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Welcome back to the first Weekend Warrior of 2017, your weekly look at the new movies hitting theaters this weekend, as well as other cool events and things to check out (when applicable).

We’ll bypass the past couple holiday weekends cause that was so 2016, and we’ll instead get right into the new movies opening on Friday including two that opened in select cities and are expanding nationwide.

Underworld: Blood Wars (Sony/Screen Gems)

Cast: Kate Beckinsale, Theo James, Tobias Menzies, Lara Pulver, Charles Dance, James Faulkner, Peter Andersson, Clementine Nicholson, Bradley James, Daisy Head

Director: Anna Foerster (debut feature from director of TV shows Outlander & Criminal Minds)

Genre: Action, Horror, Thriller

Rated R

Plot: The vampire death dealer Selene (Kate Beckinsale) finds herself facing both Lycans and vampires, both of them trying to use the blood of her daughter to create new hybrids, so she and David (Theo James...

Lionsgate

Rating: ★★★★

Nothing is at seems in Sicario. Heck, the film itself is deceptive as a piece of mainstream entertainment. It sells itself as a action thriller about drug cartels and, while there’s plenty of brutality in there (expertly done I might add), it’s operating at a higher, more mature level than the ilk it shares the genre with.

The opening shot appears to be presenting a quiet desert town, only for it be swarmed by truckloads of FBI agents who discover a hell house that would make Jigsaw gag. They’re led by Kate (Emily Blunt), who initially appears to be independently capable, but over the runtime is dragged out of her comfort zone and systematically weakened, almost like a reverse Clarice Starling (although that simplifies her arc and greatly overplays how being a woman in a traditionally male role is at the root of her troubles...

The final installment of the First Time Fest… The First Time Fest’s closing night was held on March 4th. Hosted by Academy Award winner Ellen Burstyn (The Exorcist), the Players Club lit up with flashes of cameras and smiles of the first time filmmakers anxiously awaiting whose film will win the grand prize- the chance to have their film distributed by Cinema Libre Studios.

Johanna Bennett and Mandy founded the festival after noticing there wasn’t a venue for where new filmmakers can get their film viewed and appreciated. In attendance at the closing night ceremony were Tony Bennett and Jack Huston, as well as Martin Scorsese, who presented the First John Huston Award for Outstanding Achievement in Cinema to Darren Aronofsky, who was also in attendance. Anthony Rapp presented the awards as guests ate food from Chef Diane Dimeo and drank champagne by Nicolas Feuillatte. Also in attendance...

The First Time Fest was created by Johanna Bennett and Mandy Ward as a way to showcase new upcoming filmmakers and their works, and to get them a head start in their industry. The festival occurred on March 1st to 4th at The Players Club in New York, which was a club started by some well-known writers and actors, including Edwin Booth (John Wilkes Booth’s brother), Mark Twain, and more.

While the festival does support new filmmakers in their journey, it also awards previous filmmakers who have made names for themselves. Being that this is the first year of the festival, the first ever John Huston Award for Outstanding Achievement in Cinema went to Darren Aronofsky. The award is named in honor of John Huston as he was a esteemed member of The Players Club, as well as considered to be one of the most influential writer, actor, director and producers of all times.

Sundance will wrap up in only a few days, but the buys and various other dealings should continue in the days past its conclusion. In the meantime, Variety reports that Participant Media have acquired Middle of Nowhere, a film from writer and director Ava DuVernay that follows “a woman’s separation from her incarcerated husband and her journey to maintain her marriage and identity.” They’ll be putting it out later this year in an unusual way — by taking advantage of “marketing and promotional support through its broad grassroots collective powered by some of the nation’s top black film organizations.”

Reviews on this one have been fairly solid, while Participant exec VP of production Jonathan King said that Nowhere “reflects the finesse and sensitivity of a far more experienced storyteller and the kind of quality filmmaking that’s been a hallmark of Participant.” And, when speaking about that aforementioned campaign,...

Have a question about gay male entertainment? Send it to aftereltonflyingmonkey@yahoo.com! (Please include your city and state and/or country.)

Q: Ok, I'm a Gleek -- I love the show. But is it only me or are the "adults" on this show really, really annoying (and stupid)? The whole fake pregnancy thing between Mr. Shue and his wife? Wtf? How can a reasonably intelligent man live with, and presumably share a bed with the same women night after night and not catch on? There are definitely some storylines that just detract from the greatness of this show, and most of them (except for Jane Lynch) just need to go away. What are your thoughts? -- Brian B. North Hollywood, CA

Glee's main adult cast members: Matthew Morrison,

Jane Lynch, Jayma Mays and Jessalyn Gilsig

A: Truthfully, I haven’t quite drunk the Glee Kool-Aid. There are some...