It really would've fit with Zack Snyder too: it has a Watchmen feel with government figures going after superheroes pondering "what power is too much power?" The nuclear race, feminisim, space, air. It was a time of suspicion that many could relate to.
The fire sequence with Martian Manhunter was very cinematic, making one really fear for his death with all the religious imagery, in a time of conservative conspiracy, in addition to the wonders of media, propaganda and television.
I really like the incarnation of Wonder Woman in this version. She's very patriotic for the Amazons and has a sense of honor. Women have been mistreaten in this world, and she makes a really good point against Superman's naive oversimplistic view of morals in the world.
Sure, it was a little dangerous, showing that the only way to stop two sides from going to war, is to fight another side, but I think that was the point. It showed the dark side of war, in a very kid friendly manner.
Also, the John F. Kennedy speech may be a red herring, as at least in our world, he was assassinated, many stuff happened before, after and during his adminstration.
I've never seen an ensemble origin story that was so topical and thematic. I had a large apathy toward the film, due to its lack of marketing and subtleness. It was great though and I take back every remotely bad word I had to say.
Monday, December 29, 2014
The 75th Annivesary of Batman: Lucky #7's Quarter Anniversary: The main character of Batman '89
I would consider this film the well done version of Tim Burton's Alice in Wonderland. Alice, this time a blonde like in Disney is DC's comics is portrayed by Vicki Vale. She encounters this weird Mercury top hat filled world of gangsters, the Joker, Batman, Knox even in her own occupation!
There's something sinister in this world of corrupt policemen, and neo-noirish about the portrayal of Gotham.
The Joker considers himself an artist, much like Hitler, and creates a war inspired by the wars of his past like that of World War I in a Stanley Kubrick-ish fashion.
The Joker considers himself an artist, much like Hitler, and creates a war inspired by the wars of his past like that of World War I in a Stanley Kubrick-ish fashion.
Vicki Vale hangs out with Alfred like part of the family. Observing that Bruce Wayne's house is not him yet is, but not sure which one. Prior to this, Bruce lies about not knowing who Bruce Wayne. Or does he? Finds out that Bruce lied about being out of town, because of his parent's death anniversary. Wanted to tell her, but is interrupted by the Joker in Vale's house. Alfred lets her in later.
She's the protagonist of the film actually in a damsel in distress variation as we know nothing about Batman throughout the film, learning it through her perspective, an element most don't observe as Batman is the first main character of the film... Alice in Wonderland, the Bat Cave, being a perpendicular version of the Rabbit Hole. Heck, there's even a scene where she falls just like New in Gotham. Joker after has as well. Goes to Wayne's castle.
Coincidentally enough, Vicki Vale in the next film is replaced by another blonde woman, a cat, like in Disney's film, Selina Kyle.
Friday, December 26, 2014
Best 2014 Comics
- Wonder Woman, Vol. 4: War by Brian Azzarello of Joker, (2008) fame
- East of West
- Batman Beyond: Future's End
- Spidey-Verse
- Night of Owls
- Saga
- Fantastic Four: Doomed
Thursday, December 18, 2014
The 75th Anniversary: Top 15 Batman Films: #10: Batman Forever: What made Two Face lackluster?
Tommy Lee Jones' Two Face is not a memorable character despite having such an acclaimed and A-list actor associated with the role. People enjoyed him in First Avenger. What went wrong?
Three words:
Tommy Lee Jones.
At least according to rumors started by Joel Schumacher, Jones wanted a role similar to that of Jack Nicholson's $12 million+ character, which I quite frankly had no real pull towards, despite Nicholson's natural ugliness, scariness and the obvious Kubrick homages.
Tommy Lee Jones plays a sadistic character, but the backstory not reminded at all compared to Dark Knight. This is odd compared to his antagonist character in the Fugitive that was pretty complex or the Client. Safes made of acid, explosions, coins live/die. Face just burned. Killing Robin's parents. He was a bit two one sided. Not even Agent K of MIB...
I didn't understand why Batman blamed Two Face in the film, other than that's how it was because of the comics (albeit Batman was in the court room and did not stop the acid burning his face.)
A lot of the big Two face dilemma questions. Was he once a good guy? Is he with that half of his face burned? Why do that in a kid friendly show in the first place? Does he get the orignal mobsters? Not to mention people who are normally burned by acid don't normally turn straight into coin flipping deciding villains with mob boss tendencies.... There is a psychologist in this movie.... We get to know Two Face so much better in the Dark Knight that it seems very clear that this is not one of Joneses' best characters.
His intro is a bit McCarthyist though pre-Knight and Old Men,
"One brother born a hero, his brother a coward, baby a star,; fat politicians, holy men martyred, junkies grow legions, why? Luck." Action and blowing up half of liberty's face like the coin.
I don't know if it's because I was older or the portrayals, but I was not as afraid of this, even though Two Face's face was melted off. His appearance is a bit adult though with the sexually (kitty) predatorial furs, bringing out the more id of man.
Two Face henchmen with a red/black hood costume. Oddly enough. Two Face is a Sadistic Goon with a Gun and gets an interesting portrayal from all this actually becoming, Robin's Joker, as Tommy Lee Jones had intended, just like Two Face kills Tim Drake's father in the New Batman Adventures.. but actually done better oddly enough. Maybe they would have been friends a long time ago. Again reinforcing Batman's past and future to go in question. Two Face burned. Dick Grayson's parents killed. That box Two Face goes into before tricking Batman to jump down into it (despite them just running down a street before... Making no sense how there was such a distance between the two.) Not at all Two Face-like, and obviously Joker-ish, again giving him the Joker parallel in the screenplay.
Two Face left after killing the Graysons. Dropping them. Circus vs the Bat play.
Maybe would have had a better portrayal if on the same footing as Jim Carrey, whose character is even more one dimensional lacking an origin anyway- not like it does not work- crazy= evil in Batman's society anyway.
Happy Halloween, kids!
Like Two Face: Jekyll and Hyde? Bringing back the Joker in himself as a form of revenge for his scarring. The folder guarding his face makes sense although the suits horrible.
Three words:
Tommy Lee Jones.
At least according to rumors started by Joel Schumacher, Jones wanted a role similar to that of Jack Nicholson's $12 million+ character, which I quite frankly had no real pull towards, despite Nicholson's natural ugliness, scariness and the obvious Kubrick homages.
Tommy Lee Jones plays a sadistic character, but the backstory not reminded at all compared to Dark Knight. This is odd compared to his antagonist character in the Fugitive that was pretty complex or the Client. Safes made of acid, explosions, coins live/die. Face just burned. Killing Robin's parents. He was a bit two one sided. Not even Agent K of MIB...
I didn't understand why Batman blamed Two Face in the film, other than that's how it was because of the comics (albeit Batman was in the court room and did not stop the acid burning his face.)
A lot of the big Two face dilemma questions. Was he once a good guy? Is he with that half of his face burned? Why do that in a kid friendly show in the first place? Does he get the orignal mobsters? Not to mention people who are normally burned by acid don't normally turn straight into coin flipping deciding villains with mob boss tendencies.... There is a psychologist in this movie.... We get to know Two Face so much better in the Dark Knight that it seems very clear that this is not one of Joneses' best characters.
His intro is a bit McCarthyist though pre-Knight and Old Men,
"One brother born a hero, his brother a coward, baby a star,; fat politicians, holy men martyred, junkies grow legions, why? Luck." Action and blowing up half of liberty's face like the coin.
I don't know if it's because I was older or the portrayals, but I was not as afraid of this, even though Two Face's face was melted off. His appearance is a bit adult though with the sexually (kitty) predatorial furs, bringing out the more id of man.
Two Face henchmen with a red/black hood costume. Oddly enough. Two Face is a Sadistic Goon with a Gun and gets an interesting portrayal from all this actually becoming, Robin's Joker, as Tommy Lee Jones had intended, just like Two Face kills Tim Drake's father in the New Batman Adventures.. but actually done better oddly enough. Maybe they would have been friends a long time ago. Again reinforcing Batman's past and future to go in question. Two Face burned. Dick Grayson's parents killed. That box Two Face goes into before tricking Batman to jump down into it (despite them just running down a street before... Making no sense how there was such a distance between the two.) Not at all Two Face-like, and obviously Joker-ish, again giving him the Joker parallel in the screenplay.
Two Face left after killing the Graysons. Dropping them. Circus vs the Bat play.
Maybe would have had a better portrayal if on the same footing as Jim Carrey, whose character is even more one dimensional lacking an origin anyway- not like it does not work- crazy= evil in Batman's society anyway.
Happy Halloween, kids!
Like Two Face: Jekyll and Hyde? Bringing back the Joker in himself as a form of revenge for his scarring. The folder guarding his face makes sense although the suits horrible.
Monday, December 15, 2014
List of directors for ANOTHER Spider-Man reboot
Reboots, sequels, bores and chores!
Hollywood doesn't seem to understand what would make for a good critical success.
Luckily, here comes another idea for what would make a good Spider-Man reboot
Not alive:
20 Georges Melies: the originator of the sci fi film.
19 Fritz Lang: Metropolis, a psychological thriller such as M, which would really build suspense for when the Man-Spider, Venom or other split personality-like being appear.
18 Krystkof Kieslowski: Who better to adapt Spider-Man: Blue than the creator of Three Colors: Blue?
17 Andrei Tarkovsky: you want a hardcore really subtle film about science? Why not do one from the creator of Solaris?
16 Rainer Werner Fassbinder: Spider-Man on a Wire. A great tale of sci fi and the Matrix, pre-Star Wars. Critics would highly praise such an intellectual feat capable of the man behind the camera, Peter Parker.
The Billion Dollar Club:
15 George Lucas
14 James Cameron
13 Peter Jackson
I really think the first two would really fit the 80s fashion of it.
Cult Hits:
12 Guillermo Del Toro: monsters and Nazis, perfect for the elder Parkers.
11 Sam Raimi: Cuz everybody likes him for some odd reason.
10 Matthew Vaughn: Kick-Ass, which I thought was ok and X-Men: First Class
9 Christopher Nolan: If you want to make a Christopher Nolan Superman, hire Christopher Nolan?
8 Toku Spider-Man: You're telling me nobody would watch that?
7 John Semper Jr: He doesn't make ethnicities look terrible a la Tombstone and Rocket Racer. He balances the use of many villains. He made minor villains seem like a big deal.
6 Michel Gondry: Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind
5 The Wachowskis: A theme in the Matrix, is what media you trust and what gang or army or group you're in. Harry Obsorn and all his friends that Peter Parker grew up with can all of a sudden turn into his enemies thanks to his accidental involvement in an experiment, swallowing the wrong pill?
4 Ridley Scott: Blade Runner and Alien
3 Shane Carruth: The Clone Saga and a realistic take on the trouble of science.
2 John Carpenter: The Thing, having stupid shit happen like in that film, while having one of the most confusing and awarding stories in history.
1 David Cronenberg: The Fly, Teenagers and Body Horror. He's an auteur.
Hollywood doesn't seem to understand what would make for a good critical success.
Luckily, here comes another idea for what would make a good Spider-Man reboot
Not alive:
20 Georges Melies: the originator of the sci fi film.
19 Fritz Lang: Metropolis, a psychological thriller such as M, which would really build suspense for when the Man-Spider, Venom or other split personality-like being appear.
18 Krystkof Kieslowski: Who better to adapt Spider-Man: Blue than the creator of Three Colors: Blue?
17 Andrei Tarkovsky: you want a hardcore really subtle film about science? Why not do one from the creator of Solaris?
16 Rainer Werner Fassbinder: Spider-Man on a Wire. A great tale of sci fi and the Matrix, pre-Star Wars. Critics would highly praise such an intellectual feat capable of the man behind the camera, Peter Parker.
The Billion Dollar Club:
15 George Lucas
14 James Cameron
13 Peter Jackson
I really think the first two would really fit the 80s fashion of it.
Cult Hits:
12 Guillermo Del Toro: monsters and Nazis, perfect for the elder Parkers.
11 Sam Raimi: Cuz everybody likes him for some odd reason.
10 Matthew Vaughn: Kick-Ass, which I thought was ok and X-Men: First Class
9 Christopher Nolan: If you want to make a Christopher Nolan Superman, hire Christopher Nolan?
8 Toku Spider-Man: You're telling me nobody would watch that?
7 John Semper Jr: He doesn't make ethnicities look terrible a la Tombstone and Rocket Racer. He balances the use of many villains. He made minor villains seem like a big deal.
6 Michel Gondry: Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind
5 The Wachowskis: A theme in the Matrix, is what media you trust and what gang or army or group you're in. Harry Obsorn and all his friends that Peter Parker grew up with can all of a sudden turn into his enemies thanks to his accidental involvement in an experiment, swallowing the wrong pill?
4 Ridley Scott: Blade Runner and Alien
3 Shane Carruth: The Clone Saga and a realistic take on the trouble of science.
2 John Carpenter: The Thing, having stupid shit happen like in that film, while having one of the most confusing and awarding stories in history.
1 David Cronenberg: The Fly, Teenagers and Body Horror. He's an auteur.
Sunday, December 14, 2014
Peter Tomasi writes (Batman) Arkham Knight prequel comic
http://www.cinemablend.com/games/Batman-Arkham-Knight-Get-Prequel-Comic-68931.html
Peter Tomasi will write Arkham Knight prequel comic concerning Batman post-Joker, and during the introduction of the Arkham Knight after the prison's closure and Batman ondering retirement.
Arkham everything. Dr. Arkham. Arkham City. Arkhampool poolpocalypse. Everything's Arkham and Deadpool now.
Back on track...
Tomasi's ok. Not the greatest. He does some interesting stuff, but I being a guy who thinks everything should be 1989 Batman should be the greatest. He knows how to do action and moments and fun stuff. From what I read of his Blackest Knight comic, there won't be a ton of character development stuff, but Arkham Knight may have less characters, if it does concentrate on becoming a Batman-Arkham Knight drama. Maybe. And it really stinks that Gleason won't show up do to do some sort of Arkham hallucination effect like with the Batman & Robin: Born to Kill cover. The story I didn't really care for.
http://tokuwesternheroes.wordpress.com/2014/05/12/batman-and-robin-vol-2-1-8-batman-and-robin-vol-1-born-to-kill-gets-you-with-its-marketing/
Oh. Remember kids, the Bat car will show up!
Peter Tomasi will write Arkham Knight prequel comic concerning Batman post-Joker, and during the introduction of the Arkham Knight after the prison's closure and Batman ondering retirement.
Arkham everything. Dr. Arkham. Arkham City. Arkhampool poolpocalypse. Everything's Arkham and Deadpool now.
Back on track...
Tomasi's ok. Not the greatest. He does some interesting stuff, but I being a guy who thinks everything should be 1989 Batman should be the greatest. He knows how to do action and moments and fun stuff. From what I read of his Blackest Knight comic, there won't be a ton of character development stuff, but Arkham Knight may have less characters, if it does concentrate on becoming a Batman-Arkham Knight drama. Maybe. And it really stinks that Gleason won't show up do to do some sort of Arkham hallucination effect like with the Batman & Robin: Born to Kill cover. The story I didn't really care for.
http://tokuwesternheroes.wordpress.com/2014/05/12/batman-and-robin-vol-2-1-8-batman-and-robin-vol-1-born-to-kill-gets-you-with-its-marketing/
Oh. Remember kids, the Bat car will show up!
Blackest Night: Green Lantern Corps by Tomasi and Gleason
The covers are a choosing between Alex Ross and ugly death.
It's a great piece. It's like Walking Dead, except you're given colorful, a bit beautiful yet dead pictures of things instead of ugly black and white.
Green Lantern Corps Issues and Features:
39 "Fade to Black"
Green Lantern 40 Heart of Darkness
41 Hungry Heart
body surrounded
42 Sacrifice of Will
Green Lantern Corps machine gun. Devour will. 100% pour. "I love you Soranik" Kyle dies.
43 Red Badge of Rage Part 1
Shoot the Black Rings off. Medic. Love saving Rayner.
44 Red Badge of Rage Part 2
Gravity used to defeat the Black Lanterns
45 Red Dawn
Kyle vs Guy
Bath for the Black Lantern bugs.
46 Black Dawn
Dove and the Lanterns combine to take on the Black Lanterns
47 Goodbye Darkness
All seems good.
The Dinosaur and the man fight even though they're partners.
It's a great piece. It's like Walking Dead, except you're given colorful, a bit beautiful yet dead pictures of things instead of ugly black and white.
Green Lantern Corps Issues and Features:
39 "Fade to Black"
- Guy and Kyle/Ion
- The Invasion
- Mongul
- An emission of Black Rings
Green Lantern 40 Heart of Darkness
- Arishia Raab. Family.
- Kyle and his Black Lantern love.
- Guy Gardner vs fly black lanterns
- Green armored black lantern
41 Hungry Heart
body surrounded
- Kyle Rayner's new female friend
- I felt like it should've been more like an ethical dilemma. Dealing with the body of your former female friend. Instead it was dishonorably treated as a thing. Demonized.
- Kilowog holding off the Black Lanterns
- The Black Lantern leader
42 Sacrifice of Will
Green Lantern Corps machine gun. Devour will. 100% pour. "I love you Soranik" Kyle dies.
43 Red Badge of Rage Part 1
Shoot the Black Rings off. Medic. Love saving Rayner.
44 Red Badge of Rage Part 2
Gravity used to defeat the Black Lanterns
45 Red Dawn
Kyle vs Guy
Bath for the Black Lantern bugs.
46 Black Dawn
Dove and the Lanterns combine to take on the Black Lanterns
47 Goodbye Darkness
All seems good.
The Dinosaur and the man fight even though they're partners.
Wednesday, December 10, 2014
The 75th Anniversary: Top 15 Batman Films: #13 Superman/Batman: Public Enemies
#13: Public Enemies:
I really liked this film.
It didn't really feel super dark, although it had dark elements to it, but it didn't feel campy either (prior to seeing Composite Superman-Batman giant robot.) It felt very Bruce Timm-ish: great quality. Well remembered.
Don't mind the nuclear superhumans that don't kill Earthlings!
You have famous comic book characters killed off, although not Batman.
The odds are really stacked against the good guys starting with Metallo fighting those two.
Lex Luthor goes from CEO to President under some economic struggle we don't really hear about. The economy thrives and he uses military powers, demonstrating the distrust America has during the Bush Administration.
I really liked this film.
It didn't really feel super dark, although it had dark elements to it, but it didn't feel campy either (prior to seeing Composite Superman-Batman giant robot.) It felt very Bruce Timm-ish: great quality. Well remembered.
Don't mind the nuclear superhumans that don't kill Earthlings!
You have famous comic book characters killed off, although not Batman.
The odds are really stacked against the good guys starting with Metallo fighting those two.
Lex Luthor goes from CEO to President under some economic struggle we don't really hear about. The economy thrives and he uses military powers, demonstrating the distrust America has during the Bush Administration.
Thursday, December 4, 2014
Fables: 1001 Nights of Snowfall by Bill Willingham
Fables: 1001 Nights of Snowfall is my first exploration into the Fables series. It's a mixed bag.
The first story has a wizar wanting to kill Snow White like the many thousand virgins he knows in some sort of unknown unspecific stereotypical manner.
Art-wise, I enjoyed how it was presented as a novel, making some really want to rethink the management of the genre, and even ponder whether this book was a graphic novel or a conventional one. The art blends well between the Victorian beginnings to Middle Eastern exploration.
The Fencing Lessons
Naked women in a sexual relationship to combine kingdoms opposed to having them at war.
The Christmas Pies looks consists of art pieces you could hang on your wall, using the dot techniques. Eating. Hiding into the woods.
The Frog Prince. Only a prince sometimes.
The Runt. Big Bad Werewolf, who overcomes odds before becoming a monster thanks to bullying. Eventually has a powerful growl.
A Mother's Love, a cursed rabbit that I don't quite understand.
Disaspora including the Witches' Tale. The witch wanting to marry, but eventually needed to eat children for her youth and stuff. Tribespeople. The witch would scare children, not to mention boobs.
Fair Division ends the book with a crisis on infinite earths style finale with animals in the middle east to wrap everything up.
Fair Division ends the book with a crisis on infinite earths style finale with animals in the middle east to wrap everything up.
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