'Young Justice' Brings New Blood To Cartoon Network

As a kid who grew up reading comic books I couldn’t help but get caught up in the lives of sidekicks. Robin, Impulse, and Superboy was the trio of young heroes that went from forming the Young Justice to the new Teen Titans. Now Cartoon Network has peeked into my grown up Christmas list with the premiere of their new show, Young Justice.

Robin, Kid Flash, and Aqualad are finally going to be allowed in the Hall of Justice, the headquarters of the Justice League. But when they’re told to stay behind while the JLA goes on a mission they do what most teenagers do; they get bored and go find trouble. The boys stumble onto Cadmus Labs, a genetics corporation with secret benefactors and a secret project to clone Superman. The young Superboy is awakened from his sleep, but once freed is he going to be friend or foe to the young heroes?

The series doesn’t begin until January, but if this 1-hour movie is any indication of how the series will do then I am on board for this adventure. Robin, Aqualad, Kid Flash, and Superboy all have different personalities which makes them fun to watch, and function well as a team. I especially love the way they’ve spiced up Aqualad. He’s isn’t the original white boy with blue hair like in the comics, but a dark skinned young man who can go toe-to-toe with the boy of steel and make any weapon using water. Robin is a little more childish than I think he should be, but of course Kid Flash is right on the money.

In this series its seem that they are using Tim Drake and Wally West as Robin and Kid Flash instead of Tim Drake and Bart Allen in the comic books. But I’ll put my continuity issues aside just being happy to see a show like this air. By the end of this special the boys even get their first girl teammate; Miss Martian.

The juiciest part of their series is the voice casting. Not only are there actors who have done lots of voices on lots of well known shows, but also a lot of known actors. Bruce Greenwood is Batman, Alan Tudyk is Green Arrow, Jesse McCarthy as Robin, Rob Lowe as Captain Marvel, and Winnie Cooper herself; Danica McKellar as Miss Martian. I wonder if they can get Fred Savage to provide a guest voice?

Anyway, this series is off to a great start, and I look forward to seeing whether the creators integrate comic story lines or make up their own? With the series starting off with the discovery of Superboy it’s only natural they sometime reveal that he is not only a clone of Superman, but Lex Luthor as well. I know a new Speedy will be joining their ranks soon, but please let’s keep the Teen Titan characters away from this. They had their own cartoon and I couldn’t stand watching five minutes of it. Besides, this is something different. Young Justice is something a little more sophisticated and mature for kids hoping to see Batman: The Brave and the Bold. I would recommend this show to young teens, and definitely not kids under 11-years-old.

I have give props to the DC animation projects, who have always found a way to keep their loyal fans interested in what they’re doing while also trying to attract newer and younger audiences to their characters. This series isn’t going to be about legendary heroes everyone knows, but the kids standing in their shadows. I think this show about teenage heroes is going be just like adolescence; complicated, fun, and enough drama to keep everyone watching.

Deathly Hallows is Deathly Boring Unless You're A Fan

The few times I’ve seen a Harry Potter film in theaters I was dragged there by girls who where huge fans. But as the months building up to this day was getting closer I found myself getting excited. Perhaps it is because now I am considered a Harry Potter. After years of Lisa bugging me I finally got around to reading the book series, and then I could no longer tease her because I actually enjoyed the novels. The final book is over 750 pages, so when I heard it was going to broken into two films I figured it was for the best. However I also knew the first film was going to hardly entertaining for normal theater goers.

In the last film, The Half Blood Prince, we saw the death of Harry’s mentor and Hogwarts school headmaster, Dumbledore. But Dumbledore gave Harry a final mission before his demise. Harry must find the horcruxes that the evil Voldermort had broken pieces of his soul into, and destroy them. It is the only way to defeat He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named once and for all.

Harry, Hermione, and Ron are about to embark on their quest to find and destroy the horcruxes. But before hand they must take care of their families, get Harry to a safe place, and then attend a wedding. Once on the run they encounter Death Eaters at every turn.  They also have no idea where the horcruxes are, or how to destroy them.  This frustration begins to boil over on the three’s friendship. Little does Harry know that Voldermort is also on his own quest. He’s looking for three magical items that will make him invincible. Let me just say that this film ends on a worse note than The Empire Strikes Back.

I tried judge this film as a sequel to another film, and not as a film based on a book. Sure they left out quite a few little things, but the overall story prevailed. However, this film is not the action packed battle people have been waiting for. Instead it’s the character driven set-up for part 2 coming out in July.

 There is a lot of short action sequence, but nothing that really considered a battle. The film is mainly a lot of explaining and talking, one of which is the story of the Deathly Hallows. The short animated presentation was nice, but I did found it odd that Death looked like General Grevious from Star Wars. Another freakish and odd moment included Ron trying to destroy a horcrux and a very scandalous image of Harry and Hermione in their birthday suits.

In his third Harry Potter film, director David Yates has a perfect grasp on this world, but this film really shows how far the three young actors craft has come in their decade of playing these characters. Radcliffe, Watson, and Grint’s have come a long way since the little kids in The Sorcerer’s Stone, and this film shows they have talents beyond J.K Rowling’s characters. If you’ve followed these films from the beginning or grown up with Harry Potter I think you’ll enjoy this film. Just don’t go to a late show, or with anyone who doesn’t enjoy a great story with little action.

Rating:  B

Comic To Read This Week: Superman #705

I feel like I’m one of the few people who read Superman comic books on a reuglar basis and hasn’t read Superman: Earth One yet. I should get it from backorder at Borders any day now, but I curse my budgetary restraints for making me wait for a coupon to buy it. I haven’t even read the graphic novel but I already hear that J. Michael Straczynski is quitting writing Superman so that he can work on a sequel to Earth One. This disappoints me not only because I have yet to read Superman: Earth One, but that I’ve been digging Straczynski’s run on Superman.

For over year The Man of Steel was off planet on new Krypton trying to learn about his people and detour a war between Earth and New Krypton. But of course the war came and went with little real causalities. So how does DC follow such a massive event? With Superman walking through America Forrest Gump style. Superman wishes to return to his roots, and remember why he has dedicated his life to helping people. There was an actual contest where people could write in and say why Superman should visit their town in a comic book.

So he’s been walking from town to town in each issue, some people happy to see him, others not so happy. In one town the people told him to leave because he was a super villain magnet and they didn’t want their town destroyed when they came looking for him. In Superman #705 Clark arrives in a town I used to bum around, Mt. Prospect, IL. It’s just outside of Chicago and there a little boy waits to Superman to solve all his problems. William's dad sometimes gets violent and likes to hit him and his mom, and this boy hopes Superman can help them. But before William can meet his idol his dad has another outburst and throws him down the cellar stairs. Luckily The Last Son of Krypton has super hearing. To find out how it ends pick up Superman #705.

I like this storyline of Superman because it’s not a usual Superman storyline, but it’s everything Superman stands for. Superman has feeling, emotions, fears, etc. This walk is about re-centering himself with the people he tries to help. Superman cares about everyone, from the world leaders to an abused boy in Illinois. No job is too big or small.

I think Straczynski has captured not only Clark’s inner turmoil but Lois’s as well as she follows him across the country. She sees the suburban housewives she didn’t become, and questions if the world’s most powerful man actually needs her. Eddy Barrows art is simple, nothing to great, but I think it works well for this close-to-home story arc.

I think I will miss Straczynski’s Superman writing, but this also makes me hopeful to read Superman: Earth One, now that I know he has a good grasp on the character. In about 3 months I highly recommend this graphic novel set to anyone who is a Superman fan but doesn’t collect the comics. This story reminds us it’s not the “Super” part this is important in Clark Kent. It’s the “Man.”

Season 3 of Californication Goes To School, But Still Learns Nothing

In college I found most of my professors extremely boring. There were few that were passionate about their field to get the other students excited. When I wasn’t browsing the internet for movie trivia in class I was probably dosing off. Of course I might have paid attention more to the teacher if they were the ones falling asleep in class. And I sure would have payed more attention to my teachers if they were more like Hank Moody.

In its junior year the show about a cynical book writer and his messed up life entered a new era. Hank Moody no longer was just complacent with corrupting one young mind, he sets out to do it to an entire college campus. Hank’s on again-off again girlfriend Karen is in New York and has left their teenage daughter Becca in his care. Through a series of events Hank ends up teaching at the local college. Soon Hank is not only dating his part-time stripper student and his T.A., but he is also satisfying the wife of the dean of the college. Of course none of them are as troublesome to Hank this season than when his teenage daughter begins experimenting with drugs and her sexuality.

Meanwhile Hank’s best friend and agent Charlie has his own femal issues. His boss, played by Kathleen Turner, is trying to get him into bed, and he can't seem to get his soon to be ex-wife back in bed because she’s too busy seeing other guys, most notably 80’s rock star Rick Springfield. Evan Handler performance always make me feel sorry for the little bald man.

This season saw plenty of great acting talents come through the Showtime’s series like Peter Gallagher as the dean of the college, and Gossip Girl’s Ed Westwick as one of Hank’s gay students who has a crush on him. Of course to me Kathleen Turner’s performance was the best. Her portrayal as Charlie’s arrogant and horny boss was perhaps one of her best roles in years.  She was defintely a fresh character in these already repetitive storylines.

 In season 2 we saw a lot of the characters go off the deep end, and although this season saw them a little more sane they were all just ready to screw any person they could to the point of pure ridiculous. David Duchovny is perfect as a man so smug and cynical he has no problem pissing people off, and having us love him for it. But after three seasons of Hank and Karen practicing their “free love” lifestyle I feel like it’s time for them to get it together. And not just them, but Charlie and his wife Marcy as well. I saw nothing new this season that challenged the characters or took them to a place of growth, aside from Becca, played by Madeleine Martin.

At the end of the season Hank sees the light, which is one of several already in this series, but it may be too late for him. The season didn’t end how I expected, but you can see it coming as soon as you start watching the last episode. I look forward to seeing how Hank is going to get out of this mess, but if this just means the same schemes on how he can win Karen back I prefer just to see him go fornicate with other women and be as ass.  Maybe I'll just switch over to watching The Tudors.

Season Rating:  C

LADIES: Win A Date With Bruce Wayne!

Yesterday I arrived at home to see that the internet had been buzzing with Batman news. It seems that director Christopher Nolan has been on the hunt for two female actors to be in his next Batman sequel, The Dark Knight Rises. The luckily ladies will play opposite Christian Bale, supposedly one as a love interest, and the other a villain. Possible names of actresses have been swirling for over 24-hours now. But I see no point in looking at actresses until we know the villains or characters. Several femme fe' tales that have been rumored like Catwoman, Talia Al Ghul, and Poison Ivy. While I feel the first two would be a decent fit I also feel that a woman who controls plants is a little farfetched for Nolan’s realistic franchise. The Riddler has already been ruled out as villian so after minimal thinking here are villains I’m rooting for to be in The Dark Knight Rises.

3) Catwoman

Maybe it’s because I loved Michelle Pfeiffer’s performance so much in Batman Returns that I can’t think of anyone who can play Selina Kyle better. Catwoman was a sexual fantasy before I even knew what was sex was. In the comic books Batman and Catwoman have had a torrid romace for decades that has more issues than Buffy and Angel. Selina’s idealism makes her believe she is doing good by stealing from the rich and using the money for good, but not in Batman’s eyes. There is no grey area with The Dark Knight and although he admires Catwoman’s intentions he can’t allow to hurt people in the process. But why does she have to look so irresistible while committing a crime?

Catwoman would be a great villain for the next Batman film mainly because of the morality story. Bruce Wayne has just lost the love of his live, Rachel Dawes, but now is attracted to this woman who he also wants to put behind bars. That can lead to a lot of mixed emotions and character development. While I in no way believe Angelina Jolie should be even considered for this role I do think we need an actress who is little bit of a bitch, and can seduce men just with a suggestive look, but to whom that actress will be is beyond me.

2) Ra’s Al Ghul

Yes we saw Liam Neeson’s character go down with the train in Batman Begins, but any true Batman fan knows Ra’s Al Ghul doesn’t die so easily. In the comics Ra’s has lived for hundreds of years with the help of The Lazarus Pit, a bubbling fountain of youth. Every once a while Ra’s much bathe in the pit to stay somewhat young. Though the side effects are moments of brief insanity after being submerged from the pit I’d say Ra’s plans for world destruction means the insanity last a little longer. Plus I would love to see Liam Neeson come back and expand on this great character we've only scratched the surface of.

Ra’s Al Ghul has had many children, but they’ve all been daughters. He believes it is a curse of The Lazarus Pit, but when he finds Bruce Wayne he sees the son he never had. Bruce is a man Ra’s finds worthy to carry on his work and lead The League of Assassins. His defeat of Ra’s in Batman Begins would only strengthen his belief that Bruce is the one man worthy to succeed him. And his daughter Talia Al Ghul, is madly in love with Batman, and he hopes that the two would rule The League of Assassins together. Of course Bruce refuses both, even though he is somewhat attracted to Talia. Of course that attraction leads to a whole new story I don’t think the general audience is ready for yet.

1)The Ventriloquist

Arnold Wesker developed a multiple personality disorder when his parents were murdered by the mob. Now as an adult he runs the mob through a 1920’s gangster puppet on his hand called Scarface. Wesker seems like the meek and timid one, and let’s Scarface do all the bad things he’s not capable of doing himself.

Before Batman Begins hardly anyone outside of Batman fans had heard of Ra’s Al Ghul or Scarecrow. So let’s leave the villains that have already been done by Tim Burton and Joel Schumacher alone and show the world something new. The Ventriloquist is a great villain for Nolan’s world of Batman. He doesn’t control plants or have a freeze ray, he is just mentally ill. The plays on psycho analysis would be fun to explore. Bring in the dummy!

Casting Call: Batman Beyond

A few weeks ago the title of the third Batman film by director Chrsitopher Nolan was announced. The Dark Knight Rises will be the third film in which Christian Bale will play The Caped Crusader, but what about after? Bale is only signed on for three films, and I'm sure he doesn't want play Batman the rest of his career. No matter what you can be sure Warner Bros. will not stop with three films in such a successful franchise. Instead of continuing to bleed Batman until the story sucks and the director is just in it for the paycheck I suggest something after The Dark Knight Rises; Batman Beyond.

Based on the WB cartoon series, and soon to be ongoing DC comic, Batman Beyond takes place in a future where Bruce Wayne is old and has given up being Batman. But when a young teenager named Terry McGinnis looks to gain revenge on the people who killed his father Bruce allows him to dawn the cowl and an unlikely partnership/friendship begins. Terry is young and cocky, with a personality and wit make him seem more like Spider-Man. Of course Spider-Man didn’t have a billionaire backer. I think it would be fun and entertaining for audiences, and this is the cast I think can pull it off:

Matt Long as Terry McGinnis:

Terry McGinnis is a slightly rebellious teenager with a witty remark for everything, and Matt Long is already part of The WB family with his role as Jack McCallister on the short lived Jack & Bobby TV series. Long has charm and presence that makes you root for him in whatever role he plays. He’s well past his teenage years, but still looks like he can play a 16-year-old.

Mel Gibson as Bruce Wayne:

Sure everyone thinks Mel is crazy now a days, and he looks like he’s been through a lot of crap, but that’s Bruce Wayne for you. Bruce has a chip on his shoulder and has been through a lot in his life. We all know Mel Gibson can act, and he definitely seems like he can play a grumpy-old-man. Just remember, before Iron Man Robert Downey Jr. was known for being a Hollywood junkie. Perhaps all Mel needs is a superhero role to bring him back into the light.

Mariska Hargitay as Commissioner Gordon:

Much like Bruce, the former Batgirl has spent most of her life fighting crime, whether it be in tights or taking over her father’s old job. Barbara Gordon is someone who Terry turns to when he’s looking to get the scoop on Bruce’s past, even though Gordon hardly ever tells. Hargitay has been playing a good cop for years on Law & Order: SVU. She has a voice that illuminates wisdom and experience. Sure they may have to add some grey hair and wrinkles, but that’s what make-up people are for.

Sarah Ramos as Dana Tan:

Dana is a great girlfriend. She’s kind and seems to forgive Terry every time he runs out on her to do his “job”. For that kind of character you need a young actress who oozes sweetness. Sarah Ramos has been playing the good girl on Parenthood for over a year now and she’s got it down to a T. Plus her and Matt Long I think would look good together.

Annette O’ Toole as Mary McGinnis:

To raise a superhero it takes an incredible woman and mom. Why not bring in someone who has been there and done that. O’Toole has played Superman’s mom for ten years on the set of Smallville. She has a warmth and mother quality that makes young men know everything will be alright. Yea mom!

Jae Head as Matthew McGinnis:

You might know him as the kid from Hancock and The Blind Side. Now he’d be the cute from Batman Beyond. Terry’s little brother can be a little annoying at times, but should still be cute enough to make the audience laugh when he picks on his brother. Watch Hancock and you’ll see what I mean.

James Spader as Derek Powers:

Derek Powers runs Wayne Industries and is also responsible for sending Mr. Fixx to kill Terry’s father. Meanwhile James Spader is known has the ultimate teen bad boy in the 80’s. As an actor he has matured but still can have a commanding/creepy presence. He’s so good at being bad I don’t think he should ever stop playing those roles.

Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson and Mr. Fixx

This big, mean, man killed Terry’s father and does all of Derek Powers dirty work. He has to be a guy who is intimidating to Terry and to the audience. Bring in former wrestling star Dwayne Johnson. He’s got some decent acting jobs and we all know he can kick some butt. A little make-up and he would be terrifying.