Archive for May, 2012

Men In Black 3 Movie Review

Posted: May 31, 2012 in Men in Black
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Release Date: May 25, 2012 (3D/2D theaters and IMAX 3D) 
Studio: Columbia Pictures (Sony) 
Director: Barry Sonnenfeld 
Screenwriter: Etan Cohen 
Starring: Will Smith, Tommy Lee Jones, Josh Brolin, Jemaine Clement, Emma Thompson, Nicole Scherzinger, Alice Eve, Michael Stuhlbarg 
Genre: Action, Comedy, Sci-Fi 
MPAA Rating: PG-13 (for sci-fi action violence, and brief suggestive content) 
Official Website: MeninBlack.com

Has it seriously been 15 years since the original Sci-Fi comedy hit the big screen?  I was there and saw it five times in the theater.  I recall “forgetting” when to tell my sister to cover her eyes during the scary or gross parts.  As much as an impact that the first film made on audiences everywhere, most of us have tried to forget that the 2002 sequel ever existed.  Ten years later, we’re given a third MIB installment that is much more than a sad attempt of saving a tired franchise.

In true Men in Black form, Agent J (Smith) takes it upon himself to preach emotional forthcomingness to Agent K (Jones).  The film’s opening sequence shows the two at a much higher stress level, which they take out on each other in their own way.  Meanwhile, an intergalactic terrorist named Boris “the Animal” is making a break for it from a moon based jail - K arrested Boris and crippled him back in his prime of 1969.  Having escaped, Boris not only vows revenge on K, but intends to rewrite history by going back to 1969 where his race was exterminated before they could go through with their massive attack on Earth.

What does J have to do?  You guessed it, go back in time as well to make sure things happen as they’re supposed too.  But Jay may discover something that will change his viewpoint of K forever.

Both the 2002 sequel and this third installment feel like two 2 hour long episodes of what could have been part of a Men in Black TV show. (How long do you think that show would last?)  However, movie number 3 provides a much more substantial plot with well planed out comedic gimmicks, character developing moments, nostalgic sentimentalities of a movie many of us grew up loving, and a villain that doesn’t annoy the Hell out of us!

In a cinematic undertone that whispers an apology for the last film, Sonnenfeld delivers a time travel story all about restoring the past and making things right again.  But even with this trip to 1969, we, as an audience, are exposed to very unfamiliar territory – hefty oversize jetpacks, motorcycles that seemed to have come out of Star Wars Episode 3, Neuralyzers that use a dial up connection, and many other bits of intergalactic technology that look familiar but foreign at the same time.

However, the time jump to my parents childhood bares very little resemblance from what my mom and dad and history class taught me.  Ok, sure, there’s one instance where a group of hippies stroll by without a care in the world, with a few shots of mid 60′s automobiles, to let us know what time period we’re in.  But 5 minutes later we’re back to that pure, white, and utterly clean science fiction look that has become the MIB trademark.  Even J’s run-in with the bigoted police, while hilarious, presents a lacking perspective on a troubling time where race relations have been considered a moot point.  This is odd since, right before J leaves, he’s warned that 1969 “wasn’t the best time” for his people.  A race reference is prefaced in the beginning, but dismissed just as quickly…come one, give me more than that Sonnenfeld!

This significant flaw doesn’t detract from the overall enjoyment, but for those of us looking for a clear historical setting, it’s hard to swallow.  But with every flaw, a bright light is provided in the form of a pleasantly annoying paranoid precog hypochondriac who finds his gift of foretelling the outcome of every possible butterfly effect situation a “pain in the ass.” This provides some of the more humorous and wonderfully hopeful moments in the entire film.

Will Smith is as awesome as ever with his hilarious facial contortions and constant bickering with everyone he deems an idiot, and makes for a perfect match up with MIB new comer, Josh Brolin.  By the way, if I had never known of Brolin prior to this film’s release, I would have sworn they took Tommy Lee Jones and used some form digitalized facial grafting to make him look 30 years younger.  I love Jones, but if some type of MIB reboot were to ever be in the making, Brolin should be at the top of the “Agent J” casting call.

For me, like many others around my age, Men in Black is most prominently a nostalgic trip down memory lane.  I was just finishing middle school and MIB part 1 was my number one VHS to watch after my Saturday morning cartoons were done.  Now, 15 years later I still love the franchise that told tales of anonymous intergalactic police officers that were constantly watching out for us.  The film may be pointless, more focused on the humor, random one liners and cliche acts of heroism, but it still sends out a tiny message of hope that someone, somewhere, is watching out for us…and that’s a pleasant thought.

Dark Shadows Movie Review

Posted: May 28, 2012 in Chloe Grace Moretz, Dark Shadows, Eva Green, Helena Bonham Carter, Jackie Earle Haley, Johnny Depp, Tim Burton, Warner Brothers
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Release Date: May 11, 2012 (2D theaters and IMAX) 
Studio: Warner Bros. Pictures 
Director: Tim Burton 
Screenwriter: Seth Grahame-Smith 
Starring: Johnny Depp, Michelle Pfeiffer, Helena Bonham Carter, Jackie Earle Haley, Jonny Lee Miller, Eva Green, Chloë Grace Moretz, Bella Heathcote, Gully McGrath 
Genre: Gothic Comedy 
MPAA Rating: PG-13 (for comic horror violence, sexual content, some drug use, language and smoking) 
Official Website: DarkShadowsthemovie.com

Johnny Depp, Helena Bonham Carter, and Danny Elfman seem to be the main ingredients for Burton’s kooky cinematic cauldrons for the last few years.  In turn, we can assume that the Burtony trade marks, such as pumpkin heads, pale faces, an overabundance of gothic backdrops that seem to come straight out of a scary bedtime story, and a clever usage of color, makes us wonder if Burton’s style is too much for a modern, 2012 audience, or if he’s just what the doctor ordered.

I have a secret to tell…I’m named after a Dark Shadow’s character.  Although my mother’s love of the 1960′s TV show compelled her desire to name me Barnabus, it didn’t go over well with my father, (I guess he’d be afraid I’d be nicknamed “Barney” or “Barn”) and he very quickly shut that idea down. However my middle name, Quentin, (named after the werewolf from the show) stuck and has become a defining feature of my personality – something I take great pride in.

Needless to say, I was VERY excited when I heard in early 2011 that Burton was putting together a Dark Shadows film starring Cap’n Sparrow himself!  My expectations were high, hopeful for a film that would produced the gothic angst, drama, cheese, and suspense the Soap Opera was known for.  The only legitimate poor choice Burton has ever made was in choosing Michael Keaton to play Batman, so I didn’t have many reservations or fears about how the film would turn out…that is until I finally saw the trailer…

As the trailer hit the viral airwaves, skepticism and fan-boy pissiness ran rampant.  Dark Shadows, not being very well known in the 60′s and 70′s, has grown to be a cult classic and gained its popularity after the show was cancelled.  Would I be lying if I said I wasn’t included in this worried/hate filled group after seeing the trailer?  Indeed I would.  However, there was still enough intrigue left in in me to see the film, the number one reason being the Burton acting duo of Depp and Bonham Carter.

The two carry the film quite well despite Carter’s lack of screen time – her role as the twisted Dr. Hoffman is as perverse and dark as any character she’s played in the past, with exception to the Oscar Award winning film, the King’s Speech.  And Depp performs to his usual high standards, giving us a Barnabas Collins that is worthy of his name’s sake.

Likewise, the rest of the supporting cast, like Chloë Grace Moretz, Jackie Earle Haley, and Michelle Pfeiffer, all of which are very familiar to to cinematic world of sci-fi/horror/comic book genres, bring life to the screen just as well as their protagonist counterparts.  The big surprise for me, however, was Eva Green playing the role of the evil Angelique Bouchard.  Images of the old TV show ran through my head as the film rolled on, and I can’t remember Laura Parker (the Angelique of the 1960′s show) being creepier than Ms. Green’s rendition of the witch.

Enough about the actors and actresses however, we already know of Burton’s excellent cast selecting abilities, let’s dive into the meat of the film.  It’s a classic tale of time traveling…minus the Tardis.  Barnabas Collins is locked away by Angelique in a jealous rage, pitting the town against him, in a coffin deep beneath surface. It isn’t until years later when TV and pop music have become the modern form of entertainment, that a construction crew accidentally opens the coffin…and dies shortly there after.  Barnabas finds himself in a world of unfamiliarity, and his family’s name tainted by the unrelenting Angelique whose witchcraft has allowed her to live for so long. Barnabas is now compelled to protect his descendants and rejuvenate the name of Collins in a more positive light amongst the towns folk.

As stated above, the trailer had my fears at an all time high, causing me to wonder if the old Soap Opera would be given a film worthy of its gothic tastes and design.  Without given too much away, the trailer presents a tale that is exactly like the film – its gothic prelude helps the film to start off well, peaking early and wonderfully, then falling into a pit of comedic relief and random one liners that are so cheesy and out of place, they’re funny.  Grahame-Smith (Pride and Prejudice and Zombies) has a blast in channeling his experience with classic literature, weaving it into the eloquently high diction script for Johnny Depp in awkwardly humorous moments of discovering hipsters, TV, automobiles, technology, and tiny songstresses.

The movie does go a bit overboard with the number of climactic scenes that seem out of place, only being there for the sake of shock and alarm.  I won’t give anything away, but if you were wondering why Carolyn was such a defiant and awkward teenager, the result will bewilder you.  And the off-the-wall sex scene (literally) will make you dip down into your seat in embarrassment and humility…unless you’re like me, you’ll laugh until your sides hurt.  But the ending is where the film’s biggest flaws lay, as many of the questions and mysteries were revealed but left me wondering if I missed something or not.  But, of course, Burton has set up for a sequel, so who knows what answers and explanations could be revealed in the future.

Dark Shadows, however, is a great representation of what film can, and should be – an extension of one person’s imagination.  No doubt, Tim Burton’s style is an acquired taste, but he is also one of the more unique film directors in history.  Having grown up watching the Soap, and with his experience in creating wonderfully gothic tales, he was the perfect man to bring Dark Shadows to the big screen, reminding us that one generations interpretation of a story isn’t the universal end-all, but rather an interpretation of something that is ever changing and amalgamated…depending on whose imagination takes hold of it.

Dark Shadows will upset fans, but will also make them laugh in the process.  As it turns out, high expectations CAN ruin a film for so many people.  It’s a joy to watch despite its confusing plot devices and awkward character developing techniques.  This wont go down in history as a great representation of what the Dark Shadows Soap was like, nor will it be a film people remember years down the road, but it is written well and entertaining none-the-less.  My recommendation?  Go into this movie with your pre-conceived notions and ideas left back at home and enjoy Dark Shadows for what it is, and nothing more.

Jonathan Frid as Barnabas Collins from the original Dark Shadows soap opera.

Ave Maria, Sung By Me…

Posted: May 23, 2012 in Ave Maria
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Hey guys, I thought I would take a break from my regularly scheduled nerdiness to introduce all of you to MORE of my geeky lifestyle.  I’m certain you’ve all seen the hit TV show, The Office, and can recall the episodes where Andy Bernard uses the very unique attempt at making friends by way of recording songs where he sings all four parts…I do the exact same thing! (With exception of doing it SPECIFICALLY to make friends.)

Above, you’ll find my most recent multi-track song, Ave Maria, by Franz Biebel.  Ever since 2002 I’ve had this part time job as a part predominant learning track recorder, recording learning CD’s for chorus all over.  This latest project has now been created thanks to my sister-in-law getting married and wanting a sacred song to fill the halls of the chapel.  She asked me, and I obliged.

And in case you’re all wondering, (which I KNOW you are) I also sing in an internationally ranked Barbershop Chorus called the Sound of the Rockies.  I drive an hour and 45 minutes every Thursday to rehearse with the 150 man chorus.  I’m also privileged to have sung with the 2010 International Youth Barbershop Chorus Champions, 52Eighty, back when I just barely qualified as a “youth,” coming off that international stage as a 28 year old international chorus champion.

Oh, and if you’re Catholic, sorry for the slight lyric change.  Lutherans have difficulty with the whole “worshiping Marry” thing.  Let it be known right here…Catholics DON’T WORSHIP MARRY!!!

Ok, tomorrow we’ll be back to comic book nerdity!  Thanks for indulging  me!

The Dark Knight Rises Poster

Posted: May 23, 2012 in Batman, Dark Knight Rises, DC Comics, Movie News
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Yes, this is going to be epic!!!  Please, could someone hand me a tool, I’m drooling all over the floor.  But the question still remains, will Dark Knight Rises Beat out Avengers?  (Fingers crossed that it does.)

Gay Metropolis…

Posted: May 21, 2012 in DC Comics, Gay Superheroes
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According to MSN.com, one of the more popular and prominent DC Superheroes will come out of the closet in an upcoming issue…proving once again that homosexuality is still being used a a marketing tool and selling point within the media.  Article below…

Your favorite DC Comics character might be gay. In an interview at the Kapow Comics Convention, DC Comics Co-Publisher Dan DiDio said that a “prominent” DC Comics character will soon come out of the closet, reversing an earlier statement where he had said DC was more likely to insert a new LGBT character than “out” an existing one. Twitter users have cited Aquaman and Wonder Woman as the most likely candidates. They won’t be the first gay characters in comics, though. “It’s sad when DC is playing catch-up to Archie. And the entire comics industries of Japan and Europe,” tweeted @Joe_Hunter. Once they start catching up, though, it could happen in a Flash.

To be honest, I could care less about ANY of my favorite superhero’s sexual preference.  Being gay won’t make them any different to me despite the fact that a lot of people may have a hang up about it, in both positive and negatives ways.

The “coming out” issue will most likely spawn facebook posts and statuses from fellow comic book nerds that will read something like, “Dude, I love the fact that (anonymous superhero name here) is gay!” or “I have so much more respect for DC Comics now!” or “I hate that (anonymous superhero name here) is gay, it ruins the character for me.” or “Whelp, my childhood is ruined now!”

This could very well be a good thing or a bad thing…but does it really matter?  I believe every company SHOULD support homosexuality as a civil right.  (Hopefully the future will qualify everyone as human beings and not label them with “sexual preference” stickers on their foreheads.)   However, I suspect more of an unneeded and over hyped reaction will come from fans and non fans alike, especially if it turns out the “prominent” superhero coming out is a man!

If Wonder Woman or Power Girl turns out to be gay, the guys will love it, with the girls following close by while rolling their eyes, as if to say “typical.”  If it turns out to be a man, however, the stories surrounding that character, at least for the first few issues, will be filled with controversy and angst – stories involving men being gay seem to spurn more hot button topics rather than with women.

But, of course, by posting about this I’m only hyping the news up even more.  But what do you guys think?  Does it matter to you if one of your favorite superheroes turned out to be gay?  Comments and disagreements welcome…

Wonder Woman #9 Review

Posted: May 18, 2012 in Brian Azzarello, Cliff Chiang, Comic Book Review, DC Comics, Wonder Woman
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Written by: Brian Azzarello
Pencilled by: Cliff Chiang
Inked by: Dan Green
Cover Color by: Cliff Chiang
Lettered by: Jared K Fletcher

“Pull out the stopper! Let’s have a whopper! But get me to the church on time! “ Wonder Woman struts her stuff in a lovely blood red dress, looking her best for the king of death.  But as any good story should do, a monkey wrench wriggles its way into the works, and Hades asks Diana to prove her love to him.  No noose is good noose I’m afraid!

The only sad part about this book is the very little page time Wondy has – only seven pages!  The other side of the story is good though; Hades has invited as many “friends” as he can, but the invitees either don’t want to attend, or can’t.  War is propositioned by Strife to attend as her date, but he cares very little for these “meaningless” nuptials, and Aphrodite couldn’t go even if she wanted to…apparently Hell has no room for love in it.   Which is proven by Hades’ proclamation of his inability to love anyone or anything.  Meanwhile, the Wonder Woman rescue squad, led by Hephaestus, (who’s married to Aphrodite?  Lucky oger!) finds their way to the halls of love, constructed out of the souls of the damned.

And I’m pooped!

This issue is weighty with very little opportunity to rest; a plethora of demons and monsters, along with the conglomeration of demi-gods and regular gods, clutter this book up excellently.  This is a mythological tale at it’s best!  Mosters going at it with a false/misguided sense of religious devotion to a loveless being, and mortals trying to slay the beast!  All the while the story’s protagonist attempts at subtly appealing to the villains human side.  It seems ludicrous that Wonder Woman would think she could appeal to a creature without a heart, but then again, it’s equally as ludicrous for Hades to even consider the fact that Wonder Woman could indeed TRULY love him.  But I guess that’s where the story’s core lies and what will hopefully be revealed by next issue.  In other words….is Wonder Woman good at faking it enough to fool even her OWN lasso of truth?

Azzarello continues to remind me why he’s one of my favorites comic book writers.  There’s so much meat to his stories that keeps you locked in and unable to walk away.  I did feel, however, that, at least twice, the book was trying too hard to get to a punch line rather than continuing to keep the story flowing smoothly.  However these are minor set backs that don’t take away from the bigger picture.

This is, no doubt, not your grandparent’s Wonder Woman.  While she still remains as honorable and classy as Wonder Woman should be, Azzarello has created a rebooted Amazonian princess that defies all boundaries and dares to be innovative and different.  Granted, this was a risky move, but it’s one that’ll stand the test of time.  Unlike Thor, Azzarello integrates all of the classic Greek  characters into the DC universe without bastardizing the mythology. And in issue #9, we see just how well Wonder Woman works in stories with the Gods of old.

And how creepy is Hades with his boyish face sitting upon his father’s lap, who’s positioned and shackled down to make a throne. Chronos certainly had no idea what he was getting himself into when birthing Hades.  Much thanks goes out Tony Akins and Matt Wilson for visualizing such a beautiful display of filth and terror.  Persephone was never a character I viewed as being worn down, both mentally and physically, due to her time with hades.  However, her conversation with Wonder Woman leaves goose bumps running up and down my spine…oh those eyes, how creepy!!!

This title however, as it is currently, isn’t for everyone. Brian Azzarello has always been a writer who brings in a 50/50 percentage vote…you either like him, or you hate him.  I’ve always enjoyed his stories, and his work on Wonder Woman right now is worth it’s weight in blood!

10 out of 10 stars

Green Lantern Corps #9 Review

Posted: May 18, 2012 in Comic Book Review, DC Comics, Fernando Pasarin, Green Lantern Corps, Peter J. Tomasi
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Written by: Peter J. Tomasi
Pencilled by: Fernando Pasarin
Inked by: Scott Hanna
Cover Color by: Alex Sinclair
Lettered by: David L. Sharpe

Like I stated in my review of Justice League #9, a bullet to the chest has a bigger emotional impact than a superhero diving into the heart of an exploding planet.  Why?  Because it’s a much more relatable, and human component to a story.  Green Lantern John Stewart has killed many fellow Lanterns – not saying its his thing or whatever, but he always seems to be put in a situation where he has to kill Corps member.  Now he’s on trial, and the Alpha Lanterns seem determined to bring Stewart to “justice.”

Even before the reboot, the Corps and the Guardians never got along; the blue guys are always partaking in the questionable, and the Corps follows them blindly with only a few Lanterns (I’m sure you can guess who they are) standing up against them.  It’s a familiar tale that’s as prominent as the plethora of comic book films that have come out within the last decade.

What I’d like to know is….when will it end???  Angry Lanterns arguing with their emotionless blue mini bosses?  It’s all so familiar that one could argue that’s all this title has going for it, and there are cases where I’d have to agree.  Will the Guardians ever just go away?  Will the Lanterns ever get it through their thick skulls?

This issue, in and of itself is still fun to read regardless of its connection to a lingering plot device that’s worn out it’s welcome.  Some titles transitioned well with the reboot…but the Guardians did not.  However the trial of John Stewart and the conflict the Alpha Lantern’s stirred up will grab your attention and have you wondering of what’s to come.  Of course John Stewart will live, but certainly this trial will have a profound affect on the future.  Something’s boiling up, and I have a sneaking suspicion something is going to change for the better.  (Or maybe I want the Guardians gone so bad that I’m seeing things that just aren’t there.)

Tomasi has been doing a splendid job of keeping this title focused.  Much like with the Legion of Superheroes, Green Lantern Corps has always been muddled with so many different storylines jumping back and forth and in between each other that it became to cumbersome and weighty to follow.  Right now we’ve had the privileged of following one character’s story while not neglecting the rest of the Corps, which definitely makes my reading experience that much more pleasant.

Pasarin is growing on me.  Everything he does rings with clarity and power, along with El Taeb who makes everything pop with light and color.  I wonder if it’s ok to claim that any artist working on a Green Lantern book, whether it be the solo book, GL Corps, or any of the books featuring wielders of a Lantern ring are some of the best artists in the field.  Pasarin and El Taeb have so much going on they do perfectly that I’d say to any new artist looking to model themselves after someone would do themselves a service by analyzing the work in GL Corps.

More to come in 30…

8 out of 10 stars

Justice League #9 Review

Posted: May 17, 2012 in Comics, DC Comics, Gary Frank, Geoff Johns, Jim Lee, Justice League Of America
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Written by: Geoff Johns
Pencilled by: Gary Frank, Jim Lee
Cover Color by: Alex Sinclair
Lettered by: DC Lettering

Hold on a sec…the Weapon’s Master is back???  I guess the DC reboot hasn’t forgotten everything that made the Dan Jurgens run of the Justice League so good!  In fact, it was issue #61 of the Justice League that featured the Weapon’s Master from April of 1992 that birthed my love of comic books.

Much to my dismay however, the Weapon’s Master is neglected the spotlight and used more as a comic relief, along with Flash and Green Lantern’s bantering over who plays who in the old “good cop-bad cop” routine.  But Wonder Woman never misses a beat with her ever-so-subtle entrances to help calm the storm.

Meanwhile, Supes, Bats, and Cyborg take on a riot at Arkham Asylum, seemingly started by the notorious villain, “The Key.”  Apart from Bruce Wayne’s text to Clark Kent about his dinner plans, this a much more angst driven fight, filled with the kind of gothic sensibilities that follow Batman like a plague.

However, hovering in the shadows is the crippled author, David Graves who mysteriously disappeared and now walks with a super powered metal suit (so it would seem) attacking Colonel Steve Trevor and forcing him to reveal the secrets of the JL Satellite base.  From author to potential arch villain?  From respected JL fan to revenge driven old man?  This I gotta see!!!

There’s an interesting juxtapose coming out of #9; Graves is shown being an expert on the Justice League, having written multiple books on them and other super-powered phenomenons, and the book continually (and randomly) flashes back to each League member’s past, showing very stressful times in their lives that directly connected to their current situation as superheroes. Unlike last month’s installment, this issue is working on almost every level, providing us with some very cool story building elements.  I’m going to make the educated guess that these flashbacks are both memories which haunt the League but also have to do with the knowledge Grave’s has in which he will use against the League within an issue or two.  I wonder why Aquaman wasn’t included in the festivities though?  Hhhhmmmmm…

One of the most terrifying moments in the book is when Graves shoots his doctor.  It doesn’t matter that superheroes and villains have died of much more devastating causes due to supernatural, explosive, or cataclysmic events, the visual of a bullet to the chest and blood flowing out on the carpet seems to have a different and much more emotional impact.  Would you agree?

I love Jim Lee, but am I the only one who sees his work as…unchanging?  Comic books, especially the much more main stream ones, have gotten to a point where even their BEST artists follow a similar format when it comes to penciling. With Jim Lee, so many of the poses and stances each character has in THIS issue can be found in almost every issue Jim Lee has ever drawn.  I love his work, don’t get me wrong, but due to its unevolving nature, I find myself enjoying the artwork of Amanda Conner, Francis Manapul, and others that tend to keep their style fresh and unique.

And of course, a secondary storyline involving Billy Batson and company comes to us right after Steve Trevor ends the Justice League section of the book, being forced to do something that Wondy will, most likely, whoop his butt for!  Billy is having to endure being apart of a family he never wanted in the first place, a school that seems to be against him, and anger issues he should probably seek therapy for.  But it’s all part of the plan for the upcoming change destined for little Batson.  I’m enjoying the slow pace, I just wish it wasn’t in the Justice League book!  I appriciate not feeling compelled to buy another title, but unless there’s an eventual connection Captain Marvel will have with the League, (Possibly replacing the uninteresting Cyborg???? pleaseohpleasohpleaseohplease…) I’d really like the Cap to have his own solo book.

And there we have it, issue #9!  It’s a great read and an undeniably fantastic improvement on an already fun title.  Three more issue to go before we hit the one year mark, and things are just starting to boil!

9 out of 10 stars

Avengers Assemble!!!

Posted: May 16, 2012 in Marvel Comics, The Avengers
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The Avengers continues to be a hit at the box office, but now it’s becoming a popular fan film viral sensation, but not in the way you’d think.  Apparently the Avengers is appealing as a boy band!  I know that doesn’t make complete sense since there’s a female on the team, but let’s not get into specifics.

IGN came out with there Avengers boy band video a few days ago, but while it’s great in video quality and graphics, the lesser known, lower quality video from ScreenTeamShow is the better of the two in my opinion…

And here’s IGN’s Avenger’s music video.  Still fun, just no where NEAR as cool as the above.  Just Syain’…

Crayon Dragon – A Student Film

Posted: May 16, 2012 in Animated Movies, Crayon Dragon, Student Films
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Yeah, this is a student film that’s becoming a quick viral sensation, and rightly so!  There’s a lot of heart going into this piece, and it should bring you to tears in only a few minutes.  Enjoy…

Batman & Robin #9 Review

Posted: May 15, 2012 in Batman & Robin, Comic Book Review, DC Comics, Lee Garbett, Peter J. Tomasi
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Story by Peter J. Tomasi
Art by Lee Garbett, Andy Clarke, Ray McCarthy, & Keith Champagne
Colors by John Kalisz
Letters by Dezi Sienty
Cover by Patrick Gleason, Mick Gray, & John Kalisz

We’ve now reached the point where the boy wonder shows off just how good he is; facing off with a Talon on course to kill a General with a connection, unbeknownst to him, to the Gotham City elite of influential families.  Robin flies in, forced to trouble shoot against a seemingly invincible foe, saves the general and walks away with nothing more than a scratch.  Life is good!

The Talons are everywhere, and Robin has to be on his toes!  Fighting enemies with regenerative capabilities isn’t a walk in the park – not even a small band of military novices were able to bring down this one man!   Some might say it’s due to the fact that the battle was being led by a kid, but we all know that Damian isn’t your average, American public school educated adolescent. I’m not even sure I know what a Q-Box is!!!  If Damian survives to adulthood, he’s going to be one Hell of a crime fighting mastermind.

I had to take a step back for a moment as the General made an attempt at Hulking it up.  One moment we see a very gentle, yet assertive looking man…

ZOINKS!!!!

Then we’re shoved a big whopin’ pile of this…

HULK SMASH!!!!

The fill in artist does a fine job, and I would argue that it’s an above average style that I could get into quite easily; the dramatic moments with Robin flying out at us, the Talon in attack formation on the cover, and even the faded flash back sequence all pop out with above average artistry.  However, there’s nothing mind blowing about it – it’s simply good, no more.

The Talon himself was like a one man Indiana Jones movie – he just kept coming and coming and coming  despite all the bullets to the body and grappling hooks to the eye socket.  One slice from Robin’s sword and finally the Talon is stopped in his tracks.  It’s funny how, in just nine issues, Robin has killed two people already because he couldn’t see any other alternative.  Bruce had better watch out after this youngin’, otherwise another arch enemy could be in Bat’s future!

This was a fun issue with a lot of creepy moments, one of the better issues in this run so far.  No doubt, this a filler issue as a way to kill time before the big event starts up…but it’s a goodie!

8 out of 10 stars

Happy Mother’s Day To All The Mothers Out There – From Heretical Jargon

Posted: May 13, 2012 in Mother's Day
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What better way to celebrate Mother’s Day than by a wonderfully wholesome song about how much time and effort our moms put into raising us.  Nothing can describe our love our moms better than music.  So, without further delay…TAKE IT AWAY MR. T!!!

Batman #9 Review

Posted: May 12, 2012 in Batman, Comic Book Review
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Cover Color by: FCO Plascencia
Lettered by: Comicraft

Who knew the Batcave could host such an awesome  nocturnal brawl?

Batman is locked in the closet, with a horde of talon’s clawing at the door.  But don’t worry, Bruce Wayne’s money spared no expense in financing the super ultra crime fighting suit that’ll take many of us back a few generations.

Much to the dismay of the Talons, Batman was the last person on their minds when when breaking into Wayne Manner.  Nothing to do about it, the Talons are unfazed by this discovery and continue on mission: Kill Bruce Wayne.

Scott Snyder is having a blast with the Court of Owls, and I’m loving every minute of it.  Of course, reading every tie-in issue isn’t the neccesary evil that DC’s making it out to be.  I can understand this story just as well without reading B&R, Dark Knight, etc etc.  Snyder makes it a point to call back to everyone involved, tying everything together to make issue #9 a success.

Night of the Owls has been anticipated almost since the reboot, having been fully realized with the spectacular issue #8 from last month.  It’s an unknown history of Gotham where a predator hunts its prey and has been doing so for as long as Gotham is old.  But thanks to the saw-it-comin’ death of a character that will go nameless, (don’t worry, you’ll figure it out) Batman now finds it within himself to become the predator and tear down the Court in the same way they did to him.  The mad hunt begins!  Just when I think it can’t get any better, Snyder delivers!

I can’t complain about Greg Capullo’s pencil work.  Magic is in the air when Snyder and Capullo combine their talents, and the art makes the script even better than Snyder was hoping for.

And if you’re someone who enjoys robots, dinosaurs, and Godzilla, you’ll love how resourceful Batman is in squashing our bird-brained villains – one small step for dinos, one giant scaly pounce for dinotopia!

It’s a great story, probably the best Bats story yet!  If this arc was my jumping on point for Batman, I KNOW I’d be hooked from that point on.  Keep ‘em comin’ Snyder, looking forward to more.

DC And Their Stocked Covers…

Posted: May 10, 2012 in DC Comics, Superman
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And interesting thing occured last night that gave me the strangest sense of Déjà vu.  Maybe I’m just slow and didn’t figure this out where everyone else had. (which is quite possibly the case)  Regardless, this is still very interesting.

I was organizing my collection of Superman comics last night, trying to put all of the titles (Superman, Action, Adventures, Man of Steel, Man of Tomorrow) in sequence.  Since the arcs overlap into each title, you have to own each issue from each run in order to follow the storyline.  (Yes, that did take a long time!) But as I organized, I ran across this…

Snap shot I took from a page of Superman #658

This is a page is a snapshot I took last night.  It comes the last page from of issue #658, telling us about next month’s issue…a story about Krypto the superdog!!!  For me, this was a very, VERY strange thing.

Why is this strange you ask? Two reason.  First off, it’s because #659 not only had a completely different cover, but ALSO had a completely different story.  Take a look…

Issue #659

I guess I had completely forgotten about it as the years rolled on, no biggie!  However, here’s where the plot thickens.  I have every issue of the Superman run that started back in 1987, and rummaging through every single issue, I found the intended cover for issue #659 slapped on issue #712, which was a perplexing situation that made cock my head to the side…

Issue #712

There’s even more to the story.  The above cover and story was never solicited in issue #711.  The original solicited story and cover for this issue involved an Israeli who had super powers.  Apparently there were concerns from fans about the implications of such a story due to Islam and the issues with terrorism.

So what does DC do? They revert to a story that was originally supposed to be used back in February of 2007.  This makes me wonder how many MORE back up stories DC has in its vault in case of emergencies.

Just something interesting I wanted to share.

- Heretic

You May THINK It’s Not Your Problem…

Posted: May 8, 2012 in 90's Comic Books, Green Lantern
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The early90′s brought on a horde of advertisements promoting sex education and drug abuse education.  It may have been cheesy, but it was all well intentioned.  Free Comic Book Day reminded me of some of those ads from my childhood that, even as an eleven year old kid, thought were the coolest things ever.  Here, take a look at a few…

WARNING! You are about to be served a platter full of cheese, corn, and other hokey dialoging…

To start off, let’s just come to an agreement that Nightwing’s 90′s costume is HORRID!  Let’s also come to terms with the fact that Beastboy is kind of a jerk face kid who’s all about facing intergalactic terrors, but can’t get over his homophobia.  (I think it’s true even now!)

It’s nice to see Dick Grayson not acting the fool and providing some very thoughtful insight concerning Beastboy’s ignorance.  But, as usual, the woman knows all and puts her foot down when boys are dumb.  Way to go Donna Troy! (I’m assuming it’s Donna Troy.)

“Don’t be a stupid boy” is the moral of this PSA.  DC does a good job integrating some sympathy for Bea as she explains her experience with friends who have died from aids or are suffering from the HIV virus.

Booster and Blue Beetle are known for their crazy antics and silly banter, not too mention their clueless behavior to the feelings of others.  So it’s nice to see Booster taking something as terrifying as AIDS seriously.

Then again, Bea does leave the room with a tease, asking the two of them to know the facts and dangers of AIDS…especially for her.  (Does she want them?)

And then, the one I remember the best – Green Lantern, John Stewart fighting prejudice…does it seem a bit cliche that a black man is the one chosen to fight the biggots?

John Stewart, being the fantastic steward of goodness and justice that he is, fights the prejudice with the power of WORDS rather than by the power of his ring.  By the end of the ad, John Stewart flies off, and everyone stands together in a harmonious stance of brotherhood.  Ugh so Cheesey!  But still a good message.

But wait!  There’s more!  Take a lookie here…

Yeah, that’s right, Hal Jordan did the same exact thing in an earlier issue!  Isn’t it wonderful that DC can use two superheroes, both having different colored skin, interchangeably to promote the same message!  Gee whiz, can’t that mob ever learn their lesson?  And when will that couple learn to stay away from the haters???

Free Comic Book Day brought back a lot of cheesy memories for me, and I still have a ton of back issues to go through in order to reminisce on the days of old.

Oh, and if any of you would like to try and see if those hotlines are still active, give all three a call…you might be surprised!

1-800-342-AIDS
212-807-6655
213-922-2437

More old ads to come!….

Artist’s Corner – Ian Schofield

Posted: May 7, 2012 in Art, Artist's Corner, Ian Schofield
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As I was cruising the net to find more cool, unknown artists, I ran across Ian Schofield’s website where he posts his fantasy and comic book artwork.  I was immediately blown away by how detailed and gorgeous every piece of art on his site is!

A terrifying version of Bane! DKR on the horizon!

Apparently Ian has been painting digitally for two years…not a long time!  His website doesn’t have much and I can only imagine what he’s done that isn’t included there.  But he seems to have a love for Batman’s villains, evidence shown here.

The digital side of art has been fascinating me more and more.  I think I’ll always been a grafite pencil type of artist, but this is something I think I could really get into.  Maybe down the road sometime I can give digital painting a shot.

Look at that lighting!!

As far as I know, he doesn’t seem to be working for any comic book company, which is a shame!  his work would become an instant fan favorite!  I suspect he’d become somewhat of a “special” artist for extravagant mini series like Alex Ross or  Mauro Cascioli.  If he were to do something for DC, I wouldn’t care if the story was worthless and poorly written, just give me MORE Schofield!

If you like what you see here, well, there’s only a TAD bit more at his website.  So Ian, if you have more art that hasn’t been seen yet, shoot me an email!  I’d love to see more!

What do you fear? The freaking Scarecrow, that’s who!

The Avengers Gives Birth To More Solo Films

Posted: May 7, 2012 in Movie News, The Avengers
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Yes, that’s right folks, it seems The Avengers franchise will continue to grow beyond it’s three movie contract.  Mark Ruffalo has set himself up as the undeniable Hulkster signing on for a six movie journey as the green machine.  With two actors having already tried out the muscle bound monster, it look as if Ruffalo will be in it for the long haul.  Let’s just hope the Hulk doesn’t suffer the six actor toggle that Batman has.

Likewise, Chris Hemsworth has put his name on paper for a six movie deal as the master of lightning and thunder, two of those films being Avengers sequels, and a potential of two more solo films.  Iron Man is already going strong with it’s third film underway, but no word on anything for the Cap’n.

Even as a little kid, I was never a fan of the Avenger’s big three.  (Thor, Iron Man, Captain America) But the Incredible Hulk has always been the hero I got excited about from the Marvel Universe.  Besides the X-Men, Hulk was one of the only Marvel titles that was appealing to me; a story about a man who’s accidentally exposed to radiation which altered his genetic make up, causing him to change into a mindless beast beyond his control calls to my dark and gothic sensibilities.  I’m thrilled to see the Hulk get a serious treatment other than as a senseless promotion for the Avengers.  There’s even talk of a Hulk TV show in the works!

I can only hope for the best, and if the Avengers is any indication of what’s to come, three cheers for the efforts of Marvel!

The Avengers Movie Review

Posted: May 6, 2012 in Chris Evans, Chris Hemsworth, Jeremy Renner, Joss Whedon, Mark Ruffalo, Marvel Comics, Marvel Studios, Movie Review, Paramount Pictures, Robert Downey Jr., Samuel L. Jackson, Scarlett Johansson, Tom Hiddleston, Walt Disney Pictures
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Release Date: May 4, 2012 (3D/2D theaters and IMAX 3D) 
Studio: Walt Disney Pictures, Marvel Studios, Paramount Pictures 
Director: Joss Whedon 
Screenwriter: Joss Whedon 
Starring: Robert Downey Jr., Chris Evans, Mark Ruffalo, Chris Hemsworth, Scarlett Johansson, Jeremy Renner, Tom Hiddleston, Stellan Skarsgård, Cobie Smulders, Clark Gregg, Samuel L. Jackson 
Genre: Action, Adventure 
MPAA Rating: PG-13 (for intense sequences of sci-fi violence and action throughout, and a mild drug reference)

How do you make a superhero film work where 75% of the team have all the same powers, are very uninteresting, and ridiculously cliche?  The answer…hire Joss Wheadon to write and direct the film.  It was almost a no brainer, right?  This movie needed someone who was an expert in writing really great weird shit!

Avengers was potentially the “end all” for the comic book/superhero film genre – there’ve been SO many since X-Men came out in 2000, and the question swarming around virally, as of late, has been if the Superhero movie has warn out its welcome.  One thing I KNEW is that, if this movie failed, all redemption would lay with the Dark Knight Rises, and even then it would be slow climb back into the hearts of fans.  Thankfully, the Avengers did better than anyone could have hoped for.

The story is a simple, and all too familiar one – save the Earth from an intergalactic peril while reminding us, through a series of hokey dialog and colorful costuming (bearing reds and blues) that patriotism can “save” the world.  This film is all about the recruitment of the Avengers Initiative , and Nick Furry brings together Earth’s Mightiest heroes (even though Thor lives on another planet) to fight an unknown enemy who’s enlisted the services of Loki, leading the attack on Earth to make way for his coming.  It is, of course, up to the “chemical mixture” to stop this attack…they just have to get along first.

Now if you’re like me, and you don’t necessarily ”like” how Marvel’s trying to take over the cinematic world and how it used it’s earlier “pro forma” films to help viewers get excited for the Avengers, you’re still probably going to enjoy it.  I don’t think you need to be a fan of the superhero film genre, this is just a good action film and maybe one of the best.

Joss Wheadon is best known for his work on Buffy the Vampire Slayer – a show about an unorthodox family of friends that get along so much better than anyone would expect.  It’s filled with supernatural occurrences, wonderfully loving moments, tantalizing action sequences, and a wit that goes beyond your normal television program – and it’s the wit that Joss Wheadon is so good at writing that gives this film its edge.

At the film’s core is a focus on character, developing a story that’s more than just explosion after explosion. (Despite the fact that you can’t go five minutes without seeing something crash or blowup.)  Not only does Wheadon stay true to each character’s storyline in their solo films, he also brings each of their own individual personalities (as defined by their movies) into the heart of the Avengers.  In turn, this gave each hero a voice that not only made the film that much better, it allowed us to sit back and truly enjoy a story that took four years to develop.

Much of the script itself is corny (which stays true to form to the original comic book which started in the 60′s) delivering a collection of heroes whose superheroic personas originated due to troubling situations, making their powers more of a curse than a gift.  This is not your typical Marvel movie  where the lines from each character feels forced, oddly fitting into the script because the writers weren’t sure how to handle it. The Avengers contain lines where, quite frankly, everything said is just as important as everything done.

Bruce Banner (Mark Ruffalo) spends time outside of the American ideal in Kalcutta doing good by nurturing diseased victims to health.  Bruce is asked to join up in the fight against the unseen enemy (I use the word ‘asked” loosely) not because of his “green” attitude, but because of his experience with gamma radiation.  And because of his more scientifically driven mind, he hits it off off almost immediately with Tony Stark, (Robert Downey Jr.) developing a bromance that will make every  macho man in the theater cuddle with his best guy friend in a moment of zen.

Cap’n Merica (Chris Evans) is just as loyal to the cause as he was before being frozen for 70 + years, following orders because that’s what a good soldier does.  He’s so loyal, in fact, that he pays Stark no mind with his sarcastic comments on his outfit.  But even loyalty won’t blind the Captain of fishy dealings hidden from the team’s sight.

As much fun as Thor (Chris Hemsworth) is in the film, he’s probably the most lifeless character.  He resembles the likeness of a stereotypical professional athlete, all brawn and no brains.  However, he’s still able to keep you laughing after talking about his “adopted” brother Loki. (Tom Hiddleston)

And the final two players, Black Widow (Scarlet Johansson) and Hawkeye (Jeremy Renner), play their parts as non-powered superheroes exceptionally well.  Black Window’s introductory scene where she lays the smack down…and her chair…on a Russian mob was exciting and humorous.  And Hawkeye portrays a confidence and level headedness that makes you wonder if HE could go toe to toe with the Mighty Thor himself.

But enough about the characters themselves, this film’s life is within its wit and charm.  As already stated, each hero has an important role and voice in the film, Wheadon spares no expense. Going into the theater, I wasn’t expecting to giggle or laugh as much as I did.  I knew Iron Man would have a number of good lines to tickle my funny bone, as well as Thor with his Shakespearean banter in a modern, 21st century world.  But never in my wildest dreams would I have thought deep, belly shaking laughter would come from my mouth due to things said by the Captain as he “got” the references, or things done by the Hulk, bashing the antagonist in the middle of his profound and elegant bit of public oratory.

Likewise, the special effects are top notch, and some of the best I’ve ever seen.  The climactic alien invasion coming through the teseract’s portal was so huge and massive that it has to be shot in a major city… Cleveland perhaps? And the CGI effects clustered with the real life, unanimated segemnts never look odd or out of place.  Tied in with the CGI are explosive action scenes that never slow down or get boring.  And even though I had many moments where I unenthusiastically thought, “Oh, you blew up another building…good job…” they were always a sight to see.

With all this praise I’m giving the film, let’s not forget that this IS an action film at its best…which means the depth of the story is not that significant.  Despite how well the characters are treated, this film does not expand any new horizons in substantial content, thought provoking ideas and concepts, or new and innovative script writing techniques.  This is, without a doubt, a movie that relies mostly on its action and funny banter between characters.  That is in NO WAY a negative cinematic aspect (as much as it may sound that way) but more of a comment on its overall film qualities – great  job in these areas, but what about everything else?  I will certainly enjoy this film multiple times in the future, (having already seen it twice…two times on Saturday) and definitely OWN it on DVD once it’s released, but I can’t give it a rating higher than an 8, nor put it into my top five comic book films of all time list.  With that said, however, this is still a FUN movie.

Marvel has done their cinematic name well!  If this is what we should expect to see in the future for Marvel films, then I can’t wait for the sequel!  (Oh Thanos, your chin entices me!)

Free Comic Book Day!!

Posted: May 5, 2012 in Free Comic Book Day
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It’s May 5th, the first Saturday in May, which means Free Comic Book Day has finally arrived! Go to your local comic book store and enjoy the FREE comics!

However, don’t go and forget what this day is about…bringing in new readers.  Pick up the ones you want, but don’t be a hog and get the ones you don’t care about – leave some for the new readers!

There’s also this common misconception that comic book stores don’t loose and gain anything by offering these free comics, as if the distributor simply hands these out to the stores for free.  No no no, your local comic book store has to BUY each and every one of the comics that are offered for free.  Don’t be a free loader and ONLY pick up the free stuff, support the local business (because that’s what comic book stores are) and buy a comic or two.

For those of you who may have happened to stumble on my blog, having NEVER heard of Free Comic Book Day, watch the video below for an in depth look at what it is and means for the comic book industry…

May The 4th Be With You…

Posted: May 4, 2012 in May the 4th Be With You, Star Wars Day
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Indeed everyone, indeed.  It is that most spectacular of days, the Intergalactic holiday known Star Wars Day, May the 4th.  All across America and in many parts of the world, fans will be sitting down in their homes or going to a local theater, dressed up in Star Wars garb and watching all six Star Wars films in honor of might very well be the most successful film franchise in the history of cinema.  This is a good day.

I, regretfully, will not be partaking in any movie marathons as I will be in Denver today with my wonderful wife looking at fantastic pieces of artwork in a house museum.  I may regret not having a Star Wars movie marathon, but I don’t regret going to the art exhibit.  However, there will be a part of me that feels like it’s missing out on something.

What makes this weekend extra nerdy?  The Avengers movie came out yesterday!  And don’t forget, tomorrow is Free Comic Book Day! Since I’ll be in Denver all weekend, I’ll be going to my local comic book store Saturday morning and grabbing the goods, as well as taking some time to see the Avengers.  yes, there will be a review on here later.

Anyways, Enjoy today everyone!  Have friends over, watch Star Wars, and May the 4th be with you!

Happy Star Wars Day!  Here’s a video from a viral nerd friend of mine, Shayna Gibson, singing a tribute to Han Solo…

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