This was also the period where Disney were starting to consider what types of messages they wanted their films to deliver to children, and as a result the character and story arcs have much clearer form here than they did in Snow White. Pinocchio’s primary moral lesson takes the position that becoming a better person makes you more human, or more “real”, which in turn rewards you with the recognition that you matter and have something to contribute. As Roger Ebert stated in his review of the film, “at a very deep level, all children want to become real and doubt they can”.

It would be easy to take for granted a small moment of moral complexity that takes place towards the start of Pinocchio. When Jiminy Cricket tries to pinpoint the difference between good and bad, he finds himself a little lost for words.

“Temptations. They’re the wrong things that seem right at the time, but… even though the right things may seem wrong sometimes, sometimes the wrong things may be right at the wrong time or… visa versa.”

Not exactly a tidy turn of phrase, but Jiminy Cricket, acting in his role as Pinocchio’s conscience, does highlight just how difficult the puppet’s path will be. The difference between aiming to do good and actually doing good is far muddier than Pinocchio would hope.

The movie shows its age a little later on as it turns towards an old-fashioned conservative view of ethics. “Look at yourself! Smoking! Playing pool!” Jiminy Cricket exclaims, as if every piece of fun Pinocchio has is equally destructive. It gets even more twisted when the naughty boys start turning into donkeys, as if they deserve this overly harsh discipline.

But Pinocchio isn’t alone in this use of moral chastisement. Movies like Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory also use over-the-top repercussions to punish bad behaviour, and the basis for this stretches further back to Grimms’ Fairy Tales. This impartment of morals through storytelling works not just in spite of its extremity, but because of its extremity, as it clearly draws the line between good and bad actions, and their good and bad consequences. For every child that gets nightmares from these dark stories, there is another that is innocently intrigued by them.

The metaphors in Pinocchio are some of Disney’s best, using the “strings” in the song “I’ve Got No Strings” to denote the infant stage of life where parents have complete control over their children’s decisions. Pinocchio’s transition to a real boy extends that further, mirroring a child’s growing independence as they prove they can be trusted with more responsibility. The child must figure right from wrong, safety from danger, and also realise that sometimes these distinctions aren’t so simple.

“What does an actor want with a conscience anyway?” laments Jiminy Cricket, poking fun at the same Hollywood system that gave birth to this film. But he is also deliberating over the loss of integrity in those who find success – and on another level, what becomes of those who lose their identity by adopting an “act” and moving away from their moral centre.

The final act of the film takes a sudden turn into a full-fledged adventure, momentarily moving away from the smaller steps of Pinocchio’s emotional journey so that he can prove himself in one large heroic action, rescuing Geppetto from the belly of a whale. Jiminy Cricket is sadly relegated to the background here, but it is clear that this section is intended to be the culmination of the animators’ achievement rather than a cerebral rumination over ethics. The moving water, wind, and sea creatures sweep us up in this journey, and in this moment we feel fully involved in the action and characters. Pinocchio becomes real, Geppetto gains a son, and Jiminy has achieved his purpose as a conscience.

I find that Pinocchio holds a charm more persistent than so many other classic Disney animations. The cacophony of cuckoo clocks and the ocean sequence stand out as two of the most excitingly animated scenes of Disney’s early years, and still hold up today as some of the company’s strongest technical work. Its embedded darkness appeals to childrens’ search for definitive guidelines in nightmarish ways, while introducing the idea that there is also a little more to ethics than always having one right and one wrong option. By the end you would be forgiven for brushing over the fact that the plot is a little uneven, because where Pinocchio excels, it is truly outstanding.

The post ‘Pinocchio’, 80 Years Later appeared first on The Nerd Daily.

Now with Disney+ being launched in more and more countries in 2020, you easily get access to every Disney production ever made whether it be a live-action movie or an animation, there is something for everyone! This includes the so-called Disney Classics, mostly animation movies which reached iconic status because they are one of the first tales told by Disney or those which have were immediately success. Speaking of, lets take a closer look at those classic movies and find out what they all have in common.

Please note that the movie list below is not the complete list of Disney’s movie productions. Those movies marked bold are the ones which have been or are planned to be turned into a live-action movie or to be remade.

The Era of The First Animations

Back in the day, animation was known as cartoons and the hand drawing movies consisted of thousands of drawing which, when put together and filmed, would build a whole story. The cartoonist had to work incredibly precisely so that every move is as realistic as possible, and the characters would move smoothly. Only then the illusion would be perfect.

In the early 40s, when the movie business decided to give their characters audio, it also decided that each movie needs at least one dance and singing number. Disney adapted it and created songs which are known through generations.

• Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs 1937: Short movies with Mickey may have started everything for Disney, but it was not until the first real movie. Snow White paved the way for every animation that came afterwards.
• Pinocchio 1940
• Fantasia 1940: The movie tells the story of Mickey being a Sorcerer’s Apprentice. The movie shows how Mickey copes with being left alone and taking care of things for the Sorcerer. What makes this movie special is, that there are no words, only music. A sequel then released in 1999, Fantasia 2000.
• Dumbo 1941
• Bambi 1942
• Cinderella 1950
• Alice in Wonderland 1951
• Peter Pan 1953
• Lady and the Tramp 1955
• Sleeping Beauty 1959
• The Sword in the Stone 1963
• Mary Poppins 1964: With Mary Poppins, Disney combined real actors with hand drawn figures and let them interact. This concept was picked up again when technology advanced and more possibilities were available. The sequel came out in 2018.
• The Jungle Book 1967
• Aristocats 1970
• Robin Hood 1973
• Popeye 1980
• The Little Mermaid 1989
• Beauty and the Beast 1991
• Aladdin 1992
• The Lion King 1994
• Pocahontas 1995
• The Hunchback of Notre Dame 1996
• 101 Dalmatians 1996
• Hercules 1997
• Mulan 1998
• Tarzan 1999
• The Princess and the Frog 2009

As you can see, hand drawn animations have been used until not long ago and was picked up once more in 2009 for The Princess and the Frog.

Fantasy Becomes Real

After Walt Disney passed away, the company had to find a way to create movies without him. Doing only hand drawn children’s movies would probably not assure them to stay in the business and so they searched for a new way to entertain their audience and produce movies which could be watched by the whole family. They started to focus more on live-action movies and mixed reality with fantasy.

• Tron 1982: Using the revolutionary technology for that time, Tron is one of the first movies which uses something we now refer to as CGI today. Watching the movie today will make you laugh about the poor special effects, but back then, everyone was in awe. In 2010, the sequel Tron Legacy was released.
• The Mighty Ducks 1992: The group of outsiders playing ice hockey, was Disney’s new way to teach and encourage children to see more in themselves as they thought there is.
• Hocus Pocus 1993
• The Three Musketeers 1993
• Santa Clause 1994
• Tower of Terror 1997
• The Princess Diaries 2001
• Pirates of the Caribbean 2003
• The Haunted Mansion 2003
• The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe 2005
• The Shaggy Dog 2006
• Bridge to Terabithia 2007
• National Treasure: Book of Secrets 2007
• Tron Legacy 2010
• Saving Mr. Banks 2013: This one gives you another perspective of how the first Mary Poppins movie came to life, showing how Disney worked and how they created movies.
• Maleficent 2014: The first movie which tells the story of Sleeping Beauty from the perspective of the villain, showing that a person is not born evil but was made into one due to certain events.

The Era of Computer Animations

Disney stays true to their roots. They may not be hand drawing their movies anymore, but they still create children’s stories using a computer instead. After buying the animation company Pixar, new opportunities have opened for Disney and they have started to bring out every classic hand drawing animation back to us in a new computer animated version.

• Toy Story 1995: The movie which tells the story of some toys in a kids room was the first collaboration of Disney and Pixar, prior to Disney’s purchase.
• Atlantis 2001
• Finding Nemo 2003
• Ratatouille 2007
• Tangled 2010
• Wreck-it Ralph 2012
• Frozen 2013
• Big Hero 6 2014
• Inside Out 2015
• Zootopia 2016
• Moana 2016
• Coco 2017
• Frozen 2 2019

It is debatable if creating a monopoly is the right way, but Disney for sure found its way to grow and show that they are here to stay. It is the combination between the different types of movies as well as their amusement parks. For so many years, they take their audience on adventures and teach them to dream. It seems that everything is better with a song and hope in our hearts. For sure, it is something to lift you up after a long hard day and that is what it really all about.

What’s your favourite Disney classic? Tell us in the comments below!

The post The Magic of Disney Classics appeared first on The Nerd Daily.

Told using the narration of 12-year-old Cuban American girl Elena’s diary, this new family comedy follows her journey through the ups and downs of middle school, which set her on the path to becoming the president of the United States. Diary of a Future President was inspired by creator Ilana Peña’s (Crazy Ex-Girlfriend) childhood and is produced by Gina Rodriguez’s (Jane the Virgin) I Can and I Will Productions. Rodriguez also directs the first episode and guest stars as grown-up Elena.

Tess Romero plays young Elena, an unabashed, ultra-observant 12-year-old with a strong point of view, who walks through the world with purpose and confidence. Charlie Bushnell, who makes his acting debut in the series, plays Bobby, Elena’s sweet and mischievous older brother. Selenis Leyva stars as Gabi, Elena and Bobby’s sharp and loving mother. Michael Weaver plays Sam, a lawyer at Gabi’s firm who is in the beginnings of a relationship with her.

Speaking to EW, Romero spoke about representation: “I hope young girls feel represented by this show and that it means as much to them as it does to me,” Romero said. “It is extremely important that young girls are able to watch female characters who look like them, are successful, and grow up to help others, just like Elena. Representation is crucial, not just on television but in all media. I hope that Elena can inspire young girls and show them they can achieve their dreams.”

Starring Tess Romero (Blind Spot), Charlie Bushnell, Selenis Leyva (Orange Is The New Black), and Michael Weaver (Here and Now).

Diary of a Future President premieres January 17th on Disney+ with 10 episodes.

Will you be watching Diary of a Future President? Tell us in the comments below!

The post New To TV: Diary of a Future President appeared first on The Nerd Daily.

Mulan (1998) is an American animated film, directed by Tony Bancroft and Barry Cook, that explores the Chinese legend of Hua Mulan — a female Chinese warrior that lived in the period of Northern and Southern dynasties in China. The film endeavours to retell Mulan’s history, whilst catering to family audiences, and achieves a high standard of storytelling that many Disney princess movies of its time period failed to uphold.

1. Mulan does not allow herself to be defined by her beauty

It is commonly seen throughout many Disney princess movies that the female protagonist is glorified for her unnatural beauty, which continues to serve as a pervasive asset throughout the storyline. Females are often objectified in movies such as Sleeping Beauty (1959) and Beauty and the Beast (1991), where women are devalued and derived of all characteristic traits, to instead embody thin waists, narrow wrists and long legs.

Mulan strays from this misogyny, as the main character, Mulan, disguises herself as a male in order to join the Chinese army in her father’s place. This act requiring her to obscure all her feminine traits so as to avoid execution. This allows for Disney to elaborate upon Mulan’s personality around her fellow comrades and commanders, as she is regarded as an equal and treated as such — exchanging banter and brawls without fear of gender restrictions, thus allowing viewers to connect with Mulan on a more personal level.

2. Mulan breaks stereotypes, proving women to be just as worthy an opponent in battle

Up until the 21st century, women were considered weak and unworthy in battle, a stereotype that was reinforced a large amount in the film industry. By this way, Mulan proves to be a film well ahead of its time, as the film portrays Mulan to be a skilled tactician and soldier.

Whilst venturing through a mountain pass, the small party led by Li Shang was ambushed by the Huns due to a misfired cannon, leading to an overwhelming cavalry charge that would have killed Shang’s forces, if not for Mulan. Her assessment of the mountains fragile disposition, ultimately led to the subsequent immobilisation, and death via burial alive, of the entire Hun army — that of which not even General Li, an experienced war veteran could achieve.

Mulan continues to prove herself as a worthy opponent throughout the duration of the movie, both in training and in war, managing to defeat the surviving party of Hun soldiers through the utility of her feminine aspects. Utilising her weakness, as her greatest source of strength in outsmarting her enemies — wielding their underestimation of her to get close enough to attack.

3. Mulan teaches the importance of family bonds

Mulan is one of the few known Disney Princess movies to provide living parents to the main protagonist, allowing the directors to elaborate on household relations between the following characters; mother, daughter, father, and grandmother.

Many Disney Princesses, such as Ariel, Jasmine, Belle, Anna and Elsa, Cinderella, and Snow White, exploit the loss of a parent to build character, however, this is flawed as the characters are often portrayed as feeling isolated and separated from their external world. With it being common for the character to experience social alienation, and as a consequence desperately seek relationships in any who show slight affection or interest.

Thus, Mulan differs in this perspective, as possessing a family has allowed Mulan to build those foundational connections that are pivotal in her personal growth. With family members serving as a site for support and moral influence throughout her youth — allowing her to mature into an opinionated and independent woman, despite the restrictions of her time. This, although, means that Mulan has more responsibilities and inevitably more to lose.

4. Mulan creates a realistic romance

The romantic aspect of Mulan serves as a background feature of the principal storyline, only developing partly half-way through the film between Mulan and Li Shang without impeding the main plot. It is artfully constructed and delves into the genuine truth of any real relationship — that your partner is human, and like you, is imperfect. Many Disney Princess movies fail to acknowledge this fact of life, putting pressure on attaining the ‘perfect’ romantic partner, however, Mulan unveils that a relationship comes with problems (hurdles to overcome). It also emphasises that these problems cannot be fixed by the other, rather by yourself, in other words, your partner cannot ‘fix you’ and it’s unrealistic to rely upon them in this way. To this extent, Mulan shows the flaws in relationships like ‘Beauty and the Beast’, as both characters in the film depended upon the other for their own self-worth, rather than working on loving themselves for who they are. Thus, throughout the development of Mulan and Li Shang’s relationship, they both challenge the other to become a better person, by teaching the other important lessons regarding trust, respect and honesty, per their actions and words. In principle, it rather being love at first battle than love at first sight, as they grow to love one another over the duration of the film, overcoming obstacles such as the death of comrades and one’s duty to honour.

5. The song ‘Reflection’ analyses the deep institutionalised flaws of society

The famous song ‘Reflection’, written by artist Lea Salonga, provokes audiences to ponder the omissions of contemporary culture and the irrational expectations placed upon individuals. The lyrics, “Can it be I’m not meant to play this part?”, exhibits the internal struggle of attempting to reconcile your own desires and dreams, whilst appeasing others. Where, “why is my reflection someone I don’t know,” analyses the premeditated moulds and assumptions orchestrated by society — that a woman of 4th century China would fulfil the conventional family role of bearing sons and maintaining the household as a “docile lamb”. Mulan visibly battles against these roles, whilst still wishing to bring her family its due honour, however much it destroys her inside. Moreover, in the final line, “When will my reflection show, who I am, inside?” Mulan wipes away half of her excessive makeup, to establish two contrasting visages of one face; one of which is her true self, concealed from sight, and the other is the facade she wears. This visual representation demonstrates the constraints humans are burdened with, as Mulan is only ever seen as a pretty face, and treated as such. In summary, the ballad apprises the problem of identity, and the mask we all must contribute to society.

6. Mulan teaches that strength is all about personality, not gender

Mulan has a considerable capacity for resilience, capable of surpassing any adversities that she faces, both psychologically and physically. As seen throughout the course of her experience in the Chinese army, Mulan is faced with a multitude of complications or challenges, however, she manages to prevail each time without fail — learning how to succeed where others haven’t.

For instance, in the scene where Li Shang tasks his men with climbing a lofty pole given two weights (‘Diligence’ and ‘Strength’) are bound to each hand, each person fails, including Mulan. In spite of this, although, Mulan does not give up, recognising the task as both a logic and agility exercise, for the weights were impediments alone, but knotted together they aided rather than hindered progress.

This is just one example of many throughout the course of Mulan’s rigorous training regime, and it can be observed by audiences the visible improvement Mulan obtains — where originally she could barely run 500 metres with barrels of water, to at the end leading the pack.

7. Mulan is the most selfless Disney Princess

Selflessness is a valuable attribute commonly displayed in Mulan’s temperament, as she is illustrated to concern herself more with the wellbeing and wishes of others than her own time and time again. Moreover, in all her success Mulan never lost herself, in the end choosing her simple life over the imperial position offered to her — truly demonstrating that all of Mulan’s actions were not for self-gain.

8. Mulan manages to convey a true representation of the horrors of war.

War is brutal and impersonal, it does not discriminate and Mulan conveys this message throughout the film. The main opposition China facing being the Huns, a nomadic people, whom in historical context caused frequent and devastating raids, with descriptions typically identifying the Huns as monsters.

As a nomadic people, the Huns were experienced horseback riders, providing them considerable military strength, given their disposition to living as roamers and hunters. Hun warfare, was also built to subdue enemies, with a medley of voices (battle cries) creating a savage noise. Also being lightly equipped, as shown by Shan Yu, the Huns were enabled agility and ease of movement in battle, much like the fictional Dothraki of Game of Thrones.

In Mulan  the devastation of the Huns is emphasised by the burned landscape of a village, in which both General Li’s army and the innocent villagers were slaughtered. The abandoned child’s toy Mulan discovers functioning as a representation of loss and suffering, the inevitable cost of war — death. Soldiers are exhibited to become torn, desiring for revenge yet battling the conflict of honour, or to become manifestations of guilt and shame, struggling at the concept of taking lives. Moveover, in the first battle upon the mountain, the scene showed the helplessness of many soldiers, with group panic erupting by part of exhaustion and physical ailments.

Do you agree? Tell us in the comments below!

The post 8 Reasons Why Mulan Is The Best Disney Princess appeared first on The Nerd Daily.

“I love you, 3000” has quickly become an iconic sentence in pop culture history since Avengers: Endgame premiered in April 2019. 11 years and 23 movies later, the MCU as we know it closes its finale chapter of the Infinity Saga. It may be the end of this storyline, but has it been the final curtain call for every Avenger?

THE ORIGINAL 6

Iron Man

The man who started it all, reminded us with his last breath that he will be forever our Iron Man. Tony sacrificed himself to save millions of people not only on earth, but in the entire universe. His legacy is now in the hands of those who he left behind, however, I am certain that Tony’s spirit will be around for quite some time. His inventions and ideas he never finished in his garage could be picked up by someone – Peter, I am looking at you – and this way we do not need to say our farewell for good. Of course, there is always a possibility for a different timeline (I will come to that at a later point) or, considering we are talking about Mr. Anthony Howard Stark, we could even see him becoming the next A.I. Who knows?

Black Widow

I don’t know about you, but my tears have not dried yet. I love Nat and Clint’s friendship since the beginning and to see them going to Volmir together broke my heart. In a way, it does make sense why Nat had to die. She finally had a family, a place where she belonged to, and she wanted to make sure that they would survive and find their happiness. Is it fair? Hell no! She deserved better. I still hope that Kevin Feige will bring her back. After all, in the comics Gamora was freed from the Soul Stone, even if she had to lose a part of her soul in the process, she came back. The Soul Stone which appeared for Gamora was destroyed, that is why this cannot happen with her, but the one Clint got was brought back by Steve, so Nat has to come back, right? Until anything is confirmed, farewell, brave warrior queen.

Hawkeye

Are you one of those, who always where like “Clint, who?”, then shame on you! Clint gradually got a bigger part in every movie he was in and it is important that he has become a valued member of the team. Everyone else has a gadget or some supernatural powers, but all that Clint has is his bow and arrow and an impressive skill set. Yes, you can be a superhero with just so little. Clint definitely found his peace and all he wants is to be with his family and know that they are safe. However, I do hope to see him again, not as an active member, but as a mentor in one or more of the upcoming movies.

It is confirmed that Marvel is planning a web series on their new streaming site, Disney+, which will launch in November 2019. In that series, Clint will train a fellow archer – Kate Bishop – to become the next Hawkeye.

Hulk

In the five years between Infinity War and Endgame, Bruce has combined the best of his two personalities and has become Professor Hulk. Yes, this is awesome! Hulk is so happy; you have been able to see how Mark Ruffalo enjoyed playing that new Hulk. I do not think that we have to worry about him much. I gave up hope on seeing another Hulk movie anytime soon and maybe it is the best for this character. There is nothing known about his future, but I think that he will stick around one way or another, perhaps he’ll work on a new HQ for the Avengers?

Captain America

During the time heist, Hulk and the Ancient One had an intense discussion about whether they would change the future by borrowing the infinity stones from the past or if they create a different, new parallel timeline to the one we know.

So, we know that when Steve stayed in the past to get his well-deserved happy ending with Peggy, he did not change the timeline we know. All that we saw still happened and was not erased, but he created an anomaly by staying in the past with another Peggy. So, there is a different timeline, which could be of importance in the future. Steve has moved on from being the perfect soldier, even though I do think that he will wield his shield from time to time because that is the Steve we know. He will always help those in need.

At the end of Endgame, a well-aged Steve is back in our timeline which means that he had to do a time jump once more. Was he unhappy? Did new battles occur? How is everyone in the other timeline? Chris Evans announced that he will not return to the MCU anytime soon, but if the fans will ask for it, he gladly would tell us this part of his life.

It has been announced that Marvel is in pre-production of a “What if…” series which will premiere on Disney+. The first episode will be focusing on what if Peggy took the super soldier serum, instead of Steve.

Thor

Thor had a lot to deal with. Losing almost all of the Asgardians, losing Heimdall, and Loki and still thinking why he did not go for the head. At least, he got his second chance. I think, even if he was not in shape – physically and mentally – he was by far the best version of himself. He understands loss; he understands what it means to feel human. I think it is important to see that sometimes even the god of thunder has to face his mistakes and deal with human problems. His journey did not end in Endgame, it only took a new direction. Will he become a member of the Guardians? Will he find a new purpose somewhere else in the galaxy? Thor could also join Captain Marvel on her quest. For Thor, the possibilities are endless.

It is confirmed that Chris Hemsworth has signed a new contract with Marvel so he will definitely stick around for some more years and take us with him on his journey.

THE NEW AVENGERS

We have lost some of the Original 6, but that does not mean that the Avengers will not be around anymore. There are some guys who will not stop to protect earth from anyone who will do them harm and some “new” faces could join them.

Falcon

… or should I say, Captain America? After all the speculations who would get Steve’s shield if he ever would step aside from the battling, we know that it will be Sam. Honestly, I do think that this is a great choice. Steve and Sam are very similar when it comes to empathy, putting others first, and leadership. Sam deserves it and I think he will make Steve very proud. He is already a valued member and knows how everything works. He knows most of the others already and combined with his humour, he is able to build a new team who will follow his lead

Bucky

I am sorry if you are one of those who hoped to see Bucky as the new Captain America, but do not be sad, it is better that way for him. Bucky has lost his memories and his identity more than once. To put on another one would have been too much as Bucky is still recovering. Living in Wakanda by himself was the beginning of his journey to find inner peace and becoming whole again. In my opinion, part of his recovery will be to make his wrongs right and fight for those who cannot fight on their own. It is sad to know that we will not see Bucky and Steve’s friendship on-screen anymore, but I am sure that Bucky has found a new friend already in Sam, who will help him find his place and purpose.

Disney and Marvel have announced that there is a series in pre-production called “Falcon and Winter Soldier”. Nothing more is known so far, so it will be interesting to see when this show will take place.

War Machine

Tony’s best friend, Rhodey, is still very much alive and now has his chance to become the new Iron Man. I do not think that he will retire and live a quiet live in the woods as Tony did, but instead he will stay an Avenger. Unfortunately, they made Rhodey such a side character that there is currently nothing that could be a potential story line for him so Marvel better make some up ASAP.

Scarlet Witch (and Vision)

Wanda is alive and well and besides Clint, who seems to be a father figure for her, she doesn’t really have anyone left who she trusts. Her brother is dead, Vision is dead, and Steve is gone. However, the Avengers have become her family, so I do think that she will help with building a new team. I really hope so because we need every bad ass woman we can get. Maybe she will hop in and out of the Avengers HQ and will go see Clint and his family.

What we do know is that we have not seen the last of her and Vision together. “Vision and Scarlet Witch” are currently in pre-production and the show will premiere on Disney+ in the near future. Not much is known at this current point in time, but maybe we will see what happened between Civil War and Infinity War or we will see both of them in an alternative timeline.

The new team does not end with the ones mention above. There are also others, who could join them. You can read more of them below when we will discuss Phase 4.

OTHER CHARACTERS

Pepper and Morgan

We know that we will not see Pepper appear in a movie again because Gwyneth Paltrow announced that Endgame is the last one for her. Well, thinking about how many times she has said that and has always returned because RDJ has asked her to, I would not bet on it, especially because there is a new character in the game, who would need her mother for quite some time.

Squirrel, as Happy has called her by the end of the movie, could be a relevant character in the future of the MCU. Maybe not in Phase 4 or 5, but when the little girl will be old enough, she could follow into her fathers’ footprints. Her father, Iron Man. Her mother, Rescue. Morgan, Ironheart? Which path Marvel will choose for Morgan we will see in the years to come, but we definitely have to see more of her.

Happy

From chauffeur to bodyguard, then head of security to babysitting Spider-Man, followed by Uncle Happy to little Morgan, and then back to babysitting Spider-Man agin. Or so it seems.

Happy Hogan was not a big part of the movies since Iron Man 3. This may have to do with Jon Faverau being busy with his other projects, but, we know that we will not lose him just because Tony is not around anymore. The man, who truly founded the MCU and fought to bring Iron Man on the big screen, when not many believed in the success of the movie, will come back and be there for Peter Parker. The second trailer of Spider-Man Far From Home shows us that Happy will look after our friendly neighbourhood Spidey. For me, it seems that Happy could even work with Nick Fury, because what could be the reason that he is more around Peter as working at Stark Industries? I need answers!

S.H.I.E.L.D.

The Spider-Man trailer also confirmed that Nick Fury and Maria Hill are back and hunting the bad guys together, now those from the Multiverse. If they do that under the name S.H.I.E.L.D., it has not been confirmed yet, but we do not need to wait long to get some answers.

New Asgard and Valkyrie

Thor leaving with the Guardians at the end of Endgame means that New Asgard is now in the capable hands of their queen, Valkyrie. I cannot imagine that this will be enough for her as she certainly will pick up her sword again and fight some battle. We really need more of her and Marvel should explore this character and give her a bigger part in their upcoming movies.

Loki

Our favourite trickster is dead. Period. However, time-heist Loki has stolen the Tesseract and disappeared. Marvel confirmed that this way he created an alternative timeline and that is why Loki is able to get his own Disney+ series, which will explore his new mischief in a new created timeline.

Phase 3 is now closed, but this does not mean that we will never see or hear of our beloved superheroes ever again. Phase 4 is right behind the corner. Marvel Studios is the most secretive place right after the Vatican, but we do know already of some movies that are confirmed.

Phase 4

The second solo Spider-Man will be the last movie of Phase 3. In Spider-Man Far From Home we will follow Peter and his friends in Europe where he still has to find his place in a post-snap world and work for Nick Fury. As far as it is possible to tell, all of Peter’s friends have been gone for five years as he was, and they now have to finish high school. We also know that this movie will introduce us to the Multiverse, which brings new possibilities for interesting characters and new worlds.

Before Endgame, Marvel announced that a Black Widow solo movie is finally in pre-production. Scarlett Johansson will become once more Natasha and she will be the first actor of the MCU who will co-produce a movie. Now we also know, that this movie will be a prequel and maybe we will finally see how she became the Black Widow. The question I want an answer to is, what the hell has happened in Budapest? How did she and Clint became friends?

Another movie we know is in pre-production, but was delayed because of James Gunn being fired and then rehired, is Guardians of the Galaxy 3, in which Thor will be a part of. Starlord and his friends are looking for Gamora from 2014 and are up for another crazy adventure. Being a part of Endgame, I was hoping for them to stay longer on Earth, especially because Peter is human, but maybe another time.

Every actor who joins the MCU signs a contract for three solo movies. So, we wait for Doctor Strange to drag us back into his world in the sequel while Captain Marvel will also come back for a sequel. We will also all scream “Wakanda Forever” in Black Panther 2. Maybe Bucky has returned to Wakanda and will help Okoye, Shuri, and T’Challa with their upcoming problem. We also can look forward to see Scott and Hope back in action in Ant-Man 3.

To the already established heroes we get introduced to some new as well. Shang-Chi and The Eternals are already announced and will be the first to take us with them into the multiverse.

Now that FOX is part of Disney it means that the rights for some characters are back with Marvel. There are rumours that the Fantastic Four and the X-Men could be rebooted once more to become part of the MCU. Fans do hope to see an A-Force movie, after that short but important scene in which all female heroes are seen fighting together.

The possibilities are endless, and the comics have so many stories which can be adapted for the big screen.Then, there is always the possibility of exploring a different timeline, because we actually have two now!

What are you excited to see the MCU? Tell us in the comments below!

The post The Future of The MCU appeared first on The Nerd Daily.

Disney will be leaving a mark this year with Dumbo, Aladdin, Toy Story 4, The Lion King, and Frozen 2 all being released over the course of 2019, so both the young and young at heart are incredibly excited to see these movies!

But if superheroes are more your speed, never fear because like every other year, they are here to save the day. This year sees Brie Larson assuming the role of Carol Danvers in Captain Marvel, while Zachary Levi will be in Shazam!, Tom Holland is back as Spider-Man in Spider-Man: Far From Home, and of course, almost everybody starring in Avengers: Endgame, which is the final instalment in the Avengers franchise. There’s also Stranger Things star David Harbour taking on the role of Hellboy and two mutant-filled movies—New Mutants and Dark Phoenix.

Need a little romance or a good rom-com? Rebel Wilson stars in Isn’t It Romantic about a woman trapped in a romantic comedy, Riverdale‘s Cole Sprouse stars in the film adaptation of Five Feet Apart, another YA adaptation coming to our screens is The Sun Is Also A Star, and a gender-swapped version of What Men Want starring the hilarious Taraji P. Henson.

Other highly anticipated and intriguing movies include M. Night Shyamalan’s Glass, Ryan Reynolds voicing Pikachu in Detective Pikachu, Taron Egerton playing the infamous Elton John in Rocketman,  Chris Hemsworth and Tessa Thompson donning suits in Men In Black International, a star-studded cast in Once Upon A Time In Hollywood, and a Downton Abbey movie.

Read on to discover some of 2019’s movies coming out this year and tell us in the comments below which ones you are most excited for!

JANUARY – MARCH

Glass

The Lego Movie 2: The Second Part | Trailer

What Men Want | Trailer

A gender-swapped take on the Mel Gibson comedy What Women Want sees Taraji P. Henson playing a sports agent who can hear what the men in her industry are thinking. And, we suspect, she won’t take no s–t from any of them. Starring Taraji P. Henson, Wendi McLendon-Covey, and Max Greenfield.

Alita: Battle Angel | Trailer

An action-packed story of one young woman’s journey to discover the truth of who she is and her fight to change the world. Starring Jennifer Connelly, Eiza González, Rosa Salazar, and Mahershala Ali.

Isn’t It Romantic | Trailer

How To Train Your Dragon: The Hidden World | Trailer

As Hiccup fulfills his dream of creating a peaceful dragon utopia, Toothless’ discovery of an untamed, elusive mate draws the Night Fury away. When danger mounts at home and Hiccup’s reign as village chief is tested, both dragon and rider must make impossible decisions to save their kind. Voiced by Jay Baruchel, America Fererra, Cate Blanchett, Kit Harington, and Kristen Wiig.

Captain Marvel

Us

Five Feet Apart | Trailer

Where’d You Go, Bernadette | Trailer

Chaos Walking

A dystopian world where there are no women and all living creatures can hear each others’ thoughts in a stream of images, words, and sounds called Noise. Starring Tom Holland, Daisy Ridley, Mads Mikkelsen, and Nick Jonas.

Dumbo

The Dirt

APRIL – JUNE

Shazam!

Hellboy | Trailer

Avengers: Endgame | Trailer

Brightburn | Trailer

Pokémon Detective Pikachu

The Sun Is Also A Star

Aladdin | Trailer

Aladdin is an upcoming American musical romantic fantasy adventure film directed by Guy Ritchie, from the screenplay co-written with John August and Vanessa Taylor, and produced by Walt Disney Pictures. Starring Will Smith, Naomi Scott, Nasim Pedrad, and Mena Massoud.

Godzilla: King of the Monsters | Trailer

John Wick: Chapter 3

This movie picks up right where Chapter 2 left off, as John must survive the bounty on his head without the aid of the larger criminal underworld. Starring Keanu Reeves, Halle Berry, Ian McShane, Laurence Fishburne, and Anjelica Huston.

Rocketman

Dark Phoenix | Trailer

Men In Black International | Trailer

The post 2019 Movie Releases appeared first on The Nerd Daily.

So let’s start with perhaps the biggest example of the divergence between books and films being so significant that we might be better to simply view them as distinct entities: Disney. Almost all Disney movies are remakes of classic stories, many of which are very different to the original versions.

While the fairy tales themselves have several versions—sometimes even the same author would rewrite them multiple times. This was the case with the Brothers Grimm who rewrote their stories in order to incorporate elements which were in keeping with fashions of the times. But the versions that were immortalised by Disney are very different to their initial incarnation.

A version of the Sleeping Beauty folk tale, published by Charles Perrault, then collected by the Brothers Grimm, sees the prince stumbling across the princess. He finds her so entrancing that he has sex with her while she is still asleep (given when this was written, instead of being rapey, it’s considered romantic) and she subsequently bears him twins. Clearly then, the version of Sleeping Beauty where the Prince and Aurora dance in the clouds singing to each other is a significant deviation from the original story, as is the fact that Maleficent transforms into a dragon and is valiantly defeated by the Prince. In one version she is an ogre who demands the twins be served to her by a cook who substitutes the children with lamb and goat…sound familiar, Disney’s Snow White?

Hans Christian Andersen’s version of The Little Mermaid sees her feel as though she’s walking on knives in order to actually get her legs and the prince views her as a pet rather than a person. Then, the Prince doesn’t actually choose her, he marries someone else and the condition of her becoming a human aside from the agony of walking is that she must be married of she will die, she must kill the Prince.

Moreover, the happy ending in which the princess is not only alive, but gets her man and her throne is a total deviation from the manner in which these stories originally ended. I suppose in Cinderella she does indeed get the Prince, but the eyes of her stepsisters are gruesomely pecked out by birds, which to me at least ruins the wholesomeness of the ending. As such, while the films themselves indisputably draw heavy inspiration from the original folk tales, it is compelling to suggest we should view them as distinct products and stories rather than a simple translation of a story.

Equally, Howl’s Moving Castle is a great example of a film which takes many of the original story’s elements but is not constrained by them. Arguably, there are sufficient differences that the book and film take on lives of their own. Miyakazi’s introduction of the war plot, and the different treatment of the Witch of the Waste are significant deviations from the book, but they contribute to the story that Miyazaki tells—one in which kindness and a gentle heart are the attributes which ultimately resolve the significant problems of the plot.

Indeed, this article discusses the arguably significant deviation between the two versions in noting “One difference is in its attitudes to evil. Miyazaki doesn’t do incorrigible villainy, and Howl the movie lifts that burden from the shoulders of Jones’s Witch of the Waste, sharing it out among a number of warmongers and miscreants.” In the words of Jones herself: “My philosophy would say that they would go to the bad for some other reason, if they didn’t have that one. I really do believe there are some people who are just irredeemable. But yes, Miyazaki is much more genial about the human race than I am.”

This therefore suggests that the divergences between the two creative forces of each version are grounded in fundamental differences of outlook and philosophy, leading to the creation of two very different stories. As a result, the film and book may be better viewed as two separate stories which happen to have several elements in common.

Less severe could be The Hunger Games films. The first film was reasonably faithful to the story barring the included scenes between President Snow and the Gamesmaster where the nature of power and control is teased out, giving us the audience greater insight into the kind of calculated control that President Snow extends across Panem. Is this sufficient to say that the book and film are two separate entities? Probably not, but the medium of the film enabled these scenes to take place whereas the first-person narration of the book limits its capacity to cut away to the Capital in such a fashion. It’s a great example of how films can move beyond the limitations of books in a way that augments the story.

Of course, there are then example of films that are clear in the adherence to the book, but deviate slightly in the telling. Baz Luhrmann’s version of The Great Gatsby offers a specific vision of the film that is both faithful to the book and moves away from it. The soundtrack is a really great example of this. It features rap, hip hop, and RnB songs, none of which existed in the roaring ‘20s. Luhrmann in an interview noted that he wanted to pay homage to the fact that F. Scott Fitzgerald was a modernist, as he was “in the moment, and the music of the moment was African-American street music called Jazz, and when he put Jazz music in Gatsby, everyone was like ‘What are you crazy? It’s a fad.”

As such, the movie Luhrmann created could be considered distinct from the original piece due to its inclusion of elements which simply did not exist when Fitzgerald wrote the book. Yet he was building upon and within the framework Fitzgerald’s legacy within the parameters of his own distinct style.

This article beautifully surmises: “Using technology, music, and the sheer emptiness of raw spectacle, he translates the exuberant spirit of the Jazz Age for an audience raised on Jay Z [who was the executive producer of the soundtrack], and wedges a wide enough rift between style and substance for Gatsby himself to fit comfortably inside.”

It goes on to note some of Lurhmann’s other works, and mentions his adaptation of Romeo and Juliet where; “he thread Shakespearean iambic pentameter through an explicitly 90s milieu, combining the feisty tribalism of Verona with the florid style of Venice Beach in order restore the present tense to a tragedy that feels like it predates all of civilisation”.

Interestingly, this leads into a quick discussion on adaptations. Ten Things I Hate About You may just be the greatest 90s teen film of all time (fight me if you disagree). It is a fabulous retelling of The Taming of the Shrew, updating the gossipy, jock-esque behaviour that Shakespeare captures so perfectly within his society by transposing it into a high school. Similar comments can be made about Bridget Jones’ Diary as both a book and film as a retelling of Pride and Prejudice, and Clueless as an adaptation that I would argue is better than the book of Emma.

Now of course, these are adaptations and very clearly re-interpretations, not faithful translations, but they themselves offer us the question of where the line exists between a retelling of the same story but in a different medium, and a distinct and new story, exists. There is also a somewhat compelling argument that The Lion King is based on Hamlet. If you happen to be well acquainted with the play, you too can sit glass of wine in hand and obnoxiously comment on the departures from the play throughout this children’s movie while also militantly skipping Mufasa’s death scene because you were too traumatised by it when you were four… or you could just read this article.

Ultimately, when books are made into movies, things are going to be different. If you imagined Dumbledore to be really tall and really thin, Michael Gambon was going to disappoint you. Sometimes the changes movies make are small deviations, or simply retellings of the story within the context of the modern world (like Gatsby). Sometimes the movies simply change things that happen, or place such a significant emphasis on certain parts of the plot, that the original message and original story has become transfigured. When this happens, perhaps it is best not to use the reductive phrase “the book was better than the film”, but instead to view them as distinct stories that happen to have similar elements.

But sometimes interpretations of books and the need to alter the specifics of the story in translating from page to screen can go awry. I ask you to look no further than the below evidence, which obviously arises from a distinct vision, but has perplexed some of the best minds of our generation:

What do you have to say about book to film adaptations? Tell us in the comments below!

The post When Book To Film Adaptations Are Simply Different appeared first on The Nerd Daily.

Written by Tasya

One of the most anticipated movies of the year is here! After 14 years, Disney has finally grace us with a sequel to The Incredibles!

As usual, before the movie starts, there is a short movie titled “Bao”. I won’t go into details on what the movie is about due to fear of spoilers, but it is a heartwarming, beautiful, and funny story about family. For older generations who already have children, this short movie may have stronger impression compared to the actual movie itself.

The Incredibles 2 start right after the short film ends and begins in the parking lot just after Dash’s running competition. They managed to deal with the threat, but unfortunately, the world is still not ready yet in accepting the supers back into their society. Helen goes and tries to repair the superhuman’s image, while Bob stays at home to take care of the kids. The situation gets even more complicated when Jack Jack’s power appear… and it’s more than anyone expected.

I think may will love this movie as much as I did! The Incredibles 2 most definitely lived up to those high expectations and it seamlessly connects the story between the two movies and it feels like you never left the world at all! Other than the better animation, the right-where-you-left start means we got to see what happens next immediately. The main conflict still hasn’t changed with how they struggle to save the world and breaking the law, but at the same time, trying not to break it.

I’ll admit, the movie did become quite slow towards the middle as they practically deal with the same problem as the first movie and thus, you might find yourself caring more about Bob and the kids stories compared to Helen’s saving the world stuff. It is very clear that Bob would rather be out there saving the world, instead of being stuck babysitting and doing math. But as the movie goes, we see how much he enjoyed the task and spending time with his family.

Another familiar face is Lucius aka Frozone, who is also back for another adventure in the movie. He has more screen time in this movie, and we can see how close he is with the Incredibles. And of course, no one can forget about Edna! I really enjoyed her moments in this movie, despite having short screen time, she still has a strong presence in them.

The humour works really well, especially in situations involving Jack Jack. We briefly saw Jack Jack’s power in the first movie, but it was never elaborated and the family doesn’t even know. Now with his powers manifesting, they are more than anyone could handle and they are all scrambling to take care of him. It creates a really funny and heartwarming moment between family who both having a hard time, yet fun time, taking care of Jack Jack.

My only complaint is that the main villain identity, the Screenslaver, is too obvious. As mentioned, some aspects of this movie is a reenactment of the first movie, and the villains included.

In a world where superhero movies are saturating the market, The Incredibles 2 managed to hold up well on its own. It took us back to 14 years ago, yes, but it also has a well-thought plot, great sense of humour, and plenty of fun action. The Incredibles 2 is worth the 14 years wait, and will delight old and new fans alike.

Did you enjoy Incredibles 2? Tell us in the comments below!

The post ‘Incredibles 2’ Lives Up To The Hype 14 Years On appeared first on The Nerd Daily.

It’s been a while since we last talked about Mary Poppins Returns and we’ve been craving some more news! Thankfully due to the 2018 Oscars, we have been graced with a teaser trailer for the upcoming film.

Set in 1935, the film will see Mary Poppins revisit the now grown-up Michael and Jane Banks, along with Michael’s three children, after they experience a family tragedy. Alongside Mary, her friend Jack (played by Lin-Manuel Miranda) will join her and the children as they embark on a new magical journey.

In an interview with Entertainment Weekly, director Rob Marshall spoke about the film.

“The bar is so high for this, but to be able to walk in the footsteps of this beautiful story about a woman who brings magic to this family that’s looking for wonder and hope and joy in their lives…I feel a great responsibility and reverence every day. We all feel it. We’re just lifting it up to get there with the right intentions behind it.”

Dick Van Dyke will also be joining the cast who played both chimney sweeper Bert and Mr Dawes Snr in the original film and will now be playing Mr. Dawes Jr. But the talented cast doesn’t stop there. Meryl Streep will be playing Mary Poppins cousin Topsy, Julie Walters as Ellen the housekeeper, Angela Lansbury as a balloon seller, and Colin Firth as William Wetherall Wilkins.

Mary Poppins Returns stars Emily Blunt, Lin-Manuel Miranda, Meryl Streep and Colin Firth, with the film scheduled to be released at Christmas time this year.

Are you excited for the film? Tell us in the comments below!

The post Mary Poppins Returns: Practically Perfect New Teaser appeared first on The Nerd Daily.

Read on to discover our picks and tell us in the comments below if you have read or will be reading one!

From a Certain Point of View (Star Wars Disney Canon Novel) | Goodreads

In celebration of Star Wars’ 40th anniversary, it’s time to shine the spotlight on those unsung weirdos, heroes, and villains with a unique, new anthology. Star Wars: From a Certain Point of View will bring together more than 40 authors for 40 stories. Each will be told from the perspective of background characters of A New Hope — from X-wing pilots who helped Luke destroy the Death Star to the stormtroopers who never quite could find the droids they were looking for.

The Two of Swords, Volume 1 by K.J. Parker | Goodreads

A soldier with a gift for archery. A woman who kills without care. Two brothers, both unbeatable generals, now fighting for opposing armies. No-one in the vast and once glorious United Empire remains untouched by the rift between East and West, and the war has been fought for as long as anyone can remember. Some still survive who know how it was started, but no-one knows how it will end.

Children of the Fleet by Orson Scott Card | Goodreads

Ender Wiggin won the Third Formic war, ending the alien threat to Earth. Afterwards, all the terraformed Formic worlds were open to settlement by humans, and the International Fleet became the arm of the Ministry of Colonization, run by Hirum Graff. MinCol now runs Fleet School on the old Battle School station, and still recruits very smart kids to train as leaders of colony ships, and colonies. Dabeet Ochoa is a very smart kid. Top of his class in every school. But he doesn’t think he has a chance at Fleet School, because he has no connections to the Fleet. That he knows of. At least until the day that Colonel Graff arrives at his school for an interview.

Mageborn by Stephen Aryan | Goodreads

It’s been ten years since the battlemage war, where thousands died as mages sundered the earth and split the sky. Habreel believes eradicating magic is the only way to ensure a lasting peace. He will do anything to achieve his goal, even if it means murdering every child born with the ability. As deaths involving magic increase and the seat of magical learning – the Red Tower – falls under suspicion, two students and one lawbringer must do everything they can to combat Habreel and his followers, before magic disappears from the world for good.

La Belle Sauvage: The Book of Dust by Philip Pullman | Goodreads

The companion series to the His Dark Materials trilogy follows eleven-year-old Malcolm Polstead and his dæmon, Asta. He lives with his parents at the Trout Inn near Oxford. Across the River Thames (which Malcolm navigates often using his beloved canoe, a boat by the name of La Belle Sauvage) is the Godstow Priory where the nuns live. Malcolm learns they have a guest with them, a baby by the name of Lyra Belacqua . . .

The Name of The Wind by Patrick Rothfuss | Goodreads

This deluxe, illustrated edition celebrates the tenth anniversary of the New York Times-bestselling series, The Kingkiller Chronicle, a masterful epic fantasy saga that has inspired readers worldwide. Featuring more than 50 pages of additional content, including illustrations, an updated world map, pronunciation guide, a new author’s note, and more.

Strange Weather by Joe Hill | Goodreads

A collection of four chilling novels: In “Snapshot”, a Silicon Valley adolescent finds himself threatened by a tattooed thug who possesses a Polaroid Instant Camera that erases memories, snap by snap; “Aloft” follows a young man take to the skies to experience his first parachute jump. . . and winds up a castaway on an impossibly solid cloud; “Rain” sees the clouds open up in a downpour of nails; and “Loaded” finds a mall security guard prevent a mass shooting and becomes a hero to the modern gun rights movement, until he unravels…

The Beautiful Ones by Silvia Moreno-Garcia | Goodreads

Antonina Beaulieu is in the glittering city of Loisail for her first Grand Season, where she will attend balls and mingle among high society. Under the tutelage of the beautiful but cold Valérie Beaulieu, she hopes to find a suitable husband. However, the haphazard manifestations of Nina’s telekinetic powers make her the subject of malicious gossip. Yet dazzling telekinetic performer and outsider Hector Auvray sees Nina’s powers as a gift, and he teaches her how to hone and control them. As they spend more and more time together, Nina falls in love and believes she’s found the great romance that she’s always dreamed of, but Hector’s courtship of Nina is deceptive.

The Genius Plague by David Walton | Goodreads

What if the pandemic you thought would kill you made you more intelligent instead? In the Amazon jungle, a disease is spreading. To those who survive, it grants enhanced communication, memory, and pattern recognition. But the miracle may be the sinister survival mechanism of a fungal organism, manipulating the infected into serving it. Paul Johns, a mycologist, is convinced the fungal host is the next stage of human evolution, while his brother Neil, an analyst at the NSA, is committed to its destruction. Is the human race the master in this symbiotic relationship, or are we becoming the pawns of a subtly dominating and utterly alien intelligence?

The Afterlife of Holly Chase by Cynthia Hand | Goodreads

On Christmas Eve five years ago, Holly was visited by three ghosts who showed her how selfish and spoiled she’d become. They tried to convince her to mend her ways, but she died instead. Now she’s stuck working for the top-secret company Project Scrooge–as the latest Ghost of Christmas Past. So far, Holly’s afterlife has been miserable, but this year, everything is about to change. . . .

A Plague of Giants by Kevin Hearne | Goodreads

In the city of Pelemyn, Fintan the bard takes to the stage to tell what really happened the night the giants came… From the east came the Bone Giants, from the south, the fire-wielding Hathrim – an invasion that sparked war across the six nations of Teldwen. The kingdom’s only hope is the discovery of a new form of magic that calls the world’s wondrous beasts to fight by the side of humankind.

The Stone in the Skull by Elizabeth Bear | Goodreads

The Gage is a brass automaton created by a wizard of Messaline around the core of a human being. His wizard is long dead, and he works as a mercenary. He is carrying a message from a the most powerful sorcerer of Messaline to the Rajni of the Lotus Kingdom. With him is The Dead Man, a bitter survivor of the body guard of the deposed Uthman Caliphate, protecting the message and the Gage. They are friends, of a peculiar sort. They are walking into a dynastic war between the rulers of the shattered bits of a once great Empire.

The post October Book Releases: Fantasy & Sci-Fi appeared first on The Nerd Daily.