ADAM. WEST. The man could be getting a cameo in the final installment of the epic Bat-trilogy, and I for one support this motion.
Come on, it's Adam West!
Tuesday, July 5, 2011
Greatest Cameo Ever?
Y'know how Stan Lee always makes those crazy, fantastic cameos in all the Marvel movies? They're priceless. I would never expect a guy like Nolan to have something similar. The movies were always a little more on the serious side. And there's no crazy, iconic figure to use for them. Or is there?
ADAM. WEST. The man could be getting a cameo in the final installment of the epic Bat-trilogy, and I for one support this motion.
Come on, it's Adam West!
ADAM. WEST. The man could be getting a cameo in the final installment of the epic Bat-trilogy, and I for one support this motion.
Come on, it's Adam West!
Thursday, June 30, 2011
Wolverine Ready to Be Unleashed!
After X-Men Origins: Wolverine, fans weren't necessarily clamoring for an encore. That all changed when visionary director Darren Aronofsky was named as director, with a strictly non-sequel mentality. Considering the man usually makes movies about psychotic ballerinas or world-weary wrestlers, this somehow made sense in some crazy way. And the Internet wept when Aronofsky dropped out. Who could fill that void? Was this movie even happening anymore?
Well, I can happily say it is. Not only is the movie scheduled to start shooting in October, but we also have James Mangold directing. At first the name didn't ring any bells for me. Other than "Man-gold" being something awesome to call your buddy. He has a fairly strong resume, with movies such as 3:10 To Yuma and Walk the Line. Two pretty cool movies. Although he's not as exciting as Aronofsky, the man seems to be be a quality film maker, and I'm willing to give him a shot. Get ready kids, the Wolverine is back.
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| He really wants to know. |
Sunday, June 26, 2011
Green Lantern 2 Still Happening?
I've been hating alot on Green Lantern lately. ALOT. I do however, think this movie deserves it and was extremely disappointing. It was no secret that Warners was hoping to turn this into property into a new franchise. Perhaps even more than a trilogy. The writers were rehired almost a year ago and are also busy on a Flash script, which was just a terrible decision. But with a sub-par opening, huge decline in second week figures and critical panning I was hoping that the sequel would never happen.
How very foolish of me.
Not that I can blame Warners for this decision. They've invested so much into this franchise and have all the design and effects work to go off of. Throw in an almost complete script and hey, why not?
To fix this property, alot needs to change. We already know Campbell isn't coming back, so a new director who's gutsy enough to take on this challenge is a must. If they're going to keep Hal Jordan as the main character, things will only get awkward with recasting. The new script needs to show us more of the day to day stuff for the Lanterns. Let's see some arrests and investigations on alien planets, hunting down warlords and extraordinary villains. We didn't see any substantial moments where Sinestro might become a villain, so hold back on that. Build the Sinestro/Hal relationship before you tare it down.
The biggest thing the movie needs though? A sense of fun. Green Lantern's first adventure was boring, tedious, and lifeless. Take Thor as a counter example. The movie was far from perfect and had its flaws, but was just so fun and entertaining that it worked. If you aren't going to go the Dark Knight route, then make it something I can enjoy.
How very foolish of me.
Not that I can blame Warners for this decision. They've invested so much into this franchise and have all the design and effects work to go off of. Throw in an almost complete script and hey, why not?
To fix this property, alot needs to change. We already know Campbell isn't coming back, so a new director who's gutsy enough to take on this challenge is a must. If they're going to keep Hal Jordan as the main character, things will only get awkward with recasting. The new script needs to show us more of the day to day stuff for the Lanterns. Let's see some arrests and investigations on alien planets, hunting down warlords and extraordinary villains. We didn't see any substantial moments where Sinestro might become a villain, so hold back on that. Build the Sinestro/Hal relationship before you tare it down.
The biggest thing the movie needs though? A sense of fun. Green Lantern's first adventure was boring, tedious, and lifeless. Take Thor as a counter example. The movie was far from perfect and had its flaws, but was just so fun and entertaining that it worked. If you aren't going to go the Dark Knight route, then make it something I can enjoy.
Thursday, June 23, 2011
How Green Lanter Tried To Be Like Iron Man (And Failed)
Everyone involved in Green Lantern has at some point tried to compare their movie to Iron Man and in several ways. Not only did it hope for a tone that combined the light hearted and fun with serious character development, it also wanted to open up the stable of DC heroes in the way that Mr. Stark unleashed the Avengers.Of course, those comparisons go a little deeper. Here are the ways Green Lantern tried to be like Iron Man (and failed).
The Quirky Humor
One of the things that caught the public so off guard was how utterly hilarious Robert Downey Jr. was. And it's not only the script: all those quips were improv. RDJ is one of the funniest human beings alive, and he can make you laugh with just a twitch of his eye. He has a distinct quirkiness to his humor, The man was nominated for an oscar by doing black face for god's sake! So who do you get to play Hal Jordan? How about Ryan Reynolds, an up and coming potential A-Lister known for a razor ship wit.
How it Failed- It doesn't matter how talented your star is, no one can salvage a truly terrible joke. And let's face it, all of those jokes were terrible. Both movies had a similar kind of humor and wanted to achieve the same end, but the difference is that one was funny and the other wasn't.
From Jerk-Ass to NobleHero
When we first saw Tony Stark, he was a prick. Completely irresponsible, he gives off the vibe that he just doesn't care. But you love him anyway because the man has so much fun with it. He's not nasty or a tool, he just blows of the boring stuff and would probably be awesome to hang out with. And we see him became a selfless hero, one everyone can root for. Hal Jordan is also irresponsible and a bit of a tool, and in the end hopes to win us over as a courageous warrior.
How it Failed: Hal is an asshole. He's irresponsible and you hate him for it. Stark missed a pretentious award ceremony because who really cares? Or being late when it's his own damn jet. Hal missed the most important flight of his life (which...he was supposed to lose?) and then people lost their jobs because of him. And he doesn't care. People suffer and it's just...whatever. With a lightening quick redemption moment, why do we buy it? Stark was tortured in a cave and confronted with his legacy, which transformed him. Hal got a talk from his girlfriend.
By the way, why would the military possibly agree to letting Ferris' own pilots fight against his drones? If he was even slightly smart, he would tell his pilots to lose and impress the investors. Is he just counting on Hal being that much of an asshole? Apparently yes.
Setting Up a Larger World
Iron Man had SHIELD, and all roads now lead to the Avengers. Green Lantern has Amanda Waller, and the script writers has commented on how they want to start up a shared universe.
How it Failed: Waller wasn't a -bad- character, but she didn't give us any reason to care about her either. I won't exactly be excited to see Angela Bassett in the Flash, and don't fully understand why they made such a big deal of Hector seeing her past. Why waste so much time and focus if the character wasn't meant for more? I don't know what "more" would be, since Waller lacks the coolness of Nick Fury or even the witty charm of Agent Coulson. And for the love of Oa, what happened to the John Stewart cameo?
The Quirky Humor
One of the things that caught the public so off guard was how utterly hilarious Robert Downey Jr. was. And it's not only the script: all those quips were improv. RDJ is one of the funniest human beings alive, and he can make you laugh with just a twitch of his eye. He has a distinct quirkiness to his humor, The man was nominated for an oscar by doing black face for god's sake! So who do you get to play Hal Jordan? How about Ryan Reynolds, an up and coming potential A-Lister known for a razor ship wit.
How it Failed- It doesn't matter how talented your star is, no one can salvage a truly terrible joke. And let's face it, all of those jokes were terrible. Both movies had a similar kind of humor and wanted to achieve the same end, but the difference is that one was funny and the other wasn't.
From Jerk-Ass to NobleHero
When we first saw Tony Stark, he was a prick. Completely irresponsible, he gives off the vibe that he just doesn't care. But you love him anyway because the man has so much fun with it. He's not nasty or a tool, he just blows of the boring stuff and would probably be awesome to hang out with. And we see him became a selfless hero, one everyone can root for. Hal Jordan is also irresponsible and a bit of a tool, and in the end hopes to win us over as a courageous warrior.
How it Failed: Hal is an asshole. He's irresponsible and you hate him for it. Stark missed a pretentious award ceremony because who really cares? Or being late when it's his own damn jet. Hal missed the most important flight of his life (which...he was supposed to lose?) and then people lost their jobs because of him. And he doesn't care. People suffer and it's just...whatever. With a lightening quick redemption moment, why do we buy it? Stark was tortured in a cave and confronted with his legacy, which transformed him. Hal got a talk from his girlfriend.
By the way, why would the military possibly agree to letting Ferris' own pilots fight against his drones? If he was even slightly smart, he would tell his pilots to lose and impress the investors. Is he just counting on Hal being that much of an asshole? Apparently yes.
Setting Up a Larger World
Iron Man had SHIELD, and all roads now lead to the Avengers. Green Lantern has Amanda Waller, and the script writers has commented on how they want to start up a shared universe.
How it Failed: Waller wasn't a -bad- character, but she didn't give us any reason to care about her either. I won't exactly be excited to see Angela Bassett in the Flash, and don't fully understand why they made such a big deal of Hector seeing her past. Why waste so much time and focus if the character wasn't meant for more? I don't know what "more" would be, since Waller lacks the coolness of Nick Fury or even the witty charm of Agent Coulson. And for the love of Oa, what happened to the John Stewart cameo?
Sunday, June 19, 2011
Green Lantern Review
My goal in these reviews is to offer as balanced a review as possible. Super fans such as myself are all too quick to tear a movie apart, instantly categorizing it as a success worthy of worship or the worst movie ever made. Following the highly enjoyable pair of Thor and First Class, Green Lantern has already generated a significant amount of bad buzz. But hey, I've been surprised before. I didn't have huge expectations for First Class, and found it to be highly enjoyable. Could Green Lantern do the same?
No. Not even close.
I don't know if I can say a single good thing about this movie. If something worked or was interesting, it was dragged down by something else. Ryan Reynolds wasn't "bad" as Hal Jordan, but he was still miscast. Part of it isn't his fault: Hal's written as a complete tool. He's never cringe worthy with this material, but he doesn't take charge with it either. He just doesn't have that action hero quality or physical presence to make up for it. So they could easily have cast someone more fit for the part. I just don't think that would have saved it anyway.
I can say the same for almost the entire cast. Blake Lively is actually charming, and looks utterly gorgeous. She just exists as the most bland love interest of any superhero movie, and Lively just doesn't have the talent (yet) to make a bad character good. Or take Hector Hammond, the most bizarre waste of a villain in a comic book movie yet. Before you even know who he is, Hammond is whisked away by men in black suits and then quickly begins his transformation. Oh come on guys, you ripped off enough from Spider-Man already, you could at least rip off the idea of making your antagonist sympathetic or even interesting.
But how about all that science fiction stuff? Recent marketing campaigns have been focusing entirely on that, so it should be big, right? Well if you've seen the trailers and the Wonder-Con sneak peak, congratulations, you've seen the majority of the outer space stuff. Hal's stay on Oa is decidedly short, and he never ventures any further into the cosmos. None of the scenery is especially memorable and all feels somewhat familiar, and not from the comics. And if you were hoping to see the Corps. in action, you'll be disappointed. Literally all they do is point their rings the sky and chant. You never get a sense for what these Lanterns do from day to day, since the only threat the Corps has faced is a once in a lifetime apocalyptic threat.
And the three key members are kinda meh. The ever-talented Geoffrey Rush is resigned to a plot exposition device, filling our hero in on the mysteries of the cosmos. Which is odd, because wasn't Hal just uploaded with a full database of info on the galaxy? I would have thought the Guardians of the Universe would have earned a mention in it. Kilowog is somewhat boring and exists to give our hero a quasi-montage of training, which is a shame considering I just named him "Greatest Green Lantern". Mark Strong as Sinestro suffers the same problem as the rest of the cast. Poor script and dialogue give him nothing to work with, and he never comes off as more than a minor character. And do they really want him to be a villain in the sequel? I can't see how this character, personality or story wise, could suddenly start ravaging the Corps. They portray him as too loyal without any of the hidden menace you'd need from a future villain. And the after the credits revelation comes out of nowhere.
So what made the story quite so bad? Filled with exposition and a classic case of "telling, rather than showing", it serves as a joyless, humorless adventure. Thor didn't have a perfect story, but was just so much damn fun you could get over it. So much of the dialogue was about fear and will power that were just blanket statements. We're never shown this difference and are just told it. And then Hal has his magic transformation into a courageous warrior, which happens in the blink of an eye once Carol Ferris tells him he needs to overcome fear rather than be without it. You thought Thor had a quick transformation? Hal's happens in less than a second. Nothing interesting every really happens, and the pacing is all over the place. And a downright awful musical score just sucks any wonder from the picture. What happened to the music from the trailer?
And special effects? If you're going to have weak story, at least give us some pretty to look at. Partly due to poor execution and partly due to flawed design, they feel worthless. Occasionally, they look actively terrible. Parallax in particular makes Galactus cloud seem cool. He's an awkward cluster of tentacles and junk with an ugly head.
Some movies are worth checking out just for the sake of seeing them. This isn't one of them. Stay the hell away from this one. It's a painful waste of two hours, and if enough people don't see it then maybe we can dodge a sequel. Too bad the same writing crew is already working on it.
No. Not even close.
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I can say the same for almost the entire cast. Blake Lively is actually charming, and looks utterly gorgeous. She just exists as the most bland love interest of any superhero movie, and Lively just doesn't have the talent (yet) to make a bad character good. Or take Hector Hammond, the most bizarre waste of a villain in a comic book movie yet. Before you even know who he is, Hammond is whisked away by men in black suits and then quickly begins his transformation. Oh come on guys, you ripped off enough from Spider-Man already, you could at least rip off the idea of making your antagonist sympathetic or even interesting.
But how about all that science fiction stuff? Recent marketing campaigns have been focusing entirely on that, so it should be big, right? Well if you've seen the trailers and the Wonder-Con sneak peak, congratulations, you've seen the majority of the outer space stuff. Hal's stay on Oa is decidedly short, and he never ventures any further into the cosmos. None of the scenery is especially memorable and all feels somewhat familiar, and not from the comics. And if you were hoping to see the Corps. in action, you'll be disappointed. Literally all they do is point their rings the sky and chant. You never get a sense for what these Lanterns do from day to day, since the only threat the Corps has faced is a once in a lifetime apocalyptic threat.
And the three key members are kinda meh. The ever-talented Geoffrey Rush is resigned to a plot exposition device, filling our hero in on the mysteries of the cosmos. Which is odd, because wasn't Hal just uploaded with a full database of info on the galaxy? I would have thought the Guardians of the Universe would have earned a mention in it. Kilowog is somewhat boring and exists to give our hero a quasi-montage of training, which is a shame considering I just named him "Greatest Green Lantern". Mark Strong as Sinestro suffers the same problem as the rest of the cast. Poor script and dialogue give him nothing to work with, and he never comes off as more than a minor character. And do they really want him to be a villain in the sequel? I can't see how this character, personality or story wise, could suddenly start ravaging the Corps. They portray him as too loyal without any of the hidden menace you'd need from a future villain. And the after the credits revelation comes out of nowhere.
So what made the story quite so bad? Filled with exposition and a classic case of "telling, rather than showing", it serves as a joyless, humorless adventure. Thor didn't have a perfect story, but was just so much damn fun you could get over it. So much of the dialogue was about fear and will power that were just blanket statements. We're never shown this difference and are just told it. And then Hal has his magic transformation into a courageous warrior, which happens in the blink of an eye once Carol Ferris tells him he needs to overcome fear rather than be without it. You thought Thor had a quick transformation? Hal's happens in less than a second. Nothing interesting every really happens, and the pacing is all over the place. And a downright awful musical score just sucks any wonder from the picture. What happened to the music from the trailer?
And special effects? If you're going to have weak story, at least give us some pretty to look at. Partly due to poor execution and partly due to flawed design, they feel worthless. Occasionally, they look actively terrible. Parallax in particular makes Galactus cloud seem cool. He's an awkward cluster of tentacles and junk with an ugly head.
Some movies are worth checking out just for the sake of seeing them. This isn't one of them. Stay the hell away from this one. It's a painful waste of two hours, and if enough people don't see it then maybe we can dodge a sequel. Too bad the same writing crew is already working on it.
Friday, June 17, 2011
Best of the Best: Top Green Lanterns Day Three
A simple question: who is the greatest Lantern? I mean, even Hal Jordan couldn't earn that title. Before that, I would like to give a shout out to one member of the Corps who didn't make this list: Abin Sur. Sure, he was a noble warrior, but he's never been in a story for more than five seconds before getting killed. That's a piss poor track record if you ask me. Still, the mythos as we know it couldn't technically exist without him. Now on to the top two!
2. Thaal Sinestro
Whaaaaaaaaaaaaaa??? Isn't he the archenemy of the Green Lanterns? Hasn't he lead to more deaths in the Corps than space polio? Well, for a brief moment he was hailed as the greatest Lantern, and that's a title he has refused to let go. Even as their most hated foe, he still believes he's fighting for their cause. Y'know, even as he's murdering them.
You see, Sinestro realized that order is needed for a peaceful universe. And if you want order, you need fear. To protect the galaxy, he'll go to any length and any cost to achieve it. Hell, the entire point of waging a massive war against the Lanterns was purely to convince the Guardians to change their rules and become feared. Even if he's hated, even if it leads to his death, Sinestro will fight to be considered the greatest. The most complex character in the comic, Sinestro gives the Lanterns not only an archnemesis, but a foe who forces them to be better.
1. Kilowog
The Green Lanterns chose only those capable of overcoming great fear and spreading light to the darkest reaches of the universe. Each and every one of them is a hero beyond compare. But to be the greatest of the great? That takes someone special. And no one but the gruff, unrelenting drill sergeant of the Corps could ever earn that title. Kilowog of Sector 674, you are the greatest of the Green Lanterns.
In battle, Kilowog is ferocious. Unrelenting, Kilowog is like a well trained boxer. Powerful and tough while always thinking tactically. Few can claim to understand how to unlock the mysteries of the ring quite like the Wog. He sets an example in battle, frequently serving as a defacto leader for his brothers in arms.
Yet where Kilowog truly shines is as a training instructor. I'm almost shocked he hasn't killed half of his recruits. He's more than willing to put them through the most brutal of conditions, chewing them our for being such utterly worthless Poozers. Despite this grim facade, Wog deeply cares for each and every one his recruits. It's tough love at its finest. Every death haunts him, and he makes the strongest recruits to keep them alive as long as possible.
Kilowog brings more than just an infectious, loveable attitude to his role. He forges the Corps. into what it is. He represents the best of what they have to offer, embodying their spirit, their sense of right and wrong, and their unrelenting will to guard the universe. Kilowog might not be the strongest, the most powerful, or even the most committed to the cause. He has weaknesses and imperfections and stubbornly pushes past them, showing a courage possessed only the greatest Green Lantern could wield. Truly, no evil could ever escape his sight.
2. Thaal Sinestro
Whaaaaaaaaaaaaaa??? Isn't he the archenemy of the Green Lanterns? Hasn't he lead to more deaths in the Corps than space polio? Well, for a brief moment he was hailed as the greatest Lantern, and that's a title he has refused to let go. Even as their most hated foe, he still believes he's fighting for their cause. Y'know, even as he's murdering them.
You see, Sinestro realized that order is needed for a peaceful universe. And if you want order, you need fear. To protect the galaxy, he'll go to any length and any cost to achieve it. Hell, the entire point of waging a massive war against the Lanterns was purely to convince the Guardians to change their rules and become feared. Even if he's hated, even if it leads to his death, Sinestro will fight to be considered the greatest. The most complex character in the comic, Sinestro gives the Lanterns not only an archnemesis, but a foe who forces them to be better.
1. Kilowog
The Green Lanterns chose only those capable of overcoming great fear and spreading light to the darkest reaches of the universe. Each and every one of them is a hero beyond compare. But to be the greatest of the great? That takes someone special. And no one but the gruff, unrelenting drill sergeant of the Corps could ever earn that title. Kilowog of Sector 674, you are the greatest of the Green Lanterns.
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| "Greatest". I never said prettiest. |
In battle, Kilowog is ferocious. Unrelenting, Kilowog is like a well trained boxer. Powerful and tough while always thinking tactically. Few can claim to understand how to unlock the mysteries of the ring quite like the Wog. He sets an example in battle, frequently serving as a defacto leader for his brothers in arms.
Yet where Kilowog truly shines is as a training instructor. I'm almost shocked he hasn't killed half of his recruits. He's more than willing to put them through the most brutal of conditions, chewing them our for being such utterly worthless Poozers. Despite this grim facade, Wog deeply cares for each and every one his recruits. It's tough love at its finest. Every death haunts him, and he makes the strongest recruits to keep them alive as long as possible.
Kilowog brings more than just an infectious, loveable attitude to his role. He forges the Corps. into what it is. He represents the best of what they have to offer, embodying their spirit, their sense of right and wrong, and their unrelenting will to guard the universe. Kilowog might not be the strongest, the most powerful, or even the most committed to the cause. He has weaknesses and imperfections and stubbornly pushes past them, showing a courage possessed only the greatest Green Lantern could wield. Truly, no evil could ever escape his sight.
Thursday, June 16, 2011
Best of the Best: Top Green Lanterns Day Two
Ready for more of the best Green Lanterns? Who's go what it takes to be considered the best of the Corps? Let's find out!
6. Kyle Rayner
Everything needed a radical, edgy update in the 90's, and Green Lantern was no exception. After Hal's stint as a supervillain, Kyle Rayner took over his legacy and became the last remaining Green Lantern. But unlike most fads from the 90's, Kyle has stood the test of time and has cemented
He might have been pushed to the sidelines with Hal's return, but Kyle still boats die hard fans eager to see him claim the spotlight once again. Following the original is a hard act to follow, and Kyle just managed to pull it off.
5. Mogo
Mogo earns this nod because of his integral role in the Corps. and high concept nature. An entire planet as a member? That's such a wonderful twist that helps define the extraordinary nature of comics in general. Mogo has a barely noticeable personality, but can you imagine the Green Lanterns without him? Maybe, but it would be significantly less cool.
4. Guy Gardner
Out of all the earthbound Lanterns, Guy always stood out as having the most fleshed out personality. He's not a classic, square hero. He can be a jerk, he can be crude, even obnoxious. But he never, ever gives up. Guy is the pugilist, the Lantern who will take a beating to keep throwing punches. He brings some grit to the team, a more down to earth perspective on vast sci-fiction epics. The Corps. may have countless heroes, but there is only one Guy Gardner.
3. Hal Jordan
There's a reason how was chosen to star in the feature film over the other Lanterns. Sure Alan Scott was technically the first with the title, but Hal was the original Lantern as we know them today. Through him we learned of the mythical Green Lanterns and he's carried the mythos to where it is today.
Hal sadly suffers a bit from a flat character to keep him away from the top spot. Any time you can label the hero's flaws in a nice one package like "arrogance" as Geoff Johns so constantly reminds us, you're a touch stale. Just because you have a traditional hero doesn't mean you can't be complex and interesting, which Hal just can't claim. Instead, he's a vessel for us to enter this world and experience what it means to be a Lantern. The Green Lantern legacy revolves around Hal, and you have to respect that.
So who could possibly take the title of "greatest lantern" over the mighty Hal Jordan? I left two candidates out, just to keep you guessing. Whoever could it be?!?
6. Kyle Rayner
Everything needed a radical, edgy update in the 90's, and Green Lantern was no exception. After Hal's stint as a supervillain, Kyle Rayner took over his legacy and became the last remaining Green Lantern. But unlike most fads from the 90's, Kyle has stood the test of time and has cemented
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| I'm going to get so much shit for not having him above Hal Jordan. |
He might have been pushed to the sidelines with Hal's return, but Kyle still boats die hard fans eager to see him claim the spotlight once again. Following the original is a hard act to follow, and Kyle just managed to pull it off.
5. Mogo
Mogo earns this nod because of his integral role in the Corps. and high concept nature. An entire planet as a member? That's such a wonderful twist that helps define the extraordinary nature of comics in general. Mogo has a barely noticeable personality, but can you imagine the Green Lanterns without him? Maybe, but it would be significantly less cool.
4. Guy Gardner
Out of all the earthbound Lanterns, Guy always stood out as having the most fleshed out personality. He's not a classic, square hero. He can be a jerk, he can be crude, even obnoxious. But he never, ever gives up. Guy is the pugilist, the Lantern who will take a beating to keep throwing punches. He brings some grit to the team, a more down to earth perspective on vast sci-fiction epics. The Corps. may have countless heroes, but there is only one Guy Gardner.
3. Hal Jordan
There's a reason how was chosen to star in the feature film over the other Lanterns. Sure Alan Scott was technically the first with the title, but Hal was the original Lantern as we know them today. Through him we learned of the mythical Green Lanterns and he's carried the mythos to where it is today.
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| In movie form. Perhaps not the best representation? |
So who could possibly take the title of "greatest lantern" over the mighty Hal Jordan? I left two candidates out, just to keep you guessing. Whoever could it be?!?
Tuesday, June 14, 2011
Best of the Best: Top Green Lanterns Day One
There are thousands of Green Lanterns, each with enough swagger to overcome great fear. That being said, some of them are tools. Many of them in fact. But then we have the legends, the Greatest Lanterns of all. In honor of them, we count down the top Green Lanterns. We're basing this on personality, commitment to the Corps, and how the Lanterns makes the Corps unique.
10. Hannu.
For a Green Lantern, Hannu doesn't use his ring very often. He actually NEVER uses his ring, except for the occasional flying here or there. Hannu's home planet sees weapons as dishonorable, so the big guy prefers to use his fists instead. So let me get this straight: he has access to the most powerful weapon in the galaxy, and still prefers to punch the most dangerous villains of the galaxy in the face?
That's awesome. It's so crazy awesome it gives Hannu a spot in the top ten.
9. Salaak
The Green Lanterns are essentially space cops. And what is any good cop story without the straight edged supervisor, busting our hero for being a loose cannon and playing by his own rules? Dammit Jordan, this isn't the wild west, we have regulations!
That's Salaak in a nutshell. But unlike most administrative pencil pushers, Salaak can kick some ass every once in a while. And as straight edged as he is, the Guardians of the Galaxy are even worse. He keeps things running smoothly, and knows where to draw the line. Because you just can't have space cops without some to bust their chops, giving Salaak a well deserved place in the top 10.
8. Bzzd
Oh wow, this is stupid, you're probably thinking. He's a damn fly. Lame. Oh, I get it, his partner is the size of a planet. Yeah, be more obvious DC with the contrast there.
Well if you are thinking that, I suggest YOU PUNCH YOURSELF IN THE FACE. Bzzd is a god damned hero. That eager little insect backs down from freaking nothing. And in a climactic fight against the intergalactic tyrant Mongul, Bzzd sacrificed himself for the good of his team mates. You wish you could be as cool as Bzzd.
7. John Stewart
A legend in his own right, Jon is one of the four earthbound Lanterns. In addition to his heroic tours of duty with the Marines, he's fought as part of the Justice League and is an architect to boot. Seriously, that's got to be the greatest resume of all time.
Sadly, Jon never seems to get the time to shine. He's always been a back up to Kyle and Hal, and hasn't been able to forge quite as memorable a place in the Lantern legacy. Which is a shame, because as a no-nonsense hero with a solid backstory, he seems to be the model Green Lantern.
So that's it for now. We have six more Lanterns to go, so come back as we continue Green Lantern Week!
10. Hannu.
For a Green Lantern, Hannu doesn't use his ring very often. He actually NEVER uses his ring, except for the occasional flying here or there. Hannu's home planet sees weapons as dishonorable, so the big guy prefers to use his fists instead. So let me get this straight: he has access to the most powerful weapon in the galaxy, and still prefers to punch the most dangerous villains of the galaxy in the face?
That's awesome. It's so crazy awesome it gives Hannu a spot in the top ten.
9. Salaak
The Green Lanterns are essentially space cops. And what is any good cop story without the straight edged supervisor, busting our hero for being a loose cannon and playing by his own rules? Dammit Jordan, this isn't the wild west, we have regulations!
That's Salaak in a nutshell. But unlike most administrative pencil pushers, Salaak can kick some ass every once in a while. And as straight edged as he is, the Guardians of the Galaxy are even worse. He keeps things running smoothly, and knows where to draw the line. Because you just can't have space cops without some to bust their chops, giving Salaak a well deserved place in the top 10.
8. Bzzd
Oh wow, this is stupid, you're probably thinking. He's a damn fly. Lame. Oh, I get it, his partner is the size of a planet. Yeah, be more obvious DC with the contrast there.
Well if you are thinking that, I suggest YOU PUNCH YOURSELF IN THE FACE. Bzzd is a god damned hero. That eager little insect backs down from freaking nothing. And in a climactic fight against the intergalactic tyrant Mongul, Bzzd sacrificed himself for the good of his team mates. You wish you could be as cool as Bzzd.
7. John Stewart
A legend in his own right, Jon is one of the four earthbound Lanterns. In addition to his heroic tours of duty with the Marines, he's fought as part of the Justice League and is an architect to boot. Seriously, that's got to be the greatest resume of all time.
Sadly, Jon never seems to get the time to shine. He's always been a back up to Kyle and Hal, and hasn't been able to forge quite as memorable a place in the Lantern legacy. Which is a shame, because as a no-nonsense hero with a solid backstory, he seems to be the model Green Lantern.
So that's it for now. We have six more Lanterns to go, so come back as we continue Green Lantern Week!
Sunday, June 12, 2011
Green Lantern Week Begins!
We have less than a week before the summer's third superhero adaptation, Green Lantern. Will Ryan Reynolds emerge as a serious leading man? Can the GL usher in a new age of DC heroes? Will green spandex and a shiny magic ring not be laughed out of Hollywood? Find out this Friday!
In the meantime, I thought we could kick off discussions with Green Lantern's post-Flashpoint progress. War of the Green Lanterns should be reaching it's end soon, and there doesn't seem to be an obvious story arc to follow. And even though many characters are being rebooted, Hal Jordan doesn't seem to be changing at all. All of the GL lore and recent history is still intact, with events such as Blackest Night and Brightest Day still cannon. I'm still miffed at how DC is picking and choosing what parts of the timeline to keep, which makes little sense story wise, but at least we can . Hal's adventures will continue, and the GL Corps book will have the same focus on the rest of the lanterns, with Guy Gardner returning to the title. This means a cancellation of the Guy-centered Emerald Warriors title, but we have plenty of him to around.
Here's where we get some big changes. Green isn't the only color dominating the shelves anymore, with Atrocitus and his Red Lanterns getting their own title we heard about months ago. I said it before and I'll say it again, what a terrible waste. The Red Lanterns are OK, but their own title? I would have rather read about Sinestro's followers or Agent Orange. Here's hoping DC can add some depth to the relatively 2-dimensional Corps. The last title is New Guardians, a team book featuring a member of each of the 7 Corps. "New Guardians" has a better ring to it (see what I did there? I swear it was unintentional) than the "Rainbow Brigade" I suppose. Featuring Kyle Raynor and fan favorite lanterns from other Corps, this book has alot of potential. With some wild characters uniting for the first time, I think it's worth checking out.
So if you're looking to get into comics after seeing the movie, you can either get caught up or snag these brand new issue #1s. Green Lantern features Hal himself and is bound to be a reliable read and the Green Lantern Corps can be a but middling at times, but full of classic characters. Red Lantern Corps. just doesn't strike me as a "must read", and New Guardians might be worth a peek. So these are your books for after the movie, and that's a whole lot of comic book goodness to go around.
In the meantime, I thought we could kick off discussions with Green Lantern's post-Flashpoint progress. War of the Green Lanterns should be reaching it's end soon, and there doesn't seem to be an obvious story arc to follow. And even though many characters are being rebooted, Hal Jordan doesn't seem to be changing at all. All of the GL lore and recent history is still intact, with events such as Blackest Night and Brightest Day still cannon. I'm still miffed at how DC is picking and choosing what parts of the timeline to keep, which makes little sense story wise, but at least we can . Hal's adventures will continue, and the GL Corps book will have the same focus on the rest of the lanterns, with Guy Gardner returning to the title. This means a cancellation of the Guy-centered Emerald Warriors title, but we have plenty of him to around.
Here's where we get some big changes. Green isn't the only color dominating the shelves anymore, with Atrocitus and his Red Lanterns getting their own title we heard about months ago. I said it before and I'll say it again, what a terrible waste. The Red Lanterns are OK, but their own title? I would have rather read about Sinestro's followers or Agent Orange. Here's hoping DC can add some depth to the relatively 2-dimensional Corps. The last title is New Guardians, a team book featuring a member of each of the 7 Corps. "New Guardians" has a better ring to it (see what I did there? I swear it was unintentional) than the "Rainbow Brigade" I suppose. Featuring Kyle Raynor and fan favorite lanterns from other Corps, this book has alot of potential. With some wild characters uniting for the first time, I think it's worth checking out.
So if you're looking to get into comics after seeing the movie, you can either get caught up or snag these brand new issue #1s. Green Lantern features Hal himself and is bound to be a reliable read and the Green Lantern Corps can be a but middling at times, but full of classic characters. Red Lantern Corps. just doesn't strike me as a "must read", and New Guardians might be worth a peek. So these are your books for after the movie, and that's a whole lot of comic book goodness to go around.
Wednesday, June 8, 2011
X-Men First Class Review
The fan reaction to X-Men First Class has been an interesting one. Fox has earned a fair share of ill will after some of their less spectacular projects, and the numerous departures from the source material have been met with the vitriol you would expect from the internet. But in the wake of recent positive buzz, fans have pulled a complete 180, embracing this movie fully. Does this movie deserve the love it's been getting recently? Well, yes and no.
For the record, this movie could have been a trainwreck. I almost expect it to be. With a stagnating franchise and an astoundingly limited production schedule, the practicalities of the project are daunting at best. But the result is something that does manage to work. It's fun and entertaining for the most part, and completely reopens the possibilities for the X-Men. Despite the best efforts of the marketing campaign to convince me otherwise, James McAvoy is wonderful as Professor X. He's endlessly charming and I can somehow see this man being tempered into becoming the hero we saw in the original trilogy. The integrity of Charles Xavier is all there. And Magneto has more than his fair share of badass moments, with Michael Fassbender being cast perfectly. Sadly he doesn't have quite enough time to develop fully, and could have used a few more good character moments. He needs something more than "gah! Nazis!" to stay interesting. Overall, a good sense of humor and undeniable sense of cool make for quality summer entertainment. It's a very difficult movie to hate, but I'm a little surprised at just how much love it's getting.
Part of the problem is the huge cast, and the ultimate lack of a team dynamic. Take Rose Byrne as Moira McTaggart. She plays a key role in the first 30 minutes or so, before going an hour without saying a single word. She's scenery. Shaw's henchman are nothing more than walking special effects, with Azazel and Riptude having a combined word count of 5. And the actual recruits themselves? They spend far too little time playing off each other, and are too underdeveloped for us to care about them. Does Havok do anything besides make fun of Beast? Does Darwin do anything besides sacrifice himself, which the audience will struggle to care about? The actors for all these roles certainly had a knack for their characters, but did little else than use their powers to fight. I liked all these characters, yet didn't know enough about them to care.
And then we have the characters who were just flat out handled poorly, despite their larger screen time. Jennifer Lawrence is a very likeable Mystique, and the girl clearly has a long career ahead of her in film. But the character's development arc is horribly mishandled, and every word out of her mouth has something to do with mutant pride. She slowly becomes a broken record, and the whole "will she or won't she" routine becomes a dull affair. And Beast. If there's one thing I actively hated in the movie, it was Beast. Nicholas Hoult did some nice work before Beast went all furry. Nothing to marvel at, sure, but nothing cringe worthy. Somewhere between nightmarish CGI and his misguided attempts at acting badass it all falls apart.
As for our leading villain, does anyone remember what Brad Pitt said in Ocean's 11? "He has to like you, and then forget you the minute you walk away". That sums up my feelings very well. Bacon is tremendously cool as the character, bringing charm and good humor to the part. But while I be talking about him a year from now? No, absolutely not. Ultimately, he's a pale shadow of Magneto in the original X-Men movies. He has the same goals and motivations (which they fully acknowledge, in an awesome way) without any of the complexity or menace of Magneto. Outside of his first scenes working with the Nazis, he never comes off as a plausible threat or someone to be feared. Maybe it's because he's on permanent playboy mode and always acts like a fop. Bacon needed a good scene where he could go unhinged and lose control, dropping his suave facade.
With so many characters and themes, the most important element of the movie should be the editing and presentation. And without the proper time and resources, the movie lacks polish. The pacing is awkward at times and the movie jumbles from scene to scene. Take Magento's first encounter with Xavier. After their skirmish with Shaw, there's a healthy amount of exposition before the two talk again. I never truly understood why they were considered to be such good friends. They have a few key moments together which I wouldn't define as a deep friendship. So when they inevitably part ways, I don't really care. All they did was team up for a mission and spend five minutes psychologically scarring a few kids. Their friendship dissolving means they are in exactly the same place as they were less than half a movie ago, with one of them now a diabolical madman and the other in a wheelchair.
Now you might mistake this for a negative review, and that's not completely true. The movie is still great fun, and I do recommend it. My only concern is that the movie has it's fair share of flaws that are being curiously overlooked by fans and select critics, and what is only a good movie being proclaimed as something great. The good news though, is that all of my complaints are completely fixable. Matthew Vaughn is more than a competent director, and except for Beast and Emma Frost I desperately want to the see the entire cast come back. With a tighter script that creates a stronger team dynamics and more time for editing and planning, I don't see any reason why the X-Men's sophomore year shouldn't be even better.
For the record, this movie could have been a trainwreck. I almost expect it to be. With a stagnating franchise and an astoundingly limited production schedule, the practicalities of the project are daunting at best. But the result is something that does manage to work. It's fun and entertaining for the most part, and completely reopens the possibilities for the X-Men. Despite the best efforts of the marketing campaign to convince me otherwise, James McAvoy is wonderful as Professor X. He's endlessly charming and I can somehow see this man being tempered into becoming the hero we saw in the original trilogy. The integrity of Charles Xavier is all there. And Magneto has more than his fair share of badass moments, with Michael Fassbender being cast perfectly. Sadly he doesn't have quite enough time to develop fully, and could have used a few more good character moments. He needs something more than "gah! Nazis!" to stay interesting. Overall, a good sense of humor and undeniable sense of cool make for quality summer entertainment. It's a very difficult movie to hate, but I'm a little surprised at just how much love it's getting.
Part of the problem is the huge cast, and the ultimate lack of a team dynamic. Take Rose Byrne as Moira McTaggart. She plays a key role in the first 30 minutes or so, before going an hour without saying a single word. She's scenery. Shaw's henchman are nothing more than walking special effects, with Azazel and Riptude having a combined word count of 5. And the actual recruits themselves? They spend far too little time playing off each other, and are too underdeveloped for us to care about them. Does Havok do anything besides make fun of Beast? Does Darwin do anything besides sacrifice himself, which the audience will struggle to care about? The actors for all these roles certainly had a knack for their characters, but did little else than use their powers to fight. I liked all these characters, yet didn't know enough about them to care.
And then we have the characters who were just flat out handled poorly, despite their larger screen time. Jennifer Lawrence is a very likeable Mystique, and the girl clearly has a long career ahead of her in film. But the character's development arc is horribly mishandled, and every word out of her mouth has something to do with mutant pride. She slowly becomes a broken record, and the whole "will she or won't she" routine becomes a dull affair. And Beast. If there's one thing I actively hated in the movie, it was Beast. Nicholas Hoult did some nice work before Beast went all furry. Nothing to marvel at, sure, but nothing cringe worthy. Somewhere between nightmarish CGI and his misguided attempts at acting badass it all falls apart.
As for our leading villain, does anyone remember what Brad Pitt said in Ocean's 11? "He has to like you, and then forget you the minute you walk away". That sums up my feelings very well. Bacon is tremendously cool as the character, bringing charm and good humor to the part. But while I be talking about him a year from now? No, absolutely not. Ultimately, he's a pale shadow of Magneto in the original X-Men movies. He has the same goals and motivations (which they fully acknowledge, in an awesome way) without any of the complexity or menace of Magneto. Outside of his first scenes working with the Nazis, he never comes off as a plausible threat or someone to be feared. Maybe it's because he's on permanent playboy mode and always acts like a fop. Bacon needed a good scene where he could go unhinged and lose control, dropping his suave facade.
With so many characters and themes, the most important element of the movie should be the editing and presentation. And without the proper time and resources, the movie lacks polish. The pacing is awkward at times and the movie jumbles from scene to scene. Take Magento's first encounter with Xavier. After their skirmish with Shaw, there's a healthy amount of exposition before the two talk again. I never truly understood why they were considered to be such good friends. They have a few key moments together which I wouldn't define as a deep friendship. So when they inevitably part ways, I don't really care. All they did was team up for a mission and spend five minutes psychologically scarring a few kids. Their friendship dissolving means they are in exactly the same place as they were less than half a movie ago, with one of them now a diabolical madman and the other in a wheelchair.
Now you might mistake this for a negative review, and that's not completely true. The movie is still great fun, and I do recommend it. My only concern is that the movie has it's fair share of flaws that are being curiously overlooked by fans and select critics, and what is only a good movie being proclaimed as something great. The good news though, is that all of my complaints are completely fixable. Matthew Vaughn is more than a competent director, and except for Beast and Emma Frost I desperately want to the see the entire cast come back. With a tighter script that creates a stronger team dynamics and more time for editing and planning, I don't see any reason why the X-Men's sophomore year shouldn't be even better.
Thursday, June 2, 2011
DC Universe Rebooted!
No other medium loves reboots and retcons quite like comics. And because of the wonders of comic book science, writers have a variety of glorious tools to go about shattering continuity at their whim. Time travel, parallel realities, Doom-Bots, clones, or my personal favorite, actual deals with the devil. But DC has decided to take rebooting to an unprecedented scale, restarting their entire line of comics from the scratch. In the wake of Flashpoint, we’re going to see the DC universe reborn and filled with younger takes on classic heroes. Geoff John’s obsession with the Silver Age has grown so wildly out of control he’s changed the comic book timeline just so he can bring it all back. Come on buddy, you’re bordering on self-parody here.
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| So are collars on Superheroes a "thing" now? |
What makes this slightly disheartening is that DC has already pressed the “redo” button more than once. In addition to the endless list of retcons (try asking someone what Hawkman’s origin is), the whole purpose of the Crisis events was to streamline continuity and fix things permanently. And so many classic stories become effectively non-cannon, no longer part of the main continuity. We might even see some retellings of classic stories.
What’s even worse is that, in the short term at least, this will boost sales. Dozens of new Issue #1’s? Whether or not this transition will stick is up for debate, but DC’s sales will skyrocket with these issues I mean, damn, I’m ranting about how much I dislike this change and I’m going to buy some of these. The reboot undeniably shakes up the current status quo. Even though change isn’t necessarily good or bad, at the very least it’s something different. I’d be interested in reading the classic Justice League get together again in a whole new world, and am curious to see the future holds for Green Lantern. Hopefully we’ll get some cool stories out of this. Just keep in mind though, this isn’t the first time things have been retconned in comics, and it won’t be the last.
Friday, May 27, 2011
Possible Avengers Villain Revealed?
Alright, this is kind of a spoiler. But only kind of. It also includes a spoiler for Thor, which YOU SHOULD HAVE SEEN BY NOW!
So we know Loki will be being a colossal dick during the Avengers, and will almost certainly be bringing the Cosmic Cube with him. Loki is dangerous enough as it is, and giving him an artifact of unbelievable power sounds like an Avengers-level threat. But Loki could never be the only villain for the team to face, and we know that from the beginning. Thor alone has already beaten up his brother (and I'm sure has given him a fair share of wedgies over the years), so it would be kinda lame if it took a whole team of heroes to take down this one guy. So we knew there was another. And honestly, it's a bit obvious.
So the long standing rumor was the alien Skrulls, which would be perfect if you ask me, and will certainly appear sooner or later in a Marvel movie. But now where hearing something different that the other villain will be....Thanos! Master of Death, he has frequently waged war to bring the entire universe to it's demise. Wielding reality controlling Infinity Gauntlet, Thanos is one of Marvel's most powerful villains, and also one of their most interesting. As such a powerhouse, he's one of the few individual villains that could go up against the entire Avengers team. And why was this obvious? Oh, mostly because this was shown at Comic-Con last year.
The Gauntlet was revealed during SDCC, and also made a blink-or-you-miss-it appearance in Thor, as one of the artifacts in Odin's vault. So yeah, Thanos being a possible villain shouldn't surprise anyone. Marvel clearly put some effort into designing this thing, and we're going to have to see it on screen sooner or later. Although I still prefer to see the Skrulls (they give the team an army to tear apart), a live action Thanos could be unbelievable if done right.
So we know Loki will be being a colossal dick during the Avengers, and will almost certainly be bringing the Cosmic Cube with him. Loki is dangerous enough as it is, and giving him an artifact of unbelievable power sounds like an Avengers-level threat. But Loki could never be the only villain for the team to face, and we know that from the beginning. Thor alone has already beaten up his brother (and I'm sure has given him a fair share of wedgies over the years), so it would be kinda lame if it took a whole team of heroes to take down this one guy. So we knew there was another. And honestly, it's a bit obvious.
So the long standing rumor was the alien Skrulls, which would be perfect if you ask me, and will certainly appear sooner or later in a Marvel movie. But now where hearing something different that the other villain will be....Thanos! Master of Death, he has frequently waged war to bring the entire universe to it's demise. Wielding reality controlling Infinity Gauntlet, Thanos is one of Marvel's most powerful villains, and also one of their most interesting. As such a powerhouse, he's one of the few individual villains that could go up against the entire Avengers team. And why was this obvious? Oh, mostly because this was shown at Comic-Con last year.
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| It's kind of a dead giveaway. |
Thursday, May 26, 2011
The Adventures of Dr. McNinja: Greatest Webcomic Ever
One of the beauties of the internet is the existence of truly great webcomics. Amidst some of the more obnoxious forums and terribly written blogs (the one you're reading right now being a perfect example), diamonds in the rough such as Axe Cop or Dinosaur comics make existence itself just a bit brighter. And I have to say that I've found my favorite webcomic yet: the Adventures of Dr. McNinja!
The basic premise is full of internet tropes and cliches. It has ninjas, dinosaurs, zombies, pirates, and ... However, somewhere between the undead clone of Benjamin Franklin recreating Michael Jackson's "Thriller" and Dracula's Moon Base, you realize how wildly imaginative this comic is. The world of Dr. McNinja is one giant Mortal Kombat stage, where even the most basic stunts shatter physics.
Despite the over the top nature of the material, Dr. McNinja works because it is actually really, really well written. It's consistently hilarious, and some plot elements slowly develop over years of material. Chris Hastings has an unbelievable sense of humor, which you can actually get a taste of in the issues of Deadpool he's writing as a tie in to Fear Itself. I'm struggling to come up with my favorite moments from the series, because there are just so damn many to choose from. Doc fighting his way through an ancient temple for tennis match to decide the fate of the world? How about Monster gangland wars? Or every single word that comes out of his father, Dan McNinja?
I can't say enough about this webcomic. It's just beyond wonderful. Nothing about it should work, and none of this I insist you give it a shot. And besides, this is the internet. It's not like your paying anything for it.
http://drmcninja.com/newreaders.php
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| Yes that is a raptor. And his name is Yoshi. |
The basic premise is full of internet tropes and cliches. It has ninjas, dinosaurs, zombies, pirates, and ... However, somewhere between the undead clone of Benjamin Franklin recreating Michael Jackson's "Thriller" and Dracula's Moon Base, you realize how wildly imaginative this comic is. The world of Dr. McNinja is one giant Mortal Kombat stage, where even the most basic stunts shatter physics.
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| He's both a doctor AND a ninja, you see. |
Despite the over the top nature of the material, Dr. McNinja works because it is actually really, really well written. It's consistently hilarious, and some plot elements slowly develop over years of material. Chris Hastings has an unbelievable sense of humor, which you can actually get a taste of in the issues of Deadpool he's writing as a tie in to Fear Itself. I'm struggling to come up with my favorite moments from the series, because there are just so damn many to choose from. Doc fighting his way through an ancient temple for tennis match to decide the fate of the world? How about Monster gangland wars? Or every single word that comes out of his father, Dan McNinja?
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| Dan O'Clock is not a real time. |
I can't say enough about this webcomic. It's just beyond wonderful. Nothing about it should work, and none of this I insist you give it a shot. And besides, this is the internet. It's not like your paying anything for it.
http://drmcninja.com/newreaders.php
Friday, May 20, 2011
First Look at Bane in The Dark Knight Rises!
That was quick! Official filming just started and Warner Bros. has already started taunting us with teasers and pictures. I wasn't expecting this until July, at best. If you went on their twitter, you would have been able to put together a number of snapshot into this mosaic of Batman's new villain, Bane!
Other than Chris Hemsworth's Thor, this is easily one of the most jacked up comic book characters yet. Tom Hardy has put on all the muscle you could ask for, and oh damn, he's going to beat the crap out of Batman isn't he? Yes, Batman is going to be pummeled to a bloody pulp during this movie, and it will take all of his willpower to win this war. The Joker may have tested the limits of your moral code, but Bane is going to test the limits of your spinal cord.
Some fans are complaining a bit about how this Bane isn't as monstrously enormous as his comic book incarnation sometimes is, which I strongly disagree with. Make Bane a CGI or special effects monster and he no longer becomes human. We'll have officially crossed into the super powered realm, and Bane will become something less relatable. Now it's still possible that Bane's drug of choice, Venom, will still be included, and the structure of his mask suggests it might
While Tom Hardy certainly looks the part, and I'm certain has charisma for a great villain, what's going on with that mask? Maybe a clearer view would give me a better idea of what I was looking at, but it's a little iffy at the moment. At first I could have sworn that was a skeletal hand connected to it, but upon close inspection they do look more like metal tubes. The whole thing looks a little funky, like a cross between Psycho Mantis from Metal Gear Solid and Jason Voorhees.
But hey, let's be honest. There's no way this movie could possibly be bad. Even if it doesn't reach the same heights as The Dark Knight, Nolan has yet to do a movie that hasn't been awesome. Inception? Awesome. Batman Begins? Awesome. Memento? Awesome. I don't see any reason to doubt the man.
Other than Chris Hemsworth's Thor, this is easily one of the most jacked up comic book characters yet. Tom Hardy has put on all the muscle you could ask for, and oh damn, he's going to beat the crap out of Batman isn't he? Yes, Batman is going to be pummeled to a bloody pulp during this movie, and it will take all of his willpower to win this war. The Joker may have tested the limits of your moral code, but Bane is going to test the limits of your spinal cord.
Some fans are complaining a bit about how this Bane isn't as monstrously enormous as his comic book incarnation sometimes is, which I strongly disagree with. Make Bane a CGI or special effects monster and he no longer becomes human. We'll have officially crossed into the super powered realm, and Bane will become something less relatable. Now it's still possible that Bane's drug of choice, Venom, will still be included, and the structure of his mask suggests it might
While Tom Hardy certainly looks the part, and I'm certain has charisma for a great villain, what's going on with that mask? Maybe a clearer view would give me a better idea of what I was looking at, but it's a little iffy at the moment. At first I could have sworn that was a skeletal hand connected to it, but upon close inspection they do look more like metal tubes. The whole thing looks a little funky, like a cross between Psycho Mantis from Metal Gear Solid and Jason Voorhees.
But hey, let's be honest. There's no way this movie could possibly be bad. Even if it doesn't reach the same heights as The Dark Knight, Nolan has yet to do a movie that hasn't been awesome. Inception? Awesome. Batman Begins? Awesome. Memento? Awesome. I don't see any reason to doubt the man.
Tuesday, May 17, 2011
Red Hulk Revisited
Warning, this article does spoil the identity of the Red Hulk, which was a long running (and how!) mystery in comics. But that was revealed what, a year ago? If I'm spoiling this for you, you're falling behind on your comics!
I don't know when exactly I started hating the Red Hulk, or what exactly put my dislike for him over the edge. Maybe it was his cringe worthy dialogue about how he was so much smarter and badass than everyone else, or the Jeph Loeb's stubborn refusal to reveal his identity. Maybe because his identity was unrevealed, there was this huge part of the character's motivation and personality that was missing. Or, I don't know, maybe when he punched out half the Marvel Universe and went cruising on the Silver Surfer's board. Probably that last one. But despite my initial interest in the mystery and suspense in the character's origin three years ago, I found myself not caring about his eventual reveal as General Thunderbolt Ross.
And today, I find myself reconsidering that hatred. With a new writer and a new purpose, Red has become alot less despicable. There is no longer this huge, awkward divide between Ross and his new alter ego. They're always the same person with the same personality, and it feels all the more natural. The series has started exploring Ross and his mindset, rather than this weird, unknowable jerk. I've always liked Ross. That man never took shit from anyone, and I admire the man who will walk up to Hulk and shoot him in the face. This is a man who can act tough, hates hippies, and is too stubborn to back down. It's been increasing interesting watching Ross deal with the fact that he's become the very thing he hunted for a big chunk of his life. Or how he's now being hunted down by a former protege (Rulk's identity isn't public) in the same way the Hulk was. Thrown in a revamped MODOK and a few more original-and surprisingly compelling-villains and, wow, that's a damn fine supporting cast.
So if you were like myself and wrote off Rulk as a complete waste of a character, take a second look. The current Hulk series has been a solid comic, and the Ross centric book is a breathe of fresh air from a relatively stagnating franchise. It's a challenge to tell new Hulk stories, and with Ross in the spotlight, you're getting just that.
I don't know when exactly I started hating the Red Hulk, or what exactly put my dislike for him over the edge. Maybe it was his cringe worthy dialogue about how he was so much smarter and badass than everyone else, or the Jeph Loeb's stubborn refusal to reveal his identity. Maybe because his identity was unrevealed, there was this huge part of the character's motivation and personality that was missing. Or, I don't know, maybe when he punched out half the Marvel Universe and went cruising on the Silver Surfer's board. Probably that last one. But despite my initial interest in the mystery and suspense in the character's origin three years ago, I found myself not caring about his eventual reveal as General Thunderbolt Ross.
And today, I find myself reconsidering that hatred. With a new writer and a new purpose, Red has become alot less despicable. There is no longer this huge, awkward divide between Ross and his new alter ego. They're always the same person with the same personality, and it feels all the more natural. The series has started exploring Ross and his mindset, rather than this weird, unknowable jerk. I've always liked Ross. That man never took shit from anyone, and I admire the man who will walk up to Hulk and shoot him in the face. This is a man who can act tough, hates hippies, and is too stubborn to back down. It's been increasing interesting watching Ross deal with the fact that he's become the very thing he hunted for a big chunk of his life. Or how he's now being hunted down by a former protege (Rulk's identity isn't public) in the same way the Hulk was. Thrown in a revamped MODOK and a few more original-and surprisingly compelling-villains and, wow, that's a damn fine supporting cast.
So if you were like myself and wrote off Rulk as a complete waste of a character, take a second look. The current Hulk series has been a solid comic, and the Ross centric book is a breathe of fresh air from a relatively stagnating franchise. It's a challenge to tell new Hulk stories, and with Ross in the spotlight, you're getting just that.
Friday, May 13, 2011
Wonder Woman Series So Bad It's Already Cancelled
That title might sound a bit cruel (it is), but Wonder Woman can't seem to catch a break these days. She's hasn't been able to get that live action movie going, despite the best efforts of Joss Whedon a few years back. Her big costume change and shift in direction in the comics has been almost entirely abandoned. And now, the latest attempt at a TV show has been brought to a screeching, hilarious halt. The pilot was filmed, and much like the Aquaman series, was received poorly by test audiences and not picked up. So don't expect to see Wonder Woman on NBC anytime soon, although I'm pretty sure most fans are praising the comic book deities for this one.
So what went wrong? Oh, so very, very much. We can start with the costume, for one. Yes, the updated version looked significantly better than the over plastic, ludicrous original image. But first impressions do mean everything, and the show started off on a terrible first note with fans. It's like he weird kid from elementary school becoming a jock in college. Sure he might be cooler now, but you'll always associate him with picking his nose in the first grade. And in the end, Wonder Woman was essentially caught picking her nose.
But we can ultimately trace the failure of the show, and most Wonder Woman projects, back to the core concept. Making Wonder Woman a corporate executive struggling to deal with the expectations of the business world with her own love life and crimefighting? When has that ever been what Wonder Woman's about? Actually don't answer that, because that character has been through dozens of incarnations. Which is also part of the problem. We know instinctively what Batman or Spider-Man are "about". We know what purpose the X-Men are trying to serve, and how they represent minorities in the world. There has yet to be strong take on Wonder Woman that explains who she is. Because just being a feminist icon isn't enough. Buffy Summers was a powerful female role model, but she was successful simply because she was a "strong" character. Wonder Woman's claim to fame is ultimately that she was the first female hero, but her character is ever changing and frequently boring. And throw in one of the most loosely defined origin stories and you have a character everyone knows but no one knows "about". Ask anyone what Superman's origin and they will tell you without fail. Ask a random, non-comic book fan what Wonder Woman's is and you'll get a blank stare.
Sooner or later, we can only hope Wonder Woman finds a definitive take on the character that will win the public over. And this might happen soon, considering WB still has plans on making that movie. Then again, they have for the past decade and a half. Will we see Wonder Woman on screen any time soon? Probably not, but we can still hope, eh?
So what went wrong? Oh, so very, very much. We can start with the costume, for one. Yes, the updated version looked significantly better than the over plastic, ludicrous original image. But first impressions do mean everything, and the show started off on a terrible first note with fans. It's like he weird kid from elementary school becoming a jock in college. Sure he might be cooler now, but you'll always associate him with picking his nose in the first grade. And in the end, Wonder Woman was essentially caught picking her nose.
 |
| Did that analogy actually work? Well, neither did this costume. |
But we can ultimately trace the failure of the show, and most Wonder Woman projects, back to the core concept. Making Wonder Woman a corporate executive struggling to deal with the expectations of the business world with her own love life and crimefighting? When has that ever been what Wonder Woman's about? Actually don't answer that, because that character has been through dozens of incarnations. Which is also part of the problem. We know instinctively what Batman or Spider-Man are "about". We know what purpose the X-Men are trying to serve, and how they represent minorities in the world. There has yet to be strong take on Wonder Woman that explains who she is. Because just being a feminist icon isn't enough. Buffy Summers was a powerful female role model, but she was successful simply because she was a "strong" character. Wonder Woman's claim to fame is ultimately that she was the first female hero, but her character is ever changing and frequently boring. And throw in one of the most loosely defined origin stories and you have a character everyone knows but no one knows "about". Ask anyone what Superman's origin and they will tell you without fail. Ask a random, non-comic book fan what Wonder Woman's is and you'll get a blank stare.
Sooner or later, we can only hope Wonder Woman finds a definitive take on the character that will win the public over. And this might happen soon, considering WB still has plans on making that movie. Then again, they have for the past decade and a half. Will we see Wonder Woman on screen any time soon? Probably not, but we can still hope, eh?
X-Men Pregnancy Crisis!
Oh, oh this is just too wonderful not to write about. We here at Captain Otter consider ourselves above petty gossip and celebrities, instead devoting ourselves to the proud, respected tradition of writing about superheroes and dinosaurs (and ninjas). We also like talking in the plural form, despite the fact that the blog is run by one person. But January Jones, who will play Emma Frost in the upcoming X-Men movie, is now pregnant. Despite how stunningly gorgeous and awesome she is on Mad Men, we normally wouldn't care (again with the we?-Ed.). However, the good ol' rumor mill is revealing that the child's father is actually...another X-Man!
Obviously this is all Magneto's fault. Just look at Michael Fassbender. That man is a badass. Of course Magneto and Emma Frost hooked up, it just makes so much sense. So what kind of powers would the child have? Well, it goes without saying it will be born an anti-hero, sometimes using morally dubious methods to accomplish it's valorous goals. Considering Emma Frost can turn her body into diamonds, and Magneto has control over metal, I don't know.....he can turn his bod into steel?
Oh, snap! This is how they're explaining Colossus' origins!
Either Matthew Vaughn is the most dedicated director of our generation if he made this happen or this is a fabulous coincidence. Regardless, I want to see Colossus revealed as the love/hate-child of Emma Frost and Magneto. Come on guys, this isn't the stupidest change you've made to the source material. Not by a long shot.
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| Well, we know it's not Cyclops because he won't stop whining about it. |
Obviously this is all Magneto's fault. Just look at Michael Fassbender. That man is a badass. Of course Magneto and Emma Frost hooked up, it just makes so much sense. So what kind of powers would the child have? Well, it goes without saying it will be born an anti-hero, sometimes using morally dubious methods to accomplish it's valorous goals. Considering Emma Frost can turn her body into diamonds, and Magneto has control over metal, I don't know.....he can turn his bod into steel?
Oh, snap! This is how they're explaining Colossus' origins!
Either Matthew Vaughn is the most dedicated director of our generation if he made this happen or this is a fabulous coincidence. Regardless, I want to see Colossus revealed as the love/hate-child of Emma Frost and Magneto. Come on guys, this isn't the stupidest change you've made to the source material. Not by a long shot.
Tuesday, May 10, 2011
Batman Artwork Sells for HOW MUCH?!?!!
Frank Miller's "The Dark Knight Returns" is a comic book landmark. Look up a list of the top Batman comics, and it will be there every time. Yeah, it may have taken the grimdarkness of the character to new levels, but it's still regarded as legendary. And hey, they're selling off some of the original artwork! Pretty cool, right? You can own a piece of this momentous comic for the price of...
Oh.
Oh Dear God.
Four. Hundred. Thousand. Dollars.
Take a minute to dwell on that. One piece of artwork. Action Comics #1, a full comic, will only occasionally sell for a $1,000,000. Well, I hope it's that classic cover of Batman with the bolt lightening flashing behind him, and image so iconic it's been utilized by almost every character since. Well no, it's this.
Dammit.
Oh.
Oh Dear God.
Four. Hundred. Thousand. Dollars.
Take a minute to dwell on that. One piece of artwork. Action Comics #1, a full comic, will only occasionally sell for a $1,000,000. Well, I hope it's that classic cover of Batman with the bolt lightening flashing behind him, and image so iconic it's been utilized by almost every character since. Well no, it's this.
Sunday, May 8, 2011
The Thor Review: A Fan's Perspective
If you want to see a well written, neutral, and unbiased view of Thor, then there are already dozens of looks at that. So I decided to change things up, and look at Thor from the perspective of a fan, something I can do very easily. This review is going to be spoiler-ific,
The Casting
I don't know if it's a testament to Branagh's skills casting people or directing them, but the actors drove this movie. Chris Hemsworth makes a breakout performance as the God of Thunder, and brings a sense of life and depth to the character. He's funny, charming, and can bring all the emotion the part demands. And damn, when he's in that armor, he's huge. Physical presence is an important part of the role, and he brings it. Tom Hiddleston as Loki is another stand out, bringing the restless intelligence and passion you'd expect from the character. There were times he honestly surprised me with his ability to lie, and is quite possibly the most sympathetic villain we've seen in a comic book movie yet. This is a character who feels betrayed, and then somehow still demands approval from his family. Loki clearly wants to be the hero, and so many of his claims about his brother and Asgard ring perfectly true.
For the rest of Asgard, I have nothing but good things to say. The Warriors Three were all awesome, and it makes me sad they couldn't get more screen time. They shouldn't have gotten it, since the movie is about Thor of course, but that doesn't change how cool they are. Joshua Dallas especially impressed me, since he was a complete unknown who came in at the last second. He handled his limited screen time with the confidence and flair I would expect from Fandrall. Ray Stevenson has the jolly demeanor necessary for Volstagg, and I just wished they let him ham it up a bit more. Jamie Alexander works well as Sif, walking that wonderful line between being lady-like and a true warrior. And yet I'm going to give Idris Elba the most praise for his performance. Heimdall is typically a somewhat stern, slightly boring character. He's stoic, and that's a quality that isn't always translated well into comics. But Elba gave such a focused, intense performance that had such an otherworldy quality to it. Truly, this is how a God of Asgard would behave.
For the earth cast, I was pleased. Kat Dennings was hilarious, and every one of her lines was pure gold. Natalie Portman didn't have the deepest character and could have used more screen time, but she's so cute and adorable and I bought into it anyway. Stellan Skarsgard was a bit inconsistent, offering some great lines and moments while sometimes looking a bit confused as to what to do. We'll be seeing more of him in the future, but more on that later.
The Tone
One thing needs to be said: Thor is funny as shit. I don't think there was a single joke in the movie that I didn't find. The movie in many ways does take itself very seriously. The audience is going to listen to the political intrigues of Asgardian gods, and they're going to buy into it. But at the same time, it's going to have fun when it wants to. It's not afraid to just have fun and be enjoyable.
And that's something that makes me a bit sad. This movie was highly entertaining, but that's it. A whiles back, I was hoping that Thor would have the right elements to possibly earn a best picture nod, and that's just not going to happen. The movie was missing the polish, the cohesiveness and the thoroughly dramatic tone it needed to elevate itself beyond a blockbuster. In some ways, Branagh and co. actively chose not to aim for that path, and I can't decide if they made the right decision. Yes, fantasy movies like the Lord of the Rings can be dramatically successful, but maybe they figured Thor was a bit too out there to exist on that level. Or maybe they just wanted to make a fun piece of adventure.
Design
One of the movie's great strengths. I for one love the costumes and design of everything, although if you hate what you've seen already you won't change your mind seeing it on screen. Asgard wonderfully captured, with the Rainbow Bridge perfectly re imagined. The frost world of Jotunheim is cool, although they could have gone a bit wilder with it. The Frost Giants make for great enemies, and watching Thor tear into them with Mjolnir was one of the best action sequences in recent memory.
Pacing
If there is a reason why Thor is getting some bad reviews here and there, it's this. The movie is paced so damn unevenly. Thor's origin is just so complex with so many moving pieces, it never has time to breathe. With Iron Man, scenes took as long as they need to develop, and that was the film's recipe for success. Things feel a touch rushed, and jump around slightly awkwardly from Asgard to Earth. Some parts of Thor's time of Earth, such as his raid into the SHIELD headquarters, felt like they weren't fully required for the story, and yet they were. Part of the challenge was that Asgard demanded equal attention while Thor was away, effectively creating two competing stories.
Rewatchability?
Interesting topic. I will be seeing it again, that's for sure, but unlike Iron Man or the The Dark Knight I don't feel and overwhelming need to go back in the theater or else I'll explode. This was an adventure, a thrill ride. I want to see more of Thor and Loki, but I want to see a sequel or the Avengers more than this movie again.
The Post Credits Scene
Talk about dropping a bomb on the audience. This is obviously the biggest spoiler, so take one last chance to go away.
All set? Good. Cosmic Cube.
Loki has control of Stellan Skarsgard's character, who is now brought in by SHIELD to unlock the mysteries of the artifact. So Loki effectively has the cube. And you wondered what the Avengers would have to fight. I still maintain that Loki won't be "the" villain, but now we know how he starts such chaos.
My only question is this: how will Thor be joining his earthbound comrades? After destroying the bifrost bridge, he's stuck home in Asgard. Does Loki bring him in, using this as an opportunity to destroy his brother? Natalie Portman won't be in the movie, so she can't locate him. Thor can't just come in at the end, and it would have made for much easier set up if Thor had stayed on Earth to protect it. But I'm more than certain Marvel has a plan, and that this was all set up for a reason. I just want to know what it is!
To wrap things up, Thor was a blast. I wish I could say it was more, but I can't. It brings us to new worlds and introduces some extraordinary character, but you're not going to walk away from it blown away like you might have in Iron Man or the Dark Knight.
The Casting
I don't know if it's a testament to Branagh's skills casting people or directing them, but the actors drove this movie. Chris Hemsworth makes a breakout performance as the God of Thunder, and brings a sense of life and depth to the character. He's funny, charming, and can bring all the emotion the part demands. And damn, when he's in that armor, he's huge. Physical presence is an important part of the role, and he brings it. Tom Hiddleston as Loki is another stand out, bringing the restless intelligence and passion you'd expect from the character. There were times he honestly surprised me with his ability to lie, and is quite possibly the most sympathetic villain we've seen in a comic book movie yet. This is a character who feels betrayed, and then somehow still demands approval from his family. Loki clearly wants to be the hero, and so many of his claims about his brother and Asgard ring perfectly true.
For the rest of Asgard, I have nothing but good things to say. The Warriors Three were all awesome, and it makes me sad they couldn't get more screen time. They shouldn't have gotten it, since the movie is about Thor of course, but that doesn't change how cool they are. Joshua Dallas especially impressed me, since he was a complete unknown who came in at the last second. He handled his limited screen time with the confidence and flair I would expect from Fandrall. Ray Stevenson has the jolly demeanor necessary for Volstagg, and I just wished they let him ham it up a bit more. Jamie Alexander works well as Sif, walking that wonderful line between being lady-like and a true warrior. And yet I'm going to give Idris Elba the most praise for his performance. Heimdall is typically a somewhat stern, slightly boring character. He's stoic, and that's a quality that isn't always translated well into comics. But Elba gave such a focused, intense performance that had such an otherworldy quality to it. Truly, this is how a God of Asgard would behave.
For the earth cast, I was pleased. Kat Dennings was hilarious, and every one of her lines was pure gold. Natalie Portman didn't have the deepest character and could have used more screen time, but she's so cute and adorable and I bought into it anyway. Stellan Skarsgard was a bit inconsistent, offering some great lines and moments while sometimes looking a bit confused as to what to do. We'll be seeing more of him in the future, but more on that later.
The Tone
One thing needs to be said: Thor is funny as shit. I don't think there was a single joke in the movie that I didn't find. The movie in many ways does take itself very seriously. The audience is going to listen to the political intrigues of Asgardian gods, and they're going to buy into it. But at the same time, it's going to have fun when it wants to. It's not afraid to just have fun and be enjoyable.
And that's something that makes me a bit sad. This movie was highly entertaining, but that's it. A whiles back, I was hoping that Thor would have the right elements to possibly earn a best picture nod, and that's just not going to happen. The movie was missing the polish, the cohesiveness and the thoroughly dramatic tone it needed to elevate itself beyond a blockbuster. In some ways, Branagh and co. actively chose not to aim for that path, and I can't decide if they made the right decision. Yes, fantasy movies like the Lord of the Rings can be dramatically successful, but maybe they figured Thor was a bit too out there to exist on that level. Or maybe they just wanted to make a fun piece of adventure.
Design
One of the movie's great strengths. I for one love the costumes and design of everything, although if you hate what you've seen already you won't change your mind seeing it on screen. Asgard wonderfully captured, with the Rainbow Bridge perfectly re imagined. The frost world of Jotunheim is cool, although they could have gone a bit wilder with it. The Frost Giants make for great enemies, and watching Thor tear into them with Mjolnir was one of the best action sequences in recent memory.
Pacing
If there is a reason why Thor is getting some bad reviews here and there, it's this. The movie is paced so damn unevenly. Thor's origin is just so complex with so many moving pieces, it never has time to breathe. With Iron Man, scenes took as long as they need to develop, and that was the film's recipe for success. Things feel a touch rushed, and jump around slightly awkwardly from Asgard to Earth. Some parts of Thor's time of Earth, such as his raid into the SHIELD headquarters, felt like they weren't fully required for the story, and yet they were. Part of the challenge was that Asgard demanded equal attention while Thor was away, effectively creating two competing stories.
Rewatchability?
Interesting topic. I will be seeing it again, that's for sure, but unlike Iron Man or the The Dark Knight I don't feel and overwhelming need to go back in the theater or else I'll explode. This was an adventure, a thrill ride. I want to see more of Thor and Loki, but I want to see a sequel or the Avengers more than this movie again.
The Post Credits Scene
Talk about dropping a bomb on the audience. This is obviously the biggest spoiler, so take one last chance to go away.
All set? Good. Cosmic Cube.
Loki has control of Stellan Skarsgard's character, who is now brought in by SHIELD to unlock the mysteries of the artifact. So Loki effectively has the cube. And you wondered what the Avengers would have to fight. I still maintain that Loki won't be "the" villain, but now we know how he starts such chaos.
My only question is this: how will Thor be joining his earthbound comrades? After destroying the bifrost bridge, he's stuck home in Asgard. Does Loki bring him in, using this as an opportunity to destroy his brother? Natalie Portman won't be in the movie, so she can't locate him. Thor can't just come in at the end, and it would have made for much easier set up if Thor had stayed on Earth to protect it. But I'm more than certain Marvel has a plan, and that this was all set up for a reason. I just want to know what it is!
To wrap things up, Thor was a blast. I wish I could say it was more, but I can't. It brings us to new worlds and introduces some extraordinary character, but you're not going to walk away from it blown away like you might have in Iron Man or the Dark Knight.
Thursday, May 5, 2011
Thor Quick Take
That. Was. Awesome.
The full analysis will be up soon, but that was one fun movie and a great midnight showing. I don't know where to start. It has to be with the perfect cast. Chris Hemsworth is nothing short of brilliant as Thor, bringing infectious levels of charisma and charm to the part. And, dear god, he's built like a truck. I think it's impossible to say anything bad about his performance. And it wasn't all gusto, there was some really well done subtleties and looks that made the character come alive. Tom Hiddleston as Loki was everything I hoped he would be, and Anthony Hopkins was an amazing Odin. The Warriors Three, Heimdall being a beast, and even the human characters we all perfectly cast.
The action and special effects were wonderful. Thor's rampage on Jotunheim was incredible, and watching Thor and Loki battle it out was completely believable. And it was all bound together by a masterful sense of humor. I laughed throughout the whole thing, and I think I must have said "Oh my god, Thor is such a dick" every five minutes.
The film was not without it's flaws. Thor's time on Earth is a bit choppy, and isn't and feels a bit mashed up. One of the flaws of an origin story is that you have to introduce the character, set up the conflict, and then finally bring the action. I think if the sequel could bring a more unified script, it could be something bigger entirely. Despite the flaws, you will go to this movie and have a great time. It's just so much fun. It will leave you wanting more, which is both praise and slight criticism. But say hello to the definitive take on Thor, the most unified, cohesive view of the character yet. And I can't wait to see him next to the rest of the Avengers. I'm excited. And now I need to go pass out.
The full analysis will be up soon, but that was one fun movie and a great midnight showing. I don't know where to start. It has to be with the perfect cast. Chris Hemsworth is nothing short of brilliant as Thor, bringing infectious levels of charisma and charm to the part. And, dear god, he's built like a truck. I think it's impossible to say anything bad about his performance. And it wasn't all gusto, there was some really well done subtleties and looks that made the character come alive. Tom Hiddleston as Loki was everything I hoped he would be, and Anthony Hopkins was an amazing Odin. The Warriors Three, Heimdall being a beast, and even the human characters we all perfectly cast.
The action and special effects were wonderful. Thor's rampage on Jotunheim was incredible, and watching Thor and Loki battle it out was completely believable. And it was all bound together by a masterful sense of humor. I laughed throughout the whole thing, and I think I must have said "Oh my god, Thor is such a dick" every five minutes.
The film was not without it's flaws. Thor's time on Earth is a bit choppy, and isn't and feels a bit mashed up. One of the flaws of an origin story is that you have to introduce the character, set up the conflict, and then finally bring the action. I think if the sequel could bring a more unified script, it could be something bigger entirely. Despite the flaws, you will go to this movie and have a great time. It's just so much fun. It will leave you wanting more, which is both praise and slight criticism. But say hello to the definitive take on Thor, the most unified, cohesive view of the character yet. And I can't wait to see him next to the rest of the Avengers. I'm excited. And now I need to go pass out.
Thor Countdown
The wait is almost over. Three years ago, it was announced that Thor would be hitting the big screen. And now? Less than two hours.
And it's not just Thor. Yes, I am highly looking forward to seeing the Thunder God wreak havoc across the world the Frost Giants and seeing Loki stage wild, brilliant plans. Thor does need to stand on his own as a force to be reckoned with. But this is the next step. Thor was the X-factor in the Avengers project, the one that was so easy to get wrong. Or that's what critics said. For us comic fans, we know how Thor can fit into the Marvel Universe because we see it happen every month in the comics. Thor ushers in the cosmic, truly extraordinary elements of this universe. Thor is the key that opens everything up. It's the first chapter of a new saga, and the next stage in something bigger. And it should make for one hell of a ride.
And it's not just Thor. Yes, I am highly looking forward to seeing the Thunder God wreak havoc across the world the Frost Giants and seeing Loki stage wild, brilliant plans. Thor does need to stand on his own as a force to be reckoned with. But this is the next step. Thor was the X-factor in the Avengers project, the one that was so easy to get wrong. Or that's what critics said. For us comic fans, we know how Thor can fit into the Marvel Universe because we see it happen every month in the comics. Thor ushers in the cosmic, truly extraordinary elements of this universe. Thor is the key that opens everything up. It's the first chapter of a new saga, and the next stage in something bigger. And it should make for one hell of a ride.
Wednesday, May 4, 2011
Latest Green Lantern Trailer Released!
We take a quick break for our Thor rantings to look at the newest Green Lantern trailer! With only weeks to go before it's release, WB has kicked their advertising into overdrive. Check it out.
I'm really torn over this movie. One on hand, this movie fill fulfill the space opera void in my life that never gets filled outside of video games. I'm really dying to see the heavy sci-fi elements of the movie, and it feels like ... And then every time Ryan Reynolds opens his mouth, I die a little inside. All the funny jokes that prove how charismatic.. Reynolds excels at the more self deprecating, sarcastic style that doesn't work when the character is trying to be a classic hero. When he tries to be serious, it feels so forced and awkward. Just the way he carries himself is more of loose and jokestery than firm and confident. He just doesn't project enough force as a superhero, which is necessary for an action piece.
We do see more detail on the nature of Parallax, including a look at the symbol of the Sinestro Corps., surely a sign of good things to come. Parallax looks to be kinda interesting as a villain, although I think he's too physically large to provide an interesting fight. When a monster gets big to a certain point, it's more like watching someone fight terrain than an enemy. Michael Clark Duncan is decent as Kilowog. I prefer a more grizzled, rough voice on the Lantern, but this different interpretation could work well. Blake Lively is continuously put in the trailer as little as humanly possible, which I'm assuming is a wise decision. Green Lantern is doing alot of things right and this footage has more than a few cool visuals, but will need to bring alot of heart to the final product if it wants to win audiences over.
I'm really torn over this movie. One on hand, this movie fill fulfill the space opera void in my life that never gets filled outside of video games. I'm really dying to see the heavy sci-fi elements of the movie, and it feels like ... And then every time Ryan Reynolds opens his mouth, I die a little inside. All the funny jokes that prove how charismatic.. Reynolds excels at the more self deprecating, sarcastic style that doesn't work when the character is trying to be a classic hero. When he tries to be serious, it feels so forced and awkward. Just the way he carries himself is more of loose and jokestery than firm and confident. He just doesn't project enough force as a superhero, which is necessary for an action piece.
We do see more detail on the nature of Parallax, including a look at the symbol of the Sinestro Corps., surely a sign of good things to come. Parallax looks to be kinda interesting as a villain, although I think he's too physically large to provide an interesting fight. When a monster gets big to a certain point, it's more like watching someone fight terrain than an enemy. Michael Clark Duncan is decent as Kilowog. I prefer a more grizzled, rough voice on the Lantern, but this different interpretation could work well. Blake Lively is continuously put in the trailer as little as humanly possible, which I'm assuming is a wise decision. Green Lantern is doing alot of things right and this footage has more than a few cool visuals, but will need to bring alot of heart to the final product if it wants to win audiences over.
The Asgardians Left Behind
Odin, Loki, the Warriors Three, Sif, Heimdall, Frigga. That's a pretty impressive group of gods populated Asgard, and those are only the ones in the movie. The comics has an even wider supporting cast, and now we're going to look at the other Gods who didn't make the cut, and how likely it is to see them in a sequel.
Balder
Thor's other brother. The one who isn't a murderous, duplicitous bastard. Balder the Brave is one of Thor's most stalwart allies, eternally loyal to his kingdom and the path of good.
Chances We'll See Him: Moderate to Low. Thor already has a healthy stable of BFFs in Asgard, and I think it would be wiser to develop them first before expanding the number of characters. That being said, if Marvel wants to use Ragnarok as a potential story, it would be smart to introduce Balder. His death foretells the beginning of the Norse end times, and that's certainly a story worth telling.
Tyr
The God Of War, Tyr has usually stood alongside his fellow gods against the enemies of Asgard. Although a relatively minor character, Tyr has been tricked into joining of of Loki's plots now and then.
Chances We'll See Him: Very Low. Unless he gets an overhaul as a villain, don't expect him to show up on screen. Balder is a much more likely addition, and sadly Tyr adds little that the rest of Thor's cast doesn't already bring.
The Enchantress and the Executioner
9 out of 10 times when something bad happens in Asgard, you can blame Loki. The other 1 out of 10, blame the Enchantress. Frequently a love interest of Thor, she also has a nasty habit of trying to murder him. It's true love. She brings along Skurge the Executioner, her loyal protector and complete badass. Together, the two can challenge Thor and pack a damn unstoppable one-two punch.
Chances We'll See Them: Moderate. The pair could be a great foe for Thor, but they sometimes struggle to produce the grand, epic threats that Loki does. And we certainly don't need the Enchantress as a love interest. One of the more likely routes for a sequel, but far from definite.
The Valkyrie
I love comics. In a world of crazy space viking gods, Marvel decided to base their Valkyrie almost directly off of the Richard Wagner opera. Brunnhilde, like most gods in Asgard, just loves war. It's totally her thing. This will sometimes make her into somewhat of a bother, but she's also on of Odin's greatest warriors. And she's currently working for Captain America in the comics on his covert Secret Avengers team, so she has that going for her too.
Chances We'll See Her: Very Low. Much like Tyr,the Valkyrie is very cool but adds little else story wise. I don't see a Valkyrie centric story line that offers Thor any good character development, and with Sif owning the the "badass warrior goddess" role, Brunnhilde will just have to settle for the comics.
Hela
Goddess of Death, and one of the most powerful Gods in the Marvel Universe. Although technically not an Asgardian, she's still a god, so close enough. She commands the legions of the dead, and has tried to destroy Asgard on more than one occasion.
Chances We'll See Her: Pretty High. Hela is one of Thor's greatest enemies, and one that can provide a plausible threat to the God of Thunder and all of Asgard. With the legions of the underworld at her command, Thor will need every ounce of godly blood in his veins to stop her. Seeing Thor journey into Hel would make for an incredible follow up adventure, and something Marvel should seriously consider.
Balder
Thor's other brother. The one who isn't a murderous, duplicitous bastard. Balder the Brave is one of Thor's most stalwart allies, eternally loyal to his kingdom and the path of good.
Chances We'll See Him: Moderate to Low. Thor already has a healthy stable of BFFs in Asgard, and I think it would be wiser to develop them first before expanding the number of characters. That being said, if Marvel wants to use Ragnarok as a potential story, it would be smart to introduce Balder. His death foretells the beginning of the Norse end times, and that's certainly a story worth telling.
Tyr
The God Of War, Tyr has usually stood alongside his fellow gods against the enemies of Asgard. Although a relatively minor character, Tyr has been tricked into joining of of Loki's plots now and then.
Chances We'll See Him: Very Low. Unless he gets an overhaul as a villain, don't expect him to show up on screen. Balder is a much more likely addition, and sadly Tyr adds little that the rest of Thor's cast doesn't already bring.
The Enchantress and the Executioner
9 out of 10 times when something bad happens in Asgard, you can blame Loki. The other 1 out of 10, blame the Enchantress. Frequently a love interest of Thor, she also has a nasty habit of trying to murder him. It's true love. She brings along Skurge the Executioner, her loyal protector and complete badass. Together, the two can challenge Thor and pack a damn unstoppable one-two punch.
Chances We'll See Them: Moderate. The pair could be a great foe for Thor, but they sometimes struggle to produce the grand, epic threats that Loki does. And we certainly don't need the Enchantress as a love interest. One of the more likely routes for a sequel, but far from definite.
The Valkyrie
I love comics. In a world of crazy space viking gods, Marvel decided to base their Valkyrie almost directly off of the Richard Wagner opera. Brunnhilde, like most gods in Asgard, just loves war. It's totally her thing. This will sometimes make her into somewhat of a bother, but she's also on of Odin's greatest warriors. And she's currently working for Captain America in the comics on his covert Secret Avengers team, so she has that going for her too.
Chances We'll See Her: Very Low. Much like Tyr,the Valkyrie is very cool but adds little else story wise. I don't see a Valkyrie centric story line that offers Thor any good character development, and with Sif owning the the "badass warrior goddess" role, Brunnhilde will just have to settle for the comics.
Hela
Goddess of Death, and one of the most powerful Gods in the Marvel Universe. Although technically not an Asgardian, she's still a god, so close enough. She commands the legions of the dead, and has tried to destroy Asgard on more than one occasion.
Chances We'll See Her: Pretty High. Hela is one of Thor's greatest enemies, and one that can provide a plausible threat to the God of Thunder and all of Asgard. With the legions of the underworld at her command, Thor will need every ounce of godly blood in his veins to stop her. Seeing Thor journey into Hel would make for an incredible follow up adventure, and something Marvel should seriously consider.
Monday, May 2, 2011
Top Five Things To Look Forward To In Thor
Thor is almost here. I've waited three years for this, and now I have to wait three days. Now, some of you living outside of America might have already seen this movie. And I would like you to know that I hate you, with every fiber of my being I hate you. Petty, childish jealousy aside, I think we need to count down the five things to look forward to the most in Thor. Anything to make these last nights go faster.
5. Asgard's Supporting Cast
Although he's not the first superhero you think of when it comes to supporting casts, Thor has one of the best in comics. Odin? The Warriors Three? Sif? Heimdall? Volstagg!? Volstagg the Mighty!? Volstagg the Voluminous!?! So many Shakespearean tropes are thrown into Norse mythology with wonderful results. A collection of awesome actors thrown into larger than life roles should be something special, and watching Anthony Hopkins as Odin scares the living hell out of me.
4. The Nine Realms
I usually don't rave over set design, but the work on Thor looks absolutely stellar. Whether it's the gleaming palace of Asgard or the frost world of Jotunheim, expect out of this world environments. Everything we've seen so far has been directly inspired by the Stan Lee/Jack Kirby days, where heavy handed sci-fi and ham fisted fantasy walked hand in hand like
3. Universe Building
This is Marvel's first attempt at doing something completely out of this world. The original Iron Man was still grounded in reality (movie science!), and at least for the Hulk there was kinda science-y. But Asgard? A kingdom floating on a cloud with a rainbow bridge? Gods who are really aliens? Who speak in Olde English? If you can get the audience to accept that, you can get them to accept literally any other crap you throw at them. If audiences buy into Thor, all of the sudden those fantastical characters out in the Marvel Universe feel a bit more possible. Dr. Strange? Let's go for it. Thanos? We just saw the Infinity Gauntlet in Odin's throne room! Marvel has some far out stories, and Thor might just be the start of it all.
2. Chris Hemsworth As Thor
You'd expect this to be a given, but in a cast as stacked as this one it's hard to stand out. But Hemsworth looks like such a perfect fit for the part, I think he'll own the show. This guy just is Thor, and I think this whole movie will provide the definitive take on the character, and that includes the comics. Iron Man worked so well because it had such an engaging character at it's core, one that you honestly cared about. I'm hoping for lightening to strike twice for the Avengers and if anyone can bring it, the God Thunder would be him.
And seriously people, the man freaking looks like a god!
1. Tom Hiddleston as Loki
Loki is my favorite villain, plain and simple. You have to admire the villain who chooses to make his plans so impossibly convoluted no one would expect them because they're just that ludicrous. The kind of villain who begs to deliver a soliloquy or monologue every single page. Fiercely intelligent, he's capably of the most rational and orderly plans, yet is ruled by his emotions. A character full of contradictions, plagued by jealousy, and yet somehow not fully redeemable. And while Loki could exist as a villain on his own, his rivalry with Thor takes the character to epic heights. It's arguably impossible to tell a good Thor story without including his treacherous brother, and the trickster could be destined to fight his brother forever. And then again, somewhere deep down, the two brothers might just truly love one another. Yup, that's pretty much exactly how brothers work.
Based on every interview I've seen, Tom Hiddleston just gets the character. He understands the mythos, and seems genuinely thrilled to be a part of it. Alternatively, he hates the fandom and is just doing a brilliant job of hiding it. Considering he's playing the Lord of Deception, it's a win-win situation.
So there you have it. Great set designs, every character being perfectly cast, and an epic story. You better be at that midnight showing.
5. Asgard's Supporting Cast
Although he's not the first superhero you think of when it comes to supporting casts, Thor has one of the best in comics. Odin? The Warriors Three? Sif? Heimdall? Volstagg!? Volstagg the Mighty!? Volstagg the Voluminous!?! So many Shakespearean tropes are thrown into Norse mythology with wonderful results. A collection of awesome actors thrown into larger than life roles should be something special, and watching Anthony Hopkins as Odin scares the living hell out of me.
 |
| Oh god, Odin is smiling. Something terrible is about to happen. |
4. The Nine Realms
I usually don't rave over set design, but the work on Thor looks absolutely stellar. Whether it's the gleaming palace of Asgard or the frost world of Jotunheim, expect out of this world environments. Everything we've seen so far has been directly inspired by the Stan Lee/Jack Kirby days, where heavy handed sci-fi and ham fisted fantasy walked hand in hand like
3. Universe Building
This is Marvel's first attempt at doing something completely out of this world. The original Iron Man was still grounded in reality (movie science!), and at least for the Hulk there was kinda science-y. But Asgard? A kingdom floating on a cloud with a rainbow bridge? Gods who are really aliens? Who speak in Olde English? If you can get the audience to accept that, you can get them to accept literally any other crap you throw at them. If audiences buy into Thor, all of the sudden those fantastical characters out in the Marvel Universe feel a bit more possible. Dr. Strange? Let's go for it. Thanos? We just saw the Infinity Gauntlet in Odin's throne room! Marvel has some far out stories, and Thor might just be the start of it all.
2. Chris Hemsworth As Thor
You'd expect this to be a given, but in a cast as stacked as this one it's hard to stand out. But Hemsworth looks like such a perfect fit for the part, I think he'll own the show. This guy just is Thor, and I think this whole movie will provide the definitive take on the character, and that includes the comics. Iron Man worked so well because it had such an engaging character at it's core, one that you honestly cared about. I'm hoping for lightening to strike twice for the Avengers and if anyone can bring it, the God Thunder would be him.
 |
| For a God of Thunder of epic levels of violence, he spends alot of time on his hair. |
And seriously people, the man freaking looks like a god!
1. Tom Hiddleston as Loki
Loki is my favorite villain, plain and simple. You have to admire the villain who chooses to make his plans so impossibly convoluted no one would expect them because they're just that ludicrous. The kind of villain who begs to deliver a soliloquy or monologue every single page. Fiercely intelligent, he's capably of the most rational and orderly plans, yet is ruled by his emotions. A character full of contradictions, plagued by jealousy, and yet somehow not fully redeemable. And while Loki could exist as a villain on his own, his rivalry with Thor takes the character to epic heights. It's arguably impossible to tell a good Thor story without including his treacherous brother, and the trickster could be destined to fight his brother forever. And then again, somewhere deep down, the two brothers might just truly love one another. Yup, that's pretty much exactly how brothers work.
 |
| He is planning the shit out of something right now. |
Based on every interview I've seen, Tom Hiddleston just gets the character. He understands the mythos, and seems genuinely thrilled to be a part of it. Alternatively, he hates the fandom and is just doing a brilliant job of hiding it. Considering he's playing the Lord of Deception, it's a win-win situation.
So there you have it. Great set designs, every character being perfectly cast, and an epic story. You better be at that midnight showing.
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