In between Shark Week marathon-ing and mundane activities of “life,” I managed to sneak in “Harry Potter 7: Part 2” again this week.  It was then I realized that every Pop Culture Review should begin with “I open at the close,” because we are delivered to you at the closing of each week.  But instead of opening you up to a magic stone that brings back spectral relatives, we open you up to the best news in entertainment you can rock your friends with on a metaphorical porch.

So, in this case, we are the “snitch,” both in the Harry Potter sense and in telling on scandalous happenings.  As such, we deserve to be kissed before releasing each article.  What? I’m not lonely.

Ahem.  Anyway.  Accio, news-to-be-reviewed!

 

This week has been inundated with news-after-news from your friends at Marvel and DC, so let’s begin with the epic confirmation that “Kick-Ass 2” is happening and will be in theaters June 28, 2013.  The original was a fantastic sleeper-hit, and if you haven’t seen it yet, do so immediately.

For a superhero movie following one that everyone on the planet saw, look for “Avengers 2” to come out in early May of 2015, with Joss Whedon returning as the film’s writer and director.  The later part of that sentence is what most people should be most excited about, but the question to ask is can Joss Whedon do anything wrong, because he is the closest thing to a super hero nerds (I) have.  Check out “Firefly,” “Doctor Horrible’s Sing Along Blog”(look for a sequel coming soon), “Toy Story,” “Cabin in the Woods,” “Buffy the Vampire Slayer,” “Angel,” “Dollhouse,” “Serenity,” and the aforementioned “Avengers” if you care to challenge.

 

Ever feel like Marvel comics get way more love than DC?  Well, you’re right, but at least Robot Chicken is kicking off it’s sixth season with a “DC Comics Special.”  Considering how brilliantly they handled three “Star Wars” specials, expect this one to put DC characters other than Superman and Batman back on the map.  Here’s lookin’ at you, Aquaman.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1AOI79rLovI

This week has also been full of controversy, as Paul Ryan was chosen as Mitt Romney’s running mate.  Oh, you don’t care?  Well, Tom Morello does, especially since Ryan said that Rage Against the Machine is his favorite band.  In an op-ed piece he sent to Rolling Stone on Thursday, Morello does some raging once again, stating “Paul Ryan’s love of Rage Against the Machine is amusing, because he is the embodiment of the machine that our music has been raging against for two decades.  Charles Manson loved the Beatles but didn’t understand them.  Governor Chris Christie loves Bruce Springsteen but doesn’t understand him.  And Paul Ryan is clueless about his favorite band, Rage Against the Machine.”  Click here to read the whole article, in which Morello continues to explain the incredible irony of a man like Paul Ryan claiming to love Rage.  It’s worth the read. http://www.rollingstone.com/music/news/tom-morello-paul-ryan-is-the-embodiment-of-the-machine-our-music-rages-against-20120816

 

Speaking of someone raging, the official trailer for Dexter season 7 dropped this week, and if you’ve stuck with the show this long, it looks like you’re about to be rewarded.  Seasons 1-4 were incredible, season 5 was forgetful, season 6 was good, but season 7 is looking to be what we’ve all been waiting for: Deb knowing the truth, and Dexter snapping.  Sept. 30is still a while away, so let this hype you up in the meantime.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2NzpnjVmuCA

“The Expendables 2” trailer would have us believe it has the best action cast of all time, but while it hasn’t even hit theaters yet, Clint Eastwood, Harrison Ford and Wesley Snipes are in talks to join “The Expendables 3.”  This would seem to have all the classic hallmarks of a Nic Cage film: aged action stars, explosions of firey death, ripping car doors off with their bare hands.  But if you’re thinking “HOW IS HE NOT IN THIS MOVIE?!” do as action junkies do best and think no more.  That’s right.  Nicolas Cage isn’t just in talks to join the cast of “The Expendables 3.”  He’s already confirmed.

In part deux of the new-actor-alert, John Goodman is in talks to join the cast of “Hangover 3,” and conjecture suggests Goodman will be playing the film’s villain.  Think Big Lebowski + Community’s Vice Dean Pelton.  I skipped “Hangover 2,” but this might be a threequel I need to catch.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

In closing, John Slattery, aka Roger Sterling from Mad Men, will be joining the cast of the upcoming fourth season of “Arrested Development.”  Slattery will be appearing in multiple episodes, as will several other new characters alongside our beloved Bluth’s.  What, did you really expect to read one of these reviews without getting “Arrested Development” news?  COME ON!