Captain America: Civil War takes them from Avenging friends to astonishing rivals to probing film

Life’s tough when you’re an Avenger. The latest in the line of blockbusters from the Marvel Universe starts with more terrible turmoil for the gang of heroes who collect to save the world from bad stuff concocted by badder people. Then it gets worse. Yes, Scarlet Witch’s last-second mind-wave saves Captain America’s bacon. But it…

Hail, Caesar! pictures Hollywood in its glorious past

Envision Hollywood as it was in the 1950s, with big stars in the middle of epic historical remakes, comedies and musicals all the while embroiled in dodgy personal lives sure to draw the interest of the best gossip columnists and the American public at large, all of it keeping studio officials on their toes to…

Avengers find Ultron formidable, but they’re still a marvel

You don’t just try the waters of the Avengers franchise by sticking your big toe into the pool a little bit. I joined the all-ages throng that filled the big theater at the Regal Cinemas at Syracuse’s mega shopping, dining and entertainment complex Destiny USA for the Sunday matinée of “Avengers: Age of Ultron” not…

‘The Jungle Book’ gets selfies, courtesy of Favreau

Jon Favreau put a selfie on his Facebook page a trio shot, with he, Bill Murray and a 10-year-old, all grinning like best buds. They’re on location shooting a live-action version of “The Jungle Book” for Disney, which will be release in October 2015. Favreau will direct, and newcomer 10-year-old New Yorker Neel Sethi, will…

‘Lucy’ makes me use my brain, as limited as it may be

In “Lucy,” a big deal is made about how we all use 10 percent of our brain, maximum. And then some very evil folks figure a way to steal a drug that increases brain power. Accidents happen and Lucy, played brilliantly by Scarlett Johansson, becomes the one person on the planet becoming smarter and smarter…