The way this arc played out was sort of like a Tarantino/Coen film. The theme of selfishness, greed and survival are key in this arc. You have Peter Parker accidentally saving the main bad guy in the series in a very subtle attempt at humor prior to Norman Osborn selfishly firing him without disarming him leading to his downfall. You have two masterminds arming the Hobgoblin as if he were the Middle East, till arming goes out of control and takes down both of them. You have Alistar Smythe who is a distrustful brainwashed slave to the Kingpin, betray the Hobgoblin. This is after the Hobgoblin opportunistically takes care of Harry Osborn, for himself, not the Kingpin.
This is the best version of the Hobgoblin, played by none other than the great Mark Hamill. I find him more interesting than the Joker or Venom, because of his scheming to outdo the bad guys against each other.
Peter is barely a character in this episode, but stakes are raised as his best friend is captured, and his aunt incapacitated. Not to mention his room is messed up! XD
Discussing the Coen/Tarantino-ish indie themes of the episode, let's discuss some independent philosophical themes.
Government doesn't seem to be a theme in this episode, although a more powerful one could strengthen or worsen the situation against the Kingpin, as we'll get into in later episodes. (For now, let's just refer to ESU as a major influence and father figure for someone like Peter Parker.)
And it's not even income inequality. It's having no income like Peter, too having penthouses like both Harry, Norman (Oscorp's tower) and the Kingpin have together. Not to mention that the Kingpin at one point had no money, and Jameson, Hardy and Kingpin would later threaten all of Norman's work later on, stuff he considered his life, over his son to some extent.
Wednesday, May 28, 2014
How I would've written the Amazing Spider-Man: Part 3
Third:
Copy the Dark Knight like crazy.
Amazing Spider-Man's crew is absolutely terrible at copying Christopher Nolan, so let me put this step by step.
1) Have a charismatic, anarchistic character play a threatening Heath Ledger Joker-like Green Goblin who threatens all of New York City.
2) Have him bomb a skyscraper and not offend anyone.
3) Have him torture people.
4) Make Gwen Stacy's death a plot twist, despite it being in the title. Batman was supposed to save Rachel. Have Spider-Man accidentally save a Scarecrow or something.
Have him torture Spider-Man or Gwen Stacy in front of each other, making Spider-Man stuck to his lowest depths. You're ripping off Spider-Man. If you're going to do it terribly, at least make it pretend Dark.
Copy the Dark Knight like crazy.
Amazing Spider-Man's crew is absolutely terrible at copying Christopher Nolan, so let me put this step by step.
1) Have a charismatic, anarchistic character play a threatening Heath Ledger Joker-like Green Goblin who threatens all of New York City.
2) Have him bomb a skyscraper and not offend anyone.
3) Have him torture people.
4) Make Gwen Stacy's death a plot twist, despite it being in the title. Batman was supposed to save Rachel. Have Spider-Man accidentally save a Scarecrow or something.
Have him torture Spider-Man or Gwen Stacy in front of each other, making Spider-Man stuck to his lowest depths. You're ripping off Spider-Man. If you're going to do it terribly, at least make it pretend Dark.
How I would've written the Amazing Spider-Man 2: Part 2
Second:
Have it in the friggin title.
All noteworthy events in the history of comics.
Make it something memorable.
What made the Dark Knight and Avengers memorable was more of marketing, not necessarily the director's craftsmanship.
Have it in the friggin title.
- Market it as a major event:
- Death of Superman
- Knightfall
- Death of Captain America
- Spider-Man's wedding
All noteworthy events in the history of comics.
Make it something memorable.
What made the Dark Knight and Avengers memorable was more of marketing, not necessarily the director's craftsmanship.
How I would've wrote Amazing Spider-Man 2: Part 1
Not have it in the SECOND film.
We don't get to know much about Gwen in the first film.
She's a scientist. She's Peter's girlfriend. Ok.
Cross some boundaries before she dies.
Let them have an intimate moment.
Maybe they have sex.
Maybe they just hug real close after a really dramatic moment.
Something really serious like that to really make the film dramatic.
You need to develop stakes to really make a film memorable.
The greater the stakes, the greater the empathy, the great the emotionally driven loss.
We don't get to know much about Gwen in the first film.
She's a scientist. She's Peter's girlfriend. Ok.
Cross some boundaries before she dies.
Let them have an intimate moment.
Maybe they have sex.
Maybe they just hug real close after a really dramatic moment.
Something really serious like that to really make the film dramatic.
You need to develop stakes to really make a film memorable.
The greater the stakes, the greater the empathy, the great the emotionally driven loss.
Spider-Man: The Animated Series: The Mutant Agenda: Beast's character
When I first watched "The Mutant Agenda," I never really thought much of it, other than a Spider-Man/X-Men crossover episode that didn't have too many voice actors involved and not as much action as I wanted.
Recently, I noticed how the Hobgoblin was used in an episode right after he debuted.
Now, I will approach the episode using the main guest stars as foils to Spider-Man as his mutancy problem develops.
A key aspect of Beast's character is being a Frankenstein-ish monster that ends up being the catalyst of his mutancy rather than a witch hunter attempting to hide it. He's interesting, because he's a smart man, an intellectual quoting intellectuals. But as a smart man, he doesn't want the trouble of being a mutant, because of it becoming a "distraction" that can mean life or death.
As a result, he really feels for Spider-Man, not wanting him to go through what he went through.
Beast feared change because of the change in his DNA, when his brain and more importantly heart were still the same after.
He was afraid of becoming a barbaric monster, the exact opposite he was as a peaceful human, although to some extent he did transform into it, and maybe someone else as well.
Recently, I noticed how the Hobgoblin was used in an episode right after he debuted.
Now, I will approach the episode using the main guest stars as foils to Spider-Man as his mutancy problem develops.
A key aspect of Beast's character is being a Frankenstein-ish monster that ends up being the catalyst of his mutancy rather than a witch hunter attempting to hide it. He's interesting, because he's a smart man, an intellectual quoting intellectuals. But as a smart man, he doesn't want the trouble of being a mutant, because of it becoming a "distraction" that can mean life or death.
As a result, he really feels for Spider-Man, not wanting him to go through what he went through.
Beast feared change because of the change in his DNA, when his brain and more importantly heart were still the same after.
He was afraid of becoming a barbaric monster, the exact opposite he was as a peaceful human, although to some extent he did transform into it, and maybe someone else as well.
Tuesday, May 27, 2014
Marvel: War of Kings #1
This is a key book to get if you like good artwork, want to get to know lesser known characters and races in the Marvel Universe.
The beginning has Maximus in disbelief that his father was actually a Skrull.
The Kree are defeated.
An interesting note about the dialogue is from Medusa, discussing murder like virginity, once you do it, you can't stop.
You can't go to all these places on a non-animation movie budget.
Asunder
The beginning has Maximus in disbelief that his father was actually a Skrull.
The Kree are defeated.
An interesting note about the dialogue is from Medusa, discussing murder like virginity, once you do it, you can't stop.
You can't go to all these places on a non-animation movie budget.
Asunder
Friday, May 23, 2014
X-Men: Animated Series Review, "Days of Future Past" notes
The previews for this episode really get you into it. It was a great technique, discussing Senator Kelly, prejudiced humans, techno-internment camps. Wolverine disappearing. It's very relevant now considering how governments and democracy can change and lead to destruction of the world at any time with major large facilities and barbaric people.
A thing I sorta disliked about the show was how easy it was to defeat Sentinels.
While, X-Men: Legends is neither considered a video game classic, nor its gameplay polished due to wall glitches, one has no doubt the amount storytelling and easter eggs in the game for fans of the comic and synergy marketing.
In game, it was noticeably difficult to defeat Sentinels, unless you used your strongest attacks, depleting your mutant power.
It did make the action awesome though! Explosions!
Bishop meanwhile has this awesome western guitar and harmonica music playing when he attacks Wolverine and co. It's very campy considering how dire the situation is.
He portrays this sellout mutant who attacks mutants who cause trouble.
You see the X-Men graves in what seems to be the most random spot, but it's used for animated series efficiency.
Wolverine seems more educated, aware that he'll be stopping a well thought mutant to saving somebody he doesn't like.
Some of the ADR is very odd, like the cast only had one take or something.
They even have a line going, "the 90s!"
Bishop sounds hilarious not knowing what to do.
It also isn't clear if Bishop's a hero, an anti-hero, or a villain. He's just doing what he wants to survive. I'm not exactly sure where they wanted to go with that direction, but at least they made you think about it a bit, whether intentional or not.
Its animation is definitely more polished than Spider-Man: The Animated Series.
There isn't much in Part II. Just some notes for a fairly predictable plot once you've watched it before.
Why doesn't Jean or Xavier just read Gambit's mind? Pro-mutant propaganda really hits home.
I'm really surprised Pyro get a bigger cult following considering all the cool animations they did with his fire this episode.
Apocalypse being mentioned as a key factor in the episode is worth mentioning as well.
A thing I sorta disliked about the show was how easy it was to defeat Sentinels.
While, X-Men: Legends is neither considered a video game classic, nor its gameplay polished due to wall glitches, one has no doubt the amount storytelling and easter eggs in the game for fans of the comic and synergy marketing.
In game, it was noticeably difficult to defeat Sentinels, unless you used your strongest attacks, depleting your mutant power.
It did make the action awesome though! Explosions!
Bishop meanwhile has this awesome western guitar and harmonica music playing when he attacks Wolverine and co. It's very campy considering how dire the situation is.
He portrays this sellout mutant who attacks mutants who cause trouble.
You see the X-Men graves in what seems to be the most random spot, but it's used for animated series efficiency.
Wolverine seems more educated, aware that he'll be stopping a well thought mutant to saving somebody he doesn't like.
Some of the ADR is very odd, like the cast only had one take or something.
They even have a line going, "the 90s!"
Bishop sounds hilarious not knowing what to do.
It also isn't clear if Bishop's a hero, an anti-hero, or a villain. He's just doing what he wants to survive. I'm not exactly sure where they wanted to go with that direction, but at least they made you think about it a bit, whether intentional or not.
Its animation is definitely more polished than Spider-Man: The Animated Series.
There isn't much in Part II. Just some notes for a fairly predictable plot once you've watched it before.
Why doesn't Jean or Xavier just read Gambit's mind? Pro-mutant propaganda really hits home.
I'm really surprised Pyro get a bigger cult following considering all the cool animations they did with his fire this episode.
Apocalypse being mentioned as a key factor in the episode is worth mentioning as well.
Wolverine and Black Cat: Claws
Claws is about the parallels between hunting and snatching a lover.
The graphic novel begins with Spider-Man comedically and campily chasing after the Black Cat before introducing Wolverine.
Claws #2 has moments of violence in dirt and in blood in the Savage Land as they fight off Kraven the Hunter.
Claws #3 has a pretty awesome sexy body suit Black Cat a la Alex Ross and Wolverine in a tuxedo doing a tip during a slow dance. with an alien shark worm in the background.
It then goes back to the couple that screws over Black Cat and Wolverine showing parallels between the two groups and flirting. "Does the outfit make me look fat?"
"I hope they're being eaten," is being stated as the Harley-like red head is sitting in a big bunch of bones' mouth.
Sidenote: Duff Beer and Elle product placement is featured in a scene.
The graphic novel begins with Spider-Man comedically and campily chasing after the Black Cat before introducing Wolverine.
Claws #2 has moments of violence in dirt and in blood in the Savage Land as they fight off Kraven the Hunter.
Claws #3 has a pretty awesome sexy body suit Black Cat a la Alex Ross and Wolverine in a tuxedo doing a tip during a slow dance. with an alien shark worm in the background.
It then goes back to the couple that screws over Black Cat and Wolverine showing parallels between the two groups and flirting. "Does the outfit make me look fat?"
"I hope they're being eaten," is being stated as the Harley-like red head is sitting in a big bunch of bones' mouth.
Sidenote: Duff Beer and Elle product placement is featured in a scene.
Wednesday, May 21, 2014
Cons of X-Men (The Movie)
For a 11 year film, there isn't much to be excited about. It wasn't exactly Christopher Nolan's Inception.
The Cyclops-Jean Grey shipping doesn't really lead to much other than for fan service and a human element to it. I suppose there may be a parallel with Rogue and her boyfriends too, but we'll see.
Sabretooth is more of a hitman than a fellow Project X member in this continuity, at least from what we know of. Gives him less depth. His design is updated though.
Rebecca Romjin was sort of the Emma Frost of this series, albeit I liked Emma Frost in X-Men: First Class. She was sort of a Deus Ex Machina that completely messes up the X-Men, despite the fact that Charles Xavier knows of her, which is made even worse now that they were apparently childhood friends. Shouldn't there be warnings that she's there or shouldn't Xavier be able to psychically notice that she's in the building?
It's a little weird that Senator Kelly is made sympathetic after his death after doing such a terrible thing to a people. But alas killing is wrong and Magneto is a madman.
But Magneto is sympathetic because of the causes of his sociopathy.
I really don't get why Famke Jansenn was cast as Jean Grey: she was the Bond Girl known for having sex with men till they died. She doesn't do that as the Phoenix. She's supposedly supposed to play a good girl. Why put her in this role?
The Cyclops-Jean Grey shipping doesn't really lead to much other than for fan service and a human element to it. I suppose there may be a parallel with Rogue and her boyfriends too, but we'll see.
Sabretooth is more of a hitman than a fellow Project X member in this continuity, at least from what we know of. Gives him less depth. His design is updated though.
Rebecca Romjin was sort of the Emma Frost of this series, albeit I liked Emma Frost in X-Men: First Class. She was sort of a Deus Ex Machina that completely messes up the X-Men, despite the fact that Charles Xavier knows of her, which is made even worse now that they were apparently childhood friends. Shouldn't there be warnings that she's there or shouldn't Xavier be able to psychically notice that she's in the building?
It's a little weird that Senator Kelly is made sympathetic after his death after doing such a terrible thing to a people. But alas killing is wrong and Magneto is a madman.
But Magneto is sympathetic because of the causes of his sociopathy.
I really don't get why Famke Jansenn was cast as Jean Grey: she was the Bond Girl known for having sex with men till they died. She doesn't do that as the Phoenix. She's supposedly supposed to play a good girl. Why put her in this role?
Pros of X-Men (The Movie)
First time live action X-Men has great action and decent storytelling and themes.
The main character of this film is Anna Paquin's Rogue who has to deal with the fact that she is a mutant, not to mention harms anyone who she touches. She is more vulnerable than the typical Rogue not having Ms. Marvel's powers. Sure, it would've been interesting if she had a visual addition as to how her powers worked, but it works because of Academy Award winning actress Anna Paquin's performance. She doesn't have a campy, albeit iconic accent that Rogue is associated with thanks to the cartoon.
The Mutant Registration Act is a bit camped up in this continuity, but still has a dark feeling toward it. It allows for a mistreated minority to be treated poorly.
I really didn't like the iconic X-Men blue costumes, albeit for comics they needed them at the time, due to not making interesting black hues at the time due to lack of digital. Also, color was the symbol of counter culture, thanks to things such as the rainbow symbols of homosexuals, etc.. Or maybe America was just high at the time... Maybe Richard Donner could've made it work..
Ray Park also does a phenomenal job as Toad, thanks to being Darth Maul in Star Wars Episode I: the Phantom Menace. Really a shame what happened to his character there.
And of course, Hugh Jackman does a phenomenal job as Wolverine, really getting down the accent as well as doing a perfect job acting out the scene where he describes having the claws come out of his hand.
The main character of this film is Anna Paquin's Rogue who has to deal with the fact that she is a mutant, not to mention harms anyone who she touches. She is more vulnerable than the typical Rogue not having Ms. Marvel's powers. Sure, it would've been interesting if she had a visual addition as to how her powers worked, but it works because of Academy Award winning actress Anna Paquin's performance. She doesn't have a campy, albeit iconic accent that Rogue is associated with thanks to the cartoon.
The Mutant Registration Act is a bit camped up in this continuity, but still has a dark feeling toward it. It allows for a mistreated minority to be treated poorly.
I really didn't like the iconic X-Men blue costumes, albeit for comics they needed them at the time, due to not making interesting black hues at the time due to lack of digital. Also, color was the symbol of counter culture, thanks to things such as the rainbow symbols of homosexuals, etc.. Or maybe America was just high at the time... Maybe Richard Donner could've made it work..
Ray Park also does a phenomenal job as Toad, thanks to being Darth Maul in Star Wars Episode I: the Phantom Menace. Really a shame what happened to his character there.
And of course, Hugh Jackman does a phenomenal job as Wolverine, really getting down the accent as well as doing a perfect job acting out the scene where he describes having the claws come out of his hand.
The Amazing Spider-Man 2: The Wiki
The wiki: It is terrible. Don't get me wrong. The editor/writer wrote it very well, so I doubt he lied about anything, but the plot of the film just sounds terribly rushed and ill thought out.
Norman Osborn dies at the beginning of the film: despite being a main draw at the end of the first film!
Harry Osborn is introduced as the childhood friend of Harry. The childhood friend that was never mentioned before!
"But it's in the comics!" Does this look like comics Spider-Man to you?
Spider-Man is given all these warnings not to involve Gwen with Spider-Man. He does; she dies. He learns nothing. He's still not a vigilante. He's still not good at being a superhero. We don't really get a sense as to why he keeps becoming a superhero.
Spider-Man gets Harry, his childhood friend we know nothing about killed.
Norman Osborn dies at the beginning of the film: despite being a main draw at the end of the first film!
Harry Osborn is introduced as the childhood friend of Harry. The childhood friend that was never mentioned before!
"But it's in the comics!" Does this look like comics Spider-Man to you?
Spider-Man is given all these warnings not to involve Gwen with Spider-Man. He does; she dies. He learns nothing. He's still not a vigilante. He's still not good at being a superhero. We don't really get a sense as to why he keeps becoming a superhero.
Spider-Man gets Harry, his childhood friend we know nothing about killed.
The Amazing Spider-Man 2 preview: Max Dillon
Max Dillon: I don't get what the appeal of his character is, just like I didn't get Tobey McGuire's appeal in Spider-Man (2002). He's supposedly nerdy, because he has unstylistic hair, from the WB which probably took 20 hours in makeup to do that way for whatever reason completely wasting Academy Award winning actor and Quentin Tarantino collaborator Jamie Foxx's talent. He was probably supposed to be a foil for Peter, a failed one at that.
Peter and Max are different races. Why? Is there supposed to be drama because of that? Is it supposed to show equality from that? It doesn't.
Peter and Max have different hair cuts. Why? It's not Jamie Foxx's natural hair cut so there has to be a reason.
Jamie Foxx is turned into a ball of energy. Why? What is the point of having Jamie Foxx on your crew, if you don't intend on showing his face to demonstrate that he is in your film as a major draw? A point that made Richard Donner's Superman and Christopher Nolan's Batman trilogy noteworthy.
Again, he seems to be a made up minority stereotype that isn't true. And he's been heavily featured in the film as a major draw for the film. For who?
Peter and Max are different races. Why? Is there supposed to be drama because of that? Is it supposed to show equality from that? It doesn't.
Peter and Max have different hair cuts. Why? It's not Jamie Foxx's natural hair cut so there has to be a reason.
Jamie Foxx is turned into a ball of energy. Why? What is the point of having Jamie Foxx on your crew, if you don't intend on showing his face to demonstrate that he is in your film as a major draw? A point that made Richard Donner's Superman and Christopher Nolan's Batman trilogy noteworthy.
Again, he seems to be a made up minority stereotype that isn't true. And he's been heavily featured in the film as a major draw for the film. For who?
Amazing Spider-Man: cultural "stereotypes," 2012 disappointments and relief
The crew make stereotypes out of city minorities just like Agents of SHIELD did in their first episode in the train terminal in a film that's supposedly about a teen that wants to stop city crime with a reason that was probably cut out of the film! Flash Thompson is a suburban bully, not a city one. Doing that stuff always leads to worst movie ever territory.
If you like the ideas, that's fine. That's what made Batman Returns one of my favorite superhero, if not films when I was younger too, before I noticed loose parts of its screenplay.
I don't remember the first film:
THE LIZARD?!
The one played by William H. Macy?!
WHO?!
Captain Stacy?!
Norman Osborn?
Crane Dad?
They were in the last film?!
I really don't remember a ton of that film, so it just shows you that I just wasn't a fan, or I was possibly subliminally trying to forget stuff from that film.
The Amazing Spider-Man, Avengers and the Dark Knight Rises were 3 of the most disappointing things to ever happen to the genre in a film year, (2012) since the Godfather Part III. Although unlike many, I understood the dark themes that were in the Dark Knight Rises, it just showed that directors were losing powers making these films, and that they were pet projects of project managers and producers, not auteurs.
The last two years I was getting into Rob Ager, Darren Foley, Kamen Rider and the works of Shotaro Ishinomori, I was reliving my anime stage now that services such as Hulu, Netflix and Crunchyroll distributed works a lot better than the fuzzy 56k, non-LCD, bootleg VCD/VHS copies I was getting from Chinatown to watch anime that dominated the mainstream, opposed to the more leet, more kliq, fandom that I've found searching on Facebook fan groups to find my true peers.
I finally have cable after living off the internet the past few years
If you like the ideas, that's fine. That's what made Batman Returns one of my favorite superhero, if not films when I was younger too, before I noticed loose parts of its screenplay.
I don't remember the first film:
THE LIZARD?!
The one played by William H. Macy?!
WHO?!
Captain Stacy?!
Norman Osborn?
Crane Dad?
They were in the last film?!
I really don't remember a ton of that film, so it just shows you that I just wasn't a fan, or I was possibly subliminally trying to forget stuff from that film.
The Amazing Spider-Man, Avengers and the Dark Knight Rises were 3 of the most disappointing things to ever happen to the genre in a film year, (2012) since the Godfather Part III. Although unlike many, I understood the dark themes that were in the Dark Knight Rises, it just showed that directors were losing powers making these films, and that they were pet projects of project managers and producers, not auteurs.
The last two years I was getting into Rob Ager, Darren Foley, Kamen Rider and the works of Shotaro Ishinomori, I was reliving my anime stage now that services such as Hulu, Netflix and Crunchyroll distributed works a lot better than the fuzzy 56k, non-LCD, bootleg VCD/VHS copies I was getting from Chinatown to watch anime that dominated the mainstream, opposed to the more leet, more kliq, fandom that I've found searching on Facebook fan groups to find my true peers.
I finally have cable after living off the internet the past few years
I regret watching Amazing Spider-Man 1
I didn't like Amazing Spider-Man: I appreciated that the producers aimed high to appeal to Christopher Nolan audiences, but they don't get Christopher Nolan.
It wasn't a vigilante film as neither the crime in New York City was a result of corruption as demonstrated by Captain Stacy, and was instead a result of a camp teenager realization of evil corporations, opposed to a realistic perception of bad guys like with Lockheed Martin. We also instead get a "story" about not wanting to save Samaritans.
Unlike Batman Begins, the characters were underdeveloped or lost along the mix. Uncle Ben dies after treating Peter like a jerk, and rightfully so. Then Peter witnesses him die without us realizing the bond between them. We never get to witness him as a surrogate father figure. It could've been used as a way to swerve us from the sudden death, but instead was just a nightmare. I dunno. Maybe Uncle Ben got in an argument with the cast or something leading that to happen.
We don't get an origin on how he fights or sews despite it supposedly being a Batman Begins origin story.
It wasn't a vigilante film as neither the crime in New York City was a result of corruption as demonstrated by Captain Stacy, and was instead a result of a camp teenager realization of evil corporations, opposed to a realistic perception of bad guys like with Lockheed Martin. We also instead get a "story" about not wanting to save Samaritans.
Unlike Batman Begins, the characters were underdeveloped or lost along the mix. Uncle Ben dies after treating Peter like a jerk, and rightfully so. Then Peter witnesses him die without us realizing the bond between them. We never get to witness him as a surrogate father figure. It could've been used as a way to swerve us from the sudden death, but instead was just a nightmare. I dunno. Maybe Uncle Ben got in an argument with the cast or something leading that to happen.
We don't get an origin on how he fights or sews despite it supposedly being a Batman Begins origin story.
Friday, May 16, 2014
Spider-Man: The Animated Series: The Alien Costume Part 1, "Sons and Socippathy"
The Alien Costume begins with a twist: despite being a yellow journalist that does not care about people trying to save the city, much like many of those in editorial power, he does in fact care for his son and has in fact raised him quite well to the point of being a well respected astronaut on Earth. This parallels to the fact that the Kingpin, who is featured in the episode has a son of his own he cares for. This adds to the fact that he felt bad when his wife was killed, making him empathetic. Jameson has overgeneralized superheroes in this series, and misinterpreted something drastic as it was a key element to his life. Photos can lie as can be seen from Eddie Brock's pictures of Spider-Man and the shuttle and from what smart fans may interpret as idiocy, of Spider-Man ruining his life. However, there is no doubt that there are people who incorrectly interpret things and blame to the incorrect people, much like that of DareDevil's opponents in a court room!
Contrast that to Peter Parker, who is revealed in this episode to have a side that is selfish, egotistical, tempted by what is remember not a parasite, but a symbiote. "With great power comes great responsibility." Maybe Peter Parker would act like Rhino some day being a thug with his super strength after he can't find a job with Jameson or with Doc Conners.
Those suffering from a similar mental illness can empathize with Peter Parker, unable to determine if his thoughts are actually his or not. Like Parker, it can happen suddenly, for seemingly no reason after just waking up.
An interpretation of Parker's dream is that he has all of a sudden encountered something that has made his life even worse, the nightmare known as mental illness, stress or other deterrents to a healthy lifestyle.
From a person reading a paper, to the man struggling to get by, to the man who has made others suffer to survive and succeed, maybe inside all of us is a sociopath? Isn't that something to think about?
Contrast that to Peter Parker, who is revealed in this episode to have a side that is selfish, egotistical, tempted by what is remember not a parasite, but a symbiote. "With great power comes great responsibility." Maybe Peter Parker would act like Rhino some day being a thug with his super strength after he can't find a job with Jameson or with Doc Conners.
Those suffering from a similar mental illness can empathize with Peter Parker, unable to determine if his thoughts are actually his or not. Like Parker, it can happen suddenly, for seemingly no reason after just waking up.
An interpretation of Parker's dream is that he has all of a sudden encountered something that has made his life even worse, the nightmare known as mental illness, stress or other deterrents to a healthy lifestyle.
From a person reading a paper, to the man struggling to get by, to the man who has made others suffer to survive and succeed, maybe inside all of us is a sociopath? Isn't that something to think about?
Monday, May 12, 2014
Batman and Robin: Vol something: Born to Kill is a marketing ploy
The confusingly labeled numbered, Batman and Robin: Born to Kill is a reboot off the great Grant Morrison run on the title. I, like I’m guessing many probably aren’t as familiar with this team and who can blame me? This comic seems to be done for marketing purposes using both the Batman and Robin brand that Grant Morrison built up as well as great surreal comic art to appeal to trick fans into purchases.
I am unfamiliar with the original Grant Morrison run as well as whichever 52 DC is doing now, but this run is a bit bland and unmemorable after fans might’ve been spoiled by the great Grant Morrison. Despite being 8 issues long, not much is done in this arc, other than to cash cow the franchise.
Also, the issues don’t get into the backstory of Damien, which is very confusing if you haven’t been following the continuities up to this point. Not filling us in on the other Robins makes perfect sense since it’s not their story. However, the backstory that Damien’s a clone is really weak as Batman debatably shouldn’t feel an attachment to him as it was more of what the League did with science and hoopla rather than a mistake of passion and nature on his part. Not to mention helping have boundaries for a completely different universe would’ve been important.
Thematically having Morgan Ducard manipulate Damien Wayne seems quite interesting, (having his mask consist of the compound eyes of a spider,) but there’s not really any stakes here. Unlike with DC films, Batman: Under the Red Hood and the Dark Knight, you don’t really see Wayne visually tested reaching his limits regarding whether he has to kill or not, besides with Ducard’s taunts. Also, there isn’t much substance for Ducard’s character, albeit he is there as a devil’s advocate type figure. (Heck, at times in the comic, I thought he was just a hallucination of Damien’s possibly from League of Assassins genetic engineering.) The dialogue could’ve been a bit like that of Quentin Tarantino films, giving you clues as to this one-shot character who can possibly dies origin, making fans really feel a connection before pulling him away. Instead, all the clues about Ducard that make him interesting are only done through his character/costume design rather than character depth, the real meat of what fans enjoy. It’s not like they sold a Morgan Ducard action figure, not that I’m aware of at least.
Although it really does demonstrate a potential Joker or Scarecrow toxin issue later on in the series if they truly utilize artist Patrick Gleason’s potential, it seems more like subliminal advertising rather than quality work. How it should’ve been in this comic based on that drawing is that Damien kills Bruce to take the mantle of the new Batman with him and Ducard gaining control of the city for the League of Assassins.
Contrast to that, at least they didn’t make the Joker, be the bad guy for the millionth time, albeit they kill off Ducard way too early for fans to get an attachment to him.
I don’t really get what Batman’s deal with Ace is. I don’t really get what Batman tried to achieve, albeit Damien didn’t pull a Michael Vick. Damien in the end essentially pulls a Wonder Woman, killing off Morgan Ducard. Also, I don’t feel like it’s a Frank Miller, Batman, so I don’t get why they would have Batman use the word kill in this comic other than to exploit teen fans who think that word is cool because of the MPAA. I also don’t get the appeal of a gun totting Robin, other than if you plan on in citing the mentally ill Columbine crowd. I dunno. It worked with Chloe Grace Moretz in both Hick and Kick-Ass, but I dunno. Just didn’t look cool to me here.
I am unfamiliar with the original Grant Morrison run as well as whichever 52 DC is doing now, but this run is a bit bland and unmemorable after fans might’ve been spoiled by the great Grant Morrison. Despite being 8 issues long, not much is done in this arc, other than to cash cow the franchise.
Also, the issues don’t get into the backstory of Damien, which is very confusing if you haven’t been following the continuities up to this point. Not filling us in on the other Robins makes perfect sense since it’s not their story. However, the backstory that Damien’s a clone is really weak as Batman debatably shouldn’t feel an attachment to him as it was more of what the League did with science and hoopla rather than a mistake of passion and nature on his part. Not to mention helping have boundaries for a completely different universe would’ve been important.
Thematically having Morgan Ducard manipulate Damien Wayne seems quite interesting, (having his mask consist of the compound eyes of a spider,) but there’s not really any stakes here. Unlike with DC films, Batman: Under the Red Hood and the Dark Knight, you don’t really see Wayne visually tested reaching his limits regarding whether he has to kill or not, besides with Ducard’s taunts. Also, there isn’t much substance for Ducard’s character, albeit he is there as a devil’s advocate type figure. (Heck, at times in the comic, I thought he was just a hallucination of Damien’s possibly from League of Assassins genetic engineering.) The dialogue could’ve been a bit like that of Quentin Tarantino films, giving you clues as to this one-shot character who can possibly dies origin, making fans really feel a connection before pulling him away. Instead, all the clues about Ducard that make him interesting are only done through his character/costume design rather than character depth, the real meat of what fans enjoy. It’s not like they sold a Morgan Ducard action figure, not that I’m aware of at least.
Although it really does demonstrate a potential Joker or Scarecrow toxin issue later on in the series if they truly utilize artist Patrick Gleason’s potential, it seems more like subliminal advertising rather than quality work. How it should’ve been in this comic based on that drawing is that Damien kills Bruce to take the mantle of the new Batman with him and Ducard gaining control of the city for the League of Assassins.
Contrast to that, at least they didn’t make the Joker, be the bad guy for the millionth time, albeit they kill off Ducard way too early for fans to get an attachment to him.
I don’t really get what Batman’s deal with Ace is. I don’t really get what Batman tried to achieve, albeit Damien didn’t pull a Michael Vick. Damien in the end essentially pulls a Wonder Woman, killing off Morgan Ducard. Also, I don’t feel like it’s a Frank Miller, Batman, so I don’t get why they would have Batman use the word kill in this comic other than to exploit teen fans who think that word is cool because of the MPAA. I also don’t get the appeal of a gun totting Robin, other than if you plan on in citing the mentally ill Columbine crowd. I dunno. It worked with Chloe Grace Moretz in both Hick and Kick-Ass, but I dunno. Just didn’t look cool to me here.
Thursday, May 8, 2014
Before I get to the Thor Sucks review
Let me start with the positives:
Performances, Art Direction and Costuming: Thor really has the potential to being the next Lord of the Rings franchise. It's seriously that good visually.
I got really drunk: Seriously, play a drinking game whenever Natalie Portman says, "Yeah" or "what" repeatedly. You get drunk really fast.
I laughed, ONCE: There's one joke in the film that actually works because there's a set up: again Natalie Portman's driving. I forget if it was just because I noticed she is an unconvincing stunt driver or something set up by the movie, but when he hits the Chris Hemsworth that has no character development despite being the titutlar character of a blockbuster, I chuckled. More in my mind than out loud, but it was still a lol moment.
Kat Dennings: She's sorta like Emma Stone, in that she has fans no matter what she does, and what she does doesn't get screwed up by producers for whatever reason. She has no point other than that, but at least the producers had a goal and didn't screw that up.
Performances, Art Direction and Costuming: Thor really has the potential to being the next Lord of the Rings franchise. It's seriously that good visually.
I got really drunk: Seriously, play a drinking game whenever Natalie Portman says, "Yeah" or "what" repeatedly. You get drunk really fast.
I laughed, ONCE: There's one joke in the film that actually works because there's a set up: again Natalie Portman's driving. I forget if it was just because I noticed she is an unconvincing stunt driver or something set up by the movie, but when he hits the Chris Hemsworth that has no character development despite being the titutlar character of a blockbuster, I chuckled. More in my mind than out loud, but it was still a lol moment.
Kat Dennings: She's sorta like Emma Stone, in that she has fans no matter what she does, and what she does doesn't get screwed up by producers for whatever reason. She has no point other than that, but at least the producers had a goal and didn't screw that up.
Sam Raimi's Spider-Man: Casting and Humor
The acting is really good. The major standout being Wilem Defoe as the insane Green Goblin. I dunno exactly why there's a Harry Osborn goblin and a SPOILER ALERT Wilem Defoe Goblin in Amazing Spider-Man 2, but he totally deserves the second pay check. He's fit, yet very eviscerated, old, having this almost Heath Ledger-ish Glasgow smile on his face. But he also knows when to be the good guy too.
A major mistake I have is discrediting Tobey McGuire. Spider-Man at times is a loser. So is Tobey McGuire.
I'm a New York City kid. I like hanging out with cool people. Not really. I'm a nerd who went to Bronx Science when he was younger- BUT I still pretend to be cool! So my Spider-Man is Christopher Daniel Barnes and not
My favorite scene with Tobey McGuire is when he plays the hitchhiker in Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas. The only scene I enjoy and he probably did too!
The elements I don't enjoy about the film are the humor. Having Randy Savage as Bonesaw. Having Tobey McGuire sling webs all over the place in the most (I'm going to be racist here since I don't know how else to describe it,) white millennial stereotype. JK Simmons being obnoxious.
If Jesse Eisenberg had played the character however, it would've came across a bit better I think. Also, it was Raimi's decision for him to portray a Parker like this for whatever reason I don't understand or empathize with.
Cliff Robertson who plays the dad, won an Academy Award for 1968's Charly, a very mediocre film for a retardation performance that was vastly overrated, but still does a decent job here.
A major mistake I have is discrediting Tobey McGuire. Spider-Man at times is a loser. So is Tobey McGuire.
I'm a New York City kid. I like hanging out with cool people. Not really. I'm a nerd who went to Bronx Science when he was younger- BUT I still pretend to be cool! So my Spider-Man is Christopher Daniel Barnes and not
My favorite scene with Tobey McGuire is when he plays the hitchhiker in Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas. The only scene I enjoy and he probably did too!
The elements I don't enjoy about the film are the humor. Having Randy Savage as Bonesaw. Having Tobey McGuire sling webs all over the place in the most (I'm going to be racist here since I don't know how else to describe it,) white millennial stereotype. JK Simmons being obnoxious.
If Jesse Eisenberg had played the character however, it would've came across a bit better I think. Also, it was Raimi's decision for him to portray a Parker like this for whatever reason I don't understand or empathize with.
Cliff Robertson who plays the dad, won an Academy Award for 1968's Charly, a very mediocre film for a retardation performance that was vastly overrated, but still does a decent job here.
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