Animated Avengers Assemble!

Audiences and comic book geeks everywhere may have to wait another two years before we get to see Joss Whedon’s live-action Avengers movie up on the big screen, but luckily for us Disney XD has the opening act. Back in September Disney XD started airing 5-minute mini-episodes to set up their new show, The Avengers: Earth’s Mightest Heroes. This introduced its audience to the heroes of Marvel, who they are, where they’ve been, and what troubles they have to overcome soon. The animated series started with a one-hour special Wednesday, October 20, on Disney XD and I dare say it may become an animated classic like the 90’s Batman or X-Men cartoons.

Iron Man, Thor, Ant-Man, and the Wasp are all superheroes who have spent their time collecting super villains and delivering them to S.H.I.E.L.D. to keep captive. One of which is housing Dr. Bruce Banner, otherwise known as the Hulk. When a mass prison break occurs almost a hundred super villains escape, one of which being Graviton. Graviton is out to kill S.H.I.E.L.D. director Nick Fury for keeping him locked up all those years. Can these lone heroes ban together to stop the world’s greatest threat? Catch the rerun on Disney XD or on their website to find out.

Last week I started watching the mini-episodes and couldn’t stop. The show is rated Y-7, but I was surprised how well the story editor, Christopher Yost, created serious and in-depth story lines so that anyone over 10-years-old can enjoy the show. Yost has been with Marvel for a while now, and has been recently writing one of my favorite comics, X-Force. In the mini-episodes you can see each characters problem and see it all build to the series premiere.

 The first episode introduced Iron Man, Thor, Ant-Man, Wasp, and Hulk, which were all founding member of the Avengers back in 1963. During the 20 mini-episodes we also saw Captain America, Black Panther, Black Widow, and Hawkeye. None of these character appeared in the first full-length episode aside from a Hawkeye briefly. This also leads me to hope the crew at Marvel already have their 52 episodes they’re contracted to do all mapped out.

I thought the voice acting wasn't the greatest, but maybe I’m just used to hearing other voices come out of these characters. If you want to think of this as just a kids superhero cartoon then fine. But I think that this will show children that there are more superheroes out there than just Batman and Spider-Man. It’s a show that adults can enjoy with their children and comic book readers can remember the good things that Marvel Studio has done, and what is yet to come. I've already started hunting down the theme song to use as my ringtone!

Happy 200th Smallville!

Tomorrow night marks an event very rarely seen in television history. Tom Welling and the cast of Smallville will join TV shows like The Simpsons and Cheers in airing it’s 200th episode. I’ve watched Smallville since the very first airing in 2001 and since  then have gotten several people hooked on the show. In college my friends and I would gather around the TV, eat pizza, drink some beers, and watch Smallville before heading to the bars. Those nights made this great show that much more special for me. A few years back I vowed to stop watching Smallville because I felt like it had gotten ridiculous, but something my friend Andrew said changed my mind.

“Smallville is like your kid. You watched it when it was young and cute, and over the years it has matured into something weird that you can barely stand to watch. But through it all you have to keep watching it out of loyalty and love for what it is, or used to be.”

They were words that have stuck with me, and now that Smallville is in its final season things seem to be looking up for the show, or maybe my expectations have just been set low. In any event, Friday night I will be tuning in to see Clark Kent take one step closer to becoming the Man of Steel.  To commemorate this occasion here are my top 25 Smallville episodes in the order in which they aired. Spoiler Alert: none of them are from seasons 8 & 9.

1) Season 1: Episode 1: Pilot

We are introduced to Clark Kent and Lex Luthor, who are destined to be mortal enemies, but when Lex hits Clark with his car and Clark saves his life it is the beginning of a friendship everyone knows is doomed.

This was also the WB's first season without it's signature show, Buffy the Vampire Slayer, but when I saw the high school trio of Clark, Chloe and Pete act towards each other it's like Buffy, Willow, and Xander all over.

CLASSIC QUOTE:

Clark: What are you trying to tell me, Dad? That I'm from another planet?

Clark: I suppose you stashed my spaceship in the attic?

Jonathan: Actually... it's in the storm cellar.

2) Season 1: Episode 21: Tempest

After a great 1st season with a new freak of the week every episode that was after Lana we see the characters heading to the dance where Remy Zero is performing, Lana's boyfriend Whitney is off to the Marines, and Clark is trying to figure out his feeling for Lana and Chloe. A tornado hits Smallville just as Lex's father, played wonderfully by John Glover, closes the Smallville plant and makes Lex looks like a fool. In the episode we see how far Clark's relationships have come and how far they have yet to go.

3) Season 2: Episode 4: Red

Clark buys his class ring against his father's wishes, unfortunately it's jewel is made of red meteor rock that turns Clark into a bad boy, finally giving Clark the nerve to kiss Lana and looking to get out of Smallville and be rich through his abilities.

CLASSIC QUOTE:

[Clark is looking at Chloe and Lana]

Clark: Did you know that Chloe had a birthmark on her cheek?

Pete: No, she doesn't.

Clark: Not that cheek.

Pete: Are you doing what I think you're doing? Clark, that's Chloe you're scoping, man!

Clark: Not just Chloe.

4) Season 2: Episode 8: Ryan

I love this episode because we get to see Clark's determination to try and save someone his powers can't help him save. The mind reading Ryan has come back and finds out he has a tumor that is going to kill. Clark does everything in his power to try and help, but with all his abilities Clark must learn there are some battles he can't fight.

CLASSIC QUOTE:

Lex: In life, the road to darkness is a journey, not a light switch.

Ryan: You should remember that, Lex.

5) Season 2: Episode 14: Rush

Pete slips Clark some red kryptonite thanks to a bug that makes Chloe and him act bad just as Clark and Lana are about to go on their first official date. At this point in the series I was screaming at the TV for Clark and Lana to get together.

6) Season 2: Episode 17: Rosetta

Who better to tell the current Clark Kent where he comes from, and what happened to his home planet than the man who made us all believe a man can fly, Christopher Reeves. Reeves plays Dr. Swan, a scientist who contacts Clark to tell him about his origins. This episode is a great passing of the torch from one generation to another. The last half of this episode is unbeatable.

CLASSIC QUOTE:

Clark: Why me? There must be a reason why I was sent to this planet.

Dr. Virgil Swann: You won't find the answers by looking to the stars. It's a journey you'll have to take by looking inside yourself.

7) Season 2: Episode 22: Calling

It's Clark's birthday and Lana gives him what he always wanted, a real life, not on Red K., kiss. Lex is about to get married for the second time in the season and has doubts about whether he can trust his fiancee, and everyone is searching for a vial that contains Clark's blood.

8) Season 2: Episode 23: Exodus

Clark leaves Lex without best man on his wedding day, hurts Chloe's feeling by not telling her about he and Lana, and in trying to defy his birth father he accidentally turns his parent's truck upside down, allowing his mother to loose the baby inside of her. How does he plan to solve this? Grab his Red K. ring and head out of town leaving Lana in tears. Way to man up Clark!

CLASSIC QUOTE:

Lana: The Clark Kent I know wouldn't run away from his problems.

Clark: The Clark Kent you know is a lie.

Lana: Why won't you let me in?

Clark: Because Lana, you won't like what you see.

9) Season 3: Episode 1: Exile

So by now you've figured out that I'm a sucker for the Red K. episodes. Clark has been running around Metropolis for months causing mischief and still feeling guilty over what he has done. Meanwhile back in Smallville his parents have to sell the farm and everyone else is attending Lex's funeral, who is trapped on a deserted island arguing with himself.

10) Season 4: Episode 1: Crusade

After months of being in a cave Clark returns as Kal-El and he can fly. Martha Kent must find a way to bring her family back together, and the only one to help her is Chloe's cousin, Lois Lane. The creators didn't want to bring in Lois till season 5, but after a bad season 3 they thought they weren't going to have a season 5. Good choice!

11) Season 4: Episode 4: Devoted

Cheerleaders dose their football boyfriends to make them love slaves just as Clark joins the football team. Chloe drinks the potion and becomes devoted to Clark as Lana's boyfriend, and now Clark's coach, drinks the mix and comes after Clark in a jealous rage.

12) Season 4: Episode 5: Run

Smallville starts to incorporate the rest of the DC Universe's heroes as the future Flash, Bart Allen, comes to town to steal Jonathan's wallet, and a map from Lex. Like the rest of the other heroes who guest star Clark has to set him straight before he gets himself in trouble with Lex.

CLASSIC QUOTE:

Clark: Chloe, this is my friend Bart. He's from--

Bart: The future.

Chloe: Really?

Bart: Yeah, I ran all the way back in time to tell you that we're still in love 100 years from now.

13) Season 4: Episode 11: Unsafe

The teleporting Alicia Baker returns from her incarceration after trying to kill Lana in season 3. Except this time she is somewhat sane, and her and Clark begin to date, knowing that they both have special abilities. But when Alicia's doctor begins to stalk her she slips Clark some Red K. and they are off to Las Vegas to get married.

CLASSIC QUOTE:

Alicia: Can we slow down, I want this to last forever.

Clark: I'm not sure if that's one of my abilities but I'll do my best.

14) Season 4: Episode 12: Pariah

I really liked Alicia. It gave Clark someone else to be with besides Lana, but unfortunately a meteor infected teen is framing her for attempted murder, and Clark doesn't know whether to believe Alicia or not.

15) Season 4: Episode 17: Onyx

After an experiment with black kryptonite Lex creates another Lex that is filled with all his bad intentions. Evil Lex goes around Smallville causing trouble with the real Lex trapped in the basement of his mansion. Evil Lex finds out Clark's secret and tries to force Clark to help him rule the world using a green kryptonite ring. This episode is a great way to show the man Lex will one day become. Great performance by Rosenbaum.

CLASSIC QUOTE:

Martha: What do you want?

Evil Lex: The world Mrs. Kent, and your son is going to help me get it.

16) Season 4: Episode 19: Blank

A meteor infected kid erases Clark memory, and with his parents out of town Chloe is the only one to take care of him. Lex tries to use this to take advantage of what Clark has been hiding from him for years.
CLASSIC QUOTE:

Clark: Chloe, I need you to be completely honest with me.

Chloe: Honest, huh?

Clark: What'd I do?

Chloe: You trusted me.

17) Season 5: Episode 1: Arrival

Clark creates the Fortress of Solitude in the Artic, followers of Zod come to Smallville in another meteor shower looking for Kal-El, and Chloe reveals to Clark she knows his secret. This season is right in the middle of Smallville at it's peak.

CLASSIC QUOTE:

Clark: I wasn't born anywhere near Smallville. In fact, I wasn't born anywhere near this galaxy.

Chloe: Okay. Okay, so that would then make you, like, an...

Clark: Yeah.

Chloe: Uh, but you... You look so...

Clark: Human? I'm still the same person.

Chloe: Clark, I... I... I think you're so amazing. You save people's lives and take zero credit for it. To me, you're more than just a hero. You're a superhero.

18) Season 5, Episode 9: Lexmas

On Christmas Eve Lex is shot and has a dream of what his life would be like if he makes the right choices. He is married to Lana, has a family, is best friends with Clark, and is the town's hero. Meanwhile back in the real world Chloe enlist Clark’s help to deliver hundreds of presents before morning.

19) Season 5, Episode 12: Reckoning

This episode is definitely one of my top 3, if not number one. Clark decides to come clean with Lana about everything. He takes her to the Fortress and proposes to her on the eve of his father’s and Lex’s Senate race. But when things go bad Jor-El turns back time and Clark chooses not to tell Lana his secret, hoping thinkgs will be different, a choice that costs another their life.

CLASSIC QUOTE:

Clark: I just don’t know how I’m supposed to be the man he wanted me to be without him here.

Martha: You’re his son. You know what the right thing is. Whether you’re father is here or not. You’re someone he was proud of. Someone he could look up too, and something tells me he won’t be the only one.

20) Season 5, Episode 22: Vessel

Lex has been chosen to be Zod’s vessel and Clark must stop Brainiac from releasing Zod and the destruction that is about to come. As much as Clark tries to warn Lex and Lana about the dangers they face they both end up hating him, and it all leads to my favorite Smallville scene of all time.

CLASSIC SCENE/QUOTE:

Lex: So what’d you decide Clark? Are you going to kill me?

Clark: You can’t blame me for this Lex. You brought this upon yourself.

Lex: Oh come on Clark, you love it! Ever since that day on the bridge, you've always seen yourself as my savior. The one thing that would pull me off the dark path I'd started. See, that's why you cling to the idea that there's still some good in me. You don't want to face the fact that you might have failed.

Clark: Or maybe I just can't believe that someone would have so little willpower.

Lex: It's a little hard to compete with the iron willpower it takes to kill one of your best friends. How did you know I was gonna come back like this?

Clark: You don't realize how much danger you're in.

Lex: You know, I used to think you had this... strong inner core. You were so virtuous. And yet you lie all the time. To me, to Lana, to all the people who cared about you. What kind of sick person would do that?

Clark: If you thought this friendship was so doomed from the beginning, then why did you fight so hard to keep it?

Lex: Because I wanted everything you had. The family, the inconspicuous life, the loyal girlfriend. Well, at least I walked away with the part you loved the most.

Clark: You're not yourself.

Lex: Or maybe I finally am.

21) Season 6, Episode 7: Rage

It’s Clark’s first Thanksgiving without his dad, and it could be a rough one. Lana is living with Lex, Lionel is smooching with his Mom, and Oliver, a.k.a Green Arrow, and Lois are in the outs. Clark finds out that Oliver is using a drug to make himself heal when he goes out crime fighting, but the drug makes him more unstable than Clark on Red K.

22) Season 6, Episode 11: Justice

Bart Allen is back in town, and he’s working for Oliver to take down Lex and his 33.1 facilities. When Lex captures Bart breaking into one of the facilities Clark tries to rescue him but runs into a little green trouble of his own. Watchtower, otherwise known as Chloe, must guide Green Arrow, Aquaman, and Cyborg to save them both.

CLASSIC QUOTE:

Bart: I want a lawyer.

Lex: And I want a ponytail. Disappointment abounds.

23) Season 6, Episode 13: Crimson

This is one of the episodes that are in the running as my favorite 3. It’s Valentine’s Day and a heart broken Lois finds some lipstick that makes her fall in love with the first person she sees, Clark Kent. Unfortunately for everyone else the lipstick is made of Red Kryptonite. One kiss and Clark persuades Lois to accompany him to Lex and Lana’s engagement dinner where they crash the party and Clark let’s everyone who is close to him have it. I love the Red K. episodes because all the frustration that Clark is too nice to say gets let out. Plus I’m sure Tom Welling loves getting to be bad every once and a while.

CLASSIC QUOTE:

Clark: So, you're saying that I wanna kiss Lois, and keep Chloe in my back pocket, while the whole time I'm still in love with Lana?

24) Season 7, Episode 16: Descent

This is it. The day Lex takes his final leap into the darkness by killing his own father, and Clark knows it was him. Lex turns to his father to tell him the secret of The Traveler, but ends up pushing him out the window. You can see the internal struggle in Lex has as he argues with a younger version of himself, eventually throwing that last part of goodness in him into the fire, literally.

CLASSIC QUOTE:

Clark: Jor-El died getting me on that ship. My dad died of a heart attack from the powers he took on protecting me. And now Lionel's been murdered protecting my secret.

Chloe: They did die for you, Clark. But ultimately, they died for all of us. There was a reason those men were in your life -- each of them added something to the man that you are today.

Clark: How could Lex have done it? How does a son murder his own father?

Chloe: Total absence of love. Some say that's the definition of evil.

25) Season 7: Episode 18: Apocalypse

Lana is in a catatonic state and with Brainiac run off with Kara Clark doesn’t know how to save the people he loves. Jor-El shows Clark what the world would be like if Clark never came to Smallville. Chloe and Lana are both happy in their other lives, but the rest of the world is in shambles. Lex is president, and along with Brainiac he’s going to unleash nuclear missiles unless Clark can stop them.

In May the last episode of this iconic TV show will end it's 10 years run.  My hope is that they go all out with the introduction of Jimmy Olsen and Perry White into The Daily Planet, and Clark puts on the Superman suit just in time to kick Darkseid's ass.  Of course if season 10 does end up being good I'll have to buy seasons 8 and 9 just to complete the collection.  Damn it..........  

Casting Call: The Flash

This week several rumors have been swirling around the internet concerning DC characters coming to the big screen. First of which is that a script for the sequel to this summers Green Lantern will be done by Christmas, as well as a script based on The Flash. I found both of these pieces of information exciting, but a little ironic when hearing that The Hangover star Bradley Cooper may be the front runner to play the Scarlet Speedster. Mainly because for years Ryan Reynolds, who will play Green Lantern, was the front runner to play The Flash, and now Cooper, a man who was a front runner to play Green Lantern, may be playing The Flash. However I hope this is not true.

Sure Cooper has a school boy charm that make women swoon to him. But he's use to playing childish and funny guys, which would be great if this was Wally West, but Barry Allen is a totally different character. Barry is a forensic scientist whose passion started when he was a child to prove his father did not kill his mother. Barry takes being a hero serious, and somehow I don’t see Cooper pulling off Allen’s patented red bowtie look.

Now sometimes Wizard magazine as a section in their issue that is called 'Casting Call'. This is where the magazines writers pick which actor they would love to see play their favorite comic book characters. After a little consideration here is my 'Casting Call' for The Flash:

Scott Speedman as Barry Allen/The Flash:

Speedman first showed up on screen as the object of Keri Russell’s desires on Felicity. Since then he’s starred in films such as Dark Blue with Kurt Russell and the XXX sequel with Ice Cube. But of course his most famous work includes playing Michael Corbin in the Underworld franchise. Speedman can pull of the shy scientist no doubt about it. He’s also no slouch to playing a hero, and something tells me can pull off the red bowtie. I mean for god sakes the guy’s name is Speed-Man. It’s destiny!

Rachel McAdams as Iris West:

McAdams as made a name for herself as a female talent with such films like The Notebook and The Time Travelers Wife. Iris West is a crime reporter with a soft side, which McAdams can pull off easily. Iris is Barry’s lightning rod that holds him from running out of control and I think McAdams has proven in multiple films that she can be a strong rock for any hero to lean on.

Bruce Greenwood as Jay Garrick/The Flash:

Maybe it’s wrong to put more in one speedster in the first film, but there are a lot of people that can tap into the Speed Force, and what better mentor to guide Barry through his rookie stage than the original Flash. Greenwood has proven he has a commanding presence on screen, most recently playing the original captain of the USS Enterprise in Star Trek. With Greenwood’s silver sideburns he looks like Garrick come to life. This appearance could also help introduce movie goers to The JSA.

Jesse Eisenberg as Wally West/Kid Flash:

In a similar accident that turned Barry Allen into The Flash Iris’s nephew becomes the fastest kid alive. With his recent hits, The Social Network and Zombieland, Eisenberg proves he can think fast and talk even faster. He’d be perfect to play a kid who runs so fast just so he can keep out of trouble. I’m not saying he becomes Kid Flash in the first film but I think a cameo would stir some seats.

Robert De Niro as Captain Cold:

As the long time leader of the Rogues Captain Cold has to have a presence that makes people shiver; who better than the actor who has been playing tough guys and crazies for over a quarter of a century. I think De Niro would be great as the man looking to slow down the fastest man alive.

Adrian Brody as Weather Wizard:

Mark Mardon was just a petty criminal until he got his hands on a wand that his brother built, one which had the power to control the elements. Brody has starred in such films as The Piano and King Kong, plus he was a front runner to play The Joker before Heath Ledger got the job. Everyone knows Brody can act, and with his a face like his you feel like he could snap at any minute. Just like a hurricane.

Jude Law as Captain Boomerang:

Ok fine, I picked a British guy to play an Australian, but Law has a great resume with such films as Sherlock Holmes and Cold Mountain. He can certainly play the mysterious Rogue who uses boomerrangs to upgrade himself to supervillain status.

Edward Norton as Professor Zoom a.k.a. The Reverse Flash:

By now I’m sure you think I’ve suffered from villain overload, but for a hero who can travel around all of Central City at once you’re gonna need a lot of trouble. Zoom has spent his time making Allen’s life miserable, trying to unlock the secrets of the Speed Force, and manipulating The Flash every step of the way. For that good of a villain you’re going to need that good of an actor. Norton has starred in such hits as American History X and Fight Club. Every hero has to have a villain who is the opposite of them, and for Barry Allen it’s The Reverse Flash.

As I was sitting here writing a story came to mind on how to fit all of these characters in, and man was it awesome!  I would even throw in an appearance by John Wesley Shipp, who played The Flash in the 1990 TV show.  With Batman and Green Lantern looking bright, and Superman perhaps heading down the right path, maybe it's DC's turn to heat up the big screen.  So look out audiences, The Flash will be lightning in a bottle. 

Snyder becomes DC's Man of Tomorrow

Last week Christopher Nolan announced that he is indeed going to direct the next Batman film, starring Christian Bale, with a script written by himself and David Goyer.  This reassured many DC fans that this successful film franchise will go on being a success.  Then, this week DC Entertainment and Warner Bros. made an even bigger announcement.  Zach Snyder will be directing the next Superman film.

Superman Returns was released in 2006 and it was supposed to be Superman's return to the big screen.  But most saw the film as a failure, calling it boring, and having an emo vibe.  Although I did see faults in the film I still believe it's a good adaptation to Superman, keeping the characters true to their comic roots. Never the less this mean Warner Bros. was going to have to start over with the Man of Steel, again.

The studio is also on a bit of time crunch.  Jerry Siegel's family, the man who created Superman, is in a legal trial over the rights to Superman's origin and the characters in it.  If the Siegel family wins they will have the say as to whether a Superman movie will be made, and Warner Bros. will have to pay them big royalties.  So a Superman movie must start production by 2011 or the Siegel could make out with a large chunk of the films profit. 

First Warner Bros. tapped their only successful superhero director in the last decade, Christopher Nolan, for help.  Nolan signed on as a producer, getting David Goyer working on the script.  Goyer has not only written the last two Batman films, but the entire Blade trilogy. He seems to be the superhero writer in Hollywood these days. He was originally tapped to write a script for The Flash, but was later kicked off of it because studio heads didn't like the direction the story was going. In my opinion that'll come back to bite them in the ass. Goyer has now finished a script for the next Superman film.

So the hunt began for the films director.  A lot of names were being thrown around, such as former Harry Potter director Chris Columbus.  But this week Warner Bros. announced Zach Snyder as their Superman director.  Snyder directed the smash comic book adaptations 300 and Watchmen so it's only logical Warner Bros. thinks he can keep making them money.  But both these films are very dark and mature.  As a long time Superman fan this worries me because Superman is all about peace and hope; darkness and maturity is a Batman movie.  But Snyder just released an animated film Legend of the Guardians:  The Owls of Ga'Hoole, which I had no intention of seeing until now.  If this owl movie can have some sign of brightness then I may come around more to idea of Snyder directing the Man of Steel.

At first thought I was livid.  People say their hasn't been a successful Superman film in decades because the character is no longer relatable to todays culture.  I say that's a half-ass way of saying no one is talented enough to make a good adaptation.  But Goyer is a great comic book film writer, but what worries me is Nolan and Snyder.  I love the films both these guys have done, but they're known for their twisted realities while Superman is a straight shooter.  No psycholoical thriller with the Last Son of Krypton,  He's the ultimate American immigrant here to give people hope an uphold Midwestern values.  Snyder's next film coming out in March Sucker Punch, involves half naked girls killing people.  You see my dilemma?

By now I'm sure you think I'm totally against Snyder as this films director, but I'm not 100% against him.  I'm just a comic book fan who can see why he was chosen, how he could do a good job, and how he could set back Superman films for another 20 years.  I recently tweeted to one of my favorite comic book writers, and DC Entertainment head, Geoff Johns and pleaded to him to stay on the Superman set like he is with Green Lantern, making sure it's a film the fans will love.  I only hope he listens.  But let's not forget that the search for the Superman director has been harsh and hectic, but it's nothing compared to what the search will be for the films star.  Get Tom Welling in the phone! 

       

'The Social Network' Is A Social Success Story

I remember back in 2004, I was living in my college dorm room and my roommate had told me about something called Facebook. And then before I knew it everyone was talking about it. This internet phenomenon has continued to grow and now everyone has a Facebook account. And after all these years I never stopped think about the story behind this social network that changed not only the internet, but society as well. Well now that story has been told.

Mark Zuckerberg was just a brainy Harvard student who talked too much both on his blog and in real life. But when his girlfriend dumps him for being an ass Mark has the idea to create a site that would let people interact with each other, let them post party pictures, and see what a person’s relationship status is. Of course two Harvard meat heads, otherwise known as the Winklevoss twins, say they came up with the idea for Facebook and Mark stole it from them. But this lawsuit is nothing compared to Mark’s best friend Eduardo suing him for wedging him out of Facebook just as it was taking off. Eduardo can thank Napster creator Sean Parker for coming between him and his best friend. This plot had more friction and drama than an sour status update.

I’d like to start out by saying I feel like this film is Wall Street for this generation, despite that the sequel to Wall Street was just released. Director David Fincher helped guide this film into something more than just a movie about a puffy networking site. The film had real grit to it, and Finch’s detail to perfection with multiple takes shows up on screen. I feel like The West Wing creator, Aaron Sorkin, could also be seen on screen as the writer for this film. The dialogue was fast and intense, especially from Zuckerberg. Fincher’s direction and Sorkin’s words helped take this film to a different level, but I think the icing on the cake was the score by Trent Reznor and Atticus Ross, which kept the drama at high tensions throughout most of the film.

Fincher and Sorkin’s hard work wouldn’t have paid off if it wasn’t for the terrific cast to make it all come alive. The very first scene of the film you could tell Jesse Eisenberg had his work cut out for him playing Mark Zuckerberg. Eisenberg had to talk fast because Zuckerberg’s brain worked fast. He had to show how closed off and cold Zuckerberg could be, but still find some sense of friendship inside of him when it came to his showdown with Eduardo. I don’t think Mark Zuckerberg was too far of a stretch from the characters Eisenberg usually plays, but it is definitely his best work so far.

 Andrew Garfield plays Eduardo, Mark’s best friend, and I think this film is great launching pad for audiences to get familiar with this actor because he’s signed on to be the new Peter Parker in the next Spider-Man film, which is already in development. Garfield’s character was the only one that I felt was genuine and was an overall nice guy. And on the other side of scale was Justin Timberlake as Sean Parker. Timberlake played Parker as such a slime, as he weasels his way between Mark and Eduardo, and into a billion dollar company. But Timberlake plays the part so well I don’t think anyone could have said no to the Napster creator.

Finally, as I watched this young cast something didn’t set right with about the Winklevoss twins on screen, and when I got home to research the film I found out why. The parts were played by two unrelated actors, Armie Hammer and Josh Pence, but through special effects Fincher was able to get Hammer’s face over Pence’s in post production. Why Fincher didn’t just try to find two twin actors for the roles I’m looking forward to finding out on the DVD.

This film can be seen as a fall out between two friends, a scorned man looking to get back at those he felt wronged him, or the rough start of a corporate empire. In any event, I like that Fincher lets the audience make up their own mind as to whether Mark Zuckerberg was an asshole, or just a man oblivious to his own ambitions. One thing is for sure, after you see this film you’ll think twice before the next time you type in your password.

Rating:  A