by admin | Jun 8, 2025 | Articles, Cinemablend Articles
SPOILER WARNING: The following article contains a few light spoilers from Ballerina. If you have not yet seen the John Wick spin-off, be wary of the consequences as you continue to read on.
I have said before that I believe the John Wick movies make up the greatest action franchise of all time. I am happy to say that, in my opinion, director Len Wiseman’s new Ana de Armas-led spin-off, Ballerina, is anything but damaging to that reputation.
However, I must say that I was surprised by just how different the new 2025 movie is from the modern action movie classics that precede it. It is still a relentlessly action-packed revenge movie that even sees Keanu Reeves reprise his iconic role of the famed, troubled assassin, but what makes it stand out from the rest is the fighting style, which is not at all what I expected from it. Allow me to explain…
John Wick movies, the first word that always comes to mind for me is “balletic.” The eponymous anti-hero lives in a world full of warriors who deliver combat that, while brutal, somehow boasts a sense of picturesque grace and seemingly rehearsed elegance that would fit in a production of Swan Lake. I assumed I would see more of that in a spin-off called Ballerina, but I turned out to be wrong.
Ana de Armas’ Eve Macarro starts training in the arts of both ballet and contract killing as a child, which had me convinced she would utilize her skills as a dancer while conducting “business.” However, any sense of a balletic performance style starts and ends at the stage, because Eve fights in a way that I would describe as dirty, scrappy, and even clumsy. Yet, that is actually one of my favorite things about Ballerina.
flame-thrower duels, slicing people up with ice skate blades, and breaking plates over her adversaries’ faces.
Echoing Eric Eisenberg’s Ballerina review, I went into the film with relatively low expectations, considering how this is the fifth installment in a beloved franchise, and a spin-off at that. Luckily, while I would still rank it pretty low among its predecessors for some ridiculous plot twists and, to be frank, the ultimately unnecessary inclusion of Reeves as Wick, it still greatly exceeded those expectations by delivering some of the best action of the year so far.
by admin | Jun 8, 2025 | Articles, Cinemablend Articles
The world of John Wick is expanding with the newly released spinoff film Ballerina, which follows Ana de Armas’ Eve Macarro as she embarks on a revenge-fueled path. While the 2025 movie release is definitely Eve’s film it also features the Baba Yaga himself, played by the returning Keanu Reeves. As much as excited as some fans may have been to see Reeves reprise his famous role, though fellow franchise veteran Chad Stahelski honestly didn’t want him to return. So that begs the question of why it happened regardless.
Having directed all four of the John Wick films and served as a producer on the series as well, Chad Stahelski knows more than a few things about this beloved IP. So, at this point, he’s definitely not shy about voicing his opinion when it comes to details he’s not too fond of. The Ballerina producer spoke to THR, during which he confirmed that he wasn’t keen on Wick himself popping up in this latest story. While Stahelski didn’t dive deep into his reasoning, he was “honest” in admitting the benefit of having the character in the mix:
Lionsgate is trying to prop up a new character, Eve, with this latest film. So it would make sense for the execs and filmmakers to try and give the spinoff a bump by having Wick play a supporting role. I’m not sure what the producer’s exact concern was in regard to adding Wick to the story. Maybe he was worried that having the infamous assassin pop in might take the shine away from Eve. That would be a genuine concern, but I’d argue that Wick doesn’t step on Eve’s toes too much.
Ballerina may muck up John Wick’s timeline a bit, but it’s hard to deny the sheer awesomeness that results from the film’s chronological placement. Without getting too specific, Wick shows up a few times in the film, with his initial appearance being part of a more personal scene. Of course, as the trailers and TV spots have teased, he and Eve come to blows in a big way, and the sequence makes the movie tickets well worth the price of admission.
However, fans should know that just because Keanu Reeves reprised his role for this latest spinoff, it doesn’t necessarily mean he’ll return in other offshoots. Chad Stahelski went on to confirm to THR that Reeves will not appear in the film focused on Donnie Yen’s Caine. Stahelski went on to explain why he’s not worried about having the franchise’s signature character appear in that flick:
Despite that, there is good news for those who are hoping to see Wick appear once more. John Wick: Chapter 5 was officially announced earlier this year and, while Chad Stahelski says it may not be completely set in stone, he believes Lionsgate is going to “will it into existence.” I look forward to seeing more of the character but remain hopeful that other characters, like Eve and Caine, can carve out their own paths alone as well. For now, check out Ballerina in theaters, and be on the lookout for upcoming action movies.
by admin | Jun 8, 2025 | Articles, Cinemablend Articles
Action and adventure are still stocked plentifully on the 2025 movie schedule, as well as in the world of video games. But one legendary name has once again made waves in recent headlines: Bond, James Bond. With the release of 007 First Light’s announcement trailer landing with quite a splash, IO Interactive’s new title for current gen consoles was missing something important: a cast list.
And yet, the internet thinks it’s figured out who’s playing the titular role in the game formerly known as Project 007. Whether they’re right or not, I think there’s a potentially bold strategy that could be at play, provided Amazon-MGM Studios is game (see what I did there?).
Redditors Think Patrick Gibson Is The New (Digital) James Bond
Reddit board that contained a compelling case that the Dexter: Original Sin star is our man. If this turns out to be true, then the 30-year-old Gibson will be playing what IO Interactive claims to be “the youngest Bond fans have ever met.”
Paramount+ subscription stunner and Ian Fleming’s legendary creation. But that’s what’s inspired me to break with tradition and suggest that Amazon-MGM Studios could (or at the very least should) be considering a wild move as they contemplate what’s going on with James Bond 26.
Goldeneye self-tape auditions done by Henry Cavill and his contemporaries. I say that with apologies to all who auditioned in that same manner, but seriously, watch the trailer again and tell me I’m wrong:
Those reports of Amazon-MGM Studios’ youth skewing James Bond strategy would be foolhardy to ignore. And despite 007’s decade-plus absence from the gaming sphere, the still iconic Goldeneye 64 has helped keep the British end up for this legacy, even when we don’t know who the next Bond will be.
Even I, a person who still bears the scars from 007: Legends, would like to see Patrick Gibson be given a shot at earning his number. Provided, of course, that 007 First Light’s story and gameplay are as spruce. We’ll have to wait until the that title is released at some point in 2026, which is exactly when the new James Bond would need to be unveiled in order to make Bond 26’s rumored 2027 release window.
by admin | Jun 8, 2025 | Articles, Cinemablend Articles
Pride Month is here, which of course means there’s a lot more rainbow-colored posts are being shared social media by celebrities and such. However, let’s not forget at its core, the month is about uplifting LGBTQ+ people. Laika Studios highlighted the visibility of queer folks in its own way by finally introducing fans to the boyfriend of the Mitch’s boyfriend teased in 2012’s ParaNorman. And, following this sweet reveal, I’m going to need the studio to make a sequel involving the gay couple.
Laika Reveals Mitch’s Boyfriend From ParaNorman
Over a decade ago, the stop-motion-centric studio did something unprecedented. The filmmakers had the jock character Mitch (voiced by Casey Affleck), who the cheerleader Courtney (Anna Kendrick) pined pining over, reveal at the end of the film that he has a boyfriend. However, viewers didn’t actually get to meet him, until now! Check out the YouTube video below:
Character Reveal: Mitch’s Boyfriend – ParaNorman | LAIKA Studios – YouTube
Watch On
Laika has made a lot of good movies over the years, from Coraline to Kubo and the Two Strings. Yet, with ParaNorman, not only did the company make another sweet horror movie kids can watch but one that also involves LGBTQ+ representation. Other studios like Disney, for example, hasn’t included many queer characters in its movies and queer representation on TV has also been decreasing, per analysis that’s been conducted. So while it’s great that Laika is celebrating pride with Mitch’s boyfriend, now I need to see a sequel with the two characters in it.
The first movie is all about Norman, an 11-year-old who finds out he can speak to the dead, and I think there’s plenty of sequel potential given that premise. I’d love to see Mitch and his boyfriend interact in the aftermath of Courtney finding out about their relationship. I also think the world Chris Butler created is rich enough to have another horror-inspired adventure involving the supernatural elements that surround the town of Blithe Hollow, Massachusetts.
Another ParaNorman movie with Mitch and his BF would be a nice addition among new LGBTQ+ movies. At the very least though, I’m pleased that Laika gifted fans with this reveal to celebrate Pride Month. The studio’s next movie is called Wildwood, and it’s set to hit theaters sometime in 2026.
by admin | Jun 7, 2025 | Articles, Cinemablend Articles
Considered one of the best movies of the 2000s, and one of the coolest if you ask me, Ocean’s Eleven is truly iconic. That’s mostly thanks to the Ocean’s Eleven cast, which was led by George Clooney. To this day, I think he could be considered a heartthrob, but during the early 2000s, he was really making people swoon, as Joshua Jackson illustrated while telling the story behind “the single coolest movie star thing” he’s ever witnessed.
While Joshua Jackson’s filmography proves that he’s a star in his own right, during a chat on The Rich Eisen Show, he opened up about “the single coolest movie star thing” he’d ever witnessed, and centered around George Clooney. Jackson, who was best known for Dawson’s Creek at the time, was one of the great cameos in the film’s poker lesson scene. While they were filming, he found a way to “weasel” into a conversation with the Danny Ocean actor, director Steven Soderbergh, Brad Pitt and more.
Netflix subscription), and I’m such a big fan of everyone in the ensemble that I likely would have had the same reaction.
To that point, The Mighty Ducks actor also noted that people swooning in front of his co-star must have been a common occurrence, because:
Jackson went on to say that he really couldn’t believe what he saw. He also leaned into the fact that Clooney is known for his pranks by saying that “if it was a setup, bully for him.” Either way, he was blown away, and now he’s been telling this story for over two decades.
It’s a pretty epic one, too! To witness George Clooney, a sexiest man alive and charismatic movie star, literally catch someone who was in love with him is remarkable. Plus, add on the fact that they were casually talking about shipping motorcycles to Italy while filming a movie that’s now a classic heist film, and you have one hell of a tale.
So, yeah, if I were Joshua Jackson, I’d have been telling this story for the last 25 years, too.
by admin | Jun 7, 2025 | Articles, Cinemablend Articles
It’s wild to think it’s been almost a decade since the latest of the Pirates of the Caribbean movies came out. On top of that, it’s also been over 20 years since the blockbuster franchise began. Despite how much time has passed though, Disney’s swashbuckling franchise remains a treasure for the studio, and within Orlando Bloom’s career. As the British actor recently promoted 2025 movie release, he recalled the time he needed to be convinced to play Will Turner. Not only that, but he also dropped thoughts on reprising his famed role.
Orlando Bloom Almost Turned Down Pirates Of The Caribbean For Being A ‘Crazy’ Idea
Earlier this year, Bloom spoke about having “a lot of respect” for his time on the Pirates movies. The 48-year-old actor also revealed — while promoting his new film, Deep Cover — that it actually took some convincing for him to buy into the concept of the film series. As he recalled to L’Officiel:
Geoffrey Rush (a.k.a. Captain Hector Barbosa of the Pirates series) on the film Ned Kelly. It was on that set that Rush assured Bloom it was a good idea to take the role, and now the latter jokes:
Johnny Depp and Kiera Knightley in four out of the five Pirates of the Caribbean movies. To this day, Will remains one of Bloom’s most beloved movie characters right behind Legolas in The Lord of the Rings films. I’m sure he’s grateful he listened to Rush!
Orland Bloom Shares Thoughts On Returning To The Pirates Franchise
That brings us to the future of Pirates of the Caribbean, which has remained in flux ever since the fifth movie hit cinemas in 2017. Over the years, there have been a lot of reports about what’s going on with the franchise. There have been claims that suggest both a reboot and continuation to the series starring Johnny Depp are in the works. Here’s what Bloom told ITV’s This Morning about his thoughts about returning as Turner (via Wales Online):
At the end of 2024, it was confirmed that there are two scripts for Pirates 6 in existence, one with Depp’s Jack Sparrow and one without him. And, earlier this week, there was buzz regarding a rumor about Depp being in “advanced” negotiations with Disney to play the beloved pirate once again. At this time, we’re definitely taking those claims with a grain of salt for now. Nevertheless, it’s great to hear that Bloom is still up for more years after nearly turning down the franchise’s original film.
As we speculate about what could be next for Pirates of the Caribbean, see Orlando Bloom in Deep Cover, which lands on Amazon Prime Video on June 12.
