I Watched The Original Pet Sematary For The First Time And Yes, It's In Need Of A Remake

I Watched The Original Pet Sematary For The First Time And Yes, It's In Need Of A Remake

Spoiler Warning: I ruin key plot points in the book, 1989 movie, and probably the new movie, so proceed with caution!

Before IT Chapter 2 arrives in theaters later this year, another highly anticipated Stephen King adaptation is hitting screens. Pet Sematary is set to retell the tale of the Creed family, a family which moves to a rural town in Maine and discovers a mystical (and cursed) pet cemetery on their property. It's one of King's most popular books, but I had never read it. Nor had I watched the original film. With the early word on the street that the new film from co-directors Kevin Kolsch and Dennis Widmyer absolutely rules, I figured now was a great time to read the book and watch the original 1989 movie.

After watching the film last weekend, I decided that, yes, this thing was due for a remake.

The original Pet Sematary movie was directed by Mary Lambert and written by Stephen King himself. I had always heard positive things about the movie, and I was excited to watch it in preparation for the new film. Why did I do this? Probably so I could say "that's not how they did it in the book," and annoy all the people around me. Regardless, I loved the book, and Hulu made it easy for watch the original movie; however, it was not what I was expecting.

A few things I should point out before diving in: While the movie was pretty faithful to the book, watching for the first time, it falls short in some key areas like acting and pacing. Maybe I've just been spoiled by too many good horror films these past couple of years, but I had a hard time getting onboard this movie.

However, it's totally true that I am coming from a different experience than those who grew up watching the movie and I can see this being pretty scary if you were a kid in 1989 when the movie originally hit theaters. There is legitimately one scary scene involving a character named Zelda that unnerved me deeply. What scares audiences changes over time as well, and that could be one of the reasons watching for the first time now made me happy Pet Sematary is being remade. For me, most of the film ended up having a strong cheesy vibe that makes it more fun to watch than scary, but I obviously don't think that was the intention of the filmmakers.

Regardless of how dear some might hold the film, I think we can agree that the acting is not so great in this movie. It stars Dale Midkiff as Louis Creed, Denise Crosby as Rachel Creed, and Fred Gwynne as Jud Crandall. Gwyne is the best of the bunch and although his Maine accent makes it difficult to decipher what he's saying, he's still the strongest actor in the film. Unfortunately, Midkiff really bogs the movie down.

He reads almost every line with this monotone that makes it impossible to decipher what his character is actually feeling. There's a point in this movie where Louis is supposed to go insane, but Midkoff delivers dialogue the same way as before. You'd think having brought your dead son back from the dead only for him to murder your best friend and wife would have some impact on you.

Another issue I personally had sort of relates to having read the book. The pace is obviously faster, because when adapting a book to a movie, changes have to be made to streamline the plot. The problem I had with how Pet Sematary does it is that it drains the film of character and it's harder to discern why anyone is doing anything.

The perfect example is how the movie handles Jud Crandall, the Creed's elderly next door neighbor. In the book, Jud becomes Louis' best friend. They hang out on a regular basis, just kicking back and drinking beer. Jud also has a wife named Norma, whose life Louis saves after she has a nasty spill on Halloween. Because Louis saved his wife, Jud decides to pay him back by showing him the Micmac burial ground when Louis' family cat Church dies.

In the movie, Jud and Louis have a small handful of scenes together before Church has his inevitable meeting with a speeding truck and Jud shows the burial ground... just because? He pays some lip service later that he didn't want Louis' daughter to be sad, but it rings hollow -- especially because the movie's burial ground produces more violent animals than the book's did.

Norma was understandably cut from the movie (likely to keep the runtime and budget down), but without that extra motivation Jud doesn't really have much of an excuse to teach someone how to make zombies. In the book, Jud's decision isn't entirely his own because he's being influenced by the burial ground, but you still need that motivation to further justify the moment.

As an adaptation goes, Pet Sematary is generally pretty loyal to the book. It cuts back on certain supernatural elements, but otherwise it follows the book to a tee. However, that's not always a great thing and one thing should have absolutely been changed: Gage.

In Pet Sematary, Gage is Louis' toddler son who is tragically run over by a truck. He is eventually brought back to life by a desperate and grieving Louis to disastrous results. The movie keeps all this, but here's the thing about a two year old killer: it's adorable.

The resurrected Gage is not scary AT ALL. They weren't able to tone down any of the cuteness. Gage has the exact same voice and is still only saying age appropriate dialogue, so even when he's saying stuff like "I'll kill you," it's super cute. They try to make him frown and look angry but that just makes him even cuter! I mean look at this picture. What's even happening!?

It's supposed to be the most intense scene in the movie, but even when he's slicing calfs and chomping on necks, it was just too silly for me to overcome. In the book, Gage has an entirely different voice and talks like an adult, so it makes him much more menacing. He says some vile things to people right before he kills them.

Thankfully, it sounds like the new Pet Sematary avoided some of these pitfalls. We already know the upcoming release has changed this major plotline to feature Louis's older daughter, someone who can act and change their face and body language to actually be scary (which she reportedly is). It also should help that VFX, ratings, and pacing in movies has changed over time to accommodate modern audiences.

To be clear, all of this has not been to say that Pet Sematary didn't have its charms or that it wasn't good in 1989, but in 2019, I'm ready for something new. Hopefully the new movie will find a balance between today's modern sensibilities and being faithful to Stephen King's original work. It would be even nicer if it could in some ways pay homage to the 1989 film that came before it, because there would be less nostalgia and excitement related to the new Pet Sematary if it hadn't been for the 1989 film. Still, I think it's fair to say this thing was ready for a really scary, modern remake, and we'll know for sure if that's what we got on April 5.

Captain Marvel's Directors Have A Deleted Scene They Wish Made The Theatrical Cut

Captain Marvel's Directors Have A Deleted Scene They Wish Made The Theatrical Cut

Warning: SPOILERS for Captain Marvel ahead!

Audiences will soon get to relive one of the biggest movies of the year when Captain Marvel arrives on home video. One of the most exciting parts of any home video release is getting to see some of the stuff that didn’t make it into the final film. Speaking with CinemaBlend’s own Eric Eisenberg in advance of Captain Marvel’s Blu-ray release, directors Anna Boden and Ryan Fleck revealed the one scene they wish had made the theatrical cut, saying:

Anna Boden: I think the scene where Jude visits his Supreme Intelligence is really fun - I think it's on the deleted scenes - and it's just one of those delicious after scenes where Jude Law is playing both characters and being both brutal and vulnerable in the same space.

Ryan Fleck: Yon-Rogg, of course he's himself when he visits the Supreme Intelligence.

Anna Boden: Because you see the person who you admire the most, right?

In the theatrical cut of Captain Marvel, we never get to see Jude Law’s Yon-Rogg visit the Kree Supreme Intelligence, nor do we know for sure what form the Supreme Intelligence takes for him. But it turns out that such a scene was filmed, and in the deleted scene, Yon-Rogg visits the Kree Supreme Intelligence, which takes the form of…Yon-Rogg.

The Supreme Intelligence takes the form of whomever you most admire, so for Vers that’s Dr. Wendy Lawson/Mar-Vell, even though she doesn’t remember who that is or why she admires her. But for the villainous Yon-Rogg, the person he most admires is himself. This underscores what a narcissist Yon-Rogg really is, that he can’t think of anyone more aspirational and perfect than himself.

This is fun to hear because who Yon-Rogg sees when he visits the Supreme Intelligence is actually brought up in the film. In the beginning of the movie, Brie Larson’s Vers asks him whom he sees and he refuses to tell her. That the answer is himself makes it clear why.

Directors Anna Boden and Ryan Fleck like this scene especially because it gives Jude Law the fun opportunity to play both himself and the Supreme Intelligence. Fortunately, it will be one of the deleted scenes on the Blu-ray release of Captain Marvel, so fans will get to see it. The scene is called “Who Do You Admire Above All Others?” and it sees the Supreme Intelligence questioning Yon-Rogg’s leadership ability.

As Anna Boden said, that allowed for Jude Law to play the unforgiving Supreme Intelligence demanding results from Yon-Rogg, and the ever-confident Yon-Rogg showing actual vulnerability in the face of the highest authority. Although it’s not in the film, if we take this scene as canon, it not only gives us greater understanding of Jude Law’s character, it also adds something to the end of the movie.

The Supreme Intelligence already doubted Yon-Rogg and he was eager to please it. That makes the end where Carol Danvers defeats him and sends him back to Hala alive with a warning for the Supreme Intelligence all the more devastating for Yon-Rogg, a failure that was likely worse than death for the devout soldier.

While this scene sounds cool and likely works on a couple of different levels, you can see why it may have been cut. If we had seen Yon-Rogg meeting the Supreme Intelligence, it would have given away the game as to what kind of person he really is. Sure, I think his evil turn was pretty predictable, but this would have blasted away any bit of uncertainty. Still, it would have been cool to see a scene after he got sent back to Hala, pleading to an angry Supreme Intelligence.

Captain Marvel is now on digital and arrives on Blu-ray on June 11. Check out our 2019 Release Schedule to keep track of all of this year’s biggest movies.

The Black Widow Movie Is Eyeing A Favourite Star

The Black Widow Movie Is Eyeing A Favourite Star

There must be something in the water over at Marvel Studios, as the Black Widow film has been rapidly filling out its cast as of late. With Fighting With My Family’s Florence Pugh and Stranger Things’ David Harbour both jumping on board as of late, Scarlett Johansson’s solo flight in the MCU is looking to have quite a formidable roster of potential heroes and villains. And that team is about to get a little more interesting, as Academy Award winner Rachel Weisz is the latest name to be brought into consideration for a spot on the bench.

No contracts have been signed yet, so Rachel Weisz’s potential hiring is still a bit up in the air. But sources that have information on the possibility say that both camps are pretty sweet on the deal. At this point, it sounds like the only thing that could possibly derail this prospect are those old favorites: scheduling conflicts and terms of the agreement. In the face of such expectations, I'm pretty damned excited to see this happening.

Of course, there’s no insight into who Black Widow has in mind for Rachel Weisz to play, merely that it’s a “key role.” Whether that position involves a villainous protagonist that dogs Johansson’s Natasha Romanoff throughout this long awaited adventure, or if it’s more of an advising presence that supports her journey in various parts of her journey, is left unknown. Still, casting Weisz is a wonderfully bold move to begin with.

Fresh off of her recent Academy Award nomination for The Favourite, Rachel Weisz has the type of resume that screams Marvel greatness. Be it her performances in popcorn films like Stephen Sommers’ first two Mummy films with Brendan Fraser, or in thought provoking independent films like Disobedience, Weisz has played a wide field of material. So bringing her on board for an entry in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, as Variety has apparently sniffed out, would only be beneficial to Black Widow’s chances at success.

Other key talent for Black Widow includes writer Jac Schaeffer, who provided the intial draft, as well as writer Ned Benson, who was recently hired to give that draft some rewrites. Director Cate Shortland, best known for her work on Showtime’s SMILF and last year’s thriller Berlin Syndrome, is on deck to direct this film that looks to be coming down the pipe at some point in Phase 4. As this project is currently in the earlier stages of development, information is scarce as to plot and character info. But even in the face of such uncertainty, it should be known that this casting is a very Weisz choice.

Black Widow is currently without a release date, but when it does land a slot for debut, you can bet it’ll find its way into our Phase 4 calendar for upcoming Marvel movies. In the meantime, you can see Scarlett Johansson’s Natasha doing whatever it takes to help out in Avengers: Endgame, on April 26th; provided you were lucky enough to get tickets for that weekend.

Ford V Ferrari First Look: Matt Damon And Christian Bale Are Off To The Races

Ford V Ferrari First Look: Matt Damon And Christian Bale Are Off To The Races

Later this year, Christian Bale and Matt Damon will be teaming up for a film that looks sure to be a frontrunner during awards season. The two Oscar-winners will be co-starring in Ford v Ferrari, which is directed by James Mangold (Logan). The actors are already promoting the movie, and now we finally have a few more details, including the first photos from the film. Check them out in the gallery below.

Set during 1966, Ford v Ferrari tells the story of two men who attempt to give Ford a competitive advantage over racing champion Ferrari during the 24 Hours of Le Mans race in France. Christian Bale plays English racer Ken Miles, who teams up with American car designer Carroll Shelby (Matt Damon) to create the revolutionary car that will give Ford a run for its money.

The film is described as a "David vs Goliath vs Goliath" story that focuses on the men who had their boots on the ground while the titanic corporations duked it out. While the film is based on true events, it's not really about those events, James Mangold told Entertainment Weekly. It's really about two men who overcome challenges to create something they are passionate about.

Considering the talents of Matt Damon and Christian Bale, this is likely a movie to keep an eye on when it comes time to vote for Best Actor. For what it's worth, the two actors seem to share a pretty fun chemistry. Bale and Damon appeared as the honorary starters for the Indy 500 this weekend. Bale was asked how the Batmobile would do in the race, and Damon had a fun add-on.

Another big thing that we are sure to hear a lot about once press for this film heats up is that it had a focus on practical effects. These aren't CGI cars racing around a track. James Mangold was insistent that real racing be utilized for the film. The director minimized the CGI use in Logan as much as he could, and he feels it ultimately makes for a much better film as it allows more room for the characters.

Logan put James Mangold on the map, and nothing more really needs to be said about the acting chops of Christian Bale and Matt Damon. The film also stars Caitriona Balfe (Outlander), Tracy Letts (Lady Bird), Josh Lucas (Sweet Home Alabama), and Jon Bernthal (The Punisher).

You can expect to see Ford v Ferrari race into theaters on the very awards friendly date of November 15, 2019. That's still a whole summer away, so keep up to date on everything hitting theaters this year with our 2019 movie release guide. For more movie news and updates, keep it right here at CinemaBlend and we'll post new information as soon as it is available.

Zazie Beetz Says Deadpool 2 And Joker Sets Felt Very Different

Zazie Beetz Says Deadpool 2 And Joker Sets Felt Very Different

Over the past few years, superhero movies have started totally dominating the filmmaking world. Comic book adaptations have proven to be the most popular genre in the biz, leading to plenty of studios attempting to start their own cinematic universe. And with so many of these properties hitting theaters, quite a few actors have played multiple comic book characters.

Take Atlanta actress Zazie Beetz for example. Beetz recently made her superheroic debut in Deadpool 2, playing the ultra lucky mutant Domino. While she's expected to reprise that role in the Deadpool 3 or the X-Force movie, Beetz has another comic book project hitting theaters shortly: Todd Phillips' Joker. The 27-year-old actress recently explained how different these two sets feel, saying:

I mean, the whole vibe of the set is very different because Deadpool is about the comedy and landing the joke and the physicality of it, whereas Joker is more emotional and is a darker tone. It's not the same type of goofing off that happens on the Deadpool set, in a way. Even though that also was a lot of work too. Joaquin is just a really honest person and a really genuine person. It's really nice as an actor to be working with somebody like that, to really be able to exchange emotionally.

Despite being comic book movies focused on two over the top protagonists, Deadpool 2 and Joker don't have a ton in common. And according to Zazie Beetz, Joker was a far more serious set to be apart of. But considering how both movies have been marketed, this juxtaposition makes a great deal of sense.

Zazie Beetz' comments to CineXpress might not be that much of a surprise, considering that the actress' inclusion may be the only similarity between the Deadpool franchise and Todd Phillips' upcoming origin story, Joker. After all, the protagonists come from different ends of the comic book spectrum, with the latter being DC-based, and Deadpool focusing on Marvel comics characters.

Related: Zazie Beetz Had A Real Love-Hate Relationship With Training For Deadpool 2

Ryan Reynolds' Deadpool franchise focuses primarily on comedy, with Wade Wilson often breaking the fourth wall and making references to other comic book movies. It's a formula that has really resonated with audiences, and Zazie Beetz was able to keep up with Reynolds' comedic chops in their scenes together during the massively successful sequel.

Meanwhile, Joker will be a far more toned down movie, and made on a minimal budget. Joaquin Phoenix is playing the title character, and Todd Phillips has teased that the upcoming release will be an intimate look at a mentally ill man. We shouldn't expect any comic book villainy or clashes with Batman. And there definitely won't be nearly as many jokes as the Deadpool franchise... if at all.

While the set of Joker wasn't nearly as light as Deadpool 2, Zazie Beetz still seems thrilled with the opportunity to work on the upcoming villain-centric movie. Specifically, she had a great time working with the movie's star Joaquin Phoenix. Joining them to round up the impressive cast are Robert De Niro, Frances Conroy, and Marc Maron.

While it's unclear when Zazie Beetz will return as Domino, Joker will arrive in theaters on October 4, 2019. In the meantime, check out our 2019 release list to plan your next trip to the movies.

Bumblebee Director Has Plans For A Potential Sequel

Bumblebee Director Has Plans For A Potential Sequel

Bumblebee was a very different sort of Transformers movie, and while it didn't put up Michael Bay like numbers at the box office, it was much better received by critics and others who had been more critical of the more explosion-heavy entries in the series. While more Transformers movies are certainly coming, we have little idea what they will actually be. However, if anybody is looking for ideas, they should ask Bumblebee director Travis Knight, because he's apparently already got several potential movies mapped out in his head.

The word on the street is that development has begin on a direct sequel to Bumblebee, and if that's the case, and the studio wants to bring director Travis Knight back to make it, it sounds like he would love to return and he could also give that development some direction. According to Knight...

In my mind, I have all kinds of ideas for where Charlie goes from here; where Bumblebee goes from here; where Optimus Prime goes from here. In my mind, I’ve already made those movies on some level. If the stars align, would I tell another story in this universe? I mean, I love these characters, so it’d be a thrill to be able to tell a different kind of story in this universe. Time will tell.

Bumblebee told the story of the popular Autobot's arrival on Earth where he befriends a teenage girl named Charlie, played by Hailee Steinfeld. The movie ends with Charlie and Bumblebee parting ways, as Bumblebee reunites with Optimus Prime. However, it sounds like, based on what he tells, THR, if Travis Knight gets his way, all of these characters would come together for a sequel. Steinfeld had previously told me in an interview that she would be up for a sequel, as would John Cena if the option was there, so it sounds like all the necessary humans are ready and willing.

We were expecting a new proper sequel to the main Transformers franchise to hit this year but the film was pulled from the release schedule last year and we haven't heard much about it since. Franchise producer Lorenzo di Bonaventura has previously stated that the next Transformers movie will aim to combine elements of the main series and Bumblebee, something that has the more emotional character story of Bumblebee while still having plenty of "Bayhem" for those who love the city-destroying action sequences the series is known for.

As one of those people who preferred Bumblebee to any other Transformers movie, and was also a big fan of Kubo and the Two Strings, I would love to see Travis Knight return to make another Bumblebee movie. Whether or not it will happen we'll need to wait and see, but we can be sure that something new will happen with the Transformers movies before too long.

The Comic Character The Directors Almost Included in Captain Marvel

The Comic Character The Directors Almost Included in Captain Marvel

From inception to release, Marvel films go through a ton of reworks, leading to some characters originally intended to debut on screen to be cut by the time the movie hits theaters. And Captain Marvel is no exception. In my recent interview with the movie’s directors Anna Boden and Ryan Fleck, I asked them about this. Here’s what Boden said:

We were always kind of obsessed with Helen Cobb and she didn’t make it into the movie. I think we thought about her a lot in terms of when we were trying to develop the story.

Interesting! For those unfamiliar with the Captain Marvel character, Helen Cobb is a famous pilot that inspired Carol Danvers to pursue her career in the Air Force and holds the highest-record for flight, which she wishes to break. In one story, Carol travels back in time (in a time-traveling plane, because she cannot time travel on her own), meets her, and joins the Banshee Squadron-- an all-female fighting unit in World War II.

When Helen Cobb dies of old age back in her timeline, Carol is given her airplane. The character exemplifies the importance of female role models, so it’s no wonder the directors considered her during the development of Captain Marvel. Check out the directors talking about it below:

While Helen Cobb was in the running, she didn’t make it past script development, as Kevin Feige recently confirmed with ComicBook.com. Here’s what the Marvel chief said about Helen Cobb:

She was in some drafts… But ultimately, the story is about Carol Danvers, so everything had to focus and funnel through her.

There are certainly tons of exciting characters found in between the pages of Captain Marvel comics who would have been an exciting addition to the big-screen origin story of Carol Danvers. In the end, the filmmakers had to focus on telling her story first and foremost, which left out room for Helen Cobb.

While Helen Cobb won’t be seen in Captain Marvel, she would be a fantastic addition for a potential sequel. It would allow for more of Carol’s roots and inspirations to be delved and seeing the hero join the Banshee Squadron in WWII sounds badass. This also opens the window for Captain Marvel to run into some other characters in the MCU from the past and fill in some more gaps in the universe that have yet to be explored!

But wait… we’re getting ahead of ourselves. You’ll have to first check out Captain Marvel in theaters on March 8. The origin story follows Brie Larson as Carol Danvers as a Starforce officer who falls to Earth in 1995 and teams up with Nick Fury, in his first intergalactic mission and amidst a war between the Kree and Skrull races.