Shared universe.

One of the great things about movies today is also one that drives people away. CGI has given us movies that could exist without them but not be as visually stunning. The way we watch movies today is much different from 10 or 20 years ago, Hell 5 years ago. Think about this we are about to have a 3 hour Avengers movie. In 2008 when Nick Fury walked out of the dark in Tony Stark’s living room. The cinema world changed forever. But when you think about it did it really. Did change cinema? Yes and no. It gave studios the idea of shared universes. The MCU to the DCEU, Monsterverse, to Universal’s attempted Dark Universe. We have seen success and we have seen failure. But people fail to see that shared movie universes aren’t new. The original Universal monsters. But one closer to my heart is the Toho Monsters Universe. From Gojira in 1954 all the way till Terror of Mechagodzilla in 1975, with well over 22 films. To the rebirth of that Universe in 1984 till 1996 but even then those had connections to the first one.Also Toho relaunched a mini universe with combined History of some of the classic films to new ones in the early 2000s. So before we consider Marvel the greatest ever remember someone started it before them. 

Broken Necks and higher grounds

Realism. Going back to Batman Begins, for some reason Hollywood has wanted a hyper realistic version of characters. By removing the extraordinary and extreme features of characters it will make it where people can relate to the characters. Now the problem with that is some characters don’t need that. Batman that can work. He’s human. So that makes sense. But Superman it doesn’t. He’s an alien. With the powers of a god. I don’t need a brooding Superman. Man of Steel is a good movie. It allows for certain things. You see the struggle with Kal-El. You see him try to find a place in the world. You see him suffer when he kills Zod. The back lash with that one scene is outrageous. You have Superman fighting a trained Killer. As Zod “I exist only to protect Krypton. That is the sole purpose for which I was born. And every action I take, no matter how violent or how cruel, is for the greater good of my people. And now... I have no people. My soul, that is what you have taken from me!” He wasn’t going to stop. The quote is this Let me tell you something. I've had to watch a lot of bad things happen to good people. Sometimes terrible things have to be done. Inevitably, each and every one of us will have to face a moment where we have to commit that horrible sin...and if we flinch in that moment, if we hesitate for one second, if we let our conscience get in the way, you know what happens?  People die. So get off the of your high moralistic grounds. 

A return is happening.

We have been away for a long time. Life happens. But life also finds a way. Have a couple of things coming up. Going to try to restart the blog.

Big Trouble in Little China

Buy it, Rent it, Net-Flix it, Skip it or. Why aren't you watching it right now.

Big Trouble in Little China


Kurt Russell as Jake Burton, Kim Cattrall as Gracie Law, Dennis Dun as Wang Chi, James Hong as David Lo-Pan, And Victor Wong as Egg Shen.

This film holds a special place in my heart. While not a great introduction to Asian culture, it shows small bits to get you interested. So the story of Jack Burton.

Jack Burton truck-driver and shit-talker master is driving to San Francisco to make a delivery and see old friend Wang Chi. After a night of playing and drinking Jack and Wang head to San Francisco International Airport to pick up Miao Yin, Wang's Fiancee. While at the airport Jack encounters Gracie Law attempting to hit on her he fails. As Miao is exiting customs she is grabbed by a gang called the Lords of Death. They grab her with no security present? I mean are there no cops at all in San Francisco. Trailing the Lords to China town Jack and Wang-Chi encounter a funeral procession for a recently Assassinated leader of a gang called the Chang Sing. The procession is stopped by the Wing Kong,who have the intial battle are joined by "The 3 Storms and Lo Pan" After running over Lo Pan and seeing no damage to him, Jack and Wang run to escape. After escaping to Wang-Chi's resturant to regroup. Gracie Law reappears asking who was the woman kidnapped by the Lords of death. Wang-Chi is shocked to learn that she has been sold into a sex slave operation. Wang-Chi introduces Jack to his friend Eddie Lee. They discuss how to get Miao back as getting the police will not get involved and that Gracie Law says her face would make doing the job harder. Burton decides to help. He enters the brothel asking specific questions about a girl with green eyes. As green eyes are rare in China. Not sure if that is true. Moving on. Once Jack is inside the brothel it is attacked by the 3 storms. The 3 storms Thunder, Rain, and Lighting kidnappe Miao Yin. Jack is of no matter to the Storms as he attacks one and the storm barely notices. Heading back to Gracie's apt. Jack demands answers. He is told that no one knows for sure. Wang-Chi and Jack decide to head to Lo-Pan's company to see if that could lead some where. While that is going on Eddie and Gracie head back to Wang-Chi's restaurant where they meet Egg Shen who is the resident expert on Lo-Pan. Egg explains the legends and myth about Lo-Pan. Saying that Lo-Pan is cursed to walk the earth forever unless he finds a special girl with green eyes. But he must also murder her to complete the debt. As Wang-Chi and Jack are caught trying to break into Lo-Pan's stronghold they are caught and beaten. Taken to Lo-Pan Jack is shocked to see an old man in a wheel chair as the one he say was walking. Jack questions Lo-Pans sanity and is forced back to his cell. Gracie and Eddie along with a reporter named Margo attempt to locate Jack and Wang-Chi. They themselves are captured. Jack and Wang-Chi escape and save  Eddie, Margo, and Gracie along with numerous other young women being held by Lo-Pan. As they escape the compound Gracie is captured again by a monster that serves Lo-Pan. After being seen by Lo-Pan, Gracie is also to marry him as she has green eyes. Jack and Wang-Chi team up with Egg Shen and Chang Sings to defeat Lo-Pan....

This movie is one that you can either go with or you will hate it. Kurt Russell play Jack as the shit-talking know it all. He gives the lines that pop and zing that some movies leads lack. Along with Russell is Dennis Dun who is the true hero of the story although he takes the back sit to Jack. If you notice during the movie everything Jack does is at the basic core of being the side kick. He makes the jokes. He gets his but kicked. He talks big game. But its Wang-Chi who is the hero getting his true love. He is all business. Where Jack talks Wang-Chi acts. Jack sees himself as the hero. James Hong gives performance of his career to me. Every time I see him on screen its Lo-Pan. Victor Wong as Egg-Shen is a treat.He and Lo-Pan have a history that is never revealed completely. That would make a great movie on its own.

The impact this movie has is seen in video games. Lo-Pan's look is same look Ed Boon and John Tobais used for Shang Tsung in the first Mortal Kombat game. The hats wore by The 3 storms are seen on Raiden. The Egg-Shen is also one of base elements of Raiden where he knows what Lo-Pan is what he can do. Enter the Dragon and Bloodsport influenced Mortal Kombat also but you can see some of the frame work here.

The film was originally suppose to be set in the old west. But seeing as it was easier and better cost effective it was changed to present. The film was a bomb when it first came out. On the commentary for the movie John Carpenter said the film was marketed wrong. The main reason is because they didn't know how to market it. But it gained a cult following and has become a repeat viewing in most peoples homes that have watched it.

So is it a rent, skip it, net-flix it, buy it, or a why aren't you watching this now? It's a why aren't you watching thisright now. Goodbye Mr.Burton.

The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen

Buy it, Rent it, Net-Flix it, Skip it or. Why aren't you watching it right now.

The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen. LXG for short.

In an alternate Victorian age, where the characters of novels actually live the fate of our world is in their hands. Sounds like a great mix.

Starring Sean Connery as Allen Quatermain. Naseeruddin Shah as Captain Nemo. Pita Wilson as Mina Harker. Tony Curran as Rodney Skinner the invisible man. Jason Flemyng as Dr.Jekyll and Mr.Hyde. Stuart Townsend as Dorian Gary. Along with Richard Roxburgh as M. With Shane West as Tom Sawyer. Also Sean Connery's hair piece.

In 1899 Europe stands on the brink of war. A man calling himself The Fantom. He attacks London looting a bank with drawings. Kidnaps scientists from Germany.Each blames the actions on the other and  are ready to cut each other to pieces. MI-6 decides to bring together a team of extraordinary people together to prevent this. Starting with Allen Quatermain who has exiled himself to Kenya after losing his son. Seeking to be left alone, A decoy that Allen uses to keep story seekers away is murdered and Allen avenges the decoy's murder. M's righthand man Sanderson Reed witnesses the entire thing. Stating that a war in Europe would spread to the rest of the world Allen agrees. Heading to England Allen is welcomed by M to join the League of Extraordinary Gentlemen. M explains that previous times of trouble The League has been brought together. Captain Nemo appears with Rodney Skinner followed by the arrival of Mina Harker a chemist. Allen not being impressed states as much. M states that Mina's previous meetings may get a member of The League to join the group. Given their mission the group leaves to head to the home of one Dorian Gary. Allen notices a young man following the group but says nothing. Arriving at Gary's home the group is caught by The Fantam. He makes them a one time offer to join him. Allen noticing one of guards for The Fantam is dressed differently  makes eye contact and then all hell breaks loose. Captain Nemo displays his martial arts discipline of Shin Sun Do. Skinner removes his clothing that he was wearing to allow the others to see him, engages in grabbing and beating soldiers with their own guns. The Fantam escapes. While regrouping one last henchmen grabs Mina the others lower their guns and Mina reveals that she is Nosferatu. And no she isn't Italian. A vampire for those who don't know. Allen questions the man that had been following the group. He introduces himself as Tom Sawyer of the U.s. Secret Service. Traveling to Paris on Nemo's Nautilus the group captures Mr.Hyde. Hyde who looks like a huge human-monkey is offered a chance to return to England if he helps The League fight the The Fantam. Hyde agrees and changes back to Dr.Jekyll. Allen and Sawyer start to form a bond, explaining to Sawyer that his shooting enough bullets until he hits his targets is very american. We also learn that Mina and Gray have had a previous romance. A message from M the group leads the group to Venice to protect a peace conference that with stop the coming war. When The Fantem's men start blowing up the supports to sink the city The League stops the sinking of Venice but learns of a traitor in the group. The Fantam who tells the heroes his plan before he thinks he kills them. (I guess he didn't see a James Bond movie). And the credits roll. Just kidding. The heroes live to set-up a showdown with The Fantam....

Where to begin. For those who don't know LXG was a comic created by Allen Moore and Kevin O'Neil. Moore who is well known for not wanting any of his works to be translated to film.

The film fails on some levels, a few in gets right but mostly it gets things wrong. Ok the good. Connery is as always a blast. Quatermain is haggard and beaten. Kinda like how Connery was in real life. This is as of Dec 7th,2012 his last on screen performance. He stated in the past that he didn't star in The Matrix or The Lord of the Rings film because he didn't understand them. The man is James Bond. If this is his last film it's a shame. Naseeruddin as Nemo is great. Haven't seen him in anything since, His part was under played. Pita Wilson nothing to say. Tony Curran who is talented but always under used. Here he has the best lines and plays the part in want seems like a reckless who the hell care way. Flemyng as Hyde/Jekyll is played with the Dr. of science who unleashed the monster. Stuart Townsend if he is as much of dick in real life as people say then they casted right. For background he was fired from Thor,he was playing Fandral, because he was acting like the movie was about his character and not Thor. He was also fired from The Lord of the Rings films, he was Aragon, so go with that. Again all rumors but you never know. Shane West as Tom Sawyer. Now producers for the film felt that the American film watchers would not watch the movie without an America hero so Sawyer was shoehorned in. In a cut scene we learn what became of Huck Finn. West and Connery build a father and son like relationship as stated earlier, but it felt rushed.

The Effects while great in some places like The Nautilus and landscapes. The outfits and props are great. Now this film came out in 2003 same year as the Ang Lee Hulk film, but where that film had a hulk that was to green and looked like Shreik, Hyde was a mess. Plain and simple so scenes  they went live special effects which look horrible.(much like my spelling). I'm a huge fan of in camera special effects. Godzilla being a perfect example. Yes the rays where added but until the 1998 Tristar screw-up Godzilla had been a man in a suit. Back to Hyde the CGI  effects suffer trying to match to what was done in camera and failed. It's a rough rough outing.

So is it a skip it, rent it, Net-flix it, buy it, or a why aren't you watching this right now. It's a skip it.

Predator

Buy it, Rent it, Net-Flix it, Skip it or. Why aren't you watching it right now.










The movie Predator. Arnold Schwarzenegger, Carl Weather, with Kevin Peter Hall playing The Predator. When you look at the movie it starts off with a strange looking alien ship shooting a pod of some kind to the surface of the earth. Next we meet Arnold and his team of badass soldiers. Bill Duke as Mac explosive expert. Jesse Ventura as Blain heavy weapons. Sonny Landham as Billy the indian tracker. Richard Chaves as Poncho marksman. And last but not least Shane Black as Hawkins the radio man. Along for the ride are Apollo I mean Carl Weathers as Dillon with Eilpidia Carrillo as Anna. Everyone in the jungle, things go boom. People die. Spines ripped out. Arms cut off. More things go boom.

The movie: After being called into do a snatch and grab operation by war buddy and now a CIA officer Dillon. Arnold playing Dutch is lead to believe that it is simple job. After being briefed on why he and his group were called. Dutch has doubts about the mission. But trusting Dillon he goes along. Dropping into the jungle the group finds the helicopter that was carrying the package that they were looking for with no one there they instead find a squad of Army Green Berets dead. Dillon stating he has no idea who they are states that they need to find the package. Billy tracks the rebels that shot down the choppper back to there base where we find Russian soldiers killing the hostages that were aboard the helicopter. Dutch and his group super murder. everyone. Blain gets shot in the arm, when Poncho notices and brings in to his attention his reaction is one of the best on-liners ever. "I aint got time to bleed." After the killing is done. Dillon is confronted by Dutch saying he lied to him. The entire story was bullshit. Dillon tells Dutch that his men where in the helicopter and he sent the Green Berets to find them and when they didn't come back he called Dutch. When calling for a recuse copter the team is told that they will have to walk out of the jungle to get across the border. Finding a remaining rebel named Anna the group heads back into the jungle to get out of the hellhole. As they move thru the jungle Anna attempts to escape and Hawkins gives chase. Capturing Anna asking her to stop, Hawkins is killed by The Predator. Finding nothing but his cloths and equipment the group searches for Hawkins. Blain is killed and after spotting a shadow Mac grabs Blain's Mini-gun and lays waste to the forest. The others join in and clear the timber from a section of the area. Dutch asks Mac what he saw. Mac who just lost his best friend is at a loss for words. Poncho and Billy search the area as Dutch and Dillon look at Blain's body. The wounds are inhuman. Poncho and Billy return saying that they hit nothing. After a restless night Dutch decides to set up an ambush for The Predator. Poncho is injuried and Mac snaps running off to chase The Predator. Dutch and Anna grab Poncho with Billy leading the way to the helicopter. Dillon seeing no way out goes after Mac telling Dutch to wait at the copter.The Predator blows the back of Mac's head off. He then blows off one of Dillon's arms. Then impaling him. Billy decides to stay and fight The Predator. It is quickly over for Billy who for his trouble gets his spine ripped out. Poncho and Dutch along with Anna are attacked by The Predator with Poncho getting shot in the head. Dutch tells Anna "get to da copter" Leaving Dutch to fight the Predator one on one.

The movie plays well. The action scences are shot in a way that you don't get lost and you know who is doing what. The opening scence with the alien ship could have been cut. Would have let the discovery of the predator a better payoff. If the opening scence had been left out it would have left audience wondering what the hell was that, when the thermal vision came on. The thermal vision has become a hallmark of the series. The Predator was going to be played by Jean-Claude Van Damme as an uncredited special effect. Not wanting that according to Jesse Ventura led Van Damme to be fired according to Ventura. The thinking that Arnold and his men are all huge guys a smaller and faster ninja like creature would play well opposeing them. The great Stan Winston was contacted by John McTiernan by way of Arnold to help redesign the monster. Arnold had worked with Winston on The Terminator. As Stan went to work he was also working with James Cameron, Cameron is reported to have said that the manibles were something he always wanted to see on a alien. Kevin Peter Hall who was 7'2 had a hard time filming the fight scences with Arnold because the eye sockets on the predator suit blocked his vision. he and arnold would rehearse and walk thru the sequence numerous times to get it right.

Next to True Lies this is one of my favorite Arnold movies.

So is it a skip it, it a rent it, Net-flix it. or a Buy it? Or a why aren't you watching it right now? It's a why aren't you watching it right now.

The Dark Knight Rises

And here we go. Where do we begin. Yes I know I started the post with two lines from the series it seems fitting. AMAZING. Is how I would describe this film. From the opening shot to the rise at the closing. The main theme of the 3 Nolan batman films I feel has been What is a symbol mean? From the start of the first film we follow Bruce Wayne as he rises to a hero to the fall guy back to a hero.
The film starts with an amazing plane takeover that will leave your jaw on the floor. The first time I heard Bane's voice I was a little taken back. The laugh factor is there you can either go with it or not. Go with it and enjoy if not get up and leave. Cutting to Gotham we are told that the Harvey Dent Act has pretty much killed crime in Gotham. Batman has taken the fall for the deaths that Two-Face committed at the closing of The Dark Knight. We find that Bruce Wayne has shut himself off from the world hanging up his cape and cowl. The death of Rachel Dawes in TDK has left him broken well that and falling off a two story building at a very bad angle. We meet Selina Kyle as she breaks into Bruce's safe that was suppose to be the best safe money can buy. Anne Hathaway plays the role of Selina like she is having a blast. In the comics Selina is played as good/bad here is the same. You see her play the part of good/bad really well. Her disappearing act on Bats was one of those moments where you laugh and really enjoy it. Michael Caine is given less to do in this movie but his moments of trying to make Bruce see beyond Batman are touching. You see that he wants Bruce to move on have a life and a family be happy. The great Morgan Freeman is always reliable. Gary Oldman as Commissioner Gordon looks that he is burning from the inside just waiting to explode. I was really hoping that we would get the Oldman from The Professional. I have always thought that he is underused in the movies. I wanted "Get everyone" " what do you mean everyone?" EVERYONE"  moments but he gives it his all. Matthew Modine as Foley just oozes backstabber. But the real break thru is Joseph Gordon-Levitt as John Blake. His rise is one of the movies best arcs.  Now to Tom Hardy as Bane. Heath Ledger as the Joker will be hard to top no matter who plays the role. Where Heath was able to use his entire face here Hardy is forced to use his bodies size and his eyes. Much like The Joker there is no force to stop Bane. The unstoppable force vs the unmovable object.
Some reviews have said that the plot gets a little sloppy and hard to follow during the time Bruce puts the mask back and the breaking of the bat till the return of The Batman. I followed it just pay attention. Its really not that hard of course some people just want things easy as possible. Nothing wrong with just having to think its not that hard trust me.
There are some really great little moments and cameos. Some you are going to see from miles away. Some not a chance you see coming. Now to The Joker. He is no where to be found. His name is barely said. I think maybe twice. You see more of Two-Face. It is for the good of the picture that way.
The fights between Bane and Batman are brutal. Bane's breaking of the bat is played to show his pure unstoppable physical domiance of an out of shape Batman. This is a way to get around how Bane broke Batman the first time in the comics by releasing the Rogues of Arkham and Blackgate. That pushed Batman to his physical limits and when Bane confronted Batman in Wayne Manor. Batman weak and spent was broke. The famous breaking the back is there but its not as dramatic. The breaking of the mask is the point of the battle that is played up. You see Batman try everything that he has. But he is not up to the fight and it shows. The water failing on the batsuit gives it an defeated look as Bane just beats him.
I won't say much more on the fact that the rest is worth seeing and enjoying. More than once. Nolan brings his Dark Knight Saga to a close in a fitting end. We will miss it. Trust me We will miss it. And by the way Robin is in it. Trust me.  Go out see it and enjoy. The fire rises and the fire dies. Thank you Christopher Nolan. 12 out of 10.

Real life

The actions of one man can sometimes make a difference. Other times it makes no difference. Then you have last night in Colorado. A sadly disturbed young man killed at least 12 people and injured at least 50. At a midnight showing for the final chapter in Christopher Nolan's Dark Knight series. As a fan of the previous films my wife, my brother and my cousin along with myself were there at the gra...nd theatre to enjoy the film which we did. 3 hours later we all were smiling and laughing talking about how incredible the film was, not knowing what had happened in Colorado. It was a shock for me because we were in the same situation watching the same movie at the same time. Ready to slip into a word where a masked man saves the day. But those people where attacked by a masked man in real life. His reasons may never be known nor do I care. All he deserves is a needle in the arm with some nice chemicals running thru his system for a nice long dirt nap or better yet what the hell firing squad. He took a great time and destroyed the lives of so many why?? His girlfriend breakup with him? His mother took away his bottle to soon? Didn't hold him enough? Many that watched the movie at the theater are huge fans of the series as are the rest of the 25 million dollar spending community that got tickets to it. I say we honor then by going see the movie again and again even if you didn't like it nor cared. Not just for us but for a small part for them. In closing kiss and hold your kids a little closer tonight. Try to seek or forgive someone for petty crap be adults. A fire will rise and a fire will fall. Now is the time to pick ourselves up.

We are back.

It has been over a year since the last post, so many things have changed and more are coming. Last time we talked it was just after Thor had been released. We also had Captain America, Green Lantern, X-men First class, and what we thought would be the last Transformers before a reboot. Let us look back at those films real quick. And here we go... .

Green Lantern: A waste. Ryan Reyonlds as Hal Jordan great idea. Mark Strong as Sinestro perfect. The story was a mess. Bad acting from very one except Strong and Ryan. The effects while strong in some parts. The way the yellow power ring is created is horrible. At least make it a good reason for Sinestro's fall. The rest of the Lantern corp. while voiced perfectly were underused and simply a waste of time.

 Captain America: Chris Evans who was the perfect Johnny Storm in the FF films became Steve Rogers. The pacing and setups were almost perfect. Hugo Weaving as the Red Skull was great casting but was a paint by the numbers villain. Tommy Lee Jones as the cranky old general was well Tommy Lee Jones as a cranky general. The tacted on ending of Captain waking up at the end of the movie instead of the after credits sequence was forced. But it allowed the teaser for The Avengers. More time could have be spent on the Howling Commandos, sequels I guess.

Xmen: First Class. The big unexpected of the summer. Inspired casting on all fronts. Best cameo all summer. Also best costumes from the orginal source. James Mcavoy and Micheal Fassbender both at the same time make you see the influences of Patrick Stewart and Sir Ian McKellen but make the roles their own. Interested to see where 20th Century Fox goes with this series. They have made up for X3.

 Transformers 3: Micheal Bay. The man can blow up more crap than anyone alive. For a PG-13 movie you see a lot of people being killed. You see Prime go off on robots just tearing and slicing them in half. Yet Bay doesn't get credit for that.People jump down the man's throat for changes that are made to certain designs and characters. The thing that gets me is that no matter what things will be different. Did you know that in his orginal toy The toy that became Megatron was a good guy. or was it Starscream. The Point is that changes happen. I'm a huge Deadpool fan. Everyone knows this. In Wolverine I got maybe 15 minutes of the Deadpool i wanted. Next to that we got Barakapool. I was pissed but I got my little bit, movies that are made for the price tag that most of these are can't make every fan happy. Hell there are some that hate The Dark Knight. Fanboys have become spoiled.

A little story

A little story My dad when he would take us to the movies he would stop at the dollar stores and load up with candy. Soda would be the one thing he couldn't sneak in until he started asking us to carry a backpack with stuff in it. But my favorite one is this. The old Alexandria theaters exit doors what dad would do sometimes is let us go in alone and we would open the exit door and he would give us a pizza then he would come in thru the front. He never just walked in the back no my dad would pay his ticket price and then join us at the movie with pizza, candy, and soda smuggled in. I loved watching movies with my dad.

Thor

The movie Thor oh where oh where to start? Ok the title should be Avengers: Thor Begins. Of all of the Big 3 Avengers this one is the one that could have gone wrong really fast. Just the basic story is enough to really question things about our history as it involves the Gods of ancient cultures.
The story is very straight forward. You know who the bad guys are and who the good guys are. Even the twists you can see coming. but its basic story telling. I would have preferred the entire movie be set in Asgard but it plays really well there. The earth interaction is what most people come to expect.
Chris Hemsworth as Thor is amazing you believe that he is the thunder god. Tom Hiddleston as Loki is the films best part. He plays the part with a degree of evil not seen in Marvel films yet. I felt sorry for him in the respect that he is in his mind doing what he thinks needs to happen to be king. Always second in everything to Thor, he plays everyone against each other telling them what they need to hear. The Warriors 3 are underused. Again a movie set in Asgard would give them all at least a better chance to shine. Jaimie Alexander as Sif is great you see that see loves Thor and cares for him a point in the comics that was left out. Anthony Hopkins doesn't phone it in like in Wolfman or the last ten films he has made. When he strips Thor of his power and the fight they have he is hurt and devastated with what he has to do. Now to the earth cast Natalie Portman as Jane Foster is actually trying instead of her Star Wars pictures. Stellan Skarsgård as Eric Selvig is set for more things. And Kat Dennings and cleavage are great. Clark Gregg as Agent Coulson is the man that holds the universe together. Waiting for him to have more things to go.
Now for the little things. All the Robert Blake is an injoke to Thor's secret id in the comics. The weapon's locker in Asgard holds the Ultimate weapons of the marvel universe. The Infinity Gauntlet, an all powerful weapon capable of controlling aspects of reality (soul, time, space, power & mind) in the "Marvel Comics" universe is shown as well as the Cosmic Cube. Barton is Clint Barton aka Hawkeye a future avenger is in the film but unless you know who he is its like ok the guy took a bow and arrow instead of a gun. His 5 to 6 lines are ok showing how the character will be shown. Thor and Agent Coulson's interaction is setting the stage for the Avengers to call for Thor in a time of need. The after credit scene that ties into the Avengers and Captain with Sam Jackson telling Eric Selvig that the cosmic cube is here and it could lead to something with Loki being the evil that brings The Avengers together. Idris Elba as Heimdall is great in the role that shows the power of the character. 7 out of 10.

"we drank, we fought he made his ancestors proud."

News

Since the last time we spoke alot has happened to most of us who write on this blog but another time. Now A Recap on what has happened since the lasttime i sat here above the earth.
The Dark Knight Rises- I think that of so many things like who is the new villian in batman 3 going to be. Riddler Hugo Strange, or KIller Croc. Have been revealed to the world or have they. I am really excited about the new movie. Although we know who some of the villians are we really dont know anything about the movie. All we know God (Nolan) is involved. that is good enough for me. I trust the man. I was a huge Batman Begins fan and i helped make Dark Knight the 3rd highest grossing film of time. ( Highest grossing comic book movie of all time)

Superman or should i say Man of Steel. Zack Synder has been hired to direct Superman reboot\sequel. I saw Superman Returns 3 times in the theater so yeah i can tell that movies issues. Kal Penn kicking Supermans ass is a big one. Its that i dont love harold and kumar, just not in Superman. That is why I really wanted to see Brandon Routh get another shot at the role hes been in the suit you dont have to make me see someone else. But in order for a clean break someone new must take over the role. It has that tried but true feeling. Just give him something to punch. Say how bad Smallville is but they never were afraid to let Clark\KalEL\blur\whaterer the hell he is called punch someone sometimes more that once. We have seen Live action Green Arrow to Aquaman on the show.

Green Lantern. We know now that Parlellx is the main villain with hector hammond as the enemy for the first movie and the chance of sinserto to fall to the dark side.- Production art leaked out of Qa and of the Green Lantern graveyard. The first trailer was a complete failure from the fx not being ready to the release on the et show. Warner Bros. Dropped the ball on the launch but then recovered for second trailer that showed more of what will sale tickets. The movie is being targeted at the little boys to sell toys. So even if the movie fails WB can make their money back in some way.

Thor- Footage and a ton of pics. I really liking the vibe off of the footage. Agent Cousten going over where thor got his training.And how he Thor made shields agents look like mall cops. I think maybe to much on a major plot point but it was to expected. I love the humor that coulsten is using Its Like I have seen this before and i will see it again. With the release in lease than a month the companies are full steam ahead for the launch. A rubber Thor hammer on sale. Just having the hammer is great,

Captain America- Hugo Weaving as Red Skull. I called that one. Numerous other name actors in the film. The shield throw and the pre-super soldier steve rogers just make me want the movie now. You can see the start of want i call Marvel-Tech in the movie. The Hydra soldiers and planes all giving it a alternate 1940's look something you can think could have happened maybe.

The Flash- Bradley Cooper is the name we hear but he doesnt want to say yes. Ign has quotes I wont do the flash. He said he wont do ateam and he did

Avengers-Sam "Nick Fury" Jackson picked up a new shield agent in Maria Hill played by Cobie Smulders of How I met you mother fame. Also Jeremy Renner as Hawkeye.

The Hobbit has also started filming.

Spiderman The Only reason to write about this is who is Gwen Stacy Emma Stone.


Now more information to come I promise and it wont take six months

All information was taken from Aintitcool.com comicbookmovie.com and Ign.com
I am affilated with any of those sites and my opinoins do not reflect there opionions and thoughts I read there pages and condence it for you my dear readers/
Godzillapool Out

SUPERMAN: DOOMSDAY- The Death of Superman

I think this is pretty badass. The guy (kashchel2003)that did it has a youtube page.Go check it out. Updates as we they become avaiable Godzillapool out

Red Band Trailer: Faster

AT LONG LAST THE ROCK HAS COME BACK TO ACTION FILMS. SORRY I COULDNT HELP MYSELF. GODZILLAPOOL OUT

The Ultimates

The Ultimates.







If there is one things about me that people that know me should know is that The Ultimates are what got me into comics. The X-men had come out and being a sheep i was worshipping at the alter of Wolverine. One day my lovely wife suggested we stop at local comic book shop to shut me up. I sent about 25 minutes looking, then i just asked the guy whats good. He looked at me and handed me the tpd to the The Ultimates. I paid left, read, came back and asked for more. But that topic is for another time.

I never followed The Avengers. I knew Captain America, Thor, and Iron Man were the 3 big guns. Most of my exposure to the group was in the video game Captain America and the Avengers. But this was something else. Mark Millar and Bryan Hitch gave us a comic series that was for my generation. Allow me to give you a brief recap.


Issue one. Picture Saving Private Ryan with Captain America. Done. Oh we meet Tony Stark also.
Issue two. Starts with the reintroduction of Ultimate Nick Fury (Sam Jackson) from his earlier showing in Ultimate X-men. We also meet Hank and Janet Pym. At the end of the issue Cap is found.
Issue 3. Cap. awakens and thinks Zee Germans have taken him.Busts out and is captured by Giant man. In this issue Fury makes a joke that his nose has been trashed more time than Robert Downey Jr. Something looking back on is really funny considering how great Iron Man is.
Issue 4 Interpersonal stuff between the group. Larry King and Shannon Elizabeth make cameos. Hawkeye is hinted at but not seen. We also get our first look at Thor here with no connection to Donald Blake, but instead a new wave prophet. With a really big hammer. After getting belittled Bruce Banner decides that he wants to be big again.
Issue 5 Is the throw down issue. Fighting and more fighring.

Issue 6 Is Giant man vs The wasp.

Now I know i should go into more details but trust me just get the book.

A couples of points
*Millar and Hitch approached was to though nothing has happened before and tell the story fresh from the start going back to the core of who these people were and build outwards Cap is the soldier thor is a nut case or a messiah banner hulk is an insecure genius and fury the king of cool, from a quote in FEB 2002
*Although most people believe that The Avengers are called that because they avenge things. Hank Pym coined the name. Because it sounded dramatic.*Issue 4 States that movie on the ultimates is being made. Brad Pitt as Captain America, Lucy Liu as The Wasp, Matthew McConaughey as Giant man, Sam Jackson, Johnny Deep as Tony Stark, and an unnamed actor as Bruce Banner.
And there came a day a day unlike any other when Earth's mightest heroes and heroines found themselves united a againest a common threat On that day the avengers were born to fight the foes no single super hero could with stand Through the years their roster has proposed changeing many times but their glory has never been denied Heed the call then for The Avengers assemble or listen



A couple of things
One Boss sorry it took so long to post this.
Two I consider The Ultimates to be The Avengers
Thank you for Reading my mess and also stay tuned i have a couple of ideas for the next one.

Rev Terry Jones and his Nazism

Alright, I know this is not nerd related in anyway but I have to get this off of my chest. Normally I would not subscribe or even waste my time talking about these idiots or should I say Zealots, but this guy has gotten right under my skin and got me thinking about a lot of things.

Now I am sure some of you know that in the recent news that a pastor from Florida USA Rev Terry Jones is going to burn copies of the Quran on September 11th in memory of the atrocities of what happened that day back in 2002. Now the shear ignorance of single mindedness of this man has left many people foaming at the mouth. He has received over a hundred death threats and caused hundreds to protest in Afghanistan, resulting in the American flag being burned and chants that say "Death to America".

Ok so lets analyze this situation in a little more detail and see if we can break it down to what it seems like or could be.  For one I am sure there is a lot of people out there that is agreeing with him, and a lot are actually helping him by sending him copies of the said holy book. Fine they are just as bad as he is for being drawn into his mindless ramblings and evangelical nonsense. This is typical of what damage and hate mongering religion can do to people.

But lets look at a different picture here, this pastor lives in a small town and his congregation reaches 50 people (or so it is said). So how would he attract more people? well him doing something controversial and upsetting of course, and the sad thing is, it is working. The media are chewing at the bit for any bit of information regarding this publicity stunt. Even the pope and top leaders of the US Army are falling for this mans idiocy. But of course, this piece of Nazism  would not have gone unnoticed if he actually goes through with it, even if it was not intended to cause a media storm or a publicity stunt, to which I am certain that Rev Terry Jones is fully aware of and intended all along. The interesting thing about this and why I know it is a publicity stunt is because he said this and I quote "If God tells me to stop I will" and also he is trying to pull Imam Muhammad Musri (the Muslim leader who is trying to build a "mosque" near ground zero in New York) into the mix. He said he would not burn the Qurans only if they do not build the mosque and that him and Imam are in agreement. Of course Imam is denying any such agreement and I fully doubt that they have even communicated. So the main question is, will he go through with it?. I am expecting him to pull out at the last minute.

Now lets look at another picture. Say that rev Terry Jones DOES go through with this stunt and burns the books, what will happen next?. Well this will be one hell of a propaganda boost for the Terrorist groups out there trying to recruit. "Oh look at what the evil Americans are doing, they hate you and they hate what you stand for". As we all know Muslims take their religion seriously, as do many other religious people. They have their views and are entitled to what they want to believe, and so are Christians, catholics, Buddhists etc. I am an Atheist and I believe that religion is the root of all evil, and in order for the human race to survive and be happy, we must release ourselves from such nonsense, But that is my opinion and I hope whoever reads this believes I am entitled to it. But I am getting sidetracked here. The Quran burning would put many people in danger, our soldiers and civilians. This is exactly what the terrorists are hoping for, this boost in their view of moral obligation. Also it is putting rev Terry Jones's life in danger also, but say if something bad was to happen, I am sure he would be made a martyr in some peoples eyes. Just like the suicide bombers. In fact I believe they are one and the same.

Another thing I have thought about and the most out there and very conspiracy theorist, and I do not want you to think that I believe this thought because I really don't, it is just an idea. I have thought about that maybe he was put up to this? maybe someone gave him a nice check for him to perform the most insulting thing he can to the Muslim people just to cause a major uproar and make something go down hill from there. I mean it is not really hard to believe that some backwoods preacher would not do something like this? so it is a perfect scapegoat. You can look at this in different ways, each way is as crazy as the next. Maybe actual terrorists approached him and gave him cash in order to drive people into a frenzy. Maybe our own government did this to justify something in the future to get the proverbial snowball rolling. They knew that the Muslim community would not stand for it and hopefully would cause violence and unrest. Maybe further down the line another war?. Again I do not really think the above is the case and I certainly hope it is not.

how improbable you all are, and how lucky we are to be even on this planet, lucky to be just alive. It is a shame to think that it is in our nature to destroy ourselves when we have so much potential and we let a stone age belief in a god to rule our lives.

Is PC Gaming dead?

Hi my nerdizzles, sorry about not posting for a while. Life changes etc and being lazy is no excuse for not posting so I am truly sorry.

Anyway, I would like to discuss the current state of PC gaming. For one I love the PC, it has brought me much entertainment and has such versatility that can not be matched. It spawned the internet fandom, is the forefront of gaming technology. You can just do just about anything with it. In the early 2000's is was the most popular gaming platform and in front of any other console on the market in terms of games and technology, so why are people saying it is dying?

Well, I have been involved with computers for a very long time and this sort of thing happens all the time. You had the Amiga and it was one of the best gaming platforms around, then it died to the consoles and eventually to the PC. So is it time for the PC to just give up on its old motherboard and die? certainly not. There is still more PC's out there than consoles either for personal or business, it all depends on how you look at it.

The PC has some of the best developers out there, look at Valve and its Steam platform. It is proving that there is still a market for PC Games and that piracy is not an issue when you can create a quality game that people will buy, also with Valves Steamworks for the PS3 and allowing PC and PS3 players cross platform will be amazing and improve sales on PC and PS3 titles across the board. Valve has some A+ titles coming out that is going to blow the socks off of everyone. We have Portal 2, Half Life Episode 3 and probably some others we dont know about.

Then we come to Blizzard, oh Blizzard how I love thee. They have proven you can still make a bucket full of cash just on the PC alone. I am not just talking about the obvious World Of Warcraft either. Starcraft 2 was the second fastest selling PC game ever (behind its own WoW expansion Wrath of the Lichking) and it continues to sell by the truck load everyday. When cataclysm comes out it will sell and more than likely beat Wotlk in sales.

Yes that is only two developers you might say, but they are but a few out there that is keeping PC gaming alive and with these developers the PC will never die to just being a Business machine it once was. With your consoles, you will have to buy a new model just to keep up. With a PC buy a new graphics card and you are good, or just turn the graphics down a little and it will still run on a machine that is 5 years old. A good graphics card could run you $70, where as a new console will run you $499 on release and even then if you are lucky to get one opening night and wait in a long queue all night for it to release.You will have to buy games that are $60+, PC games with equal or better graphics will be $50+ so $10 cheaper.

So for me, with piracy aside, I feel the PC still has long life and something will come along that will breath new life into it.

Where your dreams meet reality.

Paprika
(Where your dreams meet reality)

In the near future, a revolutionary new psychotherapy treatment called dream therapy has been invented. A device called the "DC Mini" allows the user to view people's dreams, exploring their unconscious thoughts. The head of the team working on this treatment, Doctor Atsuko Chiba, begins using the machine illegally to help psychiatric patients outside the research facility, using her alter-ego "Paprika", a persona she assumes in the dream world. The movie opens with Paprika counseling Detective Konakawa Toshimi, who is plagued by a recurring dream, the incompleteness of which is a great source of personal anxiety for him. This type of counseling session is not officially sanctioned, so Doctor Atsuko Chiba and her associates must be cautious that word does not leak out to the press regarding the nature of the DC Mini and the existence of Paprika. Her closest ally is Doctor Kōsaku Tokita, an obsessively obese child-at-heart genius and the inventor of the DC Mini. Unfortunately, before the government can pass a law authorizing the use of the device, three of the prototypes are stolen. Because of their unfinished nature, the DC Minis can allow anyone to enter another person's dreams, giving the culprit an opportunity to get away with all sorts of malicious deeds. Almost immediately, the chief of the department, Doctor Toratarō Shima, goes on a nonsensical tirade and jumps through a window, nearly killing himself.

Upon examining Shima's dream (which consists of a lively parade of inanimate objects, instrument-playing animals, and various cultural icons), Tokita recognizes his assistant, Kei Himuro, which seems to confirm their suspicion that the theft was an inside job. After two other scientists fall victim to the DC Mini, the Chairman of the company, who was against the project to begin with, bans the use of the device completely. This fails to hinder the crazed parade, which manages to claim Tokita and intrude into Konakawa's dream. Paprika and Shima take matters into their own hands, and find that Himuro is only an empty shell. Tracing the "roots" that controlled him, Paprika confronts the Chairman, who claims that he is in fact the "protector of the dream world", guarding this last haven against the inhumane horrors of reality and technology. He is aided by researcher Doctor Morio Osanai, who agreed to give the Chairman his body and become the Chairman's lackey as long as he retains equal powers over his own dreams. Paprika is eventually captured by the pair after an exhausting chase. Paprika wakes as a butterfly pinned to a table in a room surrounded by pinned butterflies. There, Osanai admits his love for Chiba, and literally peels away Paprika's skin to reveal Chiba underneath. However, he is interrupted by the outraged Chairman who demands that they finish off Chiba; as the two share Osanai's body, they battle for control as they argue over Chiba's fate. Konakawa enters the dream from his own recurring dream, and flees with Chiba back into his. Osanai gives chase through Konakawa's recurring dream, causing Konakawa to realize that his recurring nightmare and anxiety result from his guilt that he never finished the film he was making with a friend. He decides to "finish the film" and take control of the dream by shooting Osanai. The act actually kills Osanai's physical body with a real bullet wound.

Dreams and reality have now merged. The dream parade is running amok in the city, and reality itself is starting to unravel. Shima is nearly killed by a giant Japanese doll, but is saved by Paprika, who has become an entity separate from Chiba thanks to dreams and reality merging. Amidst the chaos, Tokita, in the form of a giant robot, eats Chiba and prepares to do the same for Paprika. The Chairman also returns in the form of a living nightmare, reveals his twisted dreams of omnipotence, and threatens to darken the world with his delusions. A ghostly apparition of Chiba appears and reveals that she has in fact been in love with Tokita this whole time and has simply been repressing these emotions. She comes to terms with her own repressed desires, reconciles herself with that part of her that is Paprika. Paprika returns to Tokita, throwing herself into his body. A baby emerges from the robotic shell and sucks in the wind, aging as she sucks up the Chairman himself, becoming a fully-grown combination of Chiba and Paprika. In this new form, she is able to consume the Chairman's dream form and end the nightmare he created. In the final scene, Chiba sits at Tokita's bedside. Konakawa and Shima leave the two as Chiba puts her hand in Tokita's. As Konakawa and Shima walk down the street, Shima asks if Konakawa ever figured out the meaning to all this. Konakawa, turning to his reflection and seeing the figure of his film friend, realizes that he in fact became the character from their original film: the cop. Konakawa visits Paprika's website and receives a message from Paprika: "Atsuko will change her surname to Tokita... and I suggest watching the movie Dreaming Kids." The film ends as Konakawa purchases a ticket for the movie.

Wow. Simply wow. Satoshi Kon has struck again and captivated my heart with this film. This is another film he can add to his mind f**ck resume. I’d say this movie is right on par with the Ghost in The Shell Franchise due to it’s complexity of technology while, Paprika did not have a lot of cyberpunk in the movie, the two could quite possibly be siblings from different fathers. It only took me one run-through to figure out what was going throughout the entire film. The parade procession can be quite confusing but, I understood it be a Japanese folklore/tradition. I also love when anime film makers include part of their heritage in their films; it shows a little bit of their world and puts a little piece of them in the movie.

Satoshi Kon is talented in all ways of capturing the hearts of the otaku community and quite possibly psychologists. He really hit it on the nail with his psycho-thriller, Perfect Blue. It was a completely ordinary situation and he messes with your brain. He really puts you in the characters shoes. He wants you to feel the same emotions and experiences the characters are going through. This movie might take a few watches for you to get what’s going on but, that’s quite alright because it’s one of those films you can watch over and over, always finding something new.

Overall, I give Paprika a 9/10 and a gold star for creativity, actually requiring us to think with our pea-sized brains.

Definitely worth a watch if you are into Ghost in The Shell.

EDIT: 8/25/10 - I just found out that 2 weeks after I wrote this, Satoshi Kon passed away last Tuesday. It passed away at the age of 47 in his battle with cancer. I offer this post/review/whatever you would like to call it as tribute to this amazing director and animator. Dedicated to him, family, friends and fans.

His ideas and visions will remain encased in his colorful films.

Deadpool Cast

Well Hello again,
Having talked to the All Mighty (the wife) and the Brother (my brother, better nickname coming soon), I decided to go with the Deadpool casting...so remember budget is not a concern of mine (not my money). Please enjoy and someone answer where the hell is Bob?
Deadpool = Ryan Reyonlds. Any questions?? Good moving on...
Cable = Micheal Biehn. I've always been a fan of the guy. I recently watched the first Terminator and just liked watching the guy say some of things he says and the looks he gives cops. (The Brother said Stephen Lang so we could go with that too, but my first choice is the guy that keeps a shotgun for close encounters).
Bob = Anton Yelchin. This character is a long way off but it would be a nice little role.
Weasel = Justin BarthaI. I liked the guy in the first National Treasure and i felt he was under used in The Hangover, but that was the point. Having him play off of Ryan would be a sight.
Domino = Nia Peeples. If there was one good thing about Half Past Dead it was Nia. She is the only reason why you should watch that movie.
Blind Al = Jane Fonda. A short cameo is all. No real need for the character, just to have her yelling at Deadpool.
Bea Authur = CGI a la Marlon Brando in Superman Returns, or just have the Golden Girls on the tv in the background.
Outlaw = Dina Meyer.
Siryn = Lesile Bibb. She was the reporter in Iron Man. This would allow her to interact more with the action by putting her in direct conflict with Deadpool's mission: to find Killbrew, who is guarded by her uncle.
Agent X = Bradley Cooper. Bradley would be my fall back pick for Deadpool, so let him be someone who is also looking for Killbrew but always one step behind.
　
　
Oh the villians you ask...
Bullseye = Colin Farrell. Saw lots of bad things in Daredevil, but the casting of the bad guys was awesome. Colin was indeed magic.
Black Tom cassidy = Gerard Bulter or Kevin Mcckid; flip a coin. Gerard has a hero look but really needs to go all out as a comic villian. Of course Kevin is an unkown to most, but he is well known in the geek world.
Juggernaut = Nathan Jones. With a real uniform, not that S&M outfit from XMen 3.
Typhoid = Ashley Scott. She needs to be able to look like she loves Deadpool but hates him too, although he is the only man that can touch her.
Dr. Killbrew = Donald Sutherland. I love Sutherland. I love his apatheic attitude as a teacher in Animal House, but he also has the look of the kindly old man who could be running an illegal genetics lab.
T-ray = Edge. With T-Ray you have someone that is without regard for anything but his own. He is his most important object. I like the look Edge has been using on WWE lately.

Coming next a review of The Ultimates

Well Hello So where were we? Oh yeah. Next summer...THOR. Got new new pictures of Odin, Loki, and Thor this week. I love the look of the armor. Just right I say. Loki may not have his green spandex but with the armor. Odin when I thought that Sir. Lecter himself was going to be in this movie i thought...well i thought it works. I wasnt expecting the eye patch but it fits. Now to Thor. I am not the biggest Thor fan on the planet. My real exposure up to The Ultimates was in Adventures in Babysiting and in the Hulk tv movies. After The Ultimates I didn't read the main marvel universe until JMS came on. The first 12 issues in that series are really good. Not great, but really good. But back to the Ultimates. i love how Millar and Hitch went with the character. Taking a real-world thought to what would happen if someone showed up and said" I am Thor, son of Odin, God of Gaint Hammers and Kicking your ass." Some believe most don't. But with that hammer no one really wants to pick a fight. Oh the hammer. If the one thing I'm not happy about but ok with is the hammer. I prefer the Ultimates hammer, I understand that the other one is better known to everyone. Just one more step to The Avengers. Comic-con is in one week i will have my computer on search the entire weekend for the trailers from Thor and

Green Lantern
How can the studio that made the dark knight be in trouble with DC comics fans ? Although Warner Bros owns Dc comics, Since the dark knight, Watchman, Losers, and Jonah Hex have not had the impact that the studio wanted. Watchmen which did the best it could was kind of boring it became a punch line because of the blue penis jokes. I thought the movie had its moments but they are few. The Losers. I will be honest i loved the movie. I thought Chris "Cpt.american" Evans really was the star of movie. The jokes were there but the plot was standard. Some twists were large "hey this is going to happen" signs. Now as for Jonah Hex when im told to get a root canal instead of seeing the movie, Dammit i see the movie. But thats later. Green Lantern is the movie that will be setting the Dc movie universe. As many know I like Ryan Reyonlds mostly for his love of a certain Merc with a Mouth that he is trying to get to the big screen also seems like a generally funny guy by the roles he chooses( Chaos Theory). But again later on that. The Suit looks different, something we havent seen before. Again we need to see it in action. If this movie works and it will we get The Flash (I thought ryan would make a great Flash but maybe Bradley Cooper ), Maybe Wonder Woman (Kate Beckinsale Please) and somewhere down the line a Justice League movie. There is a lot riding on the green power ring. Anyway thats it for now. So next time we talk will be about either The Ultimates or a dream cast for a deadpool movie.