Where are the Women in “Victor Frankenstein”?

There have been numerous film adaptations of Mary Shelley’s gothic/science fiction novel “Frankenstein“, three in the last two years alone. The main focus of these films is always the relationship between Victor Frankenstein (‘The Creator’) and Frankenstein’s creation (‘The Monster’). Where “Victor Frankenstein” deviates from this narrative is that it focuses on the relationship between Frankenstein and his assistant, Igor (who is not in the original novel).

Like the novel, however, the sole female character is there to be saved by the male protagonist, encourage the protagonist in his endeavors, and assure him how brilliant he is.

Warning: Spoilers ahead

Jessica Brown Findlay and Daniel Radcliffe in ‘Victor Frankenstein’

“X-Men: Days of Future Past”: Was Cutting Rogue Necessary?

Before “X-Men: Days of Future Past” was released in May 2014 Director Bryan Singer revealed he cut various scenes from the film involving Rogue.

Anna Paquin as Rogue in ‘X-Men: Days of Future Past’ The Rogue Cut.

Many fans were eager to see the contactual mutant on screen again, but Anna Paquin‘s character was reduced to a brief cameo in the theatrical release.

The Rogue Cut, now available on DVD

In July, Fox released an alternate version of the film titled The Rogue Cut. The new release added 17 minutes of unused footage, involving a subplot in which Rogue is rescued by Magneto and Bobby Drake. Rogue then uses her powers to take the place of a wounded Kitty Pride in maintaining Wolverine’s conscious in 1973.

Paquin recently admitted she didn’t mind being cut from the film and is eager to work on future “X-Men” projects.

Rogue sending Wolverine’s consciousness to 1973.

Overall, the Rogue subplot doesn’t add much to the story, so I can kind of see why they decided to cut it. But I would have liked it if they kept those additional scenes. The entire X-Men franchise revolves mainly on the characters Magneto, Xavier, and Wolverine and I enjoyed seeing Rogue take a role in the films after eight years.

Have you seen The Rogue Cut? What are your thoughts?

Women are Scarce in “Midnight Special”

Last week, Warner Bros. released the first trailer to its new Sci-fi Drama “Midnight Special”.

The film is about Roy (Michael Shannon) and his “gifted” son Alton (Jaeden Lieberher) who are both on the run. The two are the targets of a nationwide manhunt, both religious extremists and the government are after the boy with special powers.

Mighty Morphin Power Rangers Movie Finds All New Cast

If you’re a ’90s kid you may have heard that last May Lionsgate announced it would be producing a reboot movie of the Mighty Morphin Power Rangers. So rejoice children of the 90s, your favorite superheroes are finally returning!

Sadly, Amy Jo Johnson and the rest of the original cast will not reprise their roles. Instead, a cast of fresh young actors will play the power rangers in a new take on the MMPR origin.

Photo by Power Rangers Movie on Instagram.

Photo by Power Rangers Movie on Instagram.

The movie is scheduled for a January 2017 release. Follow the powerrangersmovie on Instagram for updates.

While I’m excited that a part of my childhood is returning, I fear any changes Lionsgate makes could damage the franchise. Will the film be targeted towards younger audiences or appease the adults who grew up with these characters?

What are your thoughts on the new cast? Let me know in the comments!

In the meantime, to gratify you until the movie’s release, watch the explicitly dark “Power/Rangers” fan film that had the Internet buzzing earlier this year.

Warning: the following film is rated R

What Does it Mean to be Human? Quantic Dream Releases Teaser for “Detroit: Become Human”

I’m not particularly into video games, I’m simply too impatient for gameplay. I just want to get right to the story and don’t want to jump through hoops to find out the plot and the ending. For this reason I prefer to watch movies, but every once in a while I will find a video game whose story piques my interest.

What’s the newest video game to catch my interest? “Detroit: Become Human.”  Quantic Dream and Sony released the teaser trailer for this video game on Oct. 27.

Android Kara. Photo by Quantic Dream.

The Deterioration of the Women of “Back to the Future Part II”

Today is Oct. 21, 2015, also known as Back to the Future Day. So bust out your hover boards everyone, we’re in the future now.

Doc pointing to the DeLorean time machine’s dashboard.

In “Back to the Future II” (1989), Doc Brown, Marty McFly, and his girlfriend, Jennifer Parker, travelled to this date to save the future McFly Jr.

In spirit of this cinematic holiday, I decided to rewatch “Back to the Future II.”

While other blogs will tell you what BTTF got right or wrong about 2015, here are reasons why BTTF II set back the women in the film franchise.

Star Wars: The Force Awakens Reveals Resilient Female Protagonist

The long-awaited full-length trailer of “Star Wars: The Force Awakens” premiered today.

What did we learn from the new trailer?

About the plot, not much.

However, the trailer for the seventh installment in the “Star Wars” franchise prominently features a new character, Rey (Daisy Ridley). From the amount of screen time she received in those two and a half minutes, we can assume that she will be our new protagonist.

Pride and Prejudice and Zombies: Women Kicking Ass in Skirts

Pride and Prejudice and Zombies film poster.
photo courtesy of Screen Gems

The long-awaited “Pride and Prejudice and Zombies” teaser trailer is finally here!

Based on Seth Grahame-Smith’s novel, which parodies the Jane Austen feminist classic (“Pride and Prejudice“), the film stars a slew of women as badass zombie killers.

The film stars Lily James (Elizabeth ‘Lizzy’ Bennet), Bella Heathcote (Jane Bennet), Suki Waterhouse (Catherine ‘Kitty’ Bennet), Ellie Bamber (Lydia Bennet), and Millie Brady (Mary Bennet).

The Bennet sisters in the Pride and Prejudice and Zombies trailer. Photo courtesy of Screen Gems.

As reported by EW, Lena Headey (“Game of Thrones”) will also make an appearance in an unnamed role.

Lena Headey as an unknown character in Pride and Prejudice and Zombies. Photo courtesy of Screen Gems.

Here’s hoping that “Pride and Prejudice and Zombies” will prove to Hollywood that women can kick ass.

The film is scheduled to be released on February 5, 2016 in the US.

Watch the teaser below:

Meet the Women Who Helped Bring ‘The Martian’ Home

This past weekend I saw “The Martian“. Despite the movie’s overwhelming male presence, several women stood out vital to the story.

Adapted from Andy Weir’s novel, the film is about astronaut Mark Watney (Matt Damon) who is stranded on Mars after his crew presumes him dead. With no way to contact Earth or his crew members, Watney uses ingenuity to survive.

Though the majority of the film revolves strictly around Damon’s character, who takes up the most screen time, Watney’s rescue is owed to the women of the film.

Warning: Spoilers ahead.