Latest news with #Ant-Man
Daily Mirror
13 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Daily Mirror
‘One of the most entertaining Marvel movies ever' is streaming free - but not for long
As yet another Marvel blockbuster hits screens this week, one of the superhero franchise's best entries is available to watch for free BBC iPlayer is currently streaming one of the most beloved films in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, but it won't be on the platform for very long. This small-scale action thriller from 2015 stars one of Hollywood's most beloved comedic actors taking on the role of a reformed criminal who eventually becomes one of the Avengers' most reliable heroes. 10 years on, this groundbreaking superhero film with one of the most unique characters in Marvel's extensive roster is still highly regarded by comic book fans, so it's well worth a rewatch. Unfortunately, Ant-Man, starring Paul Rudd, is only available on iPlayer for the next eight days, so viewers have a very limited window to watch this jaw-dropping movie totally free of charge. The action gets started when Scott Lang (played by Rudd) is released from prison and forms an unlikely partnership with Dr Hank Pym (Michael Douglas), who is desperate to keep his dangerous shrinking technology from falling into the wrong hands. However, Pym's volatile former protégé, Darren Cross (Corey Stoll), has developed a shrinking suit of his own known as the Yellowjacket that could wreak untold havoc. With the latest MCU adventure, The Fantastic Four: First Steps, hitting the big screen later this week, now's the perfect time to revisit one of Marvel's smaller superhero hits. One fan raved in a five-star Google review: 'Ant-Man is BY FAR one of the most entertaining, funny, and heartwarming movies in the MCU - I'm thinking it's my favorite! 'I went into the movie not expecting much but Scott Lang (Paul Rudd) was so easy to like and hilarious. 'My family had such a great time watching this underrated classic. It was fast-paced, had good character development, a simple storyline, didn't take itself too seriously but managed to HIT A HOME RUN, and did I mention funny as hell?' Another gushed: 'I love this movie with all my heart. It's funny, interesting, heroic and one of the funniest at Marvel Studios.' 'I never realized how great this movie is until now,' a third admitted. 'Top 5 MCU films for me. 'It is just so fun, fresh, and has great action too. Villain is actually pretty good. One of the more rewatchable films in Marvel.' Someone else said: 'This is probably my favorite Marvel movie. I am a huge Marvel fan and this was just amazing. It has comedy and the character development is amazing!' And a final review said: 'I recommend this movie cause it's just so darn funny! 'Paul Rudd does an amazing job as Ant-Man, and the humor is amazing. The action: 10/10. Humor: 10/10. Basically everything: 10/10.' Make sure you revisit another Marvel film packed with heart and humour as the Fantastic Four gear up for their next big screen outing very soon. Ant-Man is available on BBC iPlayer until Wednesday, 30th July.
Yahoo
a day ago
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Benedict Cumberbatch blasts his 'horrific' Marvel diet for 'Doctor Strange': 'I could feed a family'
"It's a grossly wasteful industry," the actor behind Stephen Strange said. An apple a day is not nearly enough for Doctor Strange — but maybe it should be. Benedict Cumberbatch discussed his complicated feelings toward maintaining his Marvel diet and fitness regimen during an interview with the Ruthie's Table podcast. "For me, the exercise is great," the Sherlock star began. "And the end result is that you feel strong and you feel confident — you hold yourself better. You have stamina through the exercise and the food that makes you last through the gig." Cumberbatch expressed dismay, however, at the nutritional side of the job. "But it is horrific. I don't like it personally," he said. "I think it's horrific eating beyond your appetite. Again, going back to responsibility and resourcefulness and sustainability — it's just like, what am I doing? I could feed a family with the amount I'm eating." Cumberbatch said that his diet while playing the Sorcerer Supreme included five meals per day, plus "a couple of boiled eggs between those five meals, or some kind of high protein snack, cheese and crackers or almond butter and crackers — crackers, lots of crackers." That being said, the Imitation Game actor said that on the whole, he appreciates the overall process of maintaining intense fitness for his superhero projects. "It's great fun. I love it. I love body transformation in my job," he said. "On Marvel, it's a big sand pit. So they've got resources. You have someone who can prescribe you what you're eating, and they can cook [for] you. We had a fantastic chef on the last Doctor Strange film." Other Marvel actors have previously discussed the difficulties of maintaining a superheroic physique. Paul Rudd said that he essentially cut out all flavorful foods while playing Ant-Man. "When I was having to train for the Ant-Man movie, and I was on a very restrictive diet, my reward was sparkling water," he told the Off Menu podcast in 2023. "That's how horrible that diet was. I was like, 'All right, I can have some sparkling water now, I've earned it.'" Earlier this year, Danny Ramirez — who played Joaquin Torres, the new Falcon in Captain America: Brave New World — said that upholding his character's physique requires significant sacrifice from a dietary standpoint. "I think everyone out there that goes through an intense training regimen knows how boring it gets," he told Men's Health. "Now my dinners are kinda bland." Elsewhere in the Ruthie's Table interview, Cumberbatch also explained how his Marvel diet is indicative of a wider problem in Hollywood. "It's a grossly wasteful industry," he said. "You may think about set builds that aren't recycled, think about transport, think about food, think about housing, but also light and energy — the amount of wattage you need to sort of create daylight and consistent light in a studio environment, it's a lot of energy."The Power of the Dog actor said that when he produces projects, he pushes for more climate-friendly policies during production. "It is a systemic thing, but as a producer, I'm really hot on that," he said. "I try to push the green initiative, the green handshake into every agreement I can, whether it's just a gentlemanly discussion about, 'Can we not have any single-use plastic? Really, I think we're beyond that.' [Or] if people have water bottles now, they can bring in.... You don't have to give the crew plastic bottles." Watch the full interview with Cumberbatch above. Read the original article on Entertainment Weekly Solve the daily Crossword
Digital Trends
6 days ago
- Entertainment
- Digital Trends
Ant-Man is my favorite Marvel franchise. It's also the silliest
Paul Rudd is incredibly handsome, but the idea that he would ever lead an entire superhero franchise might have, at one time, seemed a little far-fetched. For as charismatic as he is, Rudd's defining quality on screen has always been his silliness. As it turns out, that's precisely what made Ant-Man the perfect character for him to play. The original Ant-Man, which is now 10 years old, came out at a time when Marvel was already dominant but not yet the supreme force that it would become in the years ahead. Crucially, this is a movie that doesn't matter all that much. It's a movie about an amateur thief tasked with preventing a tech mogul from weaponizing ant technology for evil ends. The thief is played by Rudd because why not! Then, he learns how to be super small and gets to hang out more with his daughter. Recommended Videos It's all very, very silly! And that's part of what makes Ant-Man the most interesting franchise in the entirety of the MCU. That's not to say it's the best, but it's one of the few franchises in the MCU that has some sense of internal cohesion. Let's dive into why these movies, and the first installment in particular, work so well: They know how to take advantage of Ant-Man's powers To the immense credit of director Peyton Reed and the folks at Marvel, Ant-Man's powers are often some of the most fun to watch on screen. That's in large part because his powers are totally distinct from anyone else in the MCU and because they can have a lot of fun with the size of various everyday objects. Do you want to see an office building in a tiny size? This movie has that. Do you want to see a giant salt shaker? We've got one of those. Although those gags are good in and of themselves, they are reinforced by choreography that gets at all the ways you imagined Ant-Man would use his powers to take on bad guys. It's easy to overlook those sections of the movie because they exist on the comedic end of the Marvel continuum, but the first two Ant-Man movies are remarkably inventive in their fight choreography. You get the sense that there was a brain trust responsible for figuring out how to make the stunts look both silly and realistic, and they nailed it. Paul Rudd turns out to be the ideal vehicle for all this One of the most remarkable things about Avengers: Endgame is that, while the movie is chiefly about the core Avengers, Rudd's Scott Lang is in it a shocking amount. Scott is crucial to the film's plot mechanics, and he proved to be such a revelation in his own movies. Rudd's overt silliness is a wonderful addition to the ensemble movies he's cast in, but the Ant-Man movies know how to make it work as its own distinct flavor, too. Rudd's Scott is a fun guy, but he knows how to put just the right amount of saccharine sweetness into the performance. His connection with his daughter is genuinely moving, and the times when we do get to see them together are emotional. Rudd, who comes from the Apatow school of sentimental laughs, knows how to make himself both a silly guy and, fundamentally, a good dad. It's that combination that makes the Ant-Man movies and Ant-Man the character work. Ant-Man is good when Ant-Man is self-contained The first two Ant-Man movies are good precisely because not a whole heck of a lot of consequence happens in them. Ant-Man fights a bad guy and emerges victorious. He gets into a lot of shenanigans along the way, and that's really about the sum of it. Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania is worse than the first two films precisely because Marvel tried to use it to launch an entire supervillain. While there's still plenty of silly stuff in the movie, the more actual universe-building these movies have to do, the worse they tend to be. So the fondness I have for Ant-Man and its first sequel stems mainly from how fun both movies are and how much it feels like you can walk out of them without worrying about Kang or any other massive threat to the Marvel universe. Scott's just trying to spend time with his daughter and be a decent guy, and at the end of the day, the movies that focus on him and on his escapades are the most fun to watch. You can watch Ant-Man on Disney+.
Yahoo
16-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Tim Robinson and Paul Rudd star in cringe comedy Friendship
Produced by indie darlings A24, Friendship is the debut starring role for Tim Robinson, best known for hit Netflix sketch show I Think You Should Leave. The show propelled the comedian to TikTok stardom, becoming the punchline of the viral 'I'm doing my part' meme and having catchphrases from the show enter social media vernacular. This week, he teams up with Marvel star Paul Rudd for the excruciatingly funny Friendship. Robinson plays Craig, a marketing executive whose lack of emotional availability means he is disconnected from his wife Tami (Kate Mara) and son Steve (Jack Dylan Grazer). His isolated life turns around, however, when he befriends Austin (Rudd), a charismatic weather man who has moved onto his street. Craig becomes energised by his new pal, but when his social awkwardness ruins the friendship, he becomes obsessed with winning Austin back. The film is a platform for Robinson's humour, with his misinterpretation of social cues and increasingly desperate behaviour leading to several moments that are both hilarious and cringe worthy in equal measure. What makes it more than a series of wacky antics, however, is an underlying theme of just how difficult it is to make friends as an adult. Every character in the story has some need to reconnect, and while Craig takes those insecurities to an extreme, there will be moments that will feel uncomfortably familiar. The intelligence of writer-director Andrew DeYoung's story lies in finding a degree of empathy to a man who clearly is the villain of his own story. With floppy hair, a thick moustache, and a TV news-centred job, Rudd's Austin feels like a modern riff on his Anchorman character Brian Fantana. There's no dodgy cologne this time, but his easy-going nature and free spirit make it easy to see why Craig would become so drawn to him. Considering that the Ant-Man star could be making any number of vanity projects with himself as the main attraction, it's a testament to his talent that he turns up in a smaller, but nonetheless impactful role. By contrast, Robinson is the epitome of chaos. It's a delight to see him make snap decisions that turn things from bad to worse in a second. His reaction during a sequence where Craig goes on an uneventful drug trip, or finally snaps at his corporate job, are worth the price of admission alone. There's always a concern that someone known for shorter content can expand their comedy to a feature length without exhausting the audience – happily Robinson has no such trouble, slotting his off-kilter persona into a character that feels like a nightmarish satire of the male loneliness epidemic. If you've ever cracked a bad joke at a party, or persevered with a friendship that just wasn't going anywhere, then this off-the-wall comedy with strike a chord as it makes you squirm in your seat. A fine showcase for a growing comedy great. •
NZ Herald
16-07-2025
- Entertainment
- NZ Herald
Disneyland Resort Anaheim: Five must-try food and drink items to tantalize your tastebuds
Blue Milk is the ultimate thirst quencher in a galaxy far far away. Photo / Mitchell Hageman Nestled in a discreet corner of the Black Spire Outpost (Disneyland Park's Star Wars-themed land) is a place that can provide you with the perfect thirst quencher for a hot California Day. Don't let the blue colour put you off, this coconut and rice milk-based drink teases hints of vanilla and bubblegum, with its icy texture making it instantly more drinkable when temperatures reach the 30s. Besides its obvious appeal as a thirst quencher, Blue Milk is also part of the world-building that Star Wars: Galaxy's Edge does so well. Rocking up to the small stand, you'll see the tanks full of blue (and green) milk just like they've been pumped straight out of a Bantha (the large woolly creatures with spiralling horns that Tusken Raiders ride in the first film). Sipping on the delectable drink makes you truly feel like a tourist on an otherworldly planet, experiencing the Black Spire Outpost like the locals (and perhaps your favourite smuggler, scoundrel and hero, Han Solo) do. Not So Little Chicken Sandwich (From Pym's Test Kitchen at Avengers Campus) People can eat like Ant-Man at the Pym Test Kitchen. Photo / Mitchell Hageman Ever wanted to know what it feels like to be Ant-Man? Well, now you can, by stepping into Professor Hank Pym's notorious test kitchen and trying some of the best oversized and undersized food you'll ever eat. One of the best is the Not So Little Chicken, which is the perfect mix of gimmicky Marvel superhero fun and fantastic taste. The sandwich, which is served on Pym Laboratories branded paper, is essentially a large fried chicken breast between a tiny brioche bun, lashed with teriyaki and red chilli sauces and pickled cabbage slaw. It's tangy, the chicken is tender, and the bun is super fluffy to the point you could eat one of them on their own. There's also some crispy tater tots thrown in there for good measure. Not only is this meal very fun to eat, but it's also very fun to watch others eat. There is an ongoing conundrum as to whether you should pick up the knife and fork or just go full Hulk on it and use your hands. Dole Whip (From the Tiki Juice Bar in Adventureland) A Disneyland staple, Dole Whip is a must-try on a hot summer's day. Photo / Mitchell Hageman One of the OG Disney treats, and one linked perfectly to Walt Disney's Enchanted Tiki Room attraction, this tropical frozen yoghurt/ice-cream textured delicacy is another perfect foil for a hot day at the parks. Spanning flavours like pineapple (original), strawberry, and mango, your tastebuds will immediately be transported to a tropical isle the moment you take the first spoonful. As a bonus, the Tiki Juice Bar is situated right next to the famous Jungle Cruise attraction in Adventureland, so you can watch the boats come in from their river journeys as you eat. For those wanting to get even more into the adventure spirit, try a Dole Whip Float, or one featuring chunks of pineapple or other seasonal toppings. Classic Cinnamon Churro (from churro stands) Nothing beats a classic cinnamon churro. Photo / Mitchell Hageman The reality is, Disneyland churros just hit differently. A far cry from the dry, over-sugared ones you get at the Auckland Royal Easter show, these fluffy delights are supersized and extremely edible to the point you'll probably want to go back and get another one later in the day. While there are variations on the classics (e.g. Lightsaber churros and chocolate churros), nothing beats the sweet taste of a classic cinnamon. The other really handy thing about these treats is they are what Disney calls 'walking food', and be purchased from multiple locations around main thoroughfares and eaten while walking around the parks. Just remember to wash your hands after, as they will likely be caked in sticky sugar goodness by the end of it. Celebration Cocktail (from the Hollywood Lounge) Celebrate Disneyland's 70th birthday with this delectable adults-only cocktail. Photo /Mitchell Hageman A perfect end-of-day refresher for those over 21, this limited-time 70th Anniversary adult beverage not only comes with added 'fairy dust' sparkles (glittery blue raspberry lemonade) but also packs an exciting punch with splashes of tequila, rum and vodka. Yes, you may have a blue tongue after, but it's worth it for this easy-to-drink cocktail that's bound to get you celebrating happy. You can buy this tasty tipple at the Hollywood Lounge, which is a 1950s-style, quick-service diner located in Disney California Adventure's Hollywood area. New Zealand Herald Travel visited courtesy of Disneyland Resort.
