CBR - Movie Features

Why Haven't These Middle-earth Stories Been Adapted?

Sterling Ulrich — Wed, 03 Jan 2024 16:20:12 GMT

Despite the immense popularity of The Lord of the Rings franchise, adaptations of J. R. R. Tolkien's work have focused on only a small selection of his stories. Pieces of Middle-earth media, ranging from cartoons to live-action films to video games, have either been adaptations of The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings or new stories not directly adapted from Tolkien's writing. Even Amazon's The Lord of the Rings: Rings of Power, which took loose inspiration from The Silmarillion, excluded most of the novel's main events in favor of original ideas.

The Hunger Games' Haymitch and Effie Aren't Together in the Books

Jordan Iacobucci — Tue, 02 Jan 2024 21:00:12 GMT

The Hunger Games features a plethora of lovable characters throughout the franchise, whether they be stars of the show or just side characters. With this, it's no surprise that there are just as many iconic couples. However, one of the most beloved and surprising couples wasn't in the books, nor was the relationship supposed to happen at all.

Ilvermorny Has Its Own Voldemort

Spencer Bollettieri — Tue, 02 Jan 2024 19:30:12 GMT

As the mysteries of the Harry Potter series reveal themselves and the world around Hogwarts continues to expand, it comes with the realization that America's wizarding academy, Ilvermorny, has its own Voldemort. It's strange to think that in the Wizarding World, so much of its narrative revolves around Hogwarts, Harry Potter, and Voldemort. While it's easy to believe that Voldemort's story began and ended with "The Boy Who Lived," history explains that there's more to the dark lord's legacy, extending further back and into places few knew about. Looking back on "America's Voldemort," it calls into question concepts surrounding the importance of family, influence, and how they shaped the modern Wizarding World.

Every Avengers Movie, In Order

Ashley Land — Tue, 02 Jan 2024 16:20:13 GMT

The Marvel Cinematic Universe became a dominant force in cinema after its 2008 debut through Jon Favreau's Iron Man movie. Based around Marvel Comics' iconic team, the Avengers, the franchise masterfully built towards each phase in its saga, from the invasion of New York to the team's battle with Thanos. The franchise stands tall as what the superhero genre can be with the right people behind it. The Avengers have had their story told across many movies, and it can be hard to keep track of the whole series.

Why Doesn't Mags Speak in The Hunger Games?

Jenny Melzer — Tue, 02 Jan 2024 15:30:16 GMT

The late Sex and the City actor Lynn Cohen made her Hunger Games debut as Mags Flanagan in Catching Fire. Mysterious and resourceful, Mags's victory for District 4 at the 11th Hunger Games made her a prime candidate for the Third Quarter Quell: 75th Hunger Games. Even at 80 years old, she proved herself a formidable opponent, but fans still wondered how Mags lost her ability to speak.

Why John Carter Needs a Better Adaptation

Robert Vaux — Mon, 01 Jan 2024 19:30:18 GMT

Failures are a part of movies, and there will always be films that never find an audience. But no film thus far in Hollywood history lost like John Carter, a 2012 adaptation of the seminal Edgar Rice Burroughs' novels that ranks as one of the biggest box office disasters of all time. It's doubly painful because the film itself is actually quite good, and does justice to Burroughs in a way that got missed amid its disastrous theatrical run. In some ways, it would be easier had it simply been a bad movie, or if it arrived amid a market overstuffed with 19th Century sci-fi adaptations.

Why Did Christopher Plummer Hate The Sound of Music?

Timothy Donohoo — Mon, 01 Jan 2024 17:30:14 GMT

With a career spanning seven decades, it's understandable that the late Christopher Plummer didn't enjoy every film in which he starred. In fact, he reportedly disliked the 1965 classic The Sound of Music, which catapulted him into the spotlight. Well before he starred alongside Julie Andrews, Plummer made his Broadway debut in 1954 and acted in various Shakespearean productions. He even almost starred in The Lord of the Rings.

Lord of the Rings: Do Elves Have Children?

Robert Vaux — Mon, 01 Jan 2024 15:30:15 GMT

The Elves of Middle-earth stand out among all other races. With their superior strength, intelligence and everlasting lifespan, they could've ruled much of the land if they chose to. Instead, they decide to watch over Middle-earth from the safety of their forests. But they don't hide away from danger when it comes, as Elves play a prominent role throughout The Lord of the Rings. However, out of all the Elves and kingdoms featured in the story, no Elven children are featured in Tolkien's stories. Indeed, their arc in the Lord of the Rings trilogy is the exact opposite: they are leaving Middle-earth for the lands beyond the sea, bringing their story to an end instead of raising new children as a beginning.

Why Harry Potter Didn't Die in Deathly Hallows

Jenny Melzer — Mon, 01 Jan 2024 14:20:12 GMT

It's been years since the main Harry Potter series concluded, but the nostalgia of the saga still spawns theories about some of its most important moments. As every fan knows, Harry survived the killing curse as a baby because his mother's love protected him. However, after Voldemort returned using Harry's blood to regain his full body, he was allowed to touch Harry without suffering negative consequences. This raises the question of how Harry survived the killing curse a second time in Deathly Hallows.

Who Is the Half Blood Prince?

Justin Wong — Sun, 31 Dec 2023 19:00:14 GMT

Severus Snape is one of the most important characters in the Harry Potter franchise. As the series began to delve into his past and how it shaped him, fans came to understand there was a lot more to Hogwarts' Potions Professor than met the eye. In Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince, Harry found himself in possession of an incredibly accurate potions textbook that brought him to the top of Professor Slughorn's class. Even Hermione was baffled by Harry's sudden success with potions, a class he'd never particularly excelled at before. Much to Hermione's relief, it wasn't Harry who seemed to have mastered potions. The book once belonged to a student who only referred to himself as the Half-Blood Prince.