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Post by brutalis on Jun 7, 2017 8:31:25 GMT -5
With the release of the Mummy this weekend starring Tom Cruise Universal Studio's begins the drive to create a connected horrorverse to reanimate the classic monsters. Russell Crowe co-stars as Dr. Jekyll (soon to be Hyde?) as a leader of the multi-national organization named Prodigium which studies evil which exists in the world and hopes to protect the unknowing public. He comes into contact with Cruise's Nick Morton when Morton releases Sofia Boutella's Mummy into the modern world. Universal announced already the next movie in the series will be the Bride of Frankenstein in 2019 and that Cruise and Crowe and Boutella will co-star in it with Javier Bardem (great choice!) starring as Frankenstein's monster and Johnny Depp being the Invisible Man (bespeaking of his career of late?) and they will all carry forward in future movies.
Universal Studios has committed to new movies afterwards to be Frankenstein, Dracula, Creature from the Black Lagoon, The Invisible Man, Phantom of the Opera and The Hunchback of Notre Dame. Money and stars are being poured into this shared universe in the hopes these classic monsters can reconnect with the current movie watchers. Will this succeed and they capture lightning in a bottle again?
I am optimistically looking forward to and wishing them luck because i adore the old Universal Classic monster movies. New iterations of these monsters for today's public is a great thing and hopefully will push us away from the "slasher/torture/bloody" style of horror that has been seen of late. While I like Freddy and Jason in their movies it is this original crew of tortured souls which made horror movies something special to enjoy. I wish them the very best and await wrapping myself up in the Mummy's embrace to see where their new adventures take us. What do you all think about these monster's returning?!?
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Post by Warmonger on Jun 7, 2017 8:37:42 GMT -5
Was kinda excited when I first heard about a "Universal Monsters Cinematic Universe" but that excitement dropped off a cliff as soon as I saw the initial trailer for The Mummy.
They're clearly going to be CGI extravaganzas packed with over the top action.
They already went the action/adventure route with the Brendan Frazier Mummy movies...and this new installment looks like it lacks the charm of those films (the first one at least, didn't care for the two sequels).
I wanted a return to traditional horror. And it looks like that's the furthest thing from reality.
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Post by codystarbuck on Jun 7, 2017 10:48:47 GMT -5
I'd be more excited if it was a Victorian setting, with more steampunky elements. It just seems to fit better.
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Post by Deleted on Jun 7, 2017 10:56:35 GMT -5
I think it is great the Universal Monsters are being brought back.....but...not impressed with what I've seen so far with the Mummy. I still enjoy the classic movies. The Mummy looks like a big CGI fest as stated by Warmonger in the previous post. I believe it is interesting that the Mummy is female this time, but nothing really stands out that makes me want to watch the movie.
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Post by Slam_Bradley on Jun 7, 2017 14:43:23 GMT -5
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Post by brutalis on Jun 7, 2017 15:24:04 GMT -5
I take reviews with a grain of salt. I looked up several early reviews today and some were rating poorly and other's were saying it is good-medium as a typical summer movie and that while it has problems those don't outweigh the enjoyment. I choose to remain optimistic and wait until i can see it Saturday for my own judgement on how good it is. For what it is worth: it broke records on it's opening day in Korea.
Do I expect it to be great? No I do not. Will it be scary? Doubtful since that aspect of horror means blood and gore to Hollywood these days. As long as it is entertaining and fun giving a contemporary aspect to these monsters then I will be satisfied. I have the classic black and white movies all on DVD when there is the need to scratch the itch to watch (which is often) them. Just hoping for the best with the potential for more continuing movies within this new imagining. Great monsters never die or go out of style, they just need time to grow a new group of monster watchers. Godzilla and Kong have managed to survive and have gotten interesting updates the last few years so why not give the original monsters a chance?
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shaxper
CCF Site Custodian
Posts: 22,388
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Post by shaxper on Jun 7, 2017 19:59:17 GMT -5
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Post by String on Jun 7, 2017 22:14:04 GMT -5
I'm just glad to see that a studio is willing to utilize other classic horror monsters beyond mere zombies. It's a fresh attempt at something different for a change.
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Post by Deleted on Jun 9, 2017 21:07:43 GMT -5
I like the concept of the Dark Universe a lot. This is what I wanted Van Helsing to be.  |
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Post by Deleted on Jun 12, 2017 6:18:07 GMT -5
I don't know about Dark Universe but I thought The Mummy was terrible. It tried to be too many things rather than just tell a good story. It does have some fun moments but it's not anything special.
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Post by brutalis on Jun 12, 2017 7:45:20 GMT -5
The Mummy made for an okay Saturday popcorn movie. Should have and could have been so much more though. Many good moments and things to like but overall the movie itself was used to set up the entire Universal Studio's Dark Universe without delivering enough to make the movie stand on it's own. Cruise didn't add or detract in the movie and most likely it is his name and star power that we ultimately have to thank for this series of movies moving forward. His power in the international market helped to save this movie financially. Crowe gave a strong performance as the Doctor with split personality who is leading the Prodigium (kind of mirrors our own current political situation: a high powered conglomeration being run by a madman) and the female Mummy had plenty of creepiness yet wasn't quite the horrific force she should be but there is the promise of more of her in the future of the series.
It isn't great film making but it isn't the worse i have seen either. A few Easter Egg's included and i did like the overall feel of the movie. Have to wait and see what future installments of the Dark Universe delivers our way. Perhaps a stronger Director envisioning and controlling rather than the Studio heads muddying up the potential...
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Post by thwhtguardian on Jun 12, 2017 8:24:54 GMT -5
I still wish Del Toro were doing Frankenstein.
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Post by brutalis on Jun 12, 2017 8:27:51 GMT -5
I still wish Del Toro were doing Frankenstein. That would be awesome indeed. He would also make an incredible Zuvembie! Already has that strange and odd dead look about him  |
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Post by thwhtguardian on Jun 12, 2017 11:27:32 GMT -5
Although it's received a thumping by the critics the Mummy is apparently doing well over seas so I guess the Dark Universe is still a go.
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Post by badwolf on Jun 28, 2017 18:11:57 GMT -5
Getting kind of tired of "shared universe" movies, to be honest.
I'll probably see The Mummy at some point...for someone who's been wrapped up for centuries she's pretty hot.
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