PopTards and Popcorn: AVATAR

Why are you reading this review? Go see it. Now. In 3D and in IMAX.
 
 
NOW.

Comic Quickies - Incorruptible #1

Irredeemable is one of the more interesting comics that Mark Waid has been attached to for some time. Writing a story where the Superman archtype has gone literally insane and has become the world's worst villian, it makes sense that Waid would give us the opposing story. It seems that with Incorruptible #1, we're watching the world's (now second) worst villian as he tries to go straight. Max Damage is his name (how very Noir) and his villianous teengirl sidekick is called Jailbait, for obvious reasons. He's decided that since the Plutonian has gone insane and most of the heroes are dead, he's the only one with the power to protect the human race from the almost omnipotent former-hero.

It's a great, if inevitable idea, and I was glad to see that it takes place in the same universe as Irredeemable. However, this issue isn't really what I was hoping it would be. As a start-up issue, it lacks the stunning, "I NEED to see what happens next issue" ending that's designed to get people picking up #2, but maybe the problem is with the premise itself. Watching a former bad-ass villian go good isn't nearly as engaging as watching what would happen if the most powerful hero on the planet goes bonker-balls. I have enough faith in Mark Waid to keep checking it out for a bit, but so far I'm not wicked impressed.

Comic Quickies - Realm of Kings One Shot

Under my work clothes, I'm sporting a Black Lantern tshirt, so I'm no stranger to space stories. But for some reason I have trouble giving anything akin to a crap about the Cosmic section of the Marvel publishing line. However my buddy Pete picks up all these cosmic titles and seems to dig it, so I says to myself: "Self. Read this shit." (I like to demean myself with disrespectful commands to my...self)

the GOOD:
- I can see why people dig this, even if I'm not a huge fan.
- "I am Groot!" ...made me laugh. though reminiscent of "I am Baaaytor" from Garth Ennis' amazing Hitman series.


the BAD:
- got bored just by reading the "Previously" page.
- evil alternate versions of our characters, coming to GIT us! oh noes! (how many times are we gonna see this? See: Marvel Zombies, JLA: Earth-2, Infinity War, so on, so forth)

the MEH:
- The art. Not great, not terrible. Definitely meh.

I'm hoping that once I get my head fully into the Cosmic fragment of the Marvel U, and get to know all the characters, that I'll care more..I'm willing to give it a shot, but so far, I'm not blown away.

It's Elementary, Dear Watson....a Bit TOO Elementary

Victorian Undead
Sherlock Holmes vs ZOMBIES!

..So reads the little burst on the cover of this Wildstorm Comic by Ian Edginton and Davide Fabbri. The cover image is that of our Mister Holmes, rotting away, infested with maggots and smoking a big ole' pipe overflowing with insects. Silly Zombie Holmes! You can't smoke a pipe like thaaat! Wotta card!

Ugh. I just don't care. The beautiful Tony Moore art on the outside was the only reason I even gave this a shot. And maybe it's my own baggage that's keeping me from enjoying this comic, being a thread away from wanting to punch all these "Enter Character Here Vs Zombies" comics and books in the face. I recently saw that there was a Star Wars Zombie novel on the shelves as well. And I SHOULD be stoked! I've been a fan of this particular sub-genre since I was a wee laddy, but it's just getting boring. (Don't be offended, my beloved Walking Dead. You know I still love you and only you!)

That being said, this was a valiant attempt by the creators and they haven't done anything "wrong" that would make me dislike this comic, but I got halfway through the book and realized that I just didn't care and had to slog my way through the rest of the book. The interaction between Holmes and Watson weren't particularly engaging, the zombie business wasn't that scary, or original. Maybe that's what I'm getting at: nothing here was that interesting or original, and while that isn't exactly "wrong" on the creator's part, it IS enough to make me not read the next issue. Sorry old chaps, you just haven't sold me.
JD

I Would Be a Fat Robot!

So in a future we can choose who we are by putting some funky glasses on and sitting under restaurant heating lamps. In the movie "Surrogates" people live their lives with no fear through robots. You could be a fat slob and be a hot woman. With this revolutionary technology the crime and homicide rates have virtually disappeared. But with this blessing comes arguments that people are loosing themselves and need to step away from this technology and live their own lives.

Enough about the world, so what of the movie? Who better to play the main character then Bruce Willis. Bruce is an FBI agent investigating a new homicide that killed the surrogate and the user. The homicide was aimed at the creator of the surrogates and ended up being his son. With this the plot goes through some interesting events and of course the last second button push scenario. I was not interested in alot of the movie, not even the foreshadowing struggle of Bruce's torn thoughts of living the surrogate life or his own.

A little predictable, but the ending is what made this a movie worth downloading. I say downloading because it was not worth the $10 movie theaters ask you to pay. For a Bruce Willis film I would say it lacked more gun fights and explosions. Let's do another Die Hard. We could call it "I Want to Blow Shit Up to Make You Die Hardest." So go to a computer near you and pay that free admission to watch "Surrogates."

PopTards & Popcorn: Paranormal Activity

Unabashed Horror Fan. That's me. Hundreds upon hundreds of horror films over the years. As I write this, I'm wearing a Freddy Krueger sweater, not because it's Halloween, but because when I look down, I automatically remember the feeling I got when I first saw my first NOES film, and the following weeks that brought me nightmares because of it. Why devote so much time in the pursuit of a feeling that causes me misery? That's a question for another blog, and perhaps a therapist to answer. My point? I know horror, and have even become slightly jaded towards it over the years. But it's rare for me to actually find the high that I'm looking for whenever I'm watching a horror film.

THIS movie gave me just that. I still had chills running through me as I drove home and even as I settled into bed.

It isn't gory. It isn't graphic. Because of this, I feel like the Saw/Hostel crowd will balk at it's reliance on mood and tension as it's primary fear factors. Today's horror offerings use blood and brutality as a crutch, which is ok, these things are what we want as horror fans. But when they are conspicuously missing, I take notice, and I applaud the filmmakers for going back to the origins of true horror and try to reach right to the core of what can effect an audience without using gallons of Karo syrup and red food coloring.

The film opens up as one of our two main protagonists has recently bought a very expensive camera to document the strange goings-on that have been bothering the couple for some time, and everything we experience comes from the edited version of this footage, apparently put together by the studio (with thanks to the victim's families) so that their story can be told. And it's a story that I was riveted to from start to finish.

If you're looking for something spooky to watch this Halloween season, may I suggest you put away the red food coloring for this one and experience a bare-bones but effective horror experience.

When I say HEROES you say OK I WILL CATCH UP!!!

So we are now in the 4th season of "Heroes." The only thing I can say about it is that it makes me revert back to those Saturday morning cartoons that I loved so much. You know, when you would grab your proton pack and stomp trap and catch some ghosts with the Ghostbusters. This show has all sorts of twists and turns and sometimes you don't know who is on what side.

My favorite part of this television show is the character development. Most shows will keep the characters in a certain comfort zone of emotion and development to keep the show going, but not "Heroes." Each season some heroes will slip up into the power hungry maniacs and some will become the stand off little lamb that wants nothing to do than get back to their regular lives. I was very weary when they started introducing new people with new powers, but so far we are doing pretty well.

A nice thing about the TV series is that it has kept up with the original comic book feel. They do this by not only having heroes and villains fighting one another, but the online comic books and the side character break off skits are just what the doctor ordered for that extra craving for more content.

So when you need a change from all the CISs and Law and Orders hop over to NBC on Mondays at 8 pm est and enjoy some awesome twists and an occasional car flip or flying man who forgot to switch to his tights. (no they aren't super heroes, just people with something a little extra)