If you only watch soccer once every four years when the World Cup rolls around, you are probably trying to figure out if this year’s U.S. Men’s National Team is actually good.The short answer? They have a ton of young talent playing at the highest levels in Europe. But if the USA wants to shock the world and make a deep run on home soil this summer, it all comes down to one 27-year-old from Pennsylvania: Christian Pulisic.
Nicknamed "Captain America" by fans, Pulisic isn't just our best player—he is the engine that makes the whole team run. Here is a quick, beginner-friendly breakdown of why he is the most important American athlete you should be rooting for right now.
1. He Is Our Offensive "Quarterback"
In soccer, teams often try to park all their defenders in front of the goal to create a human wall. It takes a special kind of player to break that wall down. That is Pulisic’s superpower.
Think of him like an elite NFL wide receiver who can also throw the ball. He uses incredible speed and quick footwork to blow past defenders, draw extra coverage, and then deliver perfect passes to his teammates. In our opening 4-1 win against Paraguay, Pulisic only played the first half, but he already forced an own goal and set up another score. When he is on the field, the U.S. looks like an offensive powerhouse. When he sits, the offense can stall.
2. He Has Done What No American Man Has Done Before
For decades, American soccer players were looked down upon by the powerhouse countries in Europe and South America. Pulisic changed that narrative single-handedly. He didn't just make it to Europe; he won the Champions League—the absolute highest trophy in club soccer, he doesn’t get intimidated when the U.S. plays giants like Brazil or England.
3. As Pulisic Goes. the USA Goes
In basketball, a superstar like LeBron James or Steph Curry can completely take over a game. Soccer is harder for a single player to dominate because the field is so huge, but Pulisic comes close.Statistically, when Pulisic scores or gets an assist, the U.S. team almost always wins. He sets the emotional tone for the entire squad. If he is playing with high energy and aggression, the rest of the young American roster feeds off that confidence.
4. The Current Drama: The Calf Injury
If you tune into the next game against Australia, you might hear a lot of nervous chatter from the announcers. During the Paraguay game, Pulisic took a brutal kick to his left calf. He has been training away from the main team this week to recover.
This creates a massive high-stakes chess match for our new manager, Mauricio Pochettino. Does Team USA risk playing their best player against Australia to guarantee a win? Or do they rest him so he is healthy for the single-elimination knockout rounds?
Keep your eyes on the injury reports this week. If Captain America is healthy and flying down the field, Team USA has a real shot to make history.
In Marvel Studios’ Captain America: Brave New World, Sam Wilson (Anthony Mackie) – who now wields the shield of Captain America after events in the Disney+ streaming series “The Falcon and The Winter Soldier” – meets with newly elected U.S. president Thaddeus Ross (Harrison Ford) and soon finds himself in the middle of an international incident. In a race against time, Sam must discover the reason behind a nefarious global plot before the true mastermind has the entire world seeing red.
Rated PG-13 by the Motion Picture Association of America (MPAA) for intense sequences of violence and action, Captain America: Brave New World is now available to view on digital platforms including Amazon Prime Video, Apple TV, Fandango at Home, and Movies Anywhere. It will also be available to add to home entertainment video libraries on 4K Ultra HD, Blu-ray and DVD on May 13, 2025.
There will also be available, a Walmart exclusive pop-up Blu-ray that unfolds into a stunning 3D scene featuring Captain America facing off against Red Hulk. With intricate details like Sam’s spread wings, and iconic shield, the dynamic display creates a collectible showdown making it a must-have for Marvel fans.
The home video digital and physical media releases will also include the following featurettes as bonus content:
Deleted Scenes:
A Heartfelt Thanks – President Ross praises Agent Taylor for her actions.
The Mission – Sam Wilson tries to extract information out of Agent Taylor in the boxing ring.
Stick Around – President Ross extends an apology and an unexpected invitation to Isaiah.
Assuming the Mantle – Ever since his high-flying debut in “Captain America: The Winter Soldier,” audiences around the world have known that Sam Wilson was destined for great things. Join the cast and crew as they look at Sam's past, present, and potential future in the MCU.
Old Scores, New Scars – Brave New World finds Captain America locked in a battle of brains and brawn in the forms of The Leader, Red Hulk, and Sidewinder. From prosthetics to visual effects to stunt work, get the lowdown on these formidable foes and how they're brought to life.
Gag Reel – Enjoy some hilarious outtakes on set with the cast and crew of Captain America: Brave New World.
Audio Commentary – Listen to Director Julius Onah and Director of Photography Kramer Morgenthau talk about the film.
If you didn't make it out to the movie theater to see CAPTAIN AMERICA: CIVIL WAR during its opening weekend make sure to see it while you can can on the big screen because it is definitely worth the price of admission. The brother duo of Anthony and Joe Russo teamed up to co-direct this newest addition to Disney's Marvel super hero inspired film universe which does a stellar job of making the movie's audience feel as if they've actually been immersed into the pages of a comic book as they watch it. This film is full of epic scenes which are amazing to see on the silver screen and demonstrates that while most motion pictures are easily available within a few months of their theatrical release to watch on dvd or via digital download going to the movies can still be a great experience that can't always be replicated on a television or mobile device screen.
This movie has it all ... a dynamic script that provides a serious dramatic tone to the film, action scenes that are sure to entertain you, special effects that provide a wow factor, plus humorous moments and one liners that cause the whole theater to erupt with laughter. Captain America: Civil War does a nice job of making its cast of larger than life super hero characters relatable to viewers with its plot themes of loss, fear and revenge and great visual elements that absorb you into their story. With such a large cast of prominent Marvel super heroes featured in this film, it was a nice spin on things that a lesser known character such as Ant-Man becomes the biggest hero of them all. I really enjoyed the Ant-Man solo movie and am looking forward to its sequel even more after seeing the great role Scott Lang played in Civil War. While Captain America and Iron Man are without a doubt the two main characters of the film, the directors really did a nice job of finding screen time and a role in the plot for everyone.
Two new heroes, Spider-Man and Black Panther, are added to the film franchise in Captain America: Civil War and they really are provided impressive introductions that do their comic book characters justice in how they are portrayed and exceeded the expectations I had going into the movie. I am looking forward to seeing the upcoming Black Panther solo movie after seeing Chadwick Boseman's performance as T'Challa the ruler of Wakanda in Civil War, while prior to seeing Captain America it wasn't of that much particular interest to me. Tom Holland does a nice job of portraying the wise-cracking, teen age side of Spider-Man from the comic books that hasn't been highlighted as much in previous film versions of the character while his Aunt May goes in another direction not being a grey haired elderly lady in this new take on Peter Parker's adventures.
While the first two Avengers movies were great when it came to action scenes, special effects, and comedic scenes, Captain America: Civil War creates a new benchmark for the quality of a comic book inspired movie by incorporating a nice script with a plot that adds a sense of drama to the movie while also including all the elements that have made the Avengers movies incredibly enjoyable to watch. Yes there are some plot flaws and other aspects of the film that make it far from perfect but this is an action movie not a documentary and it fulfills its mission of transporting its audience away from the reality of their own lives and entertaining them within one filled with super heroes that awe and amaze. The tension between Captain America and Iron Man's feud leaves you on the edge of your seat while Ant-Man and Spider-Man provide comic relief that breaks the tension of the serious elements of the movie's plot. The CGI effects continue to be very well done with one particular scene standing out in which a 20-year old Robert Downey Jr. appears on screen alongside his modern day self. Watching theses special effects it really appears as if Iron Man is flying through the sky or Vision is walking through someone which is a big part of what makes watching these takes on Marvel's comic books so fun. Heading to see this movie, I had reservations about whether this movie could continue the momentum of the last two Avengers movies and was pleasantly surprised to leave the theater considering this my favorite film in the Marvel cinematic universe yet.
Captain America: Civil War follows the aftermath of the incidents in Avengers: Age of Ultron where the European nation of Sokovia was devastated with death and destruction by the conflict that occurred in that film. Combined with the civilian death toll from incidents involving the Avengers in the original Avengers movie and in Captain America: The Winter Soldier, the world has become afraid of this team of super powered individuals led by Steve Rogers (Captain America). The countries of the world come together to sign a treaty called the Sokovia Accords which would have the United Nations oversee and direct the team. The new status quo fractures the Avengers resulting in two camps, one led by Captain America and his desire for the Avengers to remain free to defend humanity without government interference and the other following Tony Stark's decision to support government oversight and accountability.
This movie absolutely did not "stank" and you'll want to keep an eye out for comic book publishing icon Stan Lee's appearance in this film which is one of his best movie cameos yet. Also stick around after the movie ends for a special post-credit teaser for the upcoming Spider-Man movie. Captain America: Civil War gets A Geek Daddy nod of approval because I frankly thoroughly enjoyed the movie theater viewing experience and am looking forward to adding it to my home video library when it arrives on blu-ray and dvd later this year. This is one of those movies though you really should make an effort to see on the big screen to enjoy the expansive battle scenes as you won't regret going to the theater to see it.
One of my favorite aspects of collecting comic books is all of the incredible artwork that publishers commission for the covers of their issues. You'll often find spectacular cover art for comic book covers that is worthy of framing and displaying. That is one element of print editions that just doesn't translate over as well to digital versions of comic books.
To keep customers repeatedly visiting comic book shops on a regular basis, publishers spread the release of their titles' new issues throughout the month. So every Wednesday is always a "new comic book day" with a variety of comic book selections debuting each week. I always enjoy making a stop by my local comic book shop on Wednesdays to peruse the shelves for some new stories to read and to delight in all the great illustrations that decorate the covers of that week's featured publications. So I was very enthused to learn about a new partnership between welovefine.com and Marvel that will let people wear the art from their favorite new comic book covers on their chest.
Each week We Love Fine will release for sale on Wednesday limited edition t-shirts featuring the cover artwork from the Marvel super hero comic books that arrived on store shelves that day. Like the artwork on the newest issue of the Amazing Spider-Man? You can now get a t-shirt displaying it from welovefine.com. Don't wait to order though as these shirts will only be available for a few days then replaced with new selections the next Wednesday corresponding with Marvel's most recent comic book releases that week.
These t-shirts cost just $15, plus shipping and handling, and are available in mens basic crew tee or womens basic fitted tee in adult sizes Small to 2XL. The shirts are 100% cotton and black in color to frame the artwork displayed on its front. The exclusive We Love Fine / Marvel shirts are only available in black and though I'm not a fan of white or black t-shirts I can understand how this coloring really does a nice job of highlight the artwork which is the primary reason people would buy the product plus is probably a financial necessity to ensure the profitability of a limited run printing while keeping the price as affordable as they have. Hopefully if this program is successful they may add some other color options in the future for the t-shirts that are complimentary to the particular artwork you've selected but for now black t-shirts aren't much to gripe over.
If you like to wear clothes that have a sense of fun to them, are a bit unique and you most likely won't encounter someone else wearing at the same time you are sporting them these limited run t-shirts are a great option to accomplish that. They are also a great way to personalize your wardrobe a bit by adding artwork featuring your favorite comic book characters that really appeals to you. If you enjoy comic book artwork and super hero characters you'll want to regularly check out welovefine.com to see what Marvel Covers t-shirts they are printing up each week.
Know a girl in 10th through 12th grade that dreams of making our world a better place? Encourage her to enter the MARVEL'S CAPTAIN AMERICA: CIVIL WAR - GIRLS REFORMING THE FUTURE CHALLENGE between now and March 26, 2016. This challenge invites girls from across the United States, ages 15 - 18, to submit innovative STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, or Mathematics) based projects that have the potential to change the world. Each applicant will be asked to submit a short video demonstrating her project and explaining how her science and technology-based project would make the world a better place. Five finalists will be selected to visit California and present their projects to a panel of experts. One grand prize winner will be selected from the five finalists to receive an internship at Marvel Studios.
In Captain America: Civil War, each hero is forced to take a stand and choose a side in their fight to reform the future. Although the Avengers become divided they remain united by the same goals: the commitment to safeguard humanity, protect the Earth at all costs and make the world a better place for future generations. Marvel is launching the GIRLS REFORMING THE FUTURE CHALLENGE to engage young women to further the goals of these fictional super heroes within real life.
Disney, Marvel Studios, Dolby Laboratories, Synchrony Bank, Broadcom MASTERS, and the Science & Entertainment Exchange, a program of National Academy of Sciences, are all working together to help encourage young ladies to reach for their potential to become real life super heroes. Finalists will have the opportunity to inspire other girls around the world by participating in a LIVE global Broadcom MASTERS webinar during which they will discuss how STEM skills enabled them to craft the project proposals which led them to becoming a finalist in the CAPTAIN AMERICA: CIVIL WAR - GIRLS REFORMING THE FUTURE CHALLENGE. The Grand Prize Winner will also share during the webinar details about how she utilized STEM skills during her Marvel Studios internship experience to show practical applications outside of a lab or class room.
Each of the five finalists will receive: Two round-trip tickets to Southern California for the Challenge participant and a parent or guardian (including scheduled meals, ground transportation to and from organized activities, and hotel accommodations from April 10 through April 13, 2016); an opportunity to be on the red carpet for the World Premiere of Marvel's Captain America: Civil War at the Dolby Theatre on April 12, 2016; a tour of the Walt Disney Studios in Burbank, California; and $500.00 deposited into a High Yield Savings account with Synchrony Bank.
For application forms, eligibility requirements, official contest rules and more information about MARVEL'S CAPTAIN AMERICA: CIVIL WAR -- GIRLS REFORMING THE FUTURE CHALLENGE, visit CaptainAmericaChallenge.com
Get those entries in for the chance to win that Grand Prize that will allow you to go behind the closed doors at Marvel Studios!
If you are a comic book fan than there is a lot to be geeked about when it comes to the blockbuster super hero movies being released this spring. Batman versus Superman, X-Men: Apocalypse and Captain America: Civil War are bringing a lot of comic book characters to the silver screen including one of my all time favorite super heroes, your friendly neighborhood Spider-Man. Disney just released a new trailer for Civil War and while Captain America may have his name on the movie title could it be that Spider Man steals the show?
From the trailers and stills released about Captain America: Civil War no matter how big or small the web-crawler's role may be it is guaranteed the film it is going to be filled with an incredible number of super heroes ranging from Ant Man to Iron Man engaging in some epic battle sequences.
Captain America: Civil War hits theaters across the United States on May 6, 2016. It pits Captain America, Falcon, Hawkeye, Scarlet Witch, and Ant Man versus Iron Man, War Machine, Black Widow, Vision, Black Panther...and Spider Man. These two teams are battling over the fate of Steve Roger's boyhood best friend and military sidekick Bucky Barnes, who was transformed into the villainous assassin Winter Soldier after being thought lost for dead during a World War II combat mission with Captain America, regarding his involvement in the incidents of Captain America: The Winter Soldier plus they are in conflict about whether "enhanced individuals" like the Avengers should be registered and controlled by the United States government.
So are you rooting for Team Captain America or Team Iron Man in this super hero civil war? I'm torn because I support Cap's principles but Tony Stark has recruited a team made up of characters that I'm so much more hyped about seeing in the movie. So it is a toss up for me. The one thing I do know for sure is that I'm excited to see Spider Man join in on the action!
I went to the movie theater a lot more than usual last year and it appears that I wasn't alone with three films, Avengers: Age of Ultron, Jurassic World, and Star Wars: The Force Awakens setting all-time box office records. In addition to going to a bunch of children's focused shows with my kids like Alvin & The Chipmunks: Road Chip, Hotel Transylvania 2, Home, Inside Out, Minions, Peanuts, The Good Dinosaur, and Shaun the Sheep last year, there were also a lot of times I left the twins at home going out with my wife, friends or by myself to see Ant-Man, Creed, The Martian, Tomorrowland, Mad Max: Fury Road, and James Bond SPECTRE, plus the three mega hits mentioned above that included Star Wars twice, because there were a lot of films playing in 2015 I really wanted to enjoy watching with the theater experience. The movie industry isn't resting on its laurels though as 2016 looks to be even more of a blockbuster year filled with action packed films from start to finish.
Here are a few of the films, I'm most looking forward to in 2016:
THE REVENANT - JANUARY 8
The scenery may be the star of this film which was filmed on location in the rugged Canadian wilderness. Starring Leonardo DiCaprio, it is the true story of legendary explorer Hugh Glass who after being brutally attacked by a bear is left for dead by his own hunting party. Guided by his sheer will to live, Glass must struggle to survive through the uncharted American wilderness in the 1800s era.
THE 5THE WAVE - JANUARY 22
Following in the popularity of Sci-Fi young adult novels like The Maze Runner and The Hunger Games being turned into hit movies is this adaption of Rick Yancey's 2013 book The 5th Wave. In this movie, the Earth has been devastated by an alien invasion. A teenage survivor searches for her brother, who may or may not have been abducted by human-looking extra-terrestrials. She is helped in her search by a boy who also might be an alien in disguise.
THE FINEST HOURS - JANUARY 29
On February 18, 1952, a massive
nor’easter struck New England, pummeling towns along the Eastern seaboard and
wreaking havoc on the ships caught in its deadly path, including the SS
Pendleton, a T-2 oil tanker bound for Boston, which was literally ripped in
half, trapping more than 30 sailors inside its rapidly-sinking stern. As the
senior officer on board, first assistant engineer Ray Sybert (played by Casey Affleck)
soon realizes it is up to him to take charge of the frightened crew and inspire
the men to set aside their differences and work together to ride out one of the
worst storms to ever hit the East Coast. Meanwhile, as word of the disaster
reaches the U.S. Coast Guard station in Chatham, Massachusetts, Warrant Officer
Daniel Cluff (Eric Bana) orders a daring operation to rescue the stranded men.
Despite overwhelming odds, four men, led by Coast Guard Captain Bernie Webber
(Chris Pine), set out in a wooden lifeboat with an ill-equipped engine and
little, if any, means of navigation, facing frigid temperatures, 60-foot high
waves and hurricane-force winds.
DEADPOOL - FEBRUARY 12
Expanding on the X-Men mutant universe that it has the rights to, Twentieth Century Fox brings one of Marvel Comic books most popular characters to the silver screen. Deadpool tells the origin story of former Special Forces
operative turned mercenary Wade Wilson, who after being subjected to a rogue
experiment that leaves him with accelerated healing powers, adopts the alter
ego Deadpool. Armed with his new abilities and a dark, twisted sense of humor,
Deadpool hunts down the man who nearly destroyed his life. This film is full of smart ass humor and like this trailer is something you probably don't want younger children to see.
ZOOLANDER 2 - FEBRUARY 12
10 years have passed since the events in the first movie. Derek and Hansel are no longer relevant anymore in the fashion world. Then Interpol contacts them for help when the world's most beautiful people are being killed one-by-one and they need to infiltrate the modeling scene to catch the murder. If you want to go see a silly, goofy comedy that's charm is it doesn't take itself seriously this movie promises to be full of laughs.
LONDON HAS FALLEN - MARCH 4
Olympus Has Fallen was a surprisingly good movie that reminded me of the Die Hard movies that I really enjoyed in my high school and college years. This 2013 story of the White House being taken over by terrorists did respectfully well at the box office grossing over $161 million at the box office worldwide. So of course they made an action packed sequel -- London Has Fallen. The plot really isn't important, if you enjoy action movies filled with explosives and stunts you'll want to see this film.
BATMAN VS SUPERMAN - MARCH 25
This isn't just a battle between two larger than life super heroes, this film is the beginning of a smack down duel between two gigantic corporations as Warner Brothers' DC Comics subsidiary battles Disney's Marvel Entertainment subsidiary by creating its own comic book inspired cinematic universe to compete for the hearts, and dollars, of movie goers. Batman vs Superman consider each other a danger to society, but an even larger villain looms that could prove to doom the world. Will this movie be the Doomsday for Warner Brothers comic book movies or just the beginning of a series of successful films that ties together DC Comics characters through the Justice League similarly to what Disney has done with Marvel's Avengers. I can't wait to find out!
CAPTAIN AMERICA: CIVIL WAR - MAY 6
Disney counters Warner Brothers Batman vs Superman with its next mega-Marvel movie. In this Captain America movie, when the government sets up a governing body to oversee the
Avengers, the team splinters into two camps -- one led by Steve Rogers and his
desire for the Avengers to remain free to defend humanity without government
interference, and the other following Tony Stark’s surprising decision to
support government oversight and accountability. With all the appearances by various Marvel superheroes this movie could really also be called Avengers 3 though of course they have another film already planned coming up by that name. The script for the film is based upon one of Marvel Comics all time most popular story arcs which was also titled Civil War.
X-MEN APOCALYPSE - MAY 27
Twentieth Century Fox isn't letting Warner Brothers and Disney have all the fun when it comes to the current comic book craze in the movie industry. 2016 really is the year of comic book movies with Batman vs Superman, Civil War and Twentieth Century Fox adding Deadpool and a new X-Men movie into the mix.
Since the dawn of civilization, Apocalypse was worshipped as
a god. He was the first and most powerful mutant from Marvel’s X-Men universe,
and amassed the powers of many other mutants, becoming immortal and invincible.
Upon awakening after thousands of years, he is disillusioned with the world as
he finds it and recruits a team of powerful mutants, including a disheartened
Magneto (Michael Fassbender), to cleanse mankind and create a new world order,
over which he will reign. As the fate of the Earth hangs in the balance, Raven
(Jennifer Lawrence) with the help of Professor X (James McAvoy) must lead a
team of young X-Men to stop their greatest nemesis and save mankind from
complete destruction.
TEENAGE MUTANT NINJA TURTLES - JUNE 3
I find these Mutant Ninja Turtles really creepy but really like this souped up garbage truck in the trailer. This sequel based upon the comic books created by Peter Laird and Kevin Eastman looks better than the 2014 film it follows.
WORLD OF WARCRAFT - JUNE 10
Comic book inspired movies have become hits the last few years can video games have the same pop culture success? This movie based upon the popular video game franchise World of Warcraft aims to find out.
The peaceful realm of Azeroth stands on the brink of war as
its civilization faces a fearsome race of invaders: Orc warriors fleeing their
dying home to colonize another. As a portal opens to connect the two worlds,
one army faces destruction and the other faces extinction. From opposing sides,
two heroes are set on a collision course that will decide the fate of their
family, their people and their home. So begins a spectacular saga of power and
sacrifice in which war has many faces, and everyone fights for something.
INDEPENDENCE DAY: RESURGENCE - JUNE 24
Using recovered alien technology, the nations of Earth have
collaborated on an immense defense program to protect the planet. But nothing
can prepare us for the aliens’ advanced and unprecedented force. Only the
ingenuity of a few brave men and women can bring our world back from the brink
of extinction.
Will this sequel live up to the popularity of the original Independence Day?
THE LEGEND OF TARZAN - JULY 1
Author Edgar
Rice Burroughs' characters were all the rage when it came to adventure stories during the first half of the 20th century but Disney's failed John Carter showed that they've since lost their luster. Can Warner Brothers renew interest in these once popular characters with its upcoming Tarzan movie?
It
has been years since the man once known as Tarzan (Skarsgård) left the jungles
of Africa behind for a gentrified life as John Clayton III, Lord Greystoke,
with his beloved wife, Jane (Robbie) at his side. Now, he has been invited back
to the Congo to serve as a trade emissary of Parliament, unaware that he is a
pawn in a deadly convergence of greed and revenge, masterminded by the Belgian,
Captain Leon Rom (Waltz). But those behind the murderous plot have no idea what
they are about to unleash.
GHOSTBUSTERS - JULY 15
In this reboot of the original Ghostbusters movie, Erin Gilbert and Abby Bergman are a pair of unheralded authors who write a book positing that
ghosts are real. A few years later, Gilbert lands a prestigious teaching
position at Columbia University, but her book resurfaces and she is laughed out
of academia. Gilbert reunites with Bergman and others when ghosts invade
Manhattan and try to save the world. If you liked Bridesmaids this film will have a lot of the same players in it with an all-female cast.
STAR TREK BEYOND - JULY 22
This film will mark the 50th anniversary of the airing of the original Star Trek TV series and features the continuing adventures of the re-imagined crew based upon the cast and stories from that show. This will be the third installment of the new rebooted Star Trek cinematic story arc starring Chris Pine as Captain Kirk and Zachary Quinto as Spock.
SUICIDE SQUAD - AUGUST 5
The next edition of Warner Brothers comic book cinematic universe based off of a popular DC Comics series of the same name. In it a mix of well-known and unknown villains (Deadshot, King
Shark, Captain Boomerang and Harley Quinn) are recruited by the government to
accomplish a task deemed too dangerous for superheroes. The historically
independent operators must bury their own interpersonal conflicts and agendas
to form a cohesive unit to take on a singular task.
INFERNO - OCTOBER 28
Tom Hanks returns as Robert
Langdon tries to stop a global genocide scheme by following clues in Dante
Alighieri's "The Divine Comedy" which take him to Florence and
Venice, Italy. He battles a chilling adversary and grapples with an ingenious
riddle that pulls him into a landscape of classic art, secret passageways, and
futuristic science.
DOCTOR STRANGE - NOVEMBER 4
If this movie based upon the classic Marvel comic book character is as good as Disney's 2015 Ant-Man it should be a real treat to watch.
FANTASTIC BEASTS & WHERE TO FIND THEM - NOVEMBER 18
Warner Brothers is trying to keep the magic of Harry Potter alive with this new film. With a script by Harry Potter author J.K. Rowling and the director of the last four Potter movies, David Yates, this film aims to transport people back to wizarding world portrayed in the popular book and movie franchise. This film though features all new characters and places set in a time period decades before Harry Potter was born. The idea for the film was inspired by a Harry Potter Hogwart's textbook called "Fantastic Beasts & Where To Find Them" written by a "magiczoologist" named Newt Scamander who is the principal character in what is expected to be the first in a trilogy of films.
STAR WARS: ROGUE ONE - DECEMBER 16
This is the movie I'm most looking forward to seeing in 2016! Director Gareth Edwards promises to put in the "War" in "Star Wars" with this film that will have a gritty battle vibe to it reminiscent to Saving Private Ryan. In this film, that is a prequel to Episode IV: A New Hope, a band of resistance fighters unite for a daring mission to steal the Death Star plans in what may be the first R rated movie in the Star Wars saga.
Comic books and Sci-Fi really dominate this year's movie releases, but eventually the pop culture interest will move on, so if you are a fan of these type adventure movies like I am enjoy the ride while it lasts. Which of these movies are you most looking forward to seeing this year or is there one not mentioned that is at the top of your must see list for 2016?
It was nice weather outside the other day and my kids were being rambunctious inside the house. When I urged them to go out and play they whined back at me "there's nothing to do in the backyard." I urged them to use their imagination as they were ushered outside. It didn't take long for me to hear them having fun as they started to pretend they were the Avengers and imagining they were on an adventure to save the planet.
My son threw on his Iron Man Marvel's Avengers: Age of Ultron Hero Mask and Iron Man Arc FX Armor and was racing around the backyard pretending to blast apart the robotic hoards of the villainous Ultron's cybernetic army. Hasbro's Arc FX armor provides kids with a pair of articulated gloves that assists them in role playing by featuring a light-up repulsor with sound effects so they can blast into their imaginary battles like Iron Man. Raising your hand activates lights and blasting sound effects. Meanwhile my daughter was pretending to be the Fantastic Four's invisible woman so she could ignore my son and stay out of the fray.
Iron Man next stumbled upon Thor's mighty battle hammer Mjolnir and tested himself to see if he was worthy to hold the famed weapon. He used all the power of Iron Man's armor but was unable to budge the hammer from where it rested. This peaked my little girl's interest who wandered over and without a bit of hesitation hoisted Mjolnir into the air. That action transformed a six year old kindergartener into the mighty Thor!
Thor and Iron Man then teamed up to tackle a variety of challenges as they leaped, rolled, and wrestled their way through an imaginary adventure. They spent about 2 hours outside on a nice spring day playing Avengers. These role playing Marvel's Avengers: Age of Ultron toys from Hasbro were really a nice enticement to encourage my kids to get outside and play in a fun way that also got them some exercise and spurred their imaginations.
According to a post in Scholastic's parenting blog, pretend play, like my kids Avenger's adventure in our backyard, has important learning benefits that assist children with problem solving, critical thinking, self expression and imagination. The children's publisher Scholastic notes that when kids pretend to be different characters they have the experience of "walking in someone else's shoes" which helps teach the moral development skill of empathy. The article also mentions that pretend play can assist children with language skills as they use words to reenact a story or act out their own adventures. CLICK HERE to read the full blog post by Scholastic on the many benefits of children engaging in pretend play.
There are also a bunch of benefits in regard to getting kids outside to play. One of the most important is that the American Heart Association recommends that children 2 and older should be involved in at least 60 minutes of moderate intensity physical activities each day to stay in good health. Getting your kids to pretend they are super heroes is a great way to get your kids outside playing and being active! These Marvel's Avengers: Age of Ultron role-playing toys really can spark a child's interest in pretending to be a super hero and spur them to run, leap, and wrestle in imaginative play.
In addition to the Iron Man and Thor gear I've show above, here are a few other Hasbro role play items in their Marvel's Avengers: Age of Ultron collection that can be used to #AssembleYourTeam and help your child unleash his or her imagination to join the ranks of Earth's Mightiest Super Heroes.
AVENGERS HERO MASKS
Wear the Hulk's scowl, Captain America's iconic 'A', Iron Man's flip up visor, or Thor's helmet to suit up as your favorite Avenger. Recommended for children ages 5 & up.
HULK GAMMA GRIP FISTS
These foam hands let kids imagine battling evil like the most powerful member of the Avengers: the Hulk! Recommended for children ages 4 & up.
CAPTAIN AMERICA STAR LAUNCH SHIELD
Pull the rip cord to deploy the shield's center disc and send it flying for a surprise attack. Recommended for children ages 6 & up.
These toys are available at most major retailers and on HasbroToyShop.com
Avengers Assemble! Get out there and have some fun adventures of your own!
DISCLAIMER: I was not provided any financial compensation
for publishing this post and there was no promise made to Hasbro that
if they provided complimentary products that they would receive a
positive review or in fact any post on this blog at all. Opinions and
views expressed in this post are my own. Some of the product
information and photographs used in this post were provided to A Geek
Daddy blog by Hasbro. A Geek Daddy blog was provided some complimentary products that were utilized in this post.
My son spends hours playing with his Marvel Super Hero Mashers toys from Hasbro. These action figures let kids take their favorite super heroes and mix and match body parts and accessories to create their own unique characters. Create Spider Hulk wielding the power of Mjölnir, Iron Wolvernine carrying Captain America's shield or a variety of other mash-ups based upon the action figures you collect.
Based upon the popularity of these toys, Hasbro is adding Star Wars to its lineup of Mashers toys in the Fall of 2015. The Star Wars Mashers will include characters from the original and prequel movies like Anakin Skywalker, Boba Fett, Darth Vader, and General Grevious plus a few from the new animated television show Rebels such as Kanan and Zeb. Just think of the possible variations: an android General Fett wielding a variety of light sabers, a Zeb trooper wearing imperial battle armor, or dare I say it Darth Jar Jar.
I have a feeling that my son is going to be finding some Star Wars Mashers under the Christmas Tree this year.
If you are going to be in the vicinity of New York City this summer you should swing by the DISCOVERY TIMES SQUARE MUSEUM to check out their newest exhibit: Marvel's Avengers S.T.A.T.I.O.N. It is an out of this world experience where Marvel & NASA have teamed up to promote S.T.E.M. (Science, Technology, Engineering & Mathematics) lessons in a fun way through immersing visitors into the cinematic universe of Captain America, The Hulk, Iron Man, and Thor. I haven't been to it yet, but a friend of mine took his kids and gave the experience a big green Hulk's thumbs up!
Apparently walking through the exhibit is like having a walk on role in a Marvel Super Heroes movie and the whole experience stays in character to a point that it feels as if you are part of a comic book adventure. The theme of the exhibit is that you have been recruited to become S.H.I.E.L.D.'s newest agent and you are attending the top secret Avengers S.T.A.T.I.O.N. (Scientific Training & Tactical Intelligence Operatives Network) to be initiated and trained about the history and secrets of the super heroes you will be working with in your new job. The exhibit is filled with movie props and replicas from the Marvel films plus high-tech displays and experiments that utilize super hero and villain themes that make educational lessons entertaining. As you walk through the S.T.A.T.I.O.N., you are funneled through various rooms dedicated to each of the main Avengers characters.
For example, Captain America has relics from his World War II days, the super soldier chamber that gave him his special abilities, and his current Avengers costume on display. There are a variety of challenges in his room where you can pit your strength and reflexes against his. Thor's area features a star map with a focus on astronomy where you can locate Asgard and other spacial items. The Hulk's room is filled with microscopes and discusses the science behind Bruce Banner's transformation. While you can't wear the armor, you can get a good look at an Iron Man suit from the movies. Plus there are what are called JARVIS visors that give you the experience of being in control of Iron Man through scanners that track your eye movement.
In addition to the tier one characters, they also have the outfits for characters like Hawkeye, Black Widow, Loki, and S.H.I.E.L.D.'s Agent Coulson....plus a bad guy from the first Avengers movie captured in suspended animation after the Battle of New York, a Chitauri (also know as a Skrull to those of us who grew up reading comic books but Fox owns the movie rights to that name through its Fantastic Four license so the name was changed in the film)
My friend who visited said that while the Marvel props are a thrill to see the best part of the exhibit is experiencing all of the interactive features available to play around with. So don't rush through the displays are meant for people to linger. Taking that into consideration you may want to plan a visit avoiding peak attendance times so you have the least crowds to contend with. Admission is by time slots so it does appear as there are some limitations to help provide everyone a nice opportunity to enjoy themselves without it being too hectic of a surrounding.
Marvel's Avengers S.T.A.T.I.O.N. really looks to be an exciting opportunity for both kids and kids at heart. This Geek Daddy really tries to focus on making education entertaining for my children and this exhibit really seems to take this attitude to heart. I really like the NASA partnership to combine its science with the fiction of Marvel to create a scifi event that showcases how science and math can be cool. I'm really hoping we have the opportunity to take a family roadtrip to New York this summer or fall to experience Marvel's Avengers S.T.A.T.I.O.N. at the Discovery Times Square Museum.
The one downside is that like all things in the Big Apple it seems a little pricey. Tickets are $27 for adults, $19.50 for kids 3 to 11 (children 12 and over are adults prices - yikes!) and Seniors 65+ are $23.50. So a trip to this exhibit would cost my family $93....ouch! Plus they charge extra for things like digital photo ops and other souvenirs, you didn't think you could leave without exiting a gift store did you? They do offer a nice $25 parking deal with ticket packages which sounds like a bargain if you are driving into Manhattan and if you are going take advantage of the American Express sponsorship deal that gives you a free digital photo op at the exhibit if you buy your tickets with their credit card.
For more information about Marvel's Avengers S.T.A.T.I.O.N. visit www.discoverytsx.com
I've appreciated playing a good game of pinball on a "real machine" since my college days where I diverted a lot of quarters from my laundry money to the Star Wars pinball machine in my college dorm's student lounge. Unfortunately, it can be cost or space prohibitive to own one in your own home, and you don't see pin ball machines featured at restaurants, movie theaters and other public establishments to play when you are out and about as much as you used to. In fact there are only 2 manufacturers left of traditional pinball machines, long time manufacturer STERN (whose current table models include Avengers, Star Trek, Transformers, and the Ford Mustang themes) and a new start up company called Jersey Jack Pinball that has the licenses to create Wizard of OZ and Hobbit branded ones. If you can't play the real thing you may want to check out the video game versions.
One of the leaders in producing digital pinball games is ZEN STUDIOS. Zen Studios has the license for Marvel Comics and has made some great themed boards for Captain America, the Fantastic Four, Iron Man, Thor, Spiderman & Wolverine). They also have the license for STAR WARS which I wrote about in an earlier post. I've downloaded their Star Wars pinball tables on my iPhone and iPad (one complaint is that you can't download compatible tables for each ios format and have to buy the same table twice if you want to be able to play it on both devices) and have found them a fun way to pass some time. They've had two releases of games so far with each generation of the game being enhanced with new features to make it more fun to play than the previous ones. The first round of games featured one of my favorite Star Wars characters (Boba Fett), my least favorite part of Star Wars (The Clones Wars) and the best Star Wars movie (Empire Strikes Back) themed pinball boards. The second round featured some really impressive boards that included Darth Vader, Xwings versus Tie Fighters, and Return of the Jedi. Now a third and final round of games is scheduled to come out for Spring 2014 that look to be the most impressive yet.
The new round of pin ball tables by Zen Studios will be titled "STAR WARS PINBALL: HEROES WITHIN" will feature FOUR brand new games with Han Solo, Droids: The Adventures of R2D2 & C3PO, Masters of the Force and Episode IV: A New Hope themes. From the teasers I've seen they are going to feature more 3D character interactions than past games and a new in-table mini game feature that look really impressive. The STAR WARS PINBALL: HEROES WITHIN games will be available for Playstation 4, Playstation 3, PS Vita, Xbox 360, Steam, IOS, Google Play, Amazon, and the Mac App Store. The actual release date and information on some of the pinball tables has yet to be announced yet so keep an eye out for game teasers and the date when they will go on sale.
Some images and video of the HAN SOLO game have been made public and it looks to be a blast to play. The game leads off with the famous movie line by the character, "Hokey religions and ancient weapons are no match for a good blaster at your side", so you know you're in for some classic Star Wars fun. Include the games theme music as the Cantina Band from the original Star Wars movie and scenes of Chewbacca jumping across the table interacting with your game and this pinball action looks to be a wild ride!
The Episode IV game looks to be geared towards die-hard Star Wars fans too with lots of 3D elements taken from the movie and a great mini-game featuring the trash compactor scene from the Death Star. Check out these screen captures:
This screen capture from Droids also has a classic Star Wars vibe to it:
* Screen captures courtesy of Zen Studios and LucasArts for game promotional purposes.
If you enjoy pinball and appreciate the classic Star Wars movies and characters you'll absolutely want to check out these new Zen Studios games coming out soon. Check out this video trailer from AOL for the new Episode IV: A New Hope pinball game and for more information, visit:www.starwarspinball.com
