason Clarke, Richard Jenkins
White House Down opens Friday, June 28!
Use the contest app below to “like” ReviewSTL on Facebook - then tweet, share, or comment for additional entries!
Winners will be chosen at random from all entries. Supplies are limited. Limit one (1) pass per person, passes admit (2) two. Sponsor’s employees and their dependents are ineligible. Screening is overbooked to ensure capacity. Please refer to passes for any other possible restrictions. NO PURCHASE NECESSARY.
Screening will take place Tuesday, June 25 at Wehrenberg Des Peres 14 (7pm).
The story revolves former United Nations investigator Gerry Lane (Pitt), who traverses the world in a race against time to stop a pandemic that is toppling armies and governments and threatening to decimate humanity itself.
Directors: Marc Forster
Cast: Brad Pitt, Matthew Fox, Mireille Enos, James Badge Dale, David Morse
WORLD WAR Z opens Friday, June 21!
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Winners will be chosen at random from all entries. Supplies are limited. Limit one (1) pass per person, passes admit (2) two. Sponsor’s employees and their dependents are ineligible. Screening is overbooked to ensure capacity. Please refer to passes for any other possible restrictions. NO PURCHASE NECESSARY.
Screening will take place Tuesday, June 18 at Wehrenberg Des Peres 14 (7pm).
Winners will be chosen at random from all entries. Supplies are limited. Limit one (1) pass per person, passes admit (2) two. Sponsor’s employees and their dependants are ineligible. Screening is overbooked to ensure capacity. Please refer to passes for any other possible restrictions. NO PURCHASE NECESSARY.
Screening will take place Thursday, June 27 at Wehrenberg Chesterfield Galaxy 14 (7pm).
Just a couple of hours ago, CBR received breaking news that Keith Giffen, JM DeMatteis and Kevin Maguire are reuniting to bring us Justice League 3000. They are the team responsible for Justice League International in the 80s.
The book will be drawn by Howard Porter, who is no stranger to the Justice League. Porter has worked on books like Extreme Justice, JLA, DC Secret Files, JLA Classified – and most recently Superman Beyond. Take a look at the artwork that was just released, including: Batman, Superman, Wonder Woman, Flash and Green Lantern.
Batman (Justice League 3000)
Superman (Justice League 3000)
Wonder Woman (Justice League 3000)
Flash (Justice League 3000)
Green Lantern (Justice League 3000)
As we can see from the images, Justice League 3000 is exactly what it sounds like; the heroes we know and love will exist a thousand years into the future. The Batman design is similar to the one in Batman Beyond, which is pretty cool.
It is no secret that Kevin Smith is a huge comic book fan. He owns Jay and Silent Bob’s Secret Stash in Red Bank, New Jersey, has written several comic books, and does a weekly podcast on Batman – “Fat Man on Batman.”
Sometimes when there is a big enough comic book movie or event, Smith will divert from the caped crusader for a special podcast episode. This week, Smith and “Hollywood Babble-On” co-host Ralph Garman tackle Superman in Man of Steel:
Jun 16, 2013 – In the Fat Cave this week, we check in on the other half of the World’s Finest fighting duo, and discuss Batman’s partner in crime-fighting – the Big Blue Boy Scout from Metropolis, Superman! As the Last Son of Krypton dominates the box office in MAN OF STEEL, we celebrate the return of the Big S with a podcast nearly as long as the movie itself! With Special Guest Villain Ralph Garman!
Every June a mass of game developers, journalists and retailers converge on the L.A. Convention center for 2 days. E3 is widely considered one of the biggest – if not the biggest – video game convention in the world, with a weekly attendance easily surpassing 40,000 people. Because of its size, it can be a massively daunting experience to some people; information is constantly coming out and it’s easy to miss something. Well fear not readers! I have rummaged through the colossus that is E3 to bring you the best of what the show offered.
New Consoles, Yeah!
This E3 was particularly special because Microsoft and Sony released all the juicy details of their new consoles. Below is a fact sheet courtesy of DeviantArt user yamamoto114:
As we can see, the PS4 has a massive price difference than the Xbox One. Also worth noting that the PS4 has no used, or sharing, game restrictions and is region free – allowing service members and travelers to take their PS4s anywhere they desire. The PS4 also will allow people who also own Vitas to wirelessly stream any game to their handheld device. Gone are the days of pausing a game to use the bathroom. The future is now, ladies and gentleman.
Microsoft has received a lot of bad press surrounding the Xbox One – particularly on its online requirements and game sharing and ownership rules. Sadly, Microsoft chose not to address any of these issues during its press conference. However, despite all the bad news, one feature coming to the Xbox One may redeem it for most of its faults. The Xbox One is reported to have some sort of ‘Family List’ that you can add up to 10 people to. The people in your list will have access to any games you have bought for yourself. So for instance, if I get Watch Dogs and I add my friend to my list, he can log onto his console at his house and play my copy of Watch Dogs without any restrictions. That’s kind of cool.
Sweet, what about Nintendo?
Nintendo didn’t have any new console announcements, but they definitely played to their strengths and announced quite a few new titles for the Wii U and 3DS.
New Wii U titles: Yoshi’s New Island, Wii Party U, Wii Fit U, Super Mario 3D World, Super Smash Bros., Sonic Lost World, Pikmin 3, New Super Luigi U, Mario Kart 8, Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker HD, Donkey Kong Country: Tropical Freeze,X, and Bayonetta 2. Some big names are in there, most notably Super Smash Bros, Donkey Kong Country, Mario World, Mario Kart and Zelda.
The return to their core franchises is a smart move by Nintendo. As of late, Wii U sales haven’t reached Nintendo’s expectations. In part due to product confusion – people simply don’t know the Wii U is a next-gen Wii – and a lack of titles to draw people in. With the return of the big names, I think the Wii U will be a big seller this holiday season. I know I’ve been convinced to buy one now. I can’t resist Donkey Kong and Mario Kart. Nintendo knows my weaknesses.
Also for you 3DS fans out there, Pokemon X/Y, Phoenix Wright: Ace Attorney – Duel Destinies, The Legend of Zelda: A Link Between Worlds, and a handheld version of the new Super Smash Brothers.
The Games of E3
Every E3 has its share of games that ‘wow’ us and those that disappoint. And sometimes there are a few surprises thrown in to keep things fresh. Below is a list of games to look forward to with videos to each. I recommend at least checking out Tom Clancy’s: The Division, Battlefield 4, Destiny, and Watch Dogs.
So there you have it. It was an exciting E3 with technical glitches, boos, cheers and surprises. Stay tuned to ReviewSTL for my ‘Best of E3’ picks where I’ll go into more detail on the games I’m most looking forward to!
I am a big Superman fan. When it comes to DC comics, he is only second to Batman – because let’s face it, Batman is the best. But in all seriousness, Superman is an amazing superhero. He is also an American icon, who has fought for truth, justice and the American way for over 75 years.
Leading up to the big release for Man of Steel, I found myself watching trailer after trailer, hunting for new stills, hoping to get a glimpse of our hero in his new red and blue. When the first teaser trailers came out, narrated by Russel Crowe and Kevin Costner, they nearly brought tears to my eyes. They were perfect. Those teasers still send chills through my body, even after seeing the film twice.
The second official trailer came out, and gave us our first real look at the film. We see young Clark Kent, and get a glimpse into his struggle with being different. “You just have to decide what kind of man you want to grow up to be Clark,” Jonathan Kent tells him. “Whoever that man is, he’s gonna change the world.” It just kept getting better and Better. And the third trailer was no exception, and is probably one of the best trailers I have ever seen. I hadn’t been this excited to see a movie since The Dark Knight Rises.
When it came time to finally see Man of Steel, stakes were high and expectations were even higher. Zack Snyder, Christopher Nolan and Warner Brothers built this film up so much for me that they had better deliver. And when I left the theater, there was no doubt it my mind that they had done it.
So why were so many negative reviews coming in? Why were the top critics around the country split down the middle on Rotten Tomatoes? Was this not the best Superman film ever made? Many would argue no. Until convinced otherwise, I would say yes. Spoilers ahead.
One of the biggest complaints that i am hearing, which is getting an overwhelming amount of the blame, is the ending. If you are reading this, you should have already seen the film, and know that Superman kills General Zod. Zod threatens the lives of several humans who are caught between him and a battle with Superman, and aims his heat vision directly at them. Superman has him in a choke hold, and begs Zod not to do this. But in the end with Zod’s promise to kill every human on Earth, and his sights no more than a foot away from his victims, Superman has to make a decision that he had never hoped to – to kill.
If you or anyone was in the position that Superman was in, what would you do? By choosing not to kill Zod, which would have ultimately meant the death of several others on a smaller scale, is that not killing? By making the choice not to save a life, are you taking one? That is a philosophical question that is up for debate, but in either case that is the one that Superman faced at that very moment. And he did something that he obviously regrets having to do, as he yells out in agony after the deed is done. But what other choice did he have?
You can argue that Superman should have never been put in that position in the first place, never having to make the choice. But even so, look who he was dealing with. Zod is from Krypton, chosen to be a warrior, and has trained for years to do so. He was literally born for it. Physically, he is Superman’s better. Even though Superman has had more time to adapt to Earth’s conditions and understand his powers, it doesn’t take long for Zod to figure it out. And it makes sense; again, Zod was the general of the entire army on Krypton. How could someone with no military training compete with their physical equal, who was bred to kill. And I commend Superman for doing as great as he did. The point is, if Superman didn’t kill Zod he would have killed those innocents there – and wouldn’t have stopped until either he or everyone on Earth was dead.
Now let’s look at Superman’s past. For those who are saying the film went against everything that Superman stands for, let’s look at what he has done in the source material and previous films.
In Superman #22 (1988) by John Byrne, he kills the three Kryptonians after they commit mass genocide. The choice was no easier to make then, but it is once that he has to live with.
In Superman Volume 2 Issue 75 (1993) Superman has to make the decision to kills Doomsday, or let him kill countless humans. He even says, “For Lois… and Jimmy… For this ENTIRE CITY… I’ve got to put this guy away while I still can!” He isn’t talking about putting him behind bars. In the end, he kills Doomsday – ultimately sacrificing his own life for the lives of the people he loves.
In Superman 2 (1980) Kryptonians Zod, Ursa and Non escape from the Phantom Zone. They come to Earth, forcing the president to kneel before them and plan to enslave the planet. After taking Lois hostage, Superman lures them to his fortress of solitude (with the help of Luthor). There he tricks them into losing their powers, and defeats the three of them.
Superman crushes Zod’s hand, throws him hundreds of feet in the air and lets him fall to his death. Non tries to fly and attack Superman, and he lets him fall to his death. Lois actually kills Ursa, by punching her and letting her fall to the same doom as Non. The argument can be made that we never “see” them die, as we do in Man of Steel, but I think the demise is obvious with their powers gone and them falling from such heights.
Superman does not ever want to kill. But he also does not want to let people to die. Saving people is pretty much what he is all about, and if it comes down to making the ultimate sacrifice – it is a decision that is not taken lightly. You can make the argument that Superman didn’t kill for 50 years in the comics. But remember that this is a reboot, and Superman didn’t have 50 years before killing Zod. This is a young Superman, one who hasn’t had decades to come to terms with his powers and why he is on Earth. It shows in the scene where he lets his emotions get the best of him, when Zod threatens Martha Kent. An inexperienced Superman flies through the air full force into the general, pummeling him through buildings and gas stations. He causes explosions, puts the lives of several at risk. This is the Superman we are dealing with, and one that will have to grow as he learns from his triumphs and failures.
Yesterday, Entertainment Weekly wrote an article titled “What ‘Man of Steel’ gets wrong about Superman (hint: that ending).” The first thing you see is this image from Action Comics #583:
Using this as proof that Man of Steel is a failure because Superman kills is absolutely ridiculous. Why? Because the panel happens right after he just killed someone. “I killed him Lois! I Intended to kill him!” Of course Superman “shouldn’t kill,” and nor does he want to. But the fact of the matter is that he has done it before, and he hates himself for it. Here is the entire page, with the aforementioned panel in context:
The question at hand is: with Zod on the loose, and the lives of billions at stake, what would you have Superman do differently. I would love to hear your opinions in the comments.
With 2011 first-round pick Kolten Wong hitting his way through the minors, he was asked to learn to play second simply so the Cardinals could get his bat in the lineup.
Along with shortstop, second base has been the biggest area of need for the Cardinals the past decade. While struggling to make do with the likes of Adam Kennedy and Aaron Miles, the team was so desperate they asked a lifelong outfielder to switch positions, sacrificing defense just so they could have some offensive punch.
After the trade of Skip Schumaker this offseason, they asked a young third baseman who finished sixth in Rookie of the Year voting to follow suit, and I think it’s safe to say Cardinal Nation collectively held its breath. This experiment didn’t work out so well the first time; would the fact that Matt Carpenter was already an infielder help his transition at all?
Apparently, the answer is yes.
We’re roughly 40% of the way through the season, but in the first 67 games so far, Matt has done nothing but play like the best second baseman in the majors, according to Fangraphs. Among all qualifying second baseman, he ranks third in batting average with a .324 average (fifth overall in the National League), first in on-base percentage at .408 (fourth overall in the NL), and third in slugging (.473).
Oh, and his defense? Well, just ask the Mets what they think. According to most advanced metrics, Carpenter ranks above average at second base.
In 114 games and 340 plate appearances last year, he had 87 hits, 22 doubles, 6 home runs, and 34 walks.
In 64 games and 290 plate appearances this year, he has 83 hits, 19 doubles, 5 home runs, and 31 walks. He’s improved his line drive rate while cutting down on his strikeout rate.
Kolten Wong is still mashing at AAA Memphis (.313/.347/.467), and he’s just 22, so he could well still be a future starter for the Cardinals. If Matt can continue to perform at the elite rate he is now, though, Kolten may have to take a backseat.
This is the End hits theaters this weekend. It stars a massive cast including but not limited to Seth Rogen, Jay Baruchel, James Franco, Jonah Hill, Danny McBride and Craig Robinson. The twist is that they’re all playing themselves. They have a great time lampooning their public personas. Some of them play up perceptions (Danny McBride) while others play against them (Michael Cera). While the film offers big laughs it’s not as consistently funny as one might like.
However, this got me thinking about other times people have played themselves on film. So here’s your list…Celebrities Starring as Themeselves.
Sometimes a cameo can resurrect a career. In 2004, Neil Patrick Harris was eleven years removed from Doogie Howser, M.D. He had spent the better part of the decade since its cancellation trying to live down his typecasting. While he had never been without work, he didn’t have what people in the industry referred to as “heat”. He’d been doing voice work for cartoon, guest appearance on episodic television such as Murder, She Wrote and Touched by an Angel, and TV movies like Not Our Son and Stranger in the Family. But it was precisely this wholesome image that made his performance in Harold & Kumar so enticing.
While our titular heroes seek food (and later Guantanamo Bay and then Christmas) they come across NPH. Only, he’s not the clean cut young man we’ve been led to believe. Instead he’s an amoral, drug-using, car stealing narcissist. And he steals the entire movie. So much so that he’s been back for each subsequent sequel.
It’s a turn that, no doubt, helped the creators of How I Met Your Mother envision him as Barney Stinson, a role originally intended for a “John Belushi type”.
In just over 24 hours, the official trailer for Martin Scorsese’s The Wolf of Wall Street has received over 1.2 million hits on YouTube. 
Enter to win a pass for two!
