Dateline Movies Goes to DUP's Romeo and Juliet

#R</3 J: A Multimedial Hallucination On William Shakespeare's Romeo And Juliet

Play rating: R-16 (For Strong Language and Sensitive Theme)

Play Dates: Opened August 26 2015, Ended September 13, 2015

Genre/s: Adaptation, Comedy, Drama, Romance, Tragedy

Presented by Dulaang UP

Director: Dexter M. Santos

Writer: Guelan Varela - Luarca

Music Designer: Krina Cayabyab

Starring: 

• Roco Sanchez as R. Montes
• Francesca Go / Jom Logdat as J. Capule
• Ricky Ibe as Cong. Montes
• Mitoy Sta. Ana as Mayor Capule
• Rence Aviles as Ben
• Jon Abella as Markky
• Stephen Viñas as "Tybalt" Capule Jr.
• Marynor Madamesila as Mrs. Capule / Mrs. Montes / Psychiatrist
• Leo Rialp as William Shakespeare
• Jom Logdat / Angela Cepeda as Rosaline

It's Romeo and Juliet unlike you've never seen before. Welcome once more to Dateline Movies. Loyal readers may have noticed that I have started making myself available for Entertainment Events. That is the very reason why we added it as a category in this blog to accommodate all the other entertainment events that we are expecting to be part of. This is our official review of Dulaang UP's psychedelic interpretation of the beloved Shakespearean tragedy.

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What's the play about?

Some parts of the story has been partially narrated by a hallucinatory version of William Shakespeare, played by Rialp (ABS-CBN's Oh My G).

In the metropolitan area known as Verona, also known as the City of Love, two families are at odds as the patriarchs, Cong. Montes, played by Ibe (Noli) and Mayor Capule, played by Sta. Ana (Measure For Measure), vie for control of the place.

Right in the middle of the political battles, scandalous vices and retweets, R. Montes, played by Sanchez (Ouroboros' Ang Ahas), fails again and again to move-on from his then girlfriend Rosaline, played by either Logdat or Cepeda (Ang Nawalang Kapatid and Heritage respectively). His best friend Markky, played by Abella (Adarna) and his cousin Ben, played by Aviles(Haring Ubu) stick by his side as they go on their usual escapades including partying in night clubs.

On the other side, J. Capule, played by either Go or Logdat (Riddle of the Sphinx for Go), encounters corruption and infidelity within the family. Her overprotective cousin "Tybalt", played by Viñas (Rizal X) takes care of her.

One fateful night at a local club when the two were having time of their lives, R. and J. met and the two soon fell in love. Can R. and J.'s love prevail over all obstacles, such as spammers from Facebook, and prove that love can truly conquer all? 

What we think of the play?

The rating system for each category would have 5 Points as the highest possible score, and 0 being the lowest. With a total of 5 categories, the total would be 25 points.

If the score reaches 20 - 25, the play / film is a must-see, thus earning the title of "Masterpiece".

If the score reaches around 15 - 19, the play / film is pretty good, although there are minor flaws, thus earning the title "Pleasant Entertainment".

If the score reaches around 10 - 14, the play / film may or may not be enjoyed by the majority, and it might have some redeeming qualities, thus earning the title "Okay?".

If the score reaches around 5 - 9, the play / film is not much worth the effort to watch. Most would find joy by making fun at the flaws, thus earning the title "Nitpick Worthy".

If the score reaches a score equal or below 4, the play / film is no good. It's boring or overtly offensive. Poor production background and less than stellar acting are seen here, thus earning the title "Nope".

Acting and Choreography= (5/5)

Of course, as you would expect from a stage production, there should be top-notch acting. And boy oh boy, this play just has that. We especially would like to commend Sanchez and Go's somewhat rocky chemistry. Ibe and Sta. Ana were extremely incredible as the fathers of the two. They really do feel like politicians in real life. Another credit goes to Madamesila (WANTED: Dead or Dying) for playing Mrs. Capule / Montes and a psychiatrist.

The ensemble, well what can we say, they are all organized. They know exactly when to do this and do that, they know their cues. The use of an ensemble to represent concrete materials is a brilliant addition and this was actually the first time I saw such idea in a play. There was one glaring flaw however, and though mostly easily ignored, it confused some of us viewers. That error was the part when J. viewed R.'s suicide video (Oops, spoiler alert?), and the reenactment of R.'s death was not the same as the one we saw. Unless this could mean that the one we saw was simply from his point-of-view.

Production Value, Props and Designs = (5/5)

With all the flare crowding the stage, it was a good thing that the story was not buried under all the bright and colorful lights and the choreographed dance routines. The set pieces, although simple, we would say is creative. Like we said, the ensemble was great in pretending to be things. Personally, we feel that the use of the large screen to serve as a narrative device is impressive. This allowed the audience to understand what is really happening. The addition of social website being flashed on screen was an excellent touch, which technically fulfilled the promise of a multimedial hallucination. The overuse of flashing lights is the biggest con, because in a way they distract the audience.

Story, Dialogues and Flow = (4/5)

Since I already heard of the story of Romeo and Juliet time-and-time again, I didn't really expect much. Boy tries to move on from girl. Another girl meets boy by chance. Families hate each other, etc. Basically, almost all everything about the story is predictable and are walking cliches. The use of profanity was somehow used effectively here, although it may be a little too much. This perfectly reflects the dark and grittiness the realism the story wants to show. The scene where the curses were bleeped out was especially funny, confirming that not all scenes need to have it to stand out. 

Ending, Originality and Story Fulfillment = (4/5)

Like I said, the play was quite predictable, so the ending was very clear even before we saw it. Although not much new can be added to the already complex story of Shakespeare's work, we would give some points for originality, as this is the first time (we think) we saw dancing in a tragedy story. We loved how the story ended, though it did not went by the books. What turned out very surprising was the absence of a curtain call as the audience didn't know whether it was time to leave or not.

Overall Evaluation = (5/5)

As a whole, the play is truly a treat to watch which made me realize that I should have watched it earlier so I could have encouraged more to watch. Regardless, I can ask you guys to watch Romeo + Juliet if you haven't watched it yet because the two are somewhat similar. If they ever would do a rerun, I would recommend everyone to buy tickets as early as possible.

TOTAL = 23 / 25 (Masterpiece)

Flashy, well-acted and perfectly produced, #R</3 J: A Multimedial Hallucination On William Shakespeare's Romeo And Juliet may be one of the best interpretations of the classic love story, flaws and all.

Well I guess that's it, and also we would like to thank Dulaang Unibersidad ng Pilipinas (DUP) for inviting us to view the wonderful production. Truly, it was a one-of-a-kind experience. Watch out for DUP's next offering King Lear/Haring Lear for its 40th Theatre Season. 

In addition, thanks to you readers (also Deadpool), this blog is now nominated under the Arts and Entertainment category on #bloggys2015. It is really an honor. Plus, we wouldn't be one of the ten most influential emerging blogs if it weren't for you! Thank you so much! Stay tuned fellow Dateliners for our 100th post and 10th Spotted! entry, with Deadpool actually dropping by. So hooray for not chopping-off our heads. With all that said, adios!

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Sylvester Stallone and John Rambo

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The action-war movie Rambo tells the story of John Rambo, a former member of a well-trained elite commando unit during the Vietnam war.  After serving his country, he was discharged from service and was given a Medal of Honor for his bravery and invaluable services he has rendered for his country.  But he finds it very difficult to blend and fit in and be a member of a society and is often misunderstood.  He often wonders why people won't trust him, when during his services in Vietnam he used to handle machinery and equipment like tanks and helicopters which are worth millions of dollars.

The movies are based on the novel written by David Morrell in 1972 titled First Blood.

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The film franchise started with First Blood that was released on October 1982. It was directed by Ted Kotcheff and with screenplay by Michael Kozoll, William Sackheim and Sylvester Stallone.  The setting of the story is in the United States.

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It was followed by Rambo: First Blood Part 2 in May 22, 1985 which was directed by George P. Cosmatos with screenplay by Sylvester Stallone and 

James Cameron.  Although the setting of the story was in Thailand, it was filmed entirely in Mexico.  All the props, village settings, plants, rice fields, including the concentration camps were made entirely to look like an authentic Asian setting.

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The third installment was released on May 25, 1988 and was titled Rambo 3.  It was directed by Peter MacDonald and has a screenplay written by Sheldon Lettich and Sylvester Stallone.  The setting of the story is in Afghanistan.

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The last Rambo movie to date was released on January 25, 2008.  It was directed by Sylvester Stallone and a screenplay made by Art Monterastelli and Sylvester Stallone.  The setting was mainly Burma and Thailand.

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Stallone has confirmed that a fifth Rambo movie is in the making and is set to be released in 2016 with the title Rambo: Last Blood.

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All-in-all, Sylvester Stallone made the screenplay in all Rambo movies and directed one installment of the film franchise.  Although not much has been said about Rambo's supposed to be last outing or who or what he is going up against, we all know that it will be explosive.  Although many might have said that his last movies are not any more worth watching,  Sly still has the ability to make things interesting.

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On my part, Rambo 5 is worth waiting!

Movie Miscellany - Forrest Gump Humor

I found this great humor piece recently while surfing the web and thought that I might share it with you. Remember the romantic-drama-comedy movie Forrest Gump starring Tom Hanks way back in 1994. It's a "what if version".  What if Forrest Gump has died and he is talking to St. Peter.  Just read on...

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Christian Humor

When Forrest Gump died, he stood in front of St. Peter at the Pearly Gates. St. Peter said, "Welcome, Forrest. We've heard a lot about you." He continued, "Unfortunately, it's getting pretty crowded up here and we find that we now have to give people an entrance examination before we let them in."

"Okay," said Forrest. "I hope it's not too hard. I've already been through a test. My momma used to say, 'Life is like a final exam. It's hard.' "

"Yes, Forrest, I know. But this test is only three questions. Here they are."

1) Which two days of the week begin with the letter 'T'?"

2) How many seconds are in a year?

3) What is God's first name?

"Well, sir," said Forrest, "The first one is easy. Which two days of the week begin with the letter 'T'? Today and Tomorrow."

St. Peter looked surprised and said, "Well, that wasn't the answer I was looking for, but you have a point. I give you credit for that answer."

"The next question," said Forrest, "How many seconds are in a year? Twelve."

"Twelve?" said St. Peter, surprised and confused.

"Yes, sir. January 2nd, February 2nd, March 2nd …"

St. Peter interrupted him. "I see what you mean. I'll have to give you credit for that one, too."

"And the last question," said Forrest, "What is God's first name? It's Andy."

"Andy?" said St. Peter, in shock. "How did you come up with 'Andy'?"

"I learned it in church. We used to sing about it." Forrest broke into song, "Andy walks with me, Andy talks with me, Andy tells me I am His own."

St. Peter opened the gate to heaven and said, "Run, Forrest, Run!"

I taught it was just plain funny.

Wait for my review of Forrest Gump in my next post!

Article from Christian Humor

Spotted! Part 9: X-Men: Apocalypse (Feat. Deadpool)

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X-Men: Apocalypse (2016)

Rated NR: This Film Currently Has No Rating

Genre/s: Action, Adventure, Fantasy, Adaptation, Superhero, Science Fiction

This film is to be released on May 27, 2016 (US Release Date, Available For Worldwide Viewing)

 Writers: Simon Kinberg, Michael Dougherty, Bryan Singer and Dan Harris

 Director: Bryan Singer

 Starring: James McAvoy, Michael Fassbender, Jennifer Lawrence, Oscar Isaac, Rose Byrne, Nicholas Hoult, Evan Peters, Kodi Smit-McPhee, Olivia Munn, Sophie Turner, Tye Sheridan, Ben Hardy, Lucas Till and Lana Condor

Here comes the beginning of the end! Welcome once more to Dateline Movies, and today we'll be talking about this would-be latest and sort-of brave attempt in launching a full cinematic universe to combat both DC and Marvel. From 20th Century Fox, the studio that fooled us into thinking that the recent Fantastic Four reboot would be good, but wasn't (Yes, even if I haven't watched it yet, I am already as bit as disappointed as the people who gave away their cash), comes X-Men: Apocalypse, the second not Wolverine-centric entry in the franchise.

Deadpool: Wait, Wolvie won't be in this? Awwww.

Dad: What are you doing here, Deadpool?

Deadpool: Only one more Spotted! entry and both of you are dead. But unfortunately, you're still gonna delay that for about eight more posts.

Me: I'm not sure if we should be excited, terrified or both.

Deadpool: Be afraid, Pio. Be very afraid. Anyway, I'm bored. How's about you let me co-host your podcast? It's about the X-Men after all.

Dad: This ain't a podcast, Deadpool. 

Me: Yeah, we just made it look like one because, why not?

Deadpool: Okay then. Now for our ninth Spotted! post, here's X-Men: Apocalypse!

Me: Hey that's my line.

Deadpool: And because Fox continues to hold back, we only have a fan-shot leaked video of the official trailer. These two losers will find a proper trailer for you, boys and girls, as soon as my bosses release it for your pleasure!

Dad: Excuse us?

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Deadpool: Wait, what just happened? C'mon Fox, quit taking down videos. Here's a fan-made trailer instead.

What we saw in the trailer?

Deadpool: Can I do this? Pretty please with all my mutated heart?

Me: Sure, why not. Just avoid cussing, and make it as readable as possible.

Deadpool: Ahem. Just pretend I really am narrating. <In Morgan Freeman's voice> Let's just pretend that I'm narrating.

After preventing the Sentinels from enslaving both human and mutant species, Prof. Charles Xavier, played by McAvoy (X-Men: First Class), relaunches the academy, and welcomes new faces to their newly furnished home. Beast, played by Hoult (Jack The Giant Slayer), Havok, played by Till (The Spy Next Door), and Quicksilver, played by Evans (American Horror Story) have returned to aid Prof. X's battle for mutant and human equality. Welcomed to the estate include the psychic Jean Grey, played by Turner (Game of Thrones), the elf-looking Nightcrawler, played by Smit-McPhee (Paranorman), Havok's brother Cyclops, played by Sheridan (Last Days In The Desert), and the super-cool Jubilee, played by newcomer Candor.

Mystique, played by Lawrence (The Hunger Games) remains on the run from both the law and her own friends as she unleashes her own brand of justice upon mutant haters. Another mutant is also hiding, and he is Magneto, played by Fassbender (Prometheus), who after attempting to annihilate the American government, stumbles upon a disturbing secret, which will lead him in discovering the origin of the mutants.

Labeled by Agent Moira MacTaggert, played by Byrne (Neighbors), as the first mutant in existence, the so-called God, Apocalypse, played by Isaac (Inside Llewyn Davis) gathers a handful of powerful beings. These include Magneto, Storm, played by Shipp (Straight Outta Compton), Archangel, played by Hardy (EastEnders) and Psylocke, played by Munn (Magic Mike). 

Deadpool cont.: Hey, you all edited out half of my narration. And what do What the...

Dad: Cussing is not allowed here, and why we said "saw in the trailer" is beyond us.

Me: And half of your inside jokes won't make any sense for the readers?

Deadpool: That's just not cool. Like totally uncool! >:(

Dad: Did you just emote? Right here, on our post? You know what, let's just move on.


Spotted!: Hidden Surprises and Trivia! (Spoiler Alert!)

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1. Out For Earl Grey Tea: 

Deadpool: Oh man, I wanted to see Capt. Picard and Gandalf on screen. Well, yeah I know I've seen the two of them in almost all X-Films, but without the two of these coolest middle-aged men, it's just an X-Movie, not a cool X-Movie.

Me: Sorry Deadpool, but both Ian McKellen and Patrick Stewart confirmed that they won't be making an appearance in the upcoming flick.

Dad: Look on the bright side though, at least you'll be seeing Prof. X. joining Wolverine for one more adventure!

Deadpool: But why can't they be in my movie? Why Fox, why?

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2. "Am I Blue?":

Me: As a comicbook reader...

Deadpool: Stop bragging about your comicbook knowledge. Just get to the point! XD XD

Me: Good point, and more emotes? Really?

Dad: NIGHTCRAWLER IS MYSTIQUE'S SON AND SHE'S ON THE HUNT FOR HIM! HOW HARD IS IT TO JUST SAY THAT???

<Awkward Silence>

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3. Mutate Or Die!:

Deadpool: Alright, for my favorite part, because it has me in it. We'll now, I'll be mentioning every single, possible appearance in the movie. But since these two are the professionals, I'll leave the descriptions to them, except for the first one.

A. Deadpool: Do we really need a link about me? We do? Oh, I see. For those who still don't have a single clue as to who I am, I am the wildcard Fox needs so everyone can forget that they still have the Fantastic Four hostage. Wolverine and I, we go a long way, so it is more than likely for me to cameo, and if you saw Origins (which I am so sorry for), we met around the 80s. The one and only Ryan Reynolds played me in X-Men Origins: Wolverine and he'll be back in my very own standalone movie. Take it away you two.

B. (Dad) Scarlet Witch: Quicksilver's sister and one of the most powerful mutants in history, Scarlet Witch has been rumored to make a full-time appearance in this film. Although she cannot be seen in X-Men: Days of Future Past, she can be seen right next to Quicksilver, who are watching the X-Men fighting Magneto. A deleted scene showcased her potential, but it was cut out from the final product due to time restraints. This means we'll be seeing two Scarlet Witches next year, but sadly we won't be seeing two Quicksilvers anytime soon. Elizabeth Olsen played the Scarlet Witch in The Avengers: Age of Ultron.

C. (Dad cont.) Blob: Another fan-favorite almost decimated by X-Men Origins: Wolverine, Blob is, as his name implies, a giant wall of flesh. Like Deadpool, Blob encountered Wolverine in the same program where the three received their powers, Weapon X. In the comics, however, he wasn't even a part of that program. He is instead a member of Magneto's Brotherhood of Evil. Could we see Magneto recruiting him on behalf of Apocalypse? Kevin Durand played Blob in X-Men Origins: Wolverine.

D. (Me) William Stryker: While the rest are yet to be determined, Major William Stryker's appearance here has been confirmed by the studios. When we last saw him, he has recovered Wolverine's body from the river where Magneto tossed him into. This comes into full circle with the past installments, with this setting-up Wolverine's origins. We soon realize that this Stryker is actually Mystique in disguise. What Mystique plans to do with him is unknown. Will we see Wolverine's origins come to life without the unnecessary boring details?

(Deadpool: I wanna meet Wolverine in the same movie, if I'm gonna cameo in it.)

Brian Cox, Danny Huston and Josh Helman played William Stryker in X2: X-Men United, X-Men Origins: Wolverine and X-Men: Days of Future Past respectively, with the latter set to reprise the role.

E. (Dad) Mister Sinister: Also known as Apocalypse's lapdog in the comics, Mister Sinister is an immortal geneticist from the 19th Century, mutated by the said villain to do his bidding. He has been an expert with cloning, genetic tapping, and just to paraphrase, he's the smartest and the worst genetics professor you would encounter in college. Mister Sinister is yet to debut, and this film could mark his first appearance, considering his connections with Apocalypse.

F. (Me) Gambit: You were hyped to see the card-throwing, charismatic and suave master thief Gambit made in his debut (Dad: Man, this movie should've never been made) yet again in X-Men Origins: Wolverine, then immediately you were slammed in the face when you realized he's not even like the character in the comics. To add a meaner insult to an already mean insult, he's just there for only some short time. Now, get ready to have your hopes dropped again, as the Gambit you once saw not only reprise his role, but also not having the character in the same film as rumored. I guess we'll just have to wait his solo outing on the same year. Come on, theaters aren't cheap. Taylor Kitsch played Gambit in X-Men Origins: Wolverine and Channing Tatum will play the said character in a standalone movie.

G. (Me cont.) Bishop, Blink and The Present X-Men: Because of the whole time-travelling laws or whatever they are called, plenty of actors who portrayed the older versions of the characters in this film might be popping-up in the most unexpected of places. So it's only a matter of time when both worlds literally collide. Omar Sy and Fan Bingbing played Bishop and Blink respectively in X-Men: Days of Future Past.

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4. A Brave New Utopia:

Dad: After the whole "Avengers Effect", 20th Century Fox is themselves trying to compete with both DC and Marvel on being the best shared film universe.

Me: Using Fox's currently owned Marvel properties, we will now begin to see the new generation of the X-Men Film Series.

Deadpool: And now for our final hidden surprises, even though we spent most of the post simply predicting what will happen, here's a partial list of upcoming X-Men entries. Some confirmed, some rumored, and one is shelved.

A. (By well, Deadpool) Deadpool: Fans please, control yourselves. I know you're all excited to see me kick some serious butt in the big screen, but we just need to wait. Patience is a virtue... Forget that, keep reading leaks and spoiler filled posts in the Internet for your entertainment. Besides, I came here not only to kill these two, but also to shamelessly promote myself, because why not!

B. (Me) Gambit: Remember when we mentioned a 2016 film? Well here it is, although still lacking in any concrete data. Aside from Channing Tatum taking the title role, The Gambler director Rupert Wyatt is set to helm the camera, and Midnight in Paris actress Léa Seydoux will co-star alongside Channing Tatum as Bella Donna.

C. X-Men Apocalypse: 'Nuff said, folks!

D. (Dad) Old Man Logan: Currently labeled as Wolverine 3, many rumors have circulated that it may adapt the popular comicbook story arc of the same name, which features a world where villains have won, and all heroes are as dead as dirt. Although much of the characters featured in the story are owned by Marvel and Disney, characters from the X-Men cannon will be used. The Wolverine director James Mangold will return to the director's chair, with Patrick Stewart already set to be Wolverine's partner in this Mad Max-esque road trip. Hugh Jackman confirms that this will be his last time unleashing the claws. 

(Deadpool: We'll miss you, Hugh Jackman! :(()
(Me: There goes the emotes again.)

E. (Me) X-Force: Want to see Fox's answer to DC's Suicide Squad which hopefully they won't mess-up? Look no further, as X-Force is just that, but it features antiheroes instead of blackmailed villains. X-Force takes a more violent and an edgier approach to handling mutant rights, with time-traveler Cable as the head. Kick-Ass 2 director Jeff Wadlow will produce, write and direct X-Force.

F. (Dad) New Mutants: Want to watch Marvel's Guardians of the Galaxy but with teenage superhumans? Then New Mutants is the film for you. Featuring almost unknown students from Prof. X's school, New Mutants is a group of adventurers and heroes-in-training. Josh Boone of The Fault In Our Stars fame will write and direct New Mutants.

G. (Deadpool) Excalibur: Tally-ho! The British branch of the X-Men has received some following, and I will fully endorse this project, if this will come into fruition. My masters are at talks with Marvel to help them in making a TV show with ties to the X-Men Universe. Sounds fair enough, and where better to start then with Excalibur. Bring in Sherlock and Doctor Who genius Stephen Moffat if it will be. And since Fox and Marvel are negotiating, I suggest that my employers better let the Fantastic Four go!

H. (Dad) X-Men VS. Fantastic Four: Because two of Marvel's legendary properties are in Fox's hands, there is no denying that we may see Fantastic Four and X-Men crossover. This is almost unlikely as the recent Fantastic Four got a whole lot of hate experiencing, yet Bryan Singer, Simon Kinberg  and comicbook writer Mark Millar confirmed that the films are cannonical.


I. (Dad cont.) Magneto: No need to explain this further because it bit the dust. Initially meant to be a sequel to X-Men Origins: Wolverine, the planned titled X-Men Origins: Magneto was meant to follow on the said villain's journey towards who he is now. Due to the reception Wolverine experienced, the said prequel-sequel has been axed, although some of the story elements are merged with that of X-Men: First Class' plot.

Deadpool: Well that was pretty fun. I guess I'm not gonna kill the two of you? I guess.

Me: Really? Why is that?

Deadpool: You guys are promoting my film, as well as my friends. So it will be bad publicity if I'll do so.

Dad: Whew. Close call there.

Deadpool: Yeah, I'm sorry if I traumatized the two of you.

Me: Not really, you just annoyed us.

Deadpool: I gotta go. My agent is calling, but before I go, I just want to say this, "I'm Used Under Fair Use or Non-Profit Agendas". Deadpool's out. PEACE!

That went surprising great. Anyway we still have about six posts to go, and we're actually excited for Spotted! Part 10, so stay tuned. For now, let's forget the fact that Fox may ruin Apocalypse with his almost imperfect costume with these pictures from the film set by clicking here (because there are so many leaks, that we can't possibly force them all in this one post), as well as some cover shoots. Also, since we love Deadpool, you can take a look at more of him below. Keep calm and mutate, everyone!

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"Deadpool Created by Rob Liefeld and Fabian Nicieza"