CASTING CALL: Fantastic Four

This Christmas I had watched all my holiday movies and TV episodes so I chose to do something that kept me jolly; watch comic book movies.  I started out with the #1 movie of 2012, The Avengers.  Then I wanted to see Chris Evans in his other Marvel character role so I watched Fantastic Four.  But before I could move on to the other famous Marvel team, X-Men, I started dwelling on Marvel's first family.  For a short time in my life I collected Fantastic Four comics, mainly do to my love of The Human Torch.  But, like with most superhero books, it's all about who is writing them.  Ed Brubaker brought Daredevil to new heights and Geoff Johns made Green Lantern the longest hit comic I can remember.  With FF I just never felt like I found a writer I could enjoy, with the exception of Bryan Hitch.  But the idea is great.  They're a superhero family.  Reed and Sue are mom and dad while Johnny and Ben are the squabbling siblings.  They're scientists, explorers, and one of them just happens to be the smartest man of his generation.

20th Century Fox has decided to reboot the franchise that only had two films.  Sure Jessica Alba wasn't my first choice for Sue Storm, but the cast wasn't bad.  Chris Evans nailed The Human Torch, which is why I was so surprised when he played a great Captain America.  The two FF films had it's plus's and minus's but I don't think it would fall into the realm of such horrible adaptations like Batman & Robin or Electra.  I put them somewhere in the Green Lantern and The Punisher category; not great, but not bad.  The director of Chronicle, Josh Tank, has been tapped to lead the 2015 release date.  While I enjoyed Chronicle I don't know if Tanks can take on this franchise and bring out the greatness in it.  The least I can do is give him some help with casting. 

Benedict Cumberbatch as Reed Richards/Mr. Fantastic

Cumeberbatch is used to playing a man who is too smart for his own good in the British hit TV series, Sherlock.  So it's not much of a 'strectch' to cast him as a genius scientist and leader of the Fantastic Four.  Cumerbatch even co-starred with the former Reed Richards, Ioan Gruffudd, in the 2006 film, Amazing Grace.  Maybe Gruffudd can give him some pointers. Cumberbtach is also about to become a big name in American film with his roles in the next Star Trek film and voicing Smaug the dragon in the next Hobbit film.  Better get him locked in before another franchise snags him for their lead.

Elizabeth Banks as Susan Storm/The Invisible Woman

I first saw Ms. Banks in The 40-Year-Old Virgin and then later in the TV series, Scrubs.  She had a sass and style that made me perk up in more ways than one, but she could also pull off the dramatic roles like Invincible and People Like Us.  Susan Storm is the mother of the Fantastic Four and pretty much the entire Marvel Universe in my opinion.  She has to have a very maternal and likable quality to her.  Jessica Alba was just too young and too hot to play a mom.  Banks experience as a maturing actress I think makes her ready for this role, and she as already auditioned for it once, but was beat out by Alba.  I think it's time we give her a second look.  

Joel Edgerton as Ben Grimm/The Thing

Originally for this role I thought about the classic sci-fi tough guy; Adam Baldwin.  But then I found the idea for Joel Edgerton as the FF's muscle.  He's been a boxer in Warrior, a knight in King Arthur, and a soldier in Zero Dark Thirty.  I think he's got more than enough fighting experience.  The original Ben Grimm, Michael Chiklis, was a huge fan of The Thing and convinced the studio to let him wear a suit over going with a CGI Thing.  While I like this idea he was shorter than some of his cast mates.  The Thing gives the Hulk a tough time in a fight so he has to look pretty bad-ass.  I'd go CG and just talk to Peter Jackson about how to make him look bad-ass.

Hunter Parrish as Johnny Storm/The Human Torch

Need a blonde-haired young male who can seem a little juevinile?  Well look no further than the kid from Weeds.  Parrish has had other smaller roles in movies like 17, Again and It's Complicated, but it's his eight seasons of playing Silas Botwin that makes me feel like he can turn this character from a snot-nosed punk to a true superhero in three films.  After seeing Chris Evans play Steve Rogers it's hard for me seeing him play The Human Torch, so I need someone else to step in and bring this character to life.  Enter Hunter Parrish.

Eric Bana as Namor/Sub-Mariner

I thought Bana played a pretty good Bruce Banner in 2003's Hulk, but then Edward Norton came along and looked like Banner did in the comic books.  Then of course they were both trumped by Mark Ruffalo's interpretation that closely resembled the late Bill Bixby.  In any event, Bana has a superhero knack playing Hector in Troy and even Nero in Star Trek.  He's got the look and the upper body muscle to make this arrogant king of the seas come to life.  Namor has always had a thing for Sue Storm, which has always been a pain in Reed's side.  However he could just as well be in the next X-Men film, technically being the first mutant ever.

Jonathan Rhys Meyers as Victor Von Doom/Dr. Doom

Meyers played King Henry VIII for 4 seasons on Showtime's The Tudors.  So he's used to being a ruling dictator.  He's got a great voice that can project through the metal mask, one thing Julian McMahon didn't have as the original Doom.  Doom is Reed's arch-enemy so he's got to be everything he is not, and everything he is.  Bring in Meyers and his experience with the ladies!

Christina Hendricks as Alicia Masters

Alicia Masters, a.k.a. the Puppet Masters daughter, is most famously a red-head so I'd keep her that way.  Right now Hendricks is the most famous red-head in Hollywood with her roles in Mad Men and Firefly.  Ben Grimm is a great guy who looks like a giant rock, so I say we give him a blind girlfriend who is smoking hot.  Hence with the Hendricks.

Of course my dream scenario is that Fox lets go of all it's Marvel properties like FF, X-Men, and Spider-Man so that they may join the Marvel Studio universe and maybe one day, one day, we'll get a Civil War movie.  But that is just a dream, and for now, I'll try to stay in this reality.  The same cannot be said for the Fantastic Four.

Twilight 5: The Lone Wolf and His SuperFriends

Remember when you got your first cavity?  A needle was stuck in your mouth to numb you, and then you had to sit there for hours while the dentist drilled into your tooth and all you could smell was your tooth being chipped away?  And at the end you really didn't feel any better, but the dentist took your money anyway?  Well you weren't actually at the dentist my friend.  You had just gone and saw a Twilight film.

Now I try not to be a hater. I watch every movie before I judge it, even Bring It On.  I love vampire and werewolf films, but this saga has given vampire and werewolf films a bad name.  The books would have been enough for me to bare, but when you fill my movie theaters with Kristen Stewart as the most horrible, fictional, female character ever for several years it's on!  Hey Bella, there's a lady called Princess Leia, and if you had been stranded in the Death Star with her she probably would have shot you over the stormtroopers!

Now where was I?  Oh yes, the new Twilight movie.  In Breaking Dawn Pt. 1 Bella had given birth to a half-vampire, half-human, child.  Then she herself was turned into a vampire, despite what here werewolf friend, a.k.a the best character in this whole saga, wanted.  Bella's daughter, Renesmee, is growing so fast that Bella and Edward fear she may die too soon.  But that's not their biggest problem.  The vampire bullies, The Volturi, think the Cullens broke some vampire law by turning a child and they're out to kill them.  So the Cullens must gather vampire witnesses to their cause in order to save themselves.  But that's still not Bella and Edward's biggest problem.  Jacob, the werewolf who used to have the hots for Bella, now has the hots for her daughter; he imprinted.  Jacob sure does love Edward's ladies. 

Now I'll start off by saying if you liked the other Twilight films, you'll like this one.  If you're a fan of Twilight, you'll like this one.  If you you have a picture of Robert Pattinson by you're bed and you kiss it every night before you go to sleep, you'll like this one.  (The) One thing I've like about these films is, just like the Harry Potter series, the actors got better at acting as the film progressed, which made the films better as they went on.  Don't get me wrong, Kristen Stewart is still pretty bad, but not as bad as the first film.  And Edward no longer looks constipated all the time.  Seriously, they have gotten better. I fell asleep in the theater during New Moon.  Me! Asleep in the theater!

All the guest vampires did a fine job of portraying their small parts, but to me these didn't seem like vampires.  The Twilight world features vampires with x-tra gifts on top of being fast, really strong, and suck lots of blood.  Edward can read people's minds and Alice can see the future.  But this film takes it to a whole new level!  One vamp can electrocute people, another can make you see things, and one can even control the four elements.  I felt like I was watching X-Men, not vampires.  God doesn't give with both hands Ms. Meyer!  Either they're immortal creatures who live forever, or they should be standing beside Iron Man and Thor fighting Loki; you can't have both!  Oh, and f.y.i., don't CGI baby faces to match the character later, it didn't look good in Tron: Legacy and looks worse in this film!

WARNING:  FROM THIS POINT SPOILERS WILL BE TOLD!  So the whole film the Cullens are gathering vampires to help them fight The Volturi, which was pretty boring.  But then the fight came, people started dying, and main characters started dying!  I knew in the books their really was no fight, but as an avid movie-goer I knew their had to be some action.  I was loving it, the film had done a complete 180.  The Earth was literally swallowing people whole!  And just as the fight was over, turns out the whole battle was a dream.  The coolest part in five films and didn't actually happen.  I know it wouldn't have followed the book, but when you spend an hour preparing for a massive battle and possible casualties the most logical outcome is a massive battle with casualties! 

Now all the Twilight lovers will probably come back with a Hayden Christensen references, but I'm discussing your favorite film saga, not mine.  The film ended with a spread of all the actors from all five films, which was nice.  It seemed like definitive closer for the franchise.  God, I hope so.  More Star Wars movies have been announced and I pray that the same will not come true for Twilight years from now.  The last thing I need is my daughter thinking her perfect guy needs to be Edward Cullen.  It's bad enough one generation has cemented their spot in marriage counseling thanks to these films, we don't need another to do the same.  So in closing, Twilight is over and I hope that it, and Kristen Stewart, will never be seen on a movie theater again!

I Have A Bad Feeling About This?

As anyone who knows me knows that I'm a pretty big Star Wars fan.  The guest room in my house has practically been turned into a Star Wars room with posters, lightsabers, and miniatures everywhere.  This was not how I planned it to be, but this is just all my stuff my wife wouldn't let me put in the rest of the house.  I suggested all seven original movie posters line the main stairwell but that didn't seem like a good idea in her eyes.  I pride myself in having those seven posters that I have acquired throughout my life, but it looks like I may have to buy more down the road if I want to keep saying, "I own all the Star Wars movie posters."

Today is was announced that Lucasfilm, the company that makes Star Wars, was sold to Disney for $4 billion dollars.  Now it isn't all just straight-up cash, some of it is stock options in Disney itself.  George Lucas, the creator and godfather of Star Wars, now owns 2% of Disney because of this deal.  Throughout the years Disney has turned into the corporate powerhouse that gulps up other successful companies like ABC network, ESPN, Marvel Comics, and Pixar Animation Studios.  The funny part about that is Lucasfilm actually started Pixar, then it was sold to Steve Jobs, who sold it to Disney. As Darth Vader said, "The circle is now complete."

Just as fanboys everywhere were worried when Disney bought Marvel Comics, social media sites have been in an uproar all day.  And I should know, I'm one of them who is causing it all.  Now some have said, "It'll be o.k., The Avengers was good."  Yes, but that film was set-up long before Disney had anything to do with Marvel, but at the same time they didn't seem to leave their fingerprints all over it either.  We didn't even see Iron Man fly around Cinderella's castle at the beginning.  So is this a good thing, or a bad thing?  From a corporate stand-point it is good.  Disney has the money and power to make sure Star Wars is around till the end of mankind.  In an interview Lucas said this was to make sure his characters last beyond his time, and with Disney's help they will.  But the second part of this story is that Disney is planning on releasing another Star Wars trilogy starting in 2015; Episodes VII, VIII, and IX, without Lucas at the helm.  Some old Star Wars fans were already pissed off when ol' George made Episodes I, II, and III: I don't think Disney making another trilogy will make them any happier.  If you think Jar Jar Binks is bad just imagine Goofy in a Star Wars film, yikes.  

First off people, let's not run for our torches and pitchforks just yet.  Like some have said, Disney seems to be managing Marvel pretty well, with the exception of creating rides at Disney Land with the Hulk on them, and of course everything from Iron Man toothpaste to Thor muscle shakes (not sure if those products actually exists, but if sounds like they should, right).  Star Wars has been a merchandising gold mine for years.  We've already got Yoda dolls and Star Wars thermoses.  So really, what else could Disney do except make three more movies that turn out to be crap and drag a beloved film franchise even more into the depths of movie hell where its companions will be Steel, Alexander, and movies with Pauly Shore . 

But true Star Wars fans know that when Lucas first thought about Star Wars he envisioned 9 films.  But as the years went by he knew he was getting too old for this shit so he decided to focus on the first 6, The Rise and Fall of Darth Vader or The Rise, Fall, and Redemption of Anakin Skywalker.  You decide what to call it.  Anyway, Lucas still has an outline of VII, VIII, and IX which is already being looked at to be turned into a script.  The unfortunate situation is that just like Lucas, his three main stars have gotten old as well.  The next trilogy, I've read, is supposed to be the continuing adventures of Luke, Han, and Princess Leia.  But Mark Hamill, Harrison Ford, and Carrie Fisher are all pushing close to 60 I believe, so needless to say the next Episodes can't take place less than about 20 to 30 years from Return of the Jedi.  You could always just get all new actors for the three characters, but that's only if you want fanboys to burn down movie theaters in protest.  Luckily some good ideas have already been made thanks to the Expanded Universe of novels and comic book writers.  

After ROTJ, Han and Leia went on to have three kids; their youngest, Anakin, and a set of twins, Jaina and Jacen.  I'm still hoping to use those names if my wife and I ever have twins.  So I call dibs people!  Anyway, Luke also found love with a woman named Mara Jade.  But wait, Jedi don't get married, that's how Darth Vader started.  Well Luke seemed a little more lenient on that rule and somehow made it o.k. when he started the New Jedi Order.  He and Mara had a son, Ben.  And wouldn't you know it, their were many adventure of Anakin and Ben, again.  Unfortunately Anakin, along with Chewbacca, end up dying, which led Jacen down the road to becoming Darth Caedus, the new Dark Lord of the Sith.  Jacen ends up killing his Aunt Mara, and almost destroys the whole galaxy until his twin sister, Jaina, kills him in order to save everyone.  This would put Hamill, Ford, and Fisher in a role like Jeff Bridges in Tron: Legacy.  They're in the movie, but not in a lot of action, and the franchise is passed to the next generation.

This is a great story, but with Disney running the show I feel it may be a little dark.  Another option would be based on the comic book series, Star Wars: Legacy.  It's set 100 years after ROTJ when Luke, Han, Jaina, and everyone else is dead, but the Skywalker line still runs the Jedi Order.  The Sith return to take over the Republic, which has again turned into an Empire, only not so evil this time.  The Jedi are all almost killed, again, and the Skywalker heir, Cade, is thought dead.  Years later he is found as a bounty hunter, using his Jedi skills to make him some money.  Not very Jedi-like, eh?  But once the Sith, the Jedi, and the entire galaxy realize a Skywalker is alive everyone is after him, but all Cade wants is to be left alone and not have the galaxy's fate in his hands like his ancestors.  

The comic book is little edgy as well, but with a few alterations it would make it no more adult than the Pirates of the Caribbean films.  This would also bring in a whole new cast, but Luke does make an appearance as a ghost and I'm sure Mark Hamill wouldn't mind returning for a cameo.  It's not like he has anything else on is plate except Comic-Con appearances. Plus, you would then not need to worry about Harrison Ford returning, which I don't think he would.  But wait, did I mention by Disney owning Lucasfilm they now own Indiana Jones as well? Sorry Harrison, Mickey Mouse now has control over your two best roles and your legacy.  I'd get a nice bottle of wine and a really big piece of cheese for that kiss-ass event. 

Anyway, Lucas wrote an outline of Episodes VII, VIII, and IX before any other Star Wars stories were created so chances are the next films will be neither of these ideas.  But hey, a fanboy can dream right?

Despite the quality of new things to come I feel like this doesn't change Star Wars.  They've always had a relationship with Disney, from Star Wars rides to Star Wars Weekends.  They're both about family entertainment, which is what they both do well.  I can't wait to take my daughter to see the new Star Wars films, just like I'm sure my dad was excited to take me to see Episode I.  Just remember people, no matter what happens, The Force Will Be With Us...Always.

AvsX: Did Everybody Win or Did Everybody Lose?

Well, it's finally over.  It's been months of two sides blowing their horns, trying to find the best way to put the other down, and both sides knowing this one day would come and make the difference.  You see my word play?  You think I'm talking about the presidential debate, but really I'm talking about something much more important; a fictional battle in a world full of comic book characters.  For almost six months the line has been drawn between Avengers and X-Men fans.  Both sides trying to claim that they're doing what's in the best interest for the world, and bashing the other with dirty tricks and vicious scowls.  Ok, this time I really am talking about the presidential debate.

If you're reading this chances are you know me, and chances are you're seem me post something or talk about the Marvel event that has been in the making for seven years.  Since in 2005, with House of M, the mutant race has been an endangered species, and Cyclops, leader of the X-Men, has had to step-up and do whatever was necessary to keep his people alive. All of his faith has been put on Hope Summers, the first mutant born since M-Day, who was raised in the future and is now a teenager.  The cosmic power known as the Phoenix comes to Earth.  And while Captain America and the Avengers saw it has a sign of destruction Cyclops saw it as a possible rebirth for his species.  Sides were chosen, with Hope caught in the middle, and months later we have a winner, or do we?

Thanks to Tony Stark, the Phoenix was split into five pieces while he was really trying to kill it, each piece going into a different X-Men.  Cyclops, the White Queen, Namor, Colossus, and Magik all had a part of the Phoenix, and they used it to recreate the world the way they felt it should be.  This made everyone else in the Marvel U. nervous so the fighting continued, but with each Phoenix member that went down the others got stronger, absorbing their fallen comrades power, until finally Cyclops was the sole possessor of the Phoenix Force.  Now this is very ironic in so many ways since the Phoenix is responsible for so much pain and heart ache in Scott Summers life; most notably taking is wife, Jean Grey, and turning her evil.  Cyclops kept saying the Phoenix could be harnessed if he just trained Hope enough.  Well once Scott possessed all of the Phoenix he could not control it as he fought the entire Marvel U. as the new Dark Phoenix.

WARNING BEYOND THIS POINT ARE SPOILS INTO THE END OF AVENGERS VS. X-MEN!

So after month the final issue of AvsX was released today.  In the end it took the combined powers of Hope and the Scarlet Witch to take down the Phoenix.  It then possessed Hope for a brief moment to where she did control it, and used to bring back mutants into the world.  Hope re-started the mutant race.  So what was all that twelve issues of fighting for?

Everyone who truly knows me knows I'm not only an X-Men fan, but a Cyclops fan, so ever since he went full-on dark side I've been a little distraught.  But didn't what he want to happen, or said could happen, back in issue #1, happen?  Hope used the Phoenix power to jump start mutant kind.  Yes, he killed his mentor, Professor Xavier and hundreds of others in the process, but Professor X has died like four times, twice in the last four years.  So it's not that big of a deal, trust me.  All this proves is that Scott was right, Hope was the key to saving her people, she could control the Phoenix, and Scott Summers is a happy man sitting behind his patted prison cell.

On the flip side, hundreds, if not thousand of people, are dead because of this event.  The world was rocked by natural and unnatural disasters. Friendships and loyalties were tested and some broken, most notably the marriage between Storm and the Black Panther.  "You played Russian Roulette with the planet," as Captain America told Cyclops.  Mutants have survived, but at what cost?  Their greatest symbol of what good they can be, the X-Men, has been completely tarnished in the eyes of the world.  

Back in the beginning the writers of this tale said that their would be a winner and loser, but I don't see it.  To me both sides can claim that they won, and that they lost.  With Marvel NOW about to be underway a new era begins in the Marvel U.  One where superheroes and mutants will no longer be separate, but integrated to ensure the mistrust and doubt in each other will never be brought up and threaten the world again.  It truly is a new era in Marvel comics, and just typing about it makes me realize that the House of Ideas has probably a lot of good ones ahead.  

And what about Cyclops?  Some say he's now a villain in the Marvel U.  To those people I say this. Don't you know the X-Men at all?  Everyone at one point on that team has been considered a villain.  This just means Cyclops is now a true X-Man. 

The People VS a Man and His Posters

The weird thing about me, well, one of the weird things about me, is that I kind of like moving.  I'm not a fan of packing, but I kind like unpacking.  Last month Lisa and I closed on our first home purchase, and we've spent this month painting, doing yard work, and overall maintenance.  Now it's less than 2 weeks from our moving date and not a thing has been packed. 

In an effort to get the ball rolling I started taking the pictures and decor on the wall.  Our apartment walls are now empty and I hope this will motivate the other people in the apartment to start packing up.  As I took my posters and pictures over to our new house I thought about where I would hang everything  That's why I love unpacking; setting up your old stuff in a new location. 

Lisa of course reminded me that not all my stuff is going to be put up in our house.  This of course, was not news to me since Lisa always gripes about my posters, how I have to many, and how they aren't "adult".  Blah, Blah, Blah.  I've already thought about what my essential decor will be, and possibly where to put it.

STAR WARS MOVIE POSTER COLLECTION

I've been a Star Wars fan my whole life, which of course means I have lost of Star Wars memorabilia and posters.  I pride myself in having all 7 Star Wars movie posters.  The Return of the Jedi poster is possibly the oldest thing I still own.  It's so old that, for over a decade, I've never taken it out of it's frame that its been in for years in fear of ruining an already beat-up collectors item.  Chuck Bartowski had his Tron poster, I have my ROTJ poster.  It lets people know that I am a child of the 80's and I have great taste in movies. 

When we lived in Chicago Lisa let me decorate our spare room with all my Star Wars memorabilia; posters, lightsabers, and mini-statuish stuff.  I'm hoping she'll just allow me to do the same with the house, because otherwise they'll be some heated discussions about where to put all my stuff she doesn't really want me to put-up.  The essential one I want up is the ROTJ poster.  That's either going in the bedroom, dining room, living room, game room, or right in the middle of the stairs.  OH!  Maybe the stairs can be SW posters.  Every step-up could be a step further into the history of Star Wars.  That would be sweet!

 

SPEED RACER POSTER

I've had this poster for quite some time, and let's face it; it's iconic.  I mean what kid didn't want to be Speed Racer growing up.  He got to hang out with his girlfriend, Trixie, and drive the coolest car ever; the Mach 5!  I dare say I'd prefer it over the Batmobile.  This used to be the ultimate bachelor pad poster.  Joey and Chandler had it hanging in their apartment in Friends.  I just think it's a great piece of American pop culture and lets people know that yes, I do wish my car had buzz-saws on it and could do back flips.

 ALEX ROSS POSTERS

The great thing about Alex Ross's comic art style is that it looks like real art you'd see in a museum.  He gives the characters faces, which makes them seem so much more real.  The Superman poster I believe Lisa actually likes because it's hung above out bed for quite some time so I feel that will not be an issue.

However, she said the X-Men poster scared her in the dark once so she dislikes it.  But this is a Ross-style version of the Uncanny X-Men.  Each popular character looks exactly how they where when they were first introduced into the comic books.  Wolverine hasn't changed his clothes in almost 40 years!  Plus, notice how the poster has both Jean Grey and the Phoenix.  That's because anyone who knows X-Men history knows they're not the same person; Phoenix only portrayed Jean for a while.    

I've bought more X-Men comics in my life than any other character/team.  I've almost been as dedicated to X-Men in my life that I have Star Wars.  It's just something I've always enjoyed.  This poster to me represents the history of X-Men. 

TRON LIGHT DISC

When Tron and Tron: Legacy came out on dvd I bought the blu-ray versions of both.  Along with it came a free light disc, the weapon of The Grid.  It's Tron's version of a lightsaber.  The disc came with a stand, but that eventually broke after Logan played with it a little too much.  In any event, the light disc actually lights up and as an 80's sci-fi geek I think it's pretty cool.  We can put in the bedroom or bathroom for all I care, just as long as people can see it at some point, and I can get a chuckle out of them.

 

AVENGERS ASSEMBLE MOVIE POSTER

When I move into a new place I usually like to pick out something new to decorate with, which is probably why my wife thinks I have too many "crappy" posters.  A few weeks ago Lisa bought a painting of flowers, which I will not say how much it was, but is was enough to justify me only spending $9 on this sweet item.  I've never been an art guy.  I just don't get it.  Get me an awesome photograph instead.  Anyway, I found this on Amazon and it is going front-and-center at the top of stairs so everyone can see it because it is awesome!

The Avengers was a box office smash, and beat out The Dark Knight Rises in the battle of the summer movies and is now the highest grossing film of all-time.  Second, it was directed by Joss Whedon, a geek himself, and creator of some great shows like Firefly that seem to get cancelled prematurely.  This signifies that Whedon knows what he's doing and everyone will give him whatever he wants from here on out.

Thirdly, Marvel Studios is an independent studio that took the money from the Spider-Man and X-Men franchise films, done by Columbia Pictures and 20th Century Fox, and made their characters the way they're meant to be.  Never in Hollywood have 4 seperate film franchises come together to form one massive film; and it was a success!  Each character had their own title, but also were in this one together, just like in the comic books!   

Finally, The Avengers proves that when you don't mess with what works then you'll get better results.  Other comic book propeties have fizzled because too much was changed for the motion picture adaptation.  Actual Marvel writers and readers have been consulted in every movie Marvel Studios has done.  Warner Bros. destroyed any hopes in  Green Lantern being a frachise because they didn't let GL writer, Geoff Johns, do his thing.  But when they didn't interfere with David Goyer and Christopher Nolan writing the Dark Knight trilogy they got box office gold.

Now you also may have noticed that the poster says Avengers Assemble as oppose to The Avengers.  In everywhere but the US, this is what the film was called.  I couldn't find a US version that I thought was big enough so I went with the international poster.  So not only is it cool because it's The Avengers; it's cool because it's foreign.

This poster is symbol for every comic book fan that their can be good movies based on the characters that we have loved for so long, comic books can be considered cool by the general public, and that all these years we have not been outcast, we've been trailblazers!

 

DC's Downward Spiral is Marvel's Gain?

Every day I come home from work and check my sites.  I start with Facebook, then my e-mail, and then I check out what comic and entertainment news is happening.  I must say, in these last few weeks a few things, what I have read make it seem like things may be going astray at DC Comics.  Since their New 52 relaunch last year, I've been turned off by everything except Batman, Green Lantern, and Aquaman.  As a long time Superman reader the only comic featuring the Man of Steel I still remotely enjoy resembles Tom Welling.  Now, new things have come to light that makes me feel like things are rotten in the state of DC.

First off, back in June, a much respected comic writer, George Perez, stepped down as writer of Superman.  Perez is most known for his 1985 mini-series, Crisis on Infinite Earths.  He is quoted in saying, "A lot of people were now making decisions.  They were constantly going against each other, contradicting, again in mid-story. I can’t wait to get off Superman. It was not the experience I wanted it to be.”  Perez also expressed frustration with Grant Morrison's Action Comics taking place five years before Superman.  “I had no idea Grant Morrison was going to be working on another Superman title,” he said. “I had no idea I was doing it five years ahead, which means … my story, I couldn’t do certain things without knowing what he did, and Grant wasn’t telling everybody. ‘Oh, my gosh, you’re deciding all these things and you mean even you don’t know what’s going on in your own books?’ So I became very frustrated.”

This all seemed a bit peculiar, but yesterday Rob Leifeld, former co-creator of Image comics and currently writing DC's Grifter, Deathstroke, and The Savage Hawkman, gave his resignation from those titles via Twitter.  "I officially got off the DC52 treadmill this morning,” he wrote, adding, “I believe in what DC is doing, but had to preserve my sanity. I walked off all three books. Can’t wait to see any attempts to spin. I have every email.  I lasted a few months longer than I thought possible. Massive indecision, last minute and I mean LAST minute changes that alter everything. Editor pissing contests… No thanks. Last week my editor said ‘early on we had a lot of indie talent that weren’t used to re-writes and changes … made it hard.’ Uh, no, it’s you.”

Ok, so maybe it's DC Comics and the New 52 staff that are getting frustrated with re-creating these characters and making over 50 years of stories seem cool and fresh.  But let's look at the final piece of this disturbing puzzle.  On August 14, Warner Bros. announced that it was shutting down it's direct-to-dvd company, Warner Premiere.  This company has made DC animated films like Batman: Gotham Knight, Superman:Doomsday, Green Lantern: First Flight, and it's current project, The Dark Knight Returns, based on the famous Frank Miller mini-series.  Warner Bros. said all current projects will be completed, but come Fall, the company will be no more due to the downturn of the home entertainment industry.

So what does all mean?  To me it seems like DC is in trouble.  Sure, The Dark Knight Rises made lots of money, but it didn't come close to beating The Avengers.  Sure, the New 52 campaign started out selling well, but has slowly dwindled and is being out shined by Marvel's Avengers vs. X-Men mini-series.  Their last film before DKR, Green Lantern, was a flop and they put the new Superman movie in the hands of their supposed savior, Christopher Nolan, in hopes of a hail mary pass to try and catch up to the their #1 rival, Marvel Comics. But everyone knows when you make ludicrous plays when the game isn't even close you're only going to fall more behind. 

With the money Marvel Comics made off of their early hits like the Spider-Man and X-Men franchises they invested it in their own studio, and started making their own films.  This gave them financial freedom to not have to pander to corporate executives who've never read a Thor comic book.  DC is still owned by Warner Bros.  One theory behind the failure of Green Lantern was that too many people had a say as to what should be in the film.  When Joss Whedon made The Avengers he wrote his own script, shot the film his way, and it was a blockbuster hit.  The only reason Nolan's Dark Knight franchise has succeeded is because Warner Bros. trusted him enough to make them money.  Too bad they couldn't have had the same faith in Martin Campbell.

As far as the comics go that's just gone.  The New 52 relies on today's teenage BOYS to walk into a comic book shop and like their Superman like they like their Edward Cullen, except everyone except teenage GIRLS hate Edward Cullen!  DC's has alienated readers like myself who have stuck with these characters for twenty-plus years.  Their best titles are the ones they didn't change, like Batman and Green Lantern.  Marvel Comics has gone the opposite way.  Avengers vs. X-Men is rewarding readers who have been with them since 2005's House of M.  Then, after AvsX, Marvel NOW looks like it won't be a reboot, but a fresh stew that mixes up the pot and brings the X-Men into the Marvel main stream after being out of the loop for so many years.  The more I read about Marvel NOW the more I think it'll be good, which is the opposite of what I thought the more I heard about DC's New 52.   If DC wants to get back in the game they're going to have to change their tactics.  Here are a few of my suggestions. 

 

1) Lois and Clark are DC's power couple, put them back together, NOW!

2) Tim Drake should be the Red Robin he was BEFORE he had feathers!

 

3) Marvel spent 5 films building The Avengers.  Don't follow their lead.  I suggest going backwards.  Make a Justice League movie with the relative unknowns: Green Lantern, Flash, Martian Manhunter, Wonder Woman, and Aquaman.  This will introduce these characters, and the most popular ones get their own film. Then, in the second JLA film, bring in Superman and Batman to draw a bigger audience. 

 

4) Listen to your Chief Creative Officer, Geoff Johns.  He makes a great story.  Just let him do his thing and stay out of his way.

5) Keep Scott Snyder on Batman.  I haven't enjoyed Batman comics like this in years.

 

6) Don't let Grant Morrison write anymore Superman comics.  I'm still trying to figure out how all of the Batman R.I.P. titles fit together.

 

7) People got to know Green Arrow through Smallville, now let people know other DC heroes through Arrow and see what the people like.

 

8) If you want to attract teenagers make a movie about teenagers; hence Teen Titans or Young Justice.  People know who Robin is!

9) Marvel let their writers help in the film making process, not studio executives who couldn't even tell me where Superman is from.  I'm talking to you Jon Peters!

 

10) You don't have to reinvent the wheel, just make it more round.  (I really don't know what I'm trying to say, but it sounds profound, and I wanted to get ten things in here.)

 

So will DC read this blog and contact me on how to save their jobs?  Probably not.  All I know is the facts I've read and the sales numbers I see.  I've been reading comics all my life.  So what do I know?

W4W's BEHIND THE COMICS: X-Men: First Class

Today Marvel and X-Men's fans were previewed to the cover of the new Brian Michael Bendis title, All New X-Men.  As part of the Marvel NOW campaign happening after Avengers vs. X-Men, All New X-Men will be about the original five X-Men coming to the present day Marvel Universe.  Bendis has been writing Avengers titles since 2004 and saw them through Avengers: Disassembled, Civil War, and Dark Reign, but now Bendis says he's ready to step into the X-Men world and mix things up. 

I'm not sure how AvsX will leave the mutant race, but I do know the original five have come a long way since their first introduction back in 1963.  I've always had a soft spot for the fab five.  When they started out they were just teenagers trying to figure out how to protect a world that fears and hates them.  And trust me when I say the drama in their lives since then has put Greek tragedies and soap operas to shame.  They've been government recruits forming the original X-Factor, school head masters and mistresses at the Xavier Institute, Avengers, and even the world's greatest threats.  One of the members is even dead, again.  So before Cyclops and the rest of gang meet their teenage-selves I figure we'd look back and see just how messed up their younger counter parts will think they are. 

HANK MCCOY / BEAST

Hank McCoy used to be a high school quarterback until the people around him discovered he was a mutant.  Neighborhood mobs then tried to kill him so he came to Xavier's school as an escape and too be accepted for who he is.  He started hitting the books and is now considered one of the smartest people in the Marvel U.

While taking a job in a corporate lab an accident left Hank with blue fur all over his body to complete his transformation into Beast.  With this new look came heightened sense, a descent healing factor, and the ability to run on walls and ceilings; kinda like Spider-Man I guess you can say.  But in recent years these side effects are becoming worse.  Hank feral/animal instincts are growing more and more like he's De-evolving and as a brilliant scientist he has yet to find a cure.

Because of his appearance Hank has had a lot of trouble with love.  Most women seem to not like a guy who will shed in the bed.  He had a brief relationship with his lab assistant, then a long term relationship with TV reporter Trish Tilby.  But neither relationship lasted due to the not only Hank's appearance, but his life as a superhero as well.  He's currently dating S.W.O.R.D. (Sentient World Observation and Response Department) director, Abigail Brand.     

In the last few years Hank has broken away from the X-Men, due to not being happy about how is longtime friend, Cyclops has taken the X-Men.  But Hank is back in Westchester, NY at the Jean Grey School for Higher Learning, ran by Wolverine and Kitty Pryde. 

BOBBY DRAKE / ICEMAN

Robert Louis Drake was barely in his teens when his mutant power first manifested.  He was then beaten-up by a mob so the sheriff placed him in jail for his own protection.  He was found by Professor Xavier and given a place where he could let his powers grow and be accepted.  Bobby, being the youngest of the original five, was always the prankster.  Whether he was throwing snow balls at his friends or make jokes at Magneto during a fight, he always lightened the mood.

Throughout the years Bobby has turned into an Omega-Level mutant using his ice manifestation to make himself stronger, have thermal vision, and moisture conversion.  He's also been known to team-up with other young heroes like the Human Torch and Spider-Man back in the day.

When Loran Dane joined the X-Men Bobby found his first girlfriend, but the relationship did no last and Bobby ended up leaving the X-Men to go to college and eventually joining X-Factor with the original X-Men. 

During M-Day, where most mutants lost their powers, Bobby was one of the fallen, but gained them back through still unknown means.  He's tried to live a normal life on several occasions; especially when his dad was almost beaten nearly to death for defending mutants, but Bobby knows, like the rest of his friends, he's a hero at heart.

Bobby is with Wolverine and Hank at Jean Grey's school, but when the AvsX went down he joined back with Cyclops like most mutants, but then has switched back after the Phoenix has manifested itself.  And right before this started Kitty Pryde planted a big wet one on him. Watch it Bobby, her ex is part of the Phoenix Five.

  

WARREN WORTHINGTON III / ANGEL / ARCHANGEL

As heir to a billion dollar corporation Warren had all the time he needed to save people from burning buildings and muggings after he first developing his wings.  Xavier soon recruited him into the X-Men and he started dating Jean Grey, who happened to be in love with another classmate, Scott Summers.  Warren soon gets over it and has had an on-again-off-again relationship with Betsy Braddock, a.k.a. Psylocke, for quite some time.

During his time on X-Factor, Angel was attacked in the Morlock Tunnels and his wings had to be amputated off of him.  Warren makes a deal with the villain Apocalypse to get his wings back so long as he served as one of Apocalypse's four horseman.  Warren soon becomes Archangel, an-evil-to-be reckoned with.  With the help of his friends and some inner strength Warren breaks Apocalypse's hold on him and becomes one of the good guys again.

Years later Warren shed his robotic wings again to regain his natural ones, but then again turns into Archangel years after, much like a man turns into a werewolf.  Warren is now suffering from amnesia after the Dark Angel Saga that almost turned him into the next Apocalypse, but broke him of his Archangel persona.  He is currently being watched over by his long-time friend, Bobby, at the Jean Grey school.

JEAN GREY-SUMMERS / MARVEL GIRL / PHOENIX / DARK PHOENIX / REDD DAYSPRING

She's had more names then Sean "P. Diddy" Combs, but she's deserved everyone one of them.  Jean Grey was Charles Xavier's first student and after teaching her from home for a while he convinced her parents to move Jean to his school in Westchester.  There Jean learned to grow her telekinetic abilities and even develop telepathy like Xavier.  Jean became so powerful that she was a host to the Phoenix force, the most powerful being in all the universe.  However, Jean's human emotions mixed with the Phoenix became a deadly combination, turning her into the Dark Phoenix.  After destroying an entire galaxy with billions of life forms Jean is sentenced to death by the Shi'ar Empire, but kills herself rather than risk harming anyone else.

At the time Jean was dating her long time boyfriend, Scott Summer, a.k.a. Cyclops.  She had always flirted with Wolverine, but her and Scott's psychic link made her believe they were meant to be.  Jean soon rose from the dead; because the Dark Phoenix really wasn't her.  The Phoenix replicated Jean's mind and body after bonding, leaving Jean's original body safely at the bottom of the Hudson River, and found by the Fantastic Four.  

Jean woke to a world that had moved on without her, as Scott was married to another woman and had a son.  After re-joining her friends in X-Factor Jean and Scott rekindled their relationship and eventually got married.  Years later, Jean started developing Phoenix-like symptoms again, but died by the hand of Magneto before the possible return of the Dark Phoenix.

Jean's been dead since 2001, not since Barry Allen has a popular comic book character been gone that long.  With the Phoenix back into play in the Marvel U I feel like Jean Grey could make a come back, and if not I'd hate to be teenage Jean and arrive in the future only to find out you died; twice. 

SCOTT SUMMERS / CYCLOPS / SLYM DAYSPRING

Warren Ellis was quoted in Wizard magazine in saying that when X-Men is all over it'll be Cyclops story.  Scott has been with the X-Men since issue #1 and has never left.  But he's had a hell of a tragic life along the way.  His parents died when he was young, forcing him into lots of bad foster homes away from his brother, Alex.  Scott eventually wound up at Xavier's where he became field leader for the X-Men and fell in love with Jean Grey. 

After Jean's death Cyclops took a leave of absence and met a woman Madelyne Pryor who reminded him so much of Jean, physically.  Scott married Madelyne and they had a son named Nathan.  When Jean Grey returned Scott felt confused, but then news broke that Madelyne was actually a clone of Jean Grey, created by Mr. Sinister to combine their DNA to create the perfect mutant child, Nathan.  Madelyne went nuts and sacrifices herself while trying to stop Apocalypse from infecting Nathan with a techno-organic virus.  She fails and Scott's only way of saving his son is to let his future daughter, Rachel, take him into the future to be raised by himself and Jean under the aliases "the Daysprings".  Once Nathan is almost grown Scott and Jean return to the present, with an adult Nathan following shortly after.

Jean and Scott get married and are happy for a short time, until Scott sacrifices himself to stop Apocalypse.  Jean and Nathan find a way to bring Scott back, but not entirely how he was.  Scott begins having a psychic affair with Emma Frost, the same woman who once helped turn Jean into the Dark Phoenix.  After Jean's death Scott and Emma run Xavier's school together, relocate to San Francisco, and Scott is now assuming the role of leader for the entire mutant race.  I have a feeling after AvsX Scott might not end in such a good position.

And this is just him and Jean.  His daughter Rachel is also back from the future and taking her mom's name, Marvel Girl.  His father who was dead turned out to be alive, and then dead again.  His brother Alex was good, then bad, and then good again.  Finally, he has another brother he never knew about who pretty much has tried to destroy the whole galaxy.    It's not easy being Scott Summers, and that's why I love him as a character.

I'm very interested to see what young Cyclops thinks of his present-day self and where Scott will be after AvsX is over.  Ellis said Cyclops is like the Batman of the Marvel Universe.  He's been training as a superhero most his life, so somehow, I think Scott will be OK; eventually.  

  



My Top 5 New Fall Shows to Watch: 2012 Edition

This past Wednesday, after the Olympics, NBC previewed one of their new fall shows starring Matthew Perry.  Go On is about a radio sports commentator who loses his wife and has to go to group therapy.  While there he meets some strange, and interesting, new friends.  The episode was enjoyable to where I may try a few more episodes, but it definitely had a Community vibe to it; which I'm not a big fan of.

So this got me thinking that it was time to break out my thoughts on this years new Fall shows.  Out of the five shows I picked last year only half are making it to a second season, and only one of those shows I am continuing to watch.  This year I have a feeling at least my top two have a better chance of holding my attention, but in this business you never can tell. 

5. How To Live With Your Parents (for the Rest of Your Life)

Scrubs alumni Sarah Chalke is back on the small screen after her new series last year with Jason Biggs didn't pan out.  This time she's playing a single mom who moves back in with her crazy parents, played by Elizabeth Perkins and Brad Garret.  They seem to embarrass her quite a bit, which of course always leads to good TV.

As a faithful Scrubs fan I'm just rooting for Chalke to finally make a show last after she left Sacred Heart.  The show is produced by the man who brought us Friday Night Lights and Arrested Development, Brian Grazer.  As always, I'm going to watch this first episode and see if I want to watch the second.

Premiere Date: TBD 2013, ABC

Trailer:  http://beta.abc.go.com/shows/how-to-live-with-your-parents

4.  Elementary

With Robert Downey Jr. and Jude Law making the classic detective, Sherlock Holmes, cool again on the big screen CBS looks like they decided to cash in on the money train and try a modern interpretation on the small screen.  Jonny Lee Miller and Lucy Liu star as Sherlock Holmes and Joan Watson.  Holmes used to work for Scotland Yard as a consultant, but was put into rehab for his "issues." Now he's out solving crimes in New York and his father has hired Dr. Watson to look after him as he does his thing in the Big Apple.

I always try to like detective shows, but can never seem to stay into them with each episode just about solving one crime each week.  I like Psych, Bones, The Mentalist, but even those are hard for me to keep interest in sometimes.  I want to like Elementary but only time will tell if it stays on my Tivo's Season Pass.

Premiere Date: Thursday, Sept. 27 10/9c CBS

Trailer: http://www.cbs.com/shows/elementary/video/2239231109/elementary-exclusive-preview

3. Animal Practice

Justin Kirk, or Andy from Weeds as I will always think of him, is Dr. George Coleman the best veterinarian in New York, but he also is a little unorthodox.  He loves his job and he helps a lot of animals while doing it, but his ex-girlfriend, played by JoAnna Garcia, is about to spoil his fun.  She's taking over Crane Veterinary Hospital and George either has to adapt or teach Ms. Crane a few new tricks, along with a little help from his strange staff. 

Seeing how Weeds is on it's last season on Showtime I'm rooting for Kirk to make a name for himself on prime time TV.  JoAnna Garcia is cute, and the supporting cast seems like they'll work well for this show.  Plus, who doesn't love seeing a monkey in a white trench coat? 

Premiere Date: Wednesday, Sept. 26 8/7c NBC

Trailer: http://www.nbc.com/animal-practice/video/animal-practice/1401480

2. Revolution

Ever since Thomas Edison sparked the first light bulb electricity has slowly taken over our whole lives.  Refrigerators, cell phones, Ipods, car batteries; what would you do if it was all gone?  That's the premise behind this new show.  New comers Tracy Spiridakos and Graham Rogers play siblings Charlie and Danny, who have lived without electricity for 15 years.  When Danny is kidnapped by militia Charlie must enlist the help of her estranged uncle, played by Billy Burke from Twilight, to get her brother back and maybe find a way to turn the lights back on.

J.J. Abrams is known for helping create really complicated and twisted TV series like Lost and Fringe, so I feel like this show could be fun to watch, but also time consuming.  Sword fights, arrows flying, and the lead character is pretty sweet looking.  I'm in!

Premiere Date: Monday, Sept. 17 10/9c NBC

Trailer: http://www.nbc.com/revolution/video/revolution-extended-preview/1412424

1. Arrow

Gee, what a shock, the show I'm most excited to watch is based on a comic book, I know.  Billionaire playboy Oliver Queen is shipwrecked on an island for five years and he returns home with a new view of the world and a few new skills.  He's looking to make amends of all the wrongs not only in Starling City, but also in his personal life.  But those closest to him may know more about what happened to him than they are letting on.  I say use them for target practice and let the secrets spill!

When last The CW network saw Oliver Queen, a.k.a Green Arrow, he was played by Justine Hartley on Smallville.  Although actor Stephen Amell's character has no relation to Hartley's character or world, Oliver's origins still seem similar to it's comic roots.  In the DC Universe Oliver was an only child who lost both his parents.  In Arrow, he still has a sister and a mother, which I think is a nice twist in this interpretation.  What good is a hero if he has nothing too lose?  I'm definitely not a fan of Starling City; I mean does Star City sound that corny?  In any event, just let his girlfriend, Laurel Lance, let out a Black Canary cry and watch me giggle with glee like a school girl.

Premiere Date: Wednesday, Oct. 10 8/7c THE CW

Trailer: http://www.cwtv.com/cw-video/arrow/arrow--extended-preview/?play=01313a67-8fc4-4cd7-b58f-1d0b6fe0c8a9