The Rocketeer

Starring Billy Campbell, Jennifer Connelly, Alan Arkin, Timothy Dalton, Paul Sorvino and Terry O'Quinn as Howard Hughes

Directed by Joe Johnston

Animated Segment directed by Mark Dindal

Release Date: June 21st, 1991

Created by Howard Hughes and coveted by the Third Reich: the ability to fly without an airplane! Soon, this amazing device is in the hands of Cliff Secord and Peevy Peabody, a stunt pilot and mechanic who see the device as an opportunity! The duo create a new mystery man: THE ROCKETEER! They think that no one will come after their strange new device. That is, until mobster Eddie Valentine and Hollywoodland movie star Neville Sinclair are hot on their trail! Can the Rocketeer save the day? Will Cliff save his best gal, background actress Jenny?

If you read a lot of my reviews, you'll see I have a fondness for comic-book based movies, such as The Dark Knight trilogy, DC Animated movies, and The Avengers. So, it should come as no surprise I'd be interested in The Rocketeer, which is based on Dave Stevens' comic of the same name.  In regards to the comic, I've read occasional issues of the IDW 2011 volume, but have not yet read any of Stevens' original work; when I do, I'll type up a review later. In the meantime, let's discuss the film.

If the name Joe Johnston sounds familiar, he's the director of Captain America: The First Avenger, Honey, I shrunk the Kids, and Jumanji. Johnston is a great director (in my opinion) due to his great sense of style, great use of action sequences, and making great family friendly films. So, I think he was a great choice to direct this film. He makes the film such a joy to watch. Sure, the special effects haven't aged that gracefully, but Johnston gives the magic of seeing the Rocketeer such a joyful feeling, it's hard not to smile while viewing.

In terms of performances, they're good but cheesy. You'd think that would be a bad thing, but this is a movie about a man with a jetpack fighting mobsters; it's okay to be a little over the top here. Billy Campbell does a good job as Cliff; he makes the character confident, cocky and a likable protagonist. Jennifer Connelly is a good leading lady, making Jenny more than just a damsel in distress, and actually has a fun character arc involving her acting skills. My favorite character, however, has to be Timothy Dalton's Neville Sinclair. If you were to mix an arrogant actor with a spy, you'd get Sinclair.

Final Thoughts: I LOVE this movie. It's cheesy, but so much fun. The Rocketeer gets my full recommendation. However, I'm disappointed the 20th Anniversary Blu-ray has nothing to offer in terms of documentaries or retrospectives. Let's hope that gets corrected one day.

Rating: 5 out of 5 

The Dark Knight Rises

Starring Christian Bale, Tom Hardy, Anne Hathaway,  Michael Caine, Gary Oldman, Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Morgan Freeman, and Marion Cotillard


Directed by Christopher Nolan


Release Date: July 20th, 2012


A champion returns. Evil plagues a city. Who will fall, and who will rise?


Eight years after the death of Harvey Dent,  Gotham City has experienced a lull in criminal activity. The people feel safe, and The Batman has been banished to whispers and speculation. Bruce Wayne (Bale), still reeling from all his loss, cannot move on now that Gotham no longer needs the Batman. Still, there are those like Officer John Blake (Gordon-Levitt), who still believe in the Batman. But there is a dark shadow looming in Gotham's path, a shadow known only as BANE (Hardy). Bane, a terrorist known for his unusual mask, is looking to take Gotham to its' knees. Will the Batman return? Can he?


I'm honestly sad this is the finale.  I have truly enjoyed Nolan's series and will miss his sense of direction in the Batman film series. Still, he has given us a fitting finale to the trilogy. He had brought a flagging franchise back into success and turned out stellar set pieces and striking character studies with Batman, The Joker, and Ra's Al Ghul (to name a few). His name has become a titan of visual storytelling similar to directors like Hitchcock, Spielberg, and Scorsese.  Now, onto the movie...


 Let's just get it over with quickly. I've already said how good Bale and Caine are in their roles. Despite the "Growl", Bale does a  great job at juggling both Bruce Wayne and Batman. As seen in the last movie, more focus is displayed on Batman's detective and tactician skills. So props to Bale. Also, Caine has less of a supporting role this time around, but still does a commendable job as Wayne's oldest ally who wants him to save Gotham as Bruce Wayne, not Batman. Also, there's Gary Oldman and Morgan Freeman as Commissioner Gordon and Lucius Fox. Both are good, commendable actors, but nothing they haven't done in the last two movies; not bad, just nothing new to add. Therefore, it's time to discuss the newest additions to the cast: Tom Hardy as BANE,  Anne Hathaway as Selina Kyle, Marion Cotillard as Miranda Tate, and Joesph Gordon-Levitt as John Blake. 


After a command performance of Heath Ledger's The Joker, how do you follow it up? Do you imitate and pattern it into another character? Do you run in a completely different direction? Nolan said, "Let's do it with more discipline". Bane is NOT JOKER. He's a ruthless terrorist with an agenda and a goal. Hardy makes Bane into a monster who is just as intelligent as Bruce Wayne/Batman. Hardy's Bane is nothing like Bane from Batman and Robin; this Bane is a leader of men whose goal is to destroy and terrorize Gotham City. While he isn't as charismatic as Ledger's Joker, I found myself captivated by Bane's dry sense of humor, or his cold, emotionless voice as he looms over someone. His fight scenes are tough, loud, and brutal. When Bane hits someone, YOU feel it. 


When I was a kid, one of my favorite movies was Batman Returns which co-starred Michelle Pfiffer as Selina Kyle/Catwoman. While many have reviled Pfiffer's performance as too weird or not faithful to the comics, I enjoyed her performance and thought it was the best live action Catwoman (the less said about Halle Berry, the better). Still, when photos surfaced of Anne Hathaway as Selina Kyle, many were unsure she could be the feline thief. What do I think? Since my younger days, I have gotten into the wonderful Catwoman Series during 2002-2007 that featured the likes of Darwyn Cooke, Ed Brubaker, and Adam Hughes. The series is a crime noir that makes great use of the title character and explores more of her character outside of her relationship with The Dark Knight. (If you're interested, the latest printing of Volume 1 is titled "Trial of the Catwoman"). What does this have to do with Hathaway? It's fairly obvious that Nolan (or his brother Jonathan) had been reading the more recent Catwoman as it makes her a more competent fighter and gives her the seductive personality that really works in her scenes with Bale. I just wish they gave her the whip. Meh. It's still a good part and Hathaway did a good with it.


Marion Cotillard as Miranda Tate and Joseph Gordon-Levitt as John Blake? In the words of River Song "Sorry, spoilers".


What doesn't work (as well)? Honestly, the film is a little slow at first. Then, there's the problem of secondary characters. While I may know that the young woman Selina Kyle pals around with is Holly Robinson (sidekick to Selina Kyle and one-time Catwoman herself), others may not know of her or other comic characters in the film. This is the same problem I had with The Amazing Spider-Man, where characters show up and no one says who they are. They're tertiary characters, but that doesn't mean I have to guess who their names. 


Final Thoughts:  Despite a slow build-up, The Dark Knight Rises is a rousing action film that makes for a thrill ride adventure. While admittedly the darkest of the three "Dark Knight" films, it's still really good. 


Rating: 5 out 5. GO NOW! SEE IT NOW! 

The Amazing Spider-Man

Starring Andrew Garfield, Emma Stone, Rhys Ifans, Sally Field, Campbell Scott, and Martin Sheen

Directed by Marc Webb

Release Date: July 3rd, 2012

Teenager Peter Parker (Garfield) lives a quiet life with his Aunt May (Field) and Uncle Ben (Sheen). At school, he tries to muster the courage to talk to Gwen Stacy (Stone) to no avail. Soon, he makes a discovery about his deceased father and his partner, Dr. Curt Connors (Ifans). Going to Connors' lab at OsCorp, Peter gets into a restricted area where he's bitten by a radioactive spider............

I liked the original Spider-Man films by Sam Raimi. Sure, Spider-Man 3 was flawed (if I can be kind), but I feel that overall Raimi did a good job of adapting the web-head and felt a lot of love and passion from the crew and most of the cast (I'm looking at you, Kristen Dunst). So, I wasn't really sure why we needed a reboot only a decade after Spider-Man came out. None the less, here we are.

What works: Overall, I like the cast. Andrew Garfield makes a convincing performance as Parker/Spider-Man. When I originally saw the trailer, I wasn't a fan of his overly mopey appearance, his hangdog attitude, and once again, I was proven wrong. I thought about it, and it makes sense that in 2012, Peter Parker would  be more of a "hoodie" wearing nerd rather than a 1960s nerd that I read in the comics, so skateboards are in and polo shirts are out. Then, once he becomes Spider-Man, Peter gradually gains more confidence rather than just completely change his character. I thought that Garfield and the screenwriters did a good job of making Peter's character growth not only believable, but very honest.

Next, I really enjoyed the performances by Emma Stone and Rhys Ifans as Gwen Stacey and Curt Connors/The Lizard. Now, while many people know Mary Jane Watson from the films, comic book fans will be more familiar with Gwen Stacey, one of Peter's earliest loves and a very integral part of the Spider-Man saga. Here, Stone uses her comedic timing and charming personality to make Gwen not only a lovely person, but someone just as smart as Peter, and willing to be just as brave as him. Seriously, if Stone isn't back in the sequel, I'll be disappointed. Ifans makes a good performance as Connors/The Lizard, using a very slow and gradual buildup from trusted mentor to psychotic lizard-person. I really understood his motivation and it does vary from the traditional "take over the world" plan villains usually have.

Then, there's something that Raimi forgot from his Spider-Man movies: make Spidey funny. I think in 3 Spider-Man movies, he only makes 3 or 4 quips. That's insulting. In the comics, one of Spider-Mans's greatest traits is his banter with a villain. I then heard the "small knives!" joke in the trailer, and I knew Webb knew how to make the character more faithful to the comics, which includes using his mechanical web-shooters rather than use organic webbing.

What fails: There's a character who's meant to be a mysterious and menacing figure at OsCorp.......but you'll never hear his name in the movie and he disappears halfway through the movie! Who was this character? Why does he speak for Norman Osborn? For that matter, Where is Norman? We are told he's dying, but we never see it. Look, I get it: they want a big name to play the character in another movie, but that's just lazy. Either use the character, or omit him from the script.  Also, I didn't like the casting of Sally Field as Aunt May. I know it's a small part, but Field doesn't fit the character for me and I hope they recast Aunt May in the sequel.


Final Thoughts: A good movie, with a few minor nitpicks.

Rating: 4.2 out of 5

Ghost Rider: Spirit of Vengeance

Starring Nicolas Cage, Ciaran Hinds, Johnny Whitworth, Idris Elba, and Christopher Lambert

Directed by Neveldine/Taylor

Release Date: February 17th, 2012

The Rider is Back! Years after running away from his deal with The Devil (Hinds), stuntman Johnny Blaze (Cage) is trying to escape his fate intertwined with the spirit of vengeance, the Ghost Rider. He is soon met by Moreau (Elba) a French priest who claims that is Blaze helps him save a young boy, the curse of 'the Rider' will be lifted and Johnny can be a free man. However, the Devil has agents of his own to use against Johnny.

Similar to The Incredible Hulk and Punisher: War Zone, Spirit of Vengeance cuts ties with its' predecessor to make its own identity to stray from the less-than-stellar 2007 Ghost Rider. The only cast member form that film is star Nicolas Cage who returns as Blaze/Ghost Rider, and makes the character more  bleak and dark than previously seen; there's no scenes of Blaze eating jelly beans out of martini glasses. Here, Blaze is a tortured and slightly on edge man, someone who fears the darkness in him and he realizes the Rider is no hero, but a madman made of flame.

The film is directed by Mark Neveldine and Brian Taylor, the duo behind Crank and Crank 2, the high-octane action movies that used hyper-kinetic film editing and unusual camera shots to great use. Here, they make the film into a 1970s style with a dark anti-hero who may be against the villain, but he can also turn on Danny and his mother Nadiya. I like that Neveldine and Taylor use a lot of bleak and muddy colors in the film, as it shows that this is a harsh and cruel environment the story is set. Also, when showing Ghost Rider, they use a lot of neat visual cues, such as smoke when Ghost Rider is attacked or that his leather jacket is melting when turned into the Rider.

Does the film has short comings? Sure, the plot is occasionally sidetracked by exposition and I would've loved more of Carrigan/Blackout using his rot powers in a comedic way, but the movie still works in a action movie fashion.

Final Thoughts: If you needed a proper Ghost Rider movie, check this out. If you're a die hard Nicolas Cage fan, this is a MUST SEE.

Rating: 4 out of 5 

Comic books

Hey everyone!

So, I have been told that there are some people out there who read my blog that made a request for me to review comic books, particularly Hellboy. However, I would like to know if I should review the more recent stories or start from the beginning. When I hear back from those interested, I will get on to that review. That being said, is there anything else out there that you'd like to request? If possible, I'd like to avoid being a copy-cat of LINKARA from TGWTG's Atop the Fourth Wall; I'll do good comics and some bad, but check what he's done first before you ask me.

Later!

Captain America: The First Avenger

Starring Chris Evans, Tommy Lee Jones, Haley Atwell, and Hugo Weaving

Directed by Joe Johnston

Release Date: July 22nd, 2011

Before we get the team assembled for THE AVENGERS movie, there's one hero left to include in the pantheon of silver screen stars: CAPTAIN AMERICA. Sure, there were 2 television movies starring Reb Brown and a direct to video adaptation starring Matt Salinger, but those three stories were either too goofy or unfaithful to the source material. Therefore, it's very encouraging to see such an inspiring adaptation of the WWII icon.

Boy is this movie a lot of fun! After we left the theater, some friends and I were discussing how entertaining and exciting the exploits of Cap (Evans)  fighting the Red Skull (Weaving) in the European Theater were! Speaking of, the main leads of Evans and Weaving each get some great moments with their characters. For example, Evans really understands the need for Steve Rogers to be a man dedicated to protecting the people, rather than wanting power for power sake. Weaving , on the other hand, gets to glower and grit his teeth as the villainous Red Skull. Finally, there's a lot of care and attention to detail such as using the Comic accurate costume, or answering where Cap really got his shield.

Rating: * * * * * of 5 

Defendor

Starring Woody Harrelson, Elias Koteas, Kat Dennings, and Sandra Oh

Directed by Peter Stebbings

Release Date: February 19th, 2010 (Canada)

Let's get this out of the way: yes this did remind me of Kick-Ass. However, the two films are completely different and my review of Kick-Ass can be seen here. Where as that film is more of a cartoon-ish violent comedy, Defendor is a more realistic, drama of a real person who wants to be a superhero.

I have to applaud the actors, as each one of them gets to play around with a stereotypical comic-book character role, such as the stalwart hero or the plucky young sidekick. Particularly, I enjoyed the relationship between Arthur (Harrelson) and Kat (Dennings), as both actors are clearly having fun and work well together on screen. Speaking of Arthur, the character is a wonderfully diverse role for Harrelson, allowing him to play two diverse characters: Arthur, the timid nobody, and Defendor, the deep voiced, "bullet-proof" hero. Let it be said, the movie is definitely a lot darker than Kick-Ass; where the main hero in that movie gets to win a few fights, Defendor is constantly getting beat up and laughed at by the thugs he fights against.

Defendor is definitely worth seeing, particularly if you enjoyed Kick-Ass. 


Click here to buy Defendor Defendor [Blu-ray]

Rating: * * * * of 5 

Green Lantern

Starring Ryan Reynolds, Mark Strong, Peter Sarsgaard, Blake Lively, and the voice talents of Geoffrey Rush and Michael Clarke Duncan

Directed by Martin Campbell

Release Date:

June 17th, 2011

So far,as of June 17th 2011,  www. rottentomatoes.com has accumulated an average score of 24% favorable reviews for Green Lantern, starring Ryan Reynolds, Blake Lively, Peter Sarsgaard, Mark Strong, and the voice talents of Geoffrey Rush and Michael Clarke Duncan. A lot of the reviews have claimed that the movie is a bore, that nothing is accomplished and that the "wow" factor just isn't there. We'll take a look at both the good and bad of this DC Comics adaptation.

First, the good: the movie certainly has a lot of fun. For all my own speculation and criticism, Ryan Reynolds certainly captured the cockiness and attitude that bring out the courage and heroism in Hal Jordan. Reynolds certainly brings a certain swagger and charm to Hal, and a need to be vulnerable when needed. Then there's all the CGI: 90% of it is good (the other 10....we'll talk about later). From the GL uniforms to their green constructed objects, the sights in this movie are certainly full of life and energy. One aspect I enjoyed was how the uniforms showed off a wave of energy constantly moving, a nice touch that shows that the "uniforms" are more a second skin than a latex suit.

Second, the bad: the CGI on Hal's mask, the cheesy dialogue, and a few plot holes or events that needed more explanation. Hal's mask....the movie makes a good explanation, but it still looks awful and putting the green CGI on the bridge of his nose was a bad idea. Some of the dialogue involving the characters drawing attention that they're in a comic-book movie is a little ridiculous, but I only mention it as this type of pros could have been eliminated in the revision stage of the screenplay and have made better dialogue. Then there's some plot holes; I won't mention what occurs, but you'll think about what happens and say "How did he know where _____ was?".

Still, for all its' faults, Green Lantern is an enjoyable comic-book film. Not as good as X-Men: First Class or Thor, but still entertaining.

Rating: * * * 1/2 of 5

X-Men: First Class

Starring James McAvoy, Michael Fassbender, January Jones, Jennifer Lawrence, and Kevin Bacon

Directed by Matthew Vaughn

Release Date: June 3rd, 2011


Superb performances, staggering action sequences, and clever references to previous “X-Men” films abound in this prequel to the X-Men Series. Matthew Vaughn has most certainly invigorated new blood into the X-Men Franchise and I await with baited breath when (and if) we get to venture forward into this new continuity. 

In addition, I felt that McAvoy and Fassbender give commendable performances as Charles "Professor X" Xavier and Erik "Magneto" Lehnsherr. Both actors believably connect their performances of these characters during the 1960s and make it believable that they will one day grow into the older interpretations seen in Producer Bryan Singers' 2000 X-Men. If you're a fan of the X-men or merely curious about a film that explores topics such as the Cuban Missile Crisis, the Cold War, bigotry, self-hatred, Nazi Germany, and shape-changers, go see one of the best comic book adaptations from the summer of 2011.


Click here to buy X-Men: First Class (+Digital Copy) [Blu-ray] X-Men: First Class

Rating: * * * * * of 5 

Watchmen: Tales of the Black Freighter and Under the Hood

Release Date: March 24th, 2009

From the pages of Watchmen come two books: the comic book story Tales of the Black Freighter and Hollis Mason's' Autobiography Under the Hood. Cut from the Watchmen 2009 Feature Film, the animated comic and a "Documentary" on Hollis Mason and his novel.


Tales of the Black Freighter
Starring the Voice talents of Gerard Butler
Directed by Daniel DelPurgatorio and Mike Smith
Tales of the Black Freighter: Combined into one singular animated film, the pirate story read by one of the characters is presented here voiced by Gerard Bulter and the adaptation co-written by Zack Snyder. ON the positive side, the animation looks great; the coloring influences the mood, matching the plot of the story very well without having to be copying the original art by Dave Gibbons. Unfortunately, for how good the movie looks and sounds, at the end it just feels hollow. Maybe the Black Freighter story should have been included in the theatrical cut of Watchmen, but that's my opinion. The animated adaptation isn't bad, just not as good as it could have been.
Rating: 3 of 5



Under the Hood
Starring Carla Gugino, Jeffery Dean Morgan, and Stephen McHattie
Directed by Eric Matthies
Under the Hood: Knowing that adapting perfectly the "excerpts" of Hollis Mason's Autobiography wouldn't make a movie, the filmmakers turned these back-up stories became a documentary. When talking about these two spin-offs, I found Under the Hood to be a more perfected adaptation and to be a fascinating film that captured the tone and spirit of the Watchmen movie. Also, it gives more character development to minor characters such as Mason, Silk Spectre I a.k.a. Sally Jupiter, or Big Figure.
Rating: 4 of 5

Click Here to buy Watchmen - Tales of the Black Freighter Exclusive Steelbook
Click Here to buy Watchmen: Tales of the Black Freighter & Under the Hood [Blu-ray]

The Green Hornet

Starring Seth Rogen, Jay Chou, Christoph Waltz, Cameron Diaz, and Tom Wilkinson

Directed by Michel Gondry

Release Date: January 14, 2011

The Green Hornet: the trailers were pretty bad, but does that mean the movie will suck?

It's not the worst comic book movie I've seen, but it's certainly not the best. The majority of the reviews of The Green Hornet have been that Seth Rogen is too annoying, Kato (Chou) does all the work, and Cameron Diaz is unnecessary for her part. Now, I will address those problems: 1) Yes, Seth Rogen's portrayal of Britt Reid is his standard frat-boy annnoying self. I've said it before and I'll say it again: Rogen is on SPIN CYCLE acting, where he contstantly plays the same character over and over again. 2) Kato is hardcore awesome, so much so that the audience evertually cheers harder for him than for the Green Hornet. I'd like to think that co-writer Rogen did this intentionally, since Britt is a useless hero. 3) Of all three complaints, this is the one I agree with the most; Cameron Diaz should not have been in this movie. Seriously, it's like the part was originally written for an up-and-coming actress then rewritten when the filmmakers were told she was interested in the movie. Still, for all the movie's flaws, they've got Christoph Waltz playing up the craziness of his over-the-hill villain Chudnofsky.

The jokes are pretty funny (some of Rogen's schtick gets old fast), the action is good, and the movie does good job. The Green Hornet is a good movie, but could have been much more impressive than the final result.

Rating: * * * 1/2 of 5

Jonah Hex

Starring Josh Brolin, Will Forte, Megan Fox, and John Malkovich

Directed by Jimmy Hayward

Release Date: June 18th, 2010

In the Reconstruction Era after the Civil War, unrest and chaos rule the western lands of America. Soon, an old Conferderalist General (Malkovich) has returned and is planning a devastating attack on U.S. soil. It will be up to Jonah Hex (Brolin), infamous bounty hunter, to stop the General and save America.

During the theatrical run of Jonah Hex, many critics were largely negative of the movie and many called it one of 2010's worst movies. Now, I will say that the filim is not perfect and that there is a more faithful version to the comic version of Hex. For one, Megan Fox's performance is remarkably bad; she has no chemistry with Brolin and her facial expersions are either bored or looks trying to think too hard. Second, many fans may complain that this version of Jonah Hex is unfaithful to the comic due to the supernaturual powers he possesses in the film whereas in the comics he has no such abilities; I can see the complaints, but I had no problem with this addition to the character as it is integral to the story in the film. If fans would rather see a more faithful adaptation of Hex, see the DC Showcases animated short film starring the voice of Tom Jane. Despite these problems, the film is still a fun, enjoyable story with great performances from the cast (such as Brolin really gritting his teeth as Hex or Will Arnett in a small role as a US general), stunning cinemateography, and an interesting story about revenge and betrayal. However, the film is only 75 minutes and I hope that one day there will be a longer "Director's Cut" available for home video viewing.

Jonah Hex is a fun, western adventure with some minor complaints.
 
Rating: * * * * of 5

Click here to buy

Jonah Hex

Jonah Hex [Blu-ray]

Superman: The Movie

Starring Marlon Brando, Gene Hackman, Christopher Reeve, Margot Kidder, and Ned Beatty

Directed by Richard Donner

Release Date: December 15, 1978

Before the superfluous sequels, and the endless back and forth on Batman Vs. Superman/JLA movies, there was just a story about a man crashing down from the heavens.

Long ago, far from our galaxy, there was a planet named Krypton. A scientist, Jor-El (Brando), is fearful that the red sun from which their planet revolves may soon explode and destroy all life on the planet. Jor'El's peers do not believe in such ideas and ridicule Jor-El, until the planet shakes and trembles. Soon, Jor-El is sending his infant son, Kal-El, into a rocket toward a distant planet named Earth....

Superman: The movie is a fantastic action adventure ride that gives one a sense of who the man behind the cape is. Christopher Reeve was made to play the Last Son of Krypton. Reeve is charming, strong, mysterious, and tryuly carries the hope and despair of a planet's last survivor. In the supporting cast is Jackie Cooper (Perry White), Margot Kidder (Lois Lane), and Gene Hackman (Lex Luthor). Then, there's the scenery chomping fiend known as Marlon Brando who says Krypton like 'kriptin'. Yeah, he gets a few good moments mixed in with a lot of weird additions obviously created by the actor.

Still, for all its flaws, Superman: The movie is an enjoyable comic book movie with alot of affection for the Man of Steel.

Rating: * * * * * of 5

Click Here to buy Superman - The Movie [Blu-ray]

Spider-Man 2

Starring Tobey Maguire, Kirsten Dunst, J.K. Simmons, Alfred Molina, James Franco, and Bruce Campbell

Directed by Sam Raimi

Release Date: June 30, 2004

This movie is on my top ten favorites of all time. My favorite reasons are: faithful to the comics, the relationship between MJ and Peter, and Alfred Molina as Doctor Octopus. First, this film is amazing as it follows so closely to the comics: peter continues to struggle with his double life, unfortunately hurting his loved ones in the process; Harry is desperate to destroy spider-man after believing his father was killed by him. Finally, Mary Jane is trying to move past her feelings for Peter. I love the relationship between Mary Jane and Peter, it's so realistic and heart-wrenching which makes it all the more to root for them to wind up together. I love Alfred molina as Doc ock, he's perfect for the role as he masterfully makes a stirring performance when he first speaks to his mechanical arms. Finally, look for the homage to Amazing Spider-man #50, where peter throws his spider-man suit in the trash can.

Rating: * * * * * of 5

Spider-Man 2 (Widescreen Special Edition)

Spider-Man 2 [Blu-ray]

Spider-Man 2.1

Spider-Man 2 Gift Set (Widescreen Special Edition W/Comic Book/Postcards/Sketch Book/Photo Booklet)

Green Lantern Trailer

okay, so this week was the release of the teaser trailer for 2011's Green Lantern, starring Ryan Reynolds. I watched the trailer last night, and I had a mixed reaction. For the most part, I enjoyed what I saw: the action was interesting, getting me excited for the movie. But, this is a movie about Green Lantern, specifically the most well known GL Corps member: Hal Jordan. Don't get me wrong, I like Ryan Reynolds (usually), but here it doesn't feel like he's the right actor to play a fearless, cocky test pilot. Sure, he got the arrogant part of Hal's character, but I don't feel that he can show that Hal can stare down any challenge that comes his way: maybe I'll be proven wrong when the movie premieres next summer, but that's my initial reaction. Finally, the GL costume seen in the trailer: IT SUCKS. Oh man, it is so poorly animated I couldn't believe how it stands out like a sore thumb. The suit should be made of fabric, not CGI dots. Just see it for yourself. I just can't believe someone in the editing bay saw that brief 2 second moment of the costume and said, "Yeah, it's fine to show to audiences".

What do you think of the trailer?

The Walking Dead: "Guts"

THE WALKING DEAD

"GUTS"

Season 1, Episode 2

Air date: November 7th, 2010

A whole lot went down in this episode and yet the one thing I wanted to see never happened: A scene with Morgan and Duane. Oh well, maybe we'll see them down the line later this season. Still, we did get the onscreen first appearance of Glenn, Amy, Andrea, and some TV created characters like Merle Dixon and T-Dog. While Rick meets some new survivors in a department store, we get to see a glimpse of life at the survivor camp. First, we get to see that Laurie and Shane's little affair has become more than a "one-time" event as previously seen in the comic: It's a little touch, but Darabont and creator Robert Kirkland knew that it would be best to shake up the story for familiar fans and I for one am glad they are doing it. Next, we get to see that not only do the survivors have to deal with the zombies (or "geeks" and "walkers" as they are called in this episode), but also Merle Dixon's racism and uncontrollable urge to kill. Perhaps we will see more of this character? Only time will tell. For now, you should be on board with The Walking Dead. If not, do your self a favor and watch the pilot and "Guts". Otherwise, you'll be missing out on one of the best new shows of 2010.

Rating: * * * * 1/2 of 5

The Walking Dead: "Days Go Bye"

"Days Go Bye"

Season 1, Episode 1

I'm a big fan of the comic. In fact, I love The Walking Dead so much I tend to think of this as a legitimate heir to George A. Romero's Zombie-lore throne. Therefore, when I found out about the TV adaptation, I was both excited and scared. I realized that just because I was a big fan of the comic did not mean it would be successful (see the box office gross for "Scott Pilgrim Vs. The World"); then I found out that the entire series would be developed by Frank Darabont, director of "The Shawshank Redemption". So, how did the first episode fare in my opinion?

Honestly, the next episode can't get here soon enough. The actors are dead-ringers (no pun intended) for their comic counterparts; hopefully, the actors playing Morgan and Duane Jones will get a subplot about their zombie encounters in the suburbs in addition to the main story. It's too soon to start talking about the other characters so I'll get to the heart of the matter, the zombies. In short, the zombies look great! The make-up effects are fantastic, the prostetics look great, and the zombie crowds are awesome!

If there's one thing I hope the writing staff and Darabont will keep in mind is how to walk the line between being faithful to the comic and finding the series own voice by making unique choices. I know it seems hard, but hear me out: the TV should keep all the themes and mood of the comic while taking risks so that even fans of the comic will be shocked by familiar characters dying sooner or new story arcs in place of treading familiar ground.

Rating: * * * * * of 5

Scott Pilgrim vs. The World

Starring Michael Cera, Ellen Wong, Kieran Culkin, Brie Larson, Brandon Routh, Jason Schwartzman, Mary Elizabeth Winstead, Alison Pill, and Chris Evans

Directed by Edgar Wright

Release Date: August 13, 2010

Bursting from the pages of ONI Press and the warped minds of creator Brian Lee O'Malley and Director Edgar Wright, comes Scott Pilgrim vs. the World, a hipster's guide through the world of video games, rock and roll, and heartache.

Scott Pilgrim is your typical 22 year-old slacker: He has no job, but sleeps in a bed with his gay roommate, Wallace Wells (Culkin) yet has a new girlfriend when we first enter Scott Pilgrim's Precious Little Life: 17 year-old high school student Knives Chau (Wong), which is safe, quiet and comfortable after being dumped a year ago by The Clash At Demonhead lead singer/keyboard player, Natalie "Envy" Adams (Brie Larson). Soon, Scott's life is turned upside down when he meets the mysterious delivery girl, Ramona Flowers (Mary Elizabeth Winstead). Yet, before Scott can truly win Ramona's heart, he must defeat her exes: THE LEAGUE OF EVIL EXes, seven of Ramona's past relationships....

The first thing I can say is that Edgar Wright perfectly captured the tone of O'Malley's six volumes of Scott Pilgrim: the comedy, the relationship aspects, and the crazy video game inspired action sequences. And yes, this movie is a live action video game: there are "KOs" and status bars, and "VS" captions when Scott fights an EVIL EX. Is everything right? Well, I'd say that Wright skims over one or two important characters but for the most part all of your favorite Pilgrim Universe characters: Stephen Stills, Kim Pine, "young" Neil, and even Comeau!

The actors really nail their characters, even Michael Cera (who, FINALLY HAS EMOTIONAL RANGE!). The league of Evil Exes are truly hilarious, from Chris Evans a Lucas Lee (Ex #2) to Jason Schwartzman as Gideon Gordon Graves (Ex #7). Ramona and Roxy (Ex #4) even have a humourous exchange due to Scott's indecision when having to fight a female EX. I only wish there would have been more time to let the audience get to know Kim Pine (Alison Pill) as well as the comic book audience got to know her in the original stories.

Go see Scott Pilrgirim Vs. The World, it is truly a one of a kind experience at the movies.

Rating: * * * * * of 5

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Kick-Ass

Directed by Matthew Vaughn

Starring: Aaron Johnson, Nicolas Cage, Christopher Mintz-Plasse and Chloe Moretz

Based on the mini-series by Mark Millar and John Romita Jr.

Release Date: April 16, 2010

It's not a bird, it's not a plane, it's Kick-Ass the movie! Based on the comic by Mark Millar and John Romita Jr., Matthew Vaughn brings their deconstruction of a fan boy wanting to be a real superhero to the big screen.Dave (Aaron Johnson) lives a boring life; no girl, no popularity, nothing. Until one day, he decides to become a superhero to help the downtrodden and fight crime: then gets hit by a car. Meanwhile, a mysterious figure who dresses like Batman is terrorizing Gangster Frank D'Amico, with a young girl in tow. This movie is made for comic fans; it both loving mocks and embraces the comic book world. There are tons of references to comic books, from Steve Ditko-era Spider-Man comics, to Scott Pilgrim (There's even a refernce to The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly). The casting is top notch, from Johnson as geeky Dave/Kick-ass, Chloe Moretz as Hit Girl, to Nicolas Cage as Damon/Big Daddy and Christopher Mintz-Plasse as Chris D'Amico/Red Mist. The movie also brings up interesting ideas about standing up to crime and real villainy vs comic book villainy. If you're not abhorred by over-the-top action/language, go see Kick-Ass.

Rating: * * * * * of 5

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Iron Man 2

Directed by Jon Favreau

Starring: Robert Downey Jr., Sam Rockwell, Samuel L. Jackson, Scarlett Johansson, Don Cheadle, Gweneth Paltrow, and Mickey Rourke

Release Date: May 7, 2010 (U.S)


What is a man's legacy? How will the world remember Tony Stark? The Sequel picks up six months after the first movie, Tony Stark a.k.a. Iron Man, has become even more famous and infamous, every one wanting to praise him or hold him down and hand over the Iron Man armor. Soon, tony's world gets bigger as he soon finds himself in the crosshairs of two dangerous men: rival industrialist Justin Hammer (Sam Rockwell), and vengeful Ivan Dranko (Mickey Rourke). Will Tony rise out of his self-destructive chaos, pick up the pieces of his life, and come to the rescue?

This is a fun, action packed comic-book movie with snappy dialogue, great performances, and better action sequences. Also, the performances are great from the returning cast (Downey as Stark and Gwyneth Paltrow as Pepper Potts) and those introduced in the sequel: Don Cheadle replacing Terrence Howard as James "Rhodey" Rhodes, Mickey Rourke as Ivan Dranko, Sam Rockwell as Justin Hammer, and Samuel L. Jackson as Col. Nick Fury. I liked Scarlett Johansson as Natalie Rushman, but there were certain aspects of her character I missed from the comics. If you enjoyed the first movie, you'll certainly love the sequel. Also, there are several refernces to other Marvel comic characters and a post credits scene, so keep your eyes peeled.

Rating: * * * * of 5

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