I'm Getting Too Old For These Hits

Now that we're into the final quarter of the year, I better start cracking down on these films I've had sitting in my to-watch pile for a while now, so the next few posts will most likely be on those movies.

Today, it's the last DC Universe Original Animated film of the year, Batman: The Dark Knight Returns Part 1.

An adaptation of the classic Frank Miller book, The Dark Knight Returns Part 1 is about a world where Batman retires from crime-fighting after the death of Jason Todd, the second Robin. A decade after said retirement, Gotham's gotten worse and Batman can't take it anymore. He dons the mantle once again, despite his advanced age, and sets out to reclaim the city.

I actually managed to procure my own copy of the comic the other day, though I have read it several times via a copy from the library. I've already spoken a little about it in my Batman comic recommendations list, but for those who haven't read it yet, it's a fantastic Batman comic, and the best Frank Miller work I've ever read (though that's not hard since he wrote All-Star Batman And Robin, which is a travesty except for the art). OK, it's not perfect (Frank, why do you hate Selina Kyle?) but what is?
The dialogue remains true to the characters, the concept of “does the world need a Batman?” gets fair representation on both sides and there are a few great images that you will never get out of your head, either because they're awesome (Bruce's fight with Superman), or horrific (the last time you see the Joker. Yeah...). So as you can imagine, both films have a LOT to live up to, considering how influential the story was.

Part 2 is expected to be released early next year, but until then, let's see how Part 1 fares.

For anyone who has read the comic, the end of the film is roughly at the same point as the end of the second issue, but the final scene of the film is actually taken from earlier in the comic (more on that later)

In all honesty... the film's actually very underwhelming, given what we're adapting here. Don't get me wrong, it's not a terrible film, not in the slightest. It's just, considering what the comic presents us with, a lot of it is lacking in this adaptation. I wasn't expecting this film to reinvent the wheel or anything, since Batman doesn't need a reinvention after having had one at the hands of Nolan and his talented cast and crews for the latest films, but I'm not quite sure the creative team for this knew exactly what impact the dialogue had for the book.

That's my biggest problem with the film right there: the lack of internal monologue. The comic is heavy with the internal monologue, a lot of which works well. Frank Miller really got the Batman character down, as well as the Joker, and it's one of the few times he's written Superman with respect. Each of them gets at least one memorable monologue and it's Frank at his best (we try not to speak of The Dark Knight Strikes Again... though personally, I don't hate it but it gets too bogged down in politics and is less about Batman than it is the other DC heroes.)

So, to discard some of the top-notch writing, simply because it's spoken in the character's heads and not as actual dialogue, it takes away from the experience.

For example, early on, Bruce Wayne gets mugged by a couple of mutant gang members and reconsiders his opinion on Joe Chill, who he used to consider the lowest of the low. The movie cuts that, and anything Bruce thinks about while in his Batman gear.

But by removing the fantastic writing, audiences who haven't read the comic won't get what Bruce is trying to achieve. Yes, seeing old man Bruce beating up mooks is still fun, but the dialogue just added so many layers.

The scene I mentioned above is also one of my favourites, definitely within the top five moments of the comic for me. Three of my other favourites won't appear until the second part, and as for my other, I'll save that for when I hand out praise, because that scene is actually done well.

Another gripe I have is that the animation looks too colourful for its own good. I mean, the Gotham of the comic wasn't devoid of colour, but it certainly didn't look as bright and cheerful as the film's version. Well, cheerful may be the wrong word, but it just looks lonely, as opposed to looking like a craphole. Or, even more of a craphole than normal.

I get that they may be trying to appeal to a more general audience, and thus things have to look a little less... depressing, for lack of a better word, but considering how these are straight to DVD, and more often than not an adaptation, it's not exactly going to bring people in en masse. So, the majority of people buying these are familiar with the source material, or at least know beforehand that this is an adaptation.

That being said, I still did enjoy the film on its own merits and there are things I need to praise:

While all the voice acting is good, the two stand-outs are, naturally, the voices for Batman and Robin (Peter Weller and Ariel Winter, respectively).

Yep, Robocop as Batman. I've long since considered Clint Eastwood for the role when I was hoping for a live action adaptation, but hey, Peter Weller's a good choice for the cartoon. He's grim and stoic, as a Batman should be, but one that's weary, and he's a good fit.

Ariel Winter, best known for her role in Modern Family, is more than capable of voicing Carrie Kelly, who in herself is a refreshing character (especially with Frank's track record with women. Ho boy... no pun intended, by the way). Ariel voices Carrie with a lot of spunk, confidence and determination, something I definitely give the thumbs-up to.

But if there's one thing I praise more than any other, it's how my favourite scene from the book was handled.

In the comic, Harvey Dent is seemingly cured of his Two-Face persona once and for all, with his face restored. But after this announcement is made on TV, he disappears. Not long after Batman reclaims the mantle, he confronts Harvey, who admits that he is now one man... Two-Face. “Both sides match...”. The panel in the comic even shows Harvey Dent, with his face now resembling Two-face completely, even if physically he looks like the old Harvey Dent. Two-Face has taken over, and he has come to terms with that. Batman can do nothing but sympathize and be left just a little bit disappointed.

And in the movie, the scene is just as brilliant. Wade Williams, who was Black Mask for a previous Batman DCUAO production, Under The Red Hood (and Bellick in Prison Break), voices Harvey and for what little screen time he gets, he makes the most of it. The scene is no less powerful, and nothing has been lost in translation. Harvey is still a broken man, a man who can't change, even as the world has changed around him. Much like Batman. Fantastic scene, just fantastic.

Also, kudos to the creative team for managing to slip in a reference to Carrie's parents being stoners. Even with an M rating down here, I still expected any such references to be omitted. But nope, the “”I was tripping the whole time” line made it in. That actually shocked me. Carrie's parents are... well, slack. Very bohemian and all “down with the establishment”, which in itself was great commentary, about loose style parenting.

All in all, a very good effort, but lacking the punch of the spectacular dialogue found within the comic. But not a waste of your time, and still better than other Batman related fare like The Batman Vs. Dracula and Batman And Robin. 3.5/5

(P.S one other thing to praise though... the final scene. It was actually in the middle of the first issue, but as a segway to Part 2... oh man, wise choice. No spoilers, but one word sums it all up nicely: “Darling”. If you've seen it, you know what it means and what's coming. Part 2 could end up being the superior installment, and hopefully they'll fix the mistakes they made with this one, especially when it comes to my remaining favourite scenes)

We're On The Eve Of Destruction

Well, here we are. The last of the Nolan Batman films has arrived. I know a lot of you are still to see it, so this will be as spoiler-free as possible. I will not talk about the ending, or the twists. The closest I will come to a spoiler is going over the story references I caught (not all of them, mind you). With that, let us begin.

Eight years after the events of The Dark Knight, Gotham is prospering, thanks to organized crime being virtually eradicated. Bruce Wayne (Christian Bale) has retired from being Batman, and has remained at Wayne Manor all this time. But when the mercenary, Bane (Tom Hardy) shakes things up in Gotham, the Batman makes his presence known once again.

Yeah, that's pretty much the abridged version, but I think by now if you don't know what the basics for the movie are, it's because you don't care.

It's fair to say I've been waiting for this movie for a long time. Like, since 2008. Literally, since the day after The Dark Knight. So, hype was already high long before I saw the movie.

And you know what? It exceeded my expectations and then some. Not that I knew what to expect, but it was still a sight to behold and more.

Even though there's less for Gary Oldman and Morgan Freeman to do, they still bring their A-game to the table, with Oldman getting one of my absolute fave scenes in which he said Batman was his best friend. It warmed my cynical heart to hear such a thing.

Christian Bale spent more time out of the Batsuit, and that gave a greater focus on Bruce Wayne as a composite of the boy Alfred raised and the Batman persona. Bale has always delivered a solid performance and he's certainly not phoning it in here.

As for the new players: Anne Hathaway as Catwoman, a well casted role. Oozing confidence, charisma and likability, she plays off well against Bale when the two are just getting to know each other as Selina and Bruce, and she's a fierce fighter in her Catwoman gear (also, the blonde girl played by Juno Temple that hangs around with her? Totally Holly Robinson, am I right?)

Joseph Gordon-Levitt is a pretty damn good character, having good deductive skills, and is seemingly unmovable in his ideals. He makes a great cop and his scenes with Bale are nicely done.

Marion Cotillard as Miranda Tate... it takes a while to get into her character. She doesn't do so much at first, but as time goes on, she becomes more bearable.

But the big new performance of note is Tom Hardy as Bane. Completely undoing the last attempt at a live action Bane (I prefer to call him “Ralph Wiggum on steroids”), Tom Hardy's is brutal, menacing and actually somewhat funny (the stadium scene. Before blowing it up, he comments on what a lovely voice the child singing the national anthem has). One reviewer down here referred to him as the “minister of sinister” and that's actually a pretty accurate description. Much like the comics, he's a mighty mental and physical challenge for the Caped Crusader, which makes for a mean combination.

However, if there's one performance that eclipses all others, it's Michael Caine as Alfred. Despite a smaller role, his is the most emotional, and I damn well nearly cried at certain scenes. You, sir, are a living legend. Never leave us.

The film actually ties in more with Batman Begins than The Dark Knight, mostly with the mentions of Ra's Al Ghul, the “why do we fall?” theme returning, but its biggest connection to The Dark Knight is Harvey Dent and the truth surrounding the events of his death. It's a good choice to connect to the first film, as it brings up things we may have forgotten over time.

Action-wise, it's astonishing. Bane's beatdown with Batman, the Batwing (yeah they call it The Bat, but I think Batwing is cooler) in battle, but the best of all is the huge criminal vs. cop brawl, with Batman and Bane gearing up for round two. Now THAT'S an action sequence. Not loads and loads of guns and explosions, just good ol' fashioned fisticuffs with hundreds and hundreds of people (see Gangs Of New York for something similar).

Also, I love the choice for stories that the Nolans have cherry-picked aspects from: The Dark Knight Returns (Bruce Wayne coming out of retirement), Knightfall (the first Batman and Bane battle) and No Man's Land (Gotham cut off from the world) just to name a few. All are classic stories in the Batman mythology so to see them get a mention is wonderful for a long time Batman fan like me.

Surprisingly, I've heard very little in terms of people bitching that this isn't as good as The Dark Knight. And really, does it matter? Does everything always have to be bigger and better? Can't it just be good on its own? And with a movie like this, calling it “good” is a slap in the face to the movie.

So, as you've guessed, it's the number one film for me this year so far. To Christopher Nolan, the cast, the crew, everyone involved: you've created a triumphant and terrific trilogy. We will forever be grateful for what you've done for the Dark Knight Detective. I know you said this was the last but if you ever do decide you have one more film in you, I'll be there. Hell, I'll be there regardless of what Nolan does next. The keys to the kingdom should be his. He redefined the game a long time ago. No, wait, scratch that: he BECAME the game. The one to beat. Batman Begins showed how a reboot can not only work but be acclaimed. The Dark Knight utterly shattered expectations not just for comic book movies, but blockbuster films. And The Dark Knight Rises shows how you end a trilogy: with the biggest bang you can muster. 4.5/5

Jokerman Dance To The Nightingale Tune

So, since we looked the beginning of a new Batman series, it's only natural we'd go into the sequel, The Dark Knight, the first Batman movie not to feature the word Batman in the title.

Some time after the events of Batman Begins, organized crime has taken a huge hit, thanks to the efforts of Batman (Christian Bale), James Gordon (Gary Oldman) and new District Attorney, Harvey Dent (Aaron Eckhart). However, a new player enters the game, calling himself The Joker (Heath Ledger), shaking up the status quo and threatening to bring Gotham to its knees. How far will Batman go to stop a madman with no clear goal in mind?

Yeah, I'm just going to come right out and say it early: this is one of the greatest films I have ever seen in my life. I remember sitting in the cinema, watching the events unfold, filled with awe and wonder, not wanting it to end. Some people say it was too long, I say it was too short! Considering how it took until 2012 to get the next film, how could it be too long? Maybe I'm just a wee bit obsessed with Batman to notice...

As criminal as this might be, I'm only going to cover the returning actors briefly, partly because this will probably be another long blog, partly to go over the new arrivals, and partly because what I said in the Batman Begins blog still holds true (also, for the handful of people who haven't seen this yet, some spoilers may show up).

Christian Bale is still dynamic as the Caped Crusader, at odds with himself over the fact that he feels he can retire and settle down with Rachel (played by Maggie Gyllenhaal this time around), but also with the fact that the mob is cottoning on to the fact that Batman doesn't kill. In the Batman persona, he's a lot more fierce and brutal, and I like it. This fury, THAT'S the Batman I've been wanting for a while. The Batman that does not rest, the Batman that will hunt you down. Don't get me wrong, I love Keaton's Batman and Conroy's definitely has shades of this, as well as being one of the greatest examples you can follow, but DAMN!

Michael Caine plays more of a mentor role than a father-figure here compared to the last film (not that he's any less of one, just that the Batman/Alfred soundboarding that they do in the comics gets more of a look-in) and he has some fantastic lines, both as one of the primary sources of humor (the bit on the boat about the supermodel “applying her own bloody sun tan lotion”) and for his observations on the human race and how the criminal mind thinks. Have I mentioned just how legendary this man is?

Gary Oldman and Morgan Freeman continue their upstanding work, as confidantes and aides to Batman, with Oldman getting one of the best scenes in the movie when he has The Joker at gunpoint: “We got you, you son of a bitch”

Also, Cillian Murphy returns, albeit briefly. It's still awesome, and also offers the first hint that Batman is getting too well known in his methods, when Crane recognises when the real Batman shows up amongst the copycats.

While she's not new, the actress is, so I'll use Maggie Gyllenhaal as the converging point between the old and the new. As much as I no longer dislike Katie Holmes as Rachael, Maggie is just a better fit for the role. She exudes a warmer personality, as indicated by her smile, and she comes across less angsty.

Now, for the new players. And of course, I would be remiss if I didn't mention Heath Ledger as The Joker. Holy crap, is he ever ace! The Joker in this incarnation forgoes the classic gag arsenal of previous Jokers in favour of knives, guns and the clever use of a pencil (who doesn't love that scene?) and also has the best lines (“Got a little fight in ya. I like that”). It's implied that he's wearing make-up, as opposed to being exposed to a chemical pool and staying that white. Combine that with his tatty clothes and attitude, and we have the most realistic Joker yet, who borders on being the bastard son of Alexander DeLarge from A Clockwork Orange. Heath raised the bar for supervillain acting in comic book movies and it's a masterful role.

Aaron Eckhart is the other new major player and damn if he's not charismatic as all Hell. It's almost like he took his Nick Naylor role from Thank You For Smoking and transplanted it here, but gave him a heroic angle. Dent is dashing, debonair, determined, and has a mean right cross. His eventual downfall into Two-Face is tragic and the make-up for the scarred side is among the best Two-Face designs I've ever seen (only beaten by the artwork for the incredible Dark Victory. Seriously, between this movie and that book, that's how I think Two-Face should look. Less like Jekyll and Hyde fused together, more like an actual burn victim).

Wow, what was supposed to be a brief look at the returning players ended up being longer than I thought... but on to other things.

The action sequences are excellent, and the whole movie has a heist/crime film feel to it. In fact, if you took Bruce Wayne out of the Batsuit, that's what it would be. Certain scenes with Dent and Gordon play out like it's a new version of Heat. My absolute fave scene is the interrogation between Batman and The Joker. From the moment it's revealed that Batman has been standing in the room when the lights were out, to the final moment of the scene, it's excellent directing and writing. Panning around the room, The Joker trying to convince Batman he'll be an outcast, Batman's outrage, pure gold. The dialogue in this movie is sensational, and I praise all the writing talent on hand.

Two things this movie has over Batman Begins: first, this movie shows a little more of Batman being a detective, like the bullet testing scene. This is something I had been wanting since Batman Begins, and I was glad to see it here, though I'd have loved a little more.

Secondly, I found this film a little more emotional, not that the first was lacking. But with Two-Face... oh man, he's written so well. The scene in which he puts the gun to his own head, flips the coin and looks disappointed when he's spared? How can one small scene be done so well?

There is obviously so much more to say about this movie and how brilliant it is. It is my fourth favourite movie of all time (I should do a top ten list somewhere down the line) and nothing I can say will do it justice. An easy 4.5/5

As early as this may be, tomorrow will be the finale of the Batman films as directed by Nolan. So, if you haven't seen it yet (and chances are, many of you won't have), I'll try and keep it as spoiler free as I can but just in case, come back to it at a later date. But for everybody else, tomorrow's blog will be The Dark Knight Rises.

He's Gonna Hit The Highway Like A Battering Ram

With one day left until The Dark Knight Rises graces our screens, it's time for my next theme week: the Nolan directed Batman films. So, naturally, the best place to start is at the beginning, with... well, Batman Begins, of course.

Now I know that just about everyone and his dog has talked at length about this movie, but not everybody in the world is going to have seen it, shared the same opinion or seen many reviews/viewpoints, so if they should stumble across this one, it could very well be their first (which is good for them, because that means the next ones they read will be better). On the subject of people and firsts, I'll put the spoiler warning here for anyone yet to see the movie. Not that it is a high number, but you never know.

Much like my post on the latest Superman film, I'll skip the creation of Batman because this won't be a short blog.

Bruce Wayne (Christian Bale) returns to Gotham after receiving training overseas in the methods of crimefighting from Henri Ducard (Liam Neeson), intent on reclaiming his city from the grips of criminals, in particular Carmine Falcone (Tom Wilkinson). But in between re-establishing himself in the city, and with a childhood friend of his, Rachel Dawes (Katie Holmes) and fighting off the new threat of Scarecrow (Cillian Murphy), Bruce Wayne finds he's in for a bigger challenge than he thought.

To say that after Batman And Robin, any Batman film would be good in comparison is the least praise you can sprinkle onto this. To say that it reinvigorated the Batman series, and film in general, and is the model for doing a reboot right is also too little to fully appreciate just how fantastic this film is.

When I first heard that Christian Bale was going to play Batman, I was already in approval because of American Psycho, and that only heightened when I got the chance to see The Machinist two weeks before Batman Begins made its debut (by the way, if you watch those and all the Nolan Batman films together, that's like one of the greatest movie marathons I can think of. And I should do that when The Dark Knight Rises comes out on DVD) and he does not disappoint. What he gets more so than any other portrayer of Bruce Wayne and Batman (with the possible exception of Michael Keaton but definitely excepting Kevin Conroy) is that Bruce Wayne and Batman should have a different voice, as part of the idea that Bruce Wayne couldn't possibly be Batman. And when he's Batman, hot damn! That voice often gets complaints for how gruff it is but I love it, it helps project the image that this Batman is a force of nature. It's like when Nolan resurrected him, he didn't come back as Batman, he came back as Bat-Demon! (And considering what some people see him as when they're hallucinating in this movie, that's a distinct possibility). As Bruce Wayne, he plays up the “rich idiot with no day job” angle well, channeling the Patrick Bateman (insert your own Bateman/Batman joke here) character from American Psycho for the Bruce Wayne scenes when he's in public. But then there's the in-between, the Bruce that only Alfred sees, and Rachel to a point, the one who has a determination that cannot be swayed, but also the vulnerability of the little boy who will never fully come to terms with the death of his parents.

Speaking of, much like the recent Amazing Spider-Man, it takes a lot to make us care about something we all know is coming, and to keep it from looking like you're going through the motions. In Begins, the details are changed to be an opera instead of a film, and the reason for leaving is Bruce's fear of the bat creatures. So, when Thomas and Martha leave and are killed by Joe Chill, it adds a little to the scene, by giving Bruce the idea that it was his fault, even though we as an audience know he is not to blame. Not to mention tying into one of the central themes, of fear and how it controls us.

Now, talking about the cast could end up making this the longest blog I've ever done, so I'm going to try and praise them in one paragraph each (criminal, I know, I should really look into vlogging at one point).

Michael Caine as Alfred is just more proof of how awesome Michael Caine is. He's dry, witty but ever so fatherly. Hell, I'm actually wondering if he was just playing himself under an assumed name. And he gets some of the best lines in the movie, too (“What good are all those push-ups if you can't even lift a bloody log?”, priceless)

Gary Oldman as James Gordon is a much better utilization of the character when compared to the Burton/Schumacher era. Seemingly the only good cop amongst the rats, he's determined, clever and noble. Also, he gets to drive the freakin' Batmobile (which is awesome, by the way. I swear it would eat cars if it was sentient, it's that much of a beast.)

Morgan Freeman portrays Lucius Fox, a character who hasn't been used in that many adaptations (he was seen in Batman: The Animated Series but from there, I couldn't tell you) but he's Morgan Freeman, what can I say? He's dry and hilarious, like Michael Caine, and serves as useful exposition on Batman's arsenal. Also, it makes sense he knows that Bruce Wayne and Batman are the same person, he spends a lot of time with the guy, so he would know when something's up. And that scene at the end when he shows up William Earle (Rutger Hauer)? Loved it.

Katie Holmes as Rachael Dawes... I have to admit, initially I was not fond of her. Maybe that was me being prejudiced against her due to being the wife of an ego-maniac (whose claws she finally escaped), or her time on Dawson's Creek, but over time, I've come to realize she wasn't that bad in her role. She's still the weakest link, no question, but not something that drags the movie down (she is, however, responsible for one of my criticisms of the movie, which I'll get into later).

Liam Neeson, much like Morgan Freeman, just has to show up and awesomeness pretty much ensues. He's one Hell of a fighter and when it's revealed that he's really the leader of the League Of Shadows, Ra's Al Ghul (though that's not much of a spoiler if you know the comics, you get that vibe from him), the action just gets better.

And lastly, Cillian Murphy as the Scarecrow, aka Jonathan Crane. Now, out of all the Batman villains, Scarecrow is my absolute fave, so naturally I was so eager to see him on the big screen. And while they took a few liberties, as they often do (mostly with his looks, making him a handsome young psychiatrist with mob ties as opposed to a scrawny looking, creepy looking older male), he is still fun to watch. He may not be much of a fighter but he knows his way around a confrontation and lets nothing intimidate him (until dosed with his own fear gas, but hey, these things happen on the job). And as much as I love his comic costume, or that really cool hangman motif he had for the animated series, the simple sack look works too, and doesn't distract from his badassness.

Now, while I have mostly minor criticisms (Ra's Al Ghul not being pronounced correctly, Zsasz getting little screen time and looking like he belongs in a System Of A Down cover band), the one semi-major one I have is the scene in which Scarecrow's riding on a horse, terrifying Rachel (this isn't the bad part), Rachel zaps him with a taser and he goes down for the count, with the horse riding off and that's the last we see of him (that's the bad part).

I get that he's not THE major villain, but come on, you're trying to undo everything he did with a pathetic manoeuvre like that! Yes, he's in the sequel, but that's not the point! He looked like a chump, and the master of fear deserved a better send off!

On to the action scenes, some have complained that it's hard to figure out what's going on, that it's too confusing. That makes sense to me, since part of what Batman is trying to accomplish is to create confusion and fear with his fighting style. By being constantly on the move, ever adaptable, he ensures that he will have the upper hand.

Really, there's a lot I could say, like how well it handles the theme of fear, or Tom Wilkinson's marvelous turn as Falcone, or discuss the most awesome scene in the movie (three words: “SWEAR TO ME!”), but we could be here all day. Chances are, you've seen it by now, and you know how awesome it is (and if you didn't like it, fair enough, you're under no obligation to like what I like). Outstanding work, and clearly a 4.5/5

Up next... gee, I wonder?

Beware The Superman (Not The Actual Superman, Though)

Gotta say, I love how fast the DC Universe Animated Original movies reach my country now. A while ago, I'd have to wait several months for the latest movie. Today's movie, Superman Vs. The Elite, not even one month. Fingers crossed The Dark Knight Returns Part 1 gets a speedy release, too. But let's focus on the here and now.

Based on the one-shot story from Action Comics #775 What's So Funny About Truth, Justice And The American Way, the story features four British superpowered beings meeting Superman (once again voiced by George Newbern); Coldcast (Catero Colbert), a manipulator of electromagnetism; Hat (Andrew Kishino), a man of magic; Menagerie (Melissa Disney), who controls symbiotic alien beasts; and their leader, Manchester Black (Robin Atkin Downes), an incredibly gifted telepath. The four of them call themselves The Elite and have decided that Superman's way of crimefighting is old fashioned and want to install themselves as the new order of hero. Naturally, Superman is not one to take this lying down and strives to show the four that his way still works.

Now, I haven't read the original story (unfortunately for me), so anything I has to say will largely regard the movie, with possibly references to the Superman in the comics.

Animation-wise, as solid as ever from the DCUAO range, though one thing I find is distracting is the lower half of Superman's face. Sometimes it looks out of proportion, especially with a huge freakin' chin, only to revert back to normal soon after. Maybe I'm the only one who noticed it, along with his not quite so vibrant eyes (if that makes any sense). Otherwise, the palette is lovely and colourful, with great scenery in Britain.

Voice-wise, George hasn't put a foot wrong yet, being to Superman what Kevin Conroy is to Batman. His Superman is a kindly fellow, but when you wrong him, oh Lord have mercy on you.

Pauley Perrette provides the voice of Lois Lane and I was pleased that the movie kept Lois and Clark as a married couple, I think the only other film in ANY continuity to acknowledge the relationship combined with Lois knowing that Clark is Superman is Superman: Doomsday (I haven't seen Brainiac Attacks, so I can't vouch for that). Voice-wise, she does pretty good, but a little note to the animators: you should have made her smile more.

Best voice-work, however, goes to Robin Atkin Downes. Black is so colourful, so full of swagger, it's hard not to be won over. Even when he does a semi-face heel turn, he's so charismatic. He's wrong (I'll get to that) but he's full of conviction and doesn't go mad with power. While it turns out his backstory isn't as sympathetic as he'd like us to believe, it almost seems like he believes it. Maybe he does, actually. He's probably convinced himself that at one point, he was the victim (that part I won't deny) and that once he gained power, he was the one to reshape the world (the part I contest).

This would probably as much praise for the original comic as it is the film, but what I like best are the themes. These themes aren't uncommon for Superman, they're among the most reoccurring, the themes of “Why can't Superman do so much more with his great power” and “Those with greater power should be in control of the world and decide the fates of every individual on the planet”.

As the plot synopsis covers, The Elite fancies themselves as the new breed of champions for the world, they want to see the end of the old order and be the instigators of the new. And in their order, there is no tolerance for terrorists, warmongers or general madmen. They are judge, jury and executioner (often skipping straight to the executioner part). Superman, of course, has always held the belief that while he has great power, he has no right to put himself above the law and is just as accountable as anyone else. Despite the overwhelming popularity of The Elite and their methods, Superman steadfastly sticks to his guns, insisting his way works.

Taken on another level, it's also a response to the readers/viewers who have been wanting their superheroes to be more extreme and hardcore (isn't that what The Authority is? I mean, they have Batman and Superman expies that kills don't they?). Superman is timeless, and we don't want him to suddenly be all “I'ma kill every mutha in this room!” If we wanted that, we have Superman: At Earth's End for that (and we don't want that, it can stay in the fire).

I'm of the opinion that if a character doesn't want to kill, for whatever reason, that is their decision and should not be questioned, and the same applies in real life. Taking a life is not the same as it is in a video game (not speaking from personal experience obviously but come on, it's not like I can take a life and be all hunky-dory, that's to be expected) and it's not something you can take lightly. If heroes like Superman and Batman refuse to take a life, regardless OF that life, who are we to condemn them? If both were real, wouldn't we be complaining they need to obey the letter of the law the same as the rest of us?

Superman believes in the goodness of humankind, that we can rise above what we are. We have the capacity, but we lack something to show us the inner light. And that is also the reason he doesn't solve all the world's problems; he believes we can, and that we need to, to prove how we are wonderful. Superman is like the loving but stern father, and the planet Earth is a child with limitless potential that just needs to realize it.

That's not the end of it, either. Think about the world today, all the disasters and horrific acts that happen. A lot of us are calling for heads to be rolled, for lynch mobs to form, along with the handing out of pitchforks and torches. But would we approve of someone doing this on our behalf? Where does the line end? Would even the smallest of crimes be met with a swift death? Really, the story is relevant in both forms as an exploration of 'do the ends justify the means' and 'is there one right way to fight crime?

So, once again, another fine addition to the DCUAO stable. But we have one more looming on the horizon, and there's every chance it could be the best of the bunch... in any case, a 4/5 for this one.

Is It Good? Listen, Bud...

Opening day for The Amazing Spider-Man, I was there. I loved Raimi's trilogy and while I was sceptical about the reboot, it won me over with time (it helped that Robert Pattinson didn't get the title role) and I was very much looking forward to this.

I'll go over Spider-Man's creation another time, since chances are this will be a long blog.

The origin is so well known at this point that it almost feels insulting to describe it. But for those still unaware, I will go over it (I should point out, though, there are little differences here and there).

Peter Parker (Andrew Garfield) has been living with his uncle Ben (Martin Sheen) and aunt May (Saly Field) since the death of his parents several years ago. He seeks answers from a colleague of theirs, Dr. Curt Connors (Rhys Ifans), but suspects there's more to it. During an initial attempt to contact Connors, a spider bites him and Peter gains superhuman abilities.

Yeah, that's pretty much the abridged version of just the intro, but there's more to it than that, like Peter's blossoming relationship with Gwen Stacy (Emma Stone) or Connors' experimenting with lizard DNA to regain his right arm (for those unaware, the Lizard is a long time Spider-Man foe and was actually the first villain he faced in the 1994 animated series).

This review will probably end up having spoilers, so you have been warned.

While it seems so typically Hollywood to reboot something when something doesn't go its way, there are some times when it works. And this is one of them. Not only does it work, it might even rival the original Raimi film. So, in short, I loved it.

Throughout the review, I'm going to try and limit the comparisons I make to the first Raimi film and judge it on its own merits.

Let's start with the main man himself: Andrew Garfield is a sensational Spider-Man. He gets the awkwardness, the mood swings, the inquisitive nature down pat. And best of all, when he dons the Spider-Man costume, he gets to crack wise. A lot. And be as heroic as we expect our Spider-Men to be.

Emma Stone as Gwen Stacy... oh man, she's fantastic. But then, Emma's a fantastic actress. She's not the damsel in distress here either, and actively assists Peter's effort in the final confrontation (for anyone who's read my blogs on the Marvel Cinematic Universe, you remember what I was saying about Marvel writing their women well? Same thing here).

The chemistry between Andrew and Emma is so real, probably helped by the fact that the two are actually dating off-screen and you cheer a little inside when Peter and Gwen finally get together.

Even though I said I'd try to limit the comparisons, this film has the better uncle Ben, pure and simple. Martin Sheen acts like a firm but fair father, and isn't afraid to get stern when he's required to be.

The death scene (whoa! Spoiler!) is actually much better here, too. It's much harsher and more personal, if that makes sense. In this version, after Ben goes looking for Peter, who has stormed off, he gets shot by the man Peter could have apprehended (as per the origins in most comics), with Peter finding him and screaming for help. But no one responds. And Ben doesn't say anything to Peter, he never gets the chance. Even though Peter (OK, this next part is a genuine spoiler of-sorts) finds out he has a phone message from Ben that he listens to later on, for the time being, Peter never gets any closure, no chance to make amends.

And Rhys Ifans as Connors/the Lizard more than makes up for that vile pile of crap The Five Year Engagement (though he didn't suck in it, it's nice to be reminded he can be in GOOD movies), being a sympathetic character but also true to the villain's motivations from the comic (the CGI takes a little getting used to, since in the wrong light he looks like an odd form of Killer Croc).

Action-wise, it's marvelous. Whether it's Spidey shooting multiple webs at a random car thief, or taking on the Lizard, it's Spidey doing what he does best: slinging webs while cracking jokes.

Now, for a couple things I really need to point out, because I love these aspects:

One of the neat reoccurring features of the film are the POV shots of Spidey shooting webs from his wrist and swinging along. Even though I saw the movie in 2D, those shots made it seem like you were right there, they were so immersive. I hope to see more of these in the sequel.

Another is one scene in particular: Spider-Man's been shot in the leg, and he's worried he won't be able to make it to Oscorp to stop the Lizard. This ends up on the news and one of the people watching is a construction worker whose son was saved from drowning by Spider-Man. He resolves to help Spider-Man out by getting cranes set up to give him objects to swing to and make a clearer path. I swear I nearly had tears in my eyes, and it makes me want to say to the Marvel writers “Why can't you write more citizens like this?!” Seriously, in Marvel comics, a lot of the average citizens are arseholes who act like they're better than superheroes. Piss off, you're just jealous that you're lower on the food chain now. Be more like the DC universe, whose citizens are proud to have heroes like Superman and the Flash protecting the Earth. Or this guy, be like this guy.

Despite all this, I have two gripes, nothing huge but still.

One is the performance of Irrfan Kahn as Dr. Rajit Ratha. I'm sorry but I could only understand what he was saying half the time. It distracted me, and it's one of the reasons I watch DVD's with subtitles on whenever possible.

The other, and this is also a comparison to the first Raimi film, is the under-use of aunt May. Her role mainly consists of “Oh Peter, I'm so worried about you!” and such. In the Raimi film, she also serves as a matchmaker of sorts for Peter and MJ, indirectly. She's there to be the guiding hand in Peter's life. But this movie, she's not all that developed. Hopefully that'll be rectified in the sequel.

I could be for hours talking about Spider-Man and this film in particular, but apart from saying Denis Leary was also a great addition, I should wrap this up now. But in a nutshell, the greatest thing about the film is that it's not a lazy rehash. It doesn't go "You know the origin, blah blah blah, here's some fight stuff". It makes you care all over again, it has heart.

 Despite my apprehension to the initial announcement of the reboot, it won me over and it's a fantastic film. I'll get to the other films somewhere down the line, but until then, I urge you to go out and see this movie. Have a slinging time. 4.5/5

Plans, Plans, Plans...They Always Have Their Plans

I haven't done much on the DC Universe Animated Original series. Well, besides the one blog on the possibility of Flashpoint becoming a movie. I'll get into a more detailed blog about the series someday, and I hope to do all the other films in the line as well. Today, I want to blog about the latest in the line, Justice League: Doom.

Normally I'd start off with a little history on a comic book hero or team, but I want to meet my workload (it may be self-imposed but if I don't set some boundaries, this blog would be updated with much less frequency) of three blogs per week and there's a lot to cover with a team book. Next time I read a JL comic that I want to review, I'll do it then.

But in brief, it's DC's big superhero team, usually with seven main members. The most common line up involves DC's “Big Three” (Superman, Batman and Wonder Woman) one of the various Flashes (usually Barry Allen or Wally West), one of the many Earthbound Green Lanterns (most commonly Hal Jordan, Kyle Raynor or John Stewart), the Martian Manhunter and the seventh alternates depending on medium and continuity, though usually it's Aquaman or Hawkgirl.

Though in the current DC comic continuity, Martian Manhunter is part of Stormwatch and Cyborg takes his place.

This movie is based on the story arc entitled Tower Of Babel. In the arc, Ra's Al Ghul steals plans that Batman had created in case the Justice League ever went rogue or were brainwashed into committing evil acts and the process was irreversible. Ra's used these against the Justice League in order to keep them occupied while he undertakes his latest diabolical plan. To distract Batman, Ra's abducts the corpses of his parents, thus keeping Batman from helping his fellow leaguers.

I have read the story, and it's fantastic. It's one of those “Why did no one think of this before?” kind of stories, the plans themselves are brilliant and Ra's goal (scrambling all languages into nonsense to bring about war) is exactly the kind of thing I'd expect from one of Batman's greatest (and best written) enemies. I highly recommend the story.

The movie plays out much the same in terms of basic concept. However, besides being condensed to a large degree, the movie makes many alterations:

• It drops Plastic Man and Aquaman (a pity, his was my fave plan in the comic. Not because the character sucked but because it was just so brilliant. It involved being exposed to Scarecrow's fear gas to make him hydrophobic) and Cyborg steps up to bat (everything's coming up Cyborg these days!)
• Instead of Wally and Kyle, the film uses Barry and Hal in their place.
• The methods used to dispatch of each member of the league differs greatly (I'd go into great detail here but that's a lot to cover and I will be mentioning a few later on anyway).
• Vandal Savage is the main villain in the film, as opposed to Ra's Al Ghul.

So, despite the changes, I really enjoyed this movie. There hasn't been a bad DCUAO film yet. Or even an average one. The animation is as solid as always, filled with rich, detailed characters and colour schemes.

Voice acting-wise, many members of the DC animated show Justice League/Justice League Unlimited, which is always welcome. I love that show in both incarnations and to hear Kevin Conroy (Batman), Tim Daly (Superman, though Tim actually did the Superman voice for the character's own animated series only, with George Newbern filling in), Susan Eisenberg (Wonder Woman), Carl Lumbly (Martian Manhunter) and Michael Rosenbaum (Flash, though on the show itself, it was Wally West and not Barry Allen, which is a minor quibble I have with the movie, as it feels so odd due to how different Barry and Wally are as characters) again is like greeting old friends. Even recurring or one-shot characters in the show have their voice actors come back (Olivia D'Abo as Star Sapphire and Alexis Denisof as Mirror Master).

Even Nathan Fillion's back for another round as Hal Jordan (he voiced the character back in Green Lantern: Emerald Knights), which adds to the awesome. Bumper Robinson as Cyborg is a great addition, too.

If I had to single any one performance out as being the best, as unfair as it seems since most of the voice actors are pretty much the definitive voices for their respective roles, it's Carl Lumbly. The Martian Manhunter is given a drink which has magnesium in it (magnesium being poisonous to Martians in the DC universe), which causes him to catch fire and the fire cannot be extinguished. It should be noted that not only is fire the major weakness for Martians in DC, it's MM's greatest fear. So, it's a two-for-one combo of physical and mental pain. Carl's anguished screams, constantly filled with panic, they are amazingly done. It is that and that alone which makes it my favourite performance of the entire movie.

If I have one major gripe (besides the substituting of Vandal for Ra's, which isn't terrible but disappointing), it's that the changes in the plans, while not boneheaded or anything of that nature, are a little more simplistic or head-scratching compared to the original story.

For simplistic, there's Superman's. In the comic, Superman gets exposed to red Kryptonite (a substance that causes random transformations to Kryptonians, usually lasting 24 hours or so), which causes his skin to go transparent, which causes him to undergo a sensory overload and nearly overload on solar power. In the film... he gets shot with a Kryptonite bullet. Granted, the comic's plan may be a tad complicated to explain but the Kryptonite bullet goes too far in the opposite direction. I mean, that would imply that no one in the universe of that movie (most if not all of the movies in the DCUAO line are set in their own universe) has ever tried shooting Kryptonite at Superman. I would have thought that would have been one of the most basic plans.

Now, for a head-scratcher plan: Wonder Woman's involved being infected with nanomachines that alter her vision and hearing and make her perceive everyone around her as the Cheetah (voiced by Claudia Black), Wonder Woman's arch nemesis. In the comic, she is trapped in a virtual reality battle with a seemingly unbeatable opponent. While the plan in the movie isn't such a bad one, there's a slight flaw: isn't Wonder Woman listening to the people around her, to what they're saying and noticing how they're NOT attacking her? Most of the random civilians just say things like “Look, is that Wonder Woman?” I mean, Wonder Woman's not stupid, she should be able to figure out “Something's wrong here. Hold off on attacking until I can make sense of the situation”.

Still, these don't stand in the way from another fine effort from the DCUAO. 4/5

Or Sinestro Corps War, Adapt That One Too

As someone who loves both comic books and movies, the combination of the two is something I always look forward to (unless it involves the Punisher, in which case, it's like taking ice cream and spitting on it repeatedly. Unless it's being handled by Marvel Studios itself, which, as of typing, they actually do have the rights back and are attempting a new film. In that case, I remain cautious but I'm giving it the benefit of the doubt for the time being).

Over the past few years, DC and Marvel have been releasing straight to DVD films and I very eagerly await every one (well, the DC ones mostly, in part due to Marvel ceasing production of any such DVD's and because the DC ones have always been of higher quality), regardless of whether or not I know the characters or the story. Even if I'm in the dark on the story being adapted (case in point, the upcoming Superman Vs. The Elite, an adaptation of the story in Action Comics #775 “What's So Funny About Truth, Justice And The American Way?”), the productions always manage to score some top talent, create uniquely animated and amazing worlds and often, cast members from the brilliant Justice League/Justice League Unlimited series will “reprise” their roles (I use quotation marks because while they are voicing characters they've had previous experience with, it's not set in the same universe. Comic book movies are weird).

With the exception of the DC Shorts Showcase, which has not seen release down here (at least not that I'm aware of), I own each movie from the DC Universe Animated Original line and not a single one has been short of great. I'll go into detail about the others down the line, with Justice League: Doom getting a post sometime in the next week or two since it was released this year, but I wanted to talk about the revelation of an upcoming project.

After The Dark Knight Returns is released towards the end of the year (split into two films, if Wikipedia's information is correct. Word has not been confirmed whether or not they'll both be released in a pack, on the same day or months apart) it has been said by Kevin Conroy (one of the best known Batman voices ever, if not the definitive voice actor for Batman) that one of the upcoming films is the universe altering story Flashpoint aka “the story that began the DC reboot”.

I haven't read the story, so I can't go into a deep analysis of it, but I can give you this brief overview of the miniseries: the timeline in the main DC universe has been altered, with Barry Allen (the Flash) being one of the few who remembers what it used to be like. He attempts to restore things the way they were and (spoiler alert!) causes a merging of the separate imprints of DC to come together and form one universe, in which there are several changes but is supposedly the same universe we've been reading for years.

I will say this for the record: Kevin could just be throwing us off the scent with what the next project really is, and in that case, I'm getting perplexed for nothing. And I will also say that despite my feelings about the reboot (to be somewhat covered in a future blog), I will still watch the Flashpoint film if it comes to pass and I will try and enjoy it for what it is. But three things bug me about this particular choice:

• Flashpoint is too recent a story to be adapted so soon. I have to figure that the DC higher-ups wanted to push this reboot angle as far as they could take it but seeing as how none of the previous films are connected to each other (with the possible exception of the Superman/Batman team up films, though I'm not 100% sure due to the different animation styles for each film), it's not like Flashpoint has anything to shake up. Granted, Batman: Under The Red Hood isn't exactly something from long ago nor is it the first story I would think of when choosing a classic Batman story, but at least it has been around for a few years, long enough for the effects in the comics to be felt and dealt with. We still don't know what the ramifications of the reboot are. I mean, it hasn't even been a year yet has it?
• The story's not exactly a fan favourite. Because it's the catalyst for the reboot, it's not exactly going to be a crowd pleaser. And I'm guessing most of the fanbase for these films are those who have more than casual knowledge of the DC universe. And if DC lost anyone with the announcement of the reboot, they stand to lose more if Flashpoint leads to more of the newer stories being the basis for the new films (though I wouldn't object if they chose to adapt The Court Of Owls storyline, mostly because despite the reboot's widespread effect, Batman's history has remained relatively retcon-free so any stories for him now are business as usual).
  Besides, if they wanted a big storyline that was recent but better received, two words: Blackest Night. Though I've been clamouring for that one for sometime, even though I haven't read the story yet. At least that one's slightly older than Flashpoint and again, we know what came out of it and where DC was heading.
• The biggest reason, and I'm sure I'm not alone when I say this, is that with every film announced that isn't The Killing Joke, we lose yet another chance for Mark Hamill's legendary Joker voice to be heard. As much as I love his role as Luke Skywalker, the Joker will always be the greatest role of Mark's, in my very humble opinion. Even with Heath Ledger's juggernaut of a performance in The Dark Knight, Mark has never lost his position as the King Of The Clown Prince Of Crime actors. And with Mark reprising his role for the insanely awesome Arkham video games, that just made great games even more desirable. But there's always talk that he's retiring from the role, or about to retire, and it reminds us that he won't be the Ace Of Knaves forever. One day, he will hang up his seltzer bottle for good. And as much as he needs to be thanked for his loyal “tears of service” (to comic fans, you're welcome), it would be remiss if we didn't get him back one more time for what is considered the ultimate Joker story.
  If you're just getting into comics, The Killing Joke is an excellent pick as one of the first you should read. You need no prior knowledge of the characters, it's a character study with brilliant musings on the human condition, the art is gorgeous and adds new dimensions to the Joker and it even makes the Harlequin Of Hate a little sympathetic! Yes, you read that right!
  I will do a proper review for the story one day but suffice it to say, it is not only one of the best Batman comics, it's one of the best comics, period. Which is exactly why it needs to be adapted.
  So, I'm hoping that one day, it will be adapted. If Mark really is going to stop voicing the Joker, or if he has declared that he has, we need this one last shot. Let him go out with a bang. And while this may seem... tactless, for lack of a better word, if a successor has not been chosen for future work involving the Joker, my vote goes to John DiMaggio, after the magnificent job he did for Batman: Under The Red Hood. If John does The Killing Joke, I'm not going to be too upset. He's a damn good Joker, not quite at the level of Mark, but Mark's been doing it for so long now that he's nearly made the character his own. Both men are outstanding at getting to the root of the character. But DC/Warner/whoever picks these things, please, consider making The Killing Joke one of the next DVD's, and let Mark deliver one last showstopper.

I do reiterate that I am not slamming a release of Flashpoint on DVD, just that I am confused to why this story was selected amongst many others. Stories like Knightfall, Salvation Run, The Judas Contract, even Identity Crisis could just have easily been picked, much like The Killing Joke could have been. But there hasn't been a crap DC Universe Animated Original yet, so I have faith that whatever they make will be a great film.

Recruit A Team Of Heroes With Attitudes

Well, we've looked at all five films leading up the massive crossover film, The Avengers. The dominoes are lined up, the cogs in the machine are all aligned. We've waited four years. But is it a case of a coming together of the greats, or is there still some assembly required?

Before we get into that, let's go over the Avengers as a team in the comics: in September, 1963, Thor's arch-nemesis Loki tricks the Hulk into destroying a railroad track, which leads to Hulk's friend Rick Jones sending out a radio call seeking help, a call which Loki diverts to Thor, in the hopes of drawing him out. What Loki didn't expect was that the distress call would be answered by more heroes: Iron Man, Ant-Man and The Wasp. Together, they all defeated Loki and decided to become a team. And it took all of two issues to lose a member, in this case it was Hulk, who left because he realized his unstable personality was a source of great fear for his team mates. But a few issues later, Captain America would be found and he would become a long time member of the team. And the rest is history. A long and confusing history, especially with all the different Avenger teams.

Now, if you don't read comics and know little about them, you're probably wondering who the Hell Ant-Man and The Wasp are. Well, the answer is: they are two characters who had better appear in the Marvel Cinematic Universe in the years to come, because they are great. But that's for another time.

For this film, our team is instead made up of Captain America (Chris Evans), Iron Man (Robert Downey Jr.), Thor (Chris Hemsworth), the Hulk (Mark Ruffalo, the only change in actors for this film, with Lou Ferrigno providing the voice for the Hulk himself), Black Widow (Scarlett Johansson) and Hawkeye (Jeremy Renner), brought together by Nick Fury (Samuel L. Jackson), to take on Loki (Tom Hiddleston) and his alien army. Also joining the fray is Maria Hill (Cobie Smulders), a high ranking S.H.I.E.L.D agent, and we also see the return of Coulson (Clark Gregg), Erik Selvig (Stellan Skarsgard) and Pepper Potts (Gwyneth Paltrow), as well as more voice-work from Paul Bettany as Iron Man's AI program, JARVIS.

And... well, OK, I pretty much described the plot right there. They come together, settle their differences and they fight some bad guys.

And you know what? I love every goddamn minute of this movie. From the moment Iron Man ended, I knew this movie was going to be monumental. After five movies, the anticipation just rose even higher. Every scrap of information relating to this movie pointed to it having enough momentum to actually be the greatest Marvel movie ever, to be something that would shape how Marvel's movies would be for ages to come. And considering how this came out in the same year as the currently-the-worst-film-I've-this-year-based-on-rankings Ghost Rider: Spirit Of Vengeance, it's almost like Marvel are trying not only to wipe away their embarrassment but overcompensate.

The aspect I love the most, the key to this whole film, is the blending of the different styles from the respective films of the Marvel Cinematic Universe. Iron Man's solo segment before the team comes together is hilarious but also sweet, since he's spending time with Pepper. Cap's is solemn and you can tell he's just begging to get back into the action, but there's also drama as he is a man out of time and that weighs heavily upon him. Thor appears later in the film but there's a strong dramatic tone with his first few scenes, especially those with Loki. And Hulk (well, when he's Banner) is funny, but darkly so and showing how he's grown accustomed to his surroundings. As for those who didn't have their own movie, Black Widow's segment is like something out of a spy movie, and it's funny, though Hawkeye doesn't get much of a back-story, if any at all (probably my only real nitpick with the movie, but that's only if I need to have something against it. The good heavily outweighs the bad, so much that the bad is virtually non-existent).

Acting-wise, everyone carries on their role and proves yet again why they have made these roles their own. Mark Ruffalo is the exception, but only in the part about carrying on the role, since he's taking over the role. And how does he do? He may just be better than Edward Norton in this role, and that's a mean feat! He's got Banner's sense of meekness down, and his sardonic wit. And he's also the first actor to actually “play” Hulk, as in, motion capture and such and DAMN! When Hulk smashes, he REALLY smashes! As much as I loved the Hulk in his previous film, he's a sight to behold in this and for anyone who thinks he can't hack it in another sequel, you will damn well apologize right now, because this movie proves that not only does he deserve another sequel, he NEEDS it.

Cobie Smulders is the only other major new player and I have to say at this point that I LOVE How I Met Your Mother, and I consider it the best show currently on TV, and I love her character in the show. And while she's not always on screen here, I loved seeing her here and seeing just how badass she could be. Also, now she shares something with HIMYM co-stars Alyson Hannigan and Neil Patrick Harris: working with Joss Whedon (more on him later)

Coulson FINALLY gets a bigger role, and he even reveals his inner fanboy about Captain America. Yeah, that guy keeps getting awesome.

But Hiddleston... holy crap, that guy borders on scary! I think it's his smile. That damn slasher smile... it's really bad when he smiles, it means he knows something you don't. And you never want that. While he was great in Thor, he's even better here and he made for a worthy adversary.

Now, Whedon. I love the man's work. Buffy, Angel, Firefly, all classics (though I have yet to see Dollhouse, because they haven't been released on DVD down here, which pisses me off. And I just found out we're not getting a cinematic release of The Cabin In The Woods down here, it's going straight to DVD. Well, it better bloody well be soon, justice must be served!)\

But while his direction is spectacular, his best work is in the script. I kept thinking “Oh that is so Whedon!” at some of the funniest bits, since they remind me of Buffy and Angel, like the deadpan way people snark at each other, or the random humor that takes a little tension out of the scene but not so much as to undermine it, but rather to get us to relax before the drops the hammer (no pun intended).

For example, in one scene, Tony's hacking into S.H.I.E.L.D's database and spouting off all sorts of information, and one thing he says (very matter of factly) “And that guy's playing Galaga and thinks no one can see him”. A few minutes later, we watch as a guy switches his screen back to a game of Galaga. Priceless.

Or this, I love this exchange:
Thor: He's my brother
Black Widow: He killed 80 people in 2 days
Thor: He's adopted

The timing of that, I couldn't help but crack up.

But I can't share my favourite scene for fear of spoilers. I will say this much: despite Iron Man being the funniest character within the movie, Hulk wins with the laugh-your-arse-off moment for the entire affair. It's towards the end. You'll know it when you see it, even though it's in that third act that Hulk gets even funnier.

And the action... oh Lord, is it ever sweet. There's gunplay, sorcery, tech, projectiles and good ol' fashioned fisticuffs. Sure, the battle at the end (not a spoiler, you so know there was going to be a huge one) is epic, and doesn't overstay its welcome, but it's the fight between Thor, Cap and Iron Man that I love the most. Egos clashing, power flowing, the darkness around them, the intensity, it's magic. Especially the end of it.

I could go on all day about it but since it's not out in America at the time of writing, it would be disrespectful of me to do so, since I'd run the risk of spoilers. But I'd like to end on this closing statement:

Everyone that was involved in this movie: you're not leaving. You will damn well come back and do a sequel, no ifs, ands or buts. I know most of you are under contract anyway, which is great, but the rest I don't know about. I know Joss has been offered the chance to direct again should it arise but it's obviously early days. Nevertheless, you can't leave. You all created magic with this film. I was never bored, never insulted and I now consider this the greatest Marvel movie ever.

Whether or not it will be the best movie of the year remains to be seen. As much as this film is an outstanding triumph, the Caped Crusader's next (and last for the live action interim) is its biggest threat. And Nolan always has a trump card. That being said, The Avengers has raised the bar for crossovers and team-up movies. Even if the Justice League movie gets off the ground, it will not be able to beat this. Marvel crafted this to perfection, taking it's time, letting things build up and putting in little clues here and there as to what was coming next. It resulted in a massive pay-off, one that will never be replicated, not until the next time this team is together.

Take all the time you need to, Marvel. You rewarded our patience and we'll happily wait again. Easily 4.5/5, richly deserved.

Well, that wraps up this week devoted to the Avenger film and its tie-in's. Hope you enjoy this movie as much as I did. And a little tip: once the credits roll, it begins with a montage of close-ups of the character's costumes and such, listing the actors for each respective character. After this, the traditional post-credits scene plays, hinting at what's to come (and my jaw dropped at the reveal of the figure who had their back turned to the audience for that scene). So, after that, you can leave if you wish, since there's nothing else after the next set of credits (yes, I stuck around, on the off chance there was some kind of teaser for Iron Man 3) but on the plus side, I got to hear a bitchin' new song from Soundgarden, called Live To Rise. I must have this song. And I will.

So, next week, got something big and special planned, and something completely different from what I've done before. But I won't be saying a thing until next week.

Has He Lost His Mind? Can He See Or Is He Blind?

Alrighty then, one more double tying into The Avengers and then on to the main event itself!

Today, we're looking at the genesis of the Marvel Cinematic Universe, as well as its sequel. So, let's get into the high flying action of the Iron Man duology.

Now, I've reviewed a comic on Iron Man much earlier in the blog's history (the trade called Iron Man: War Of The Iron Men) but I never went into his origin story. Well, let's go through that now, shall we?

Iron Man was created in 1963 by Stan Lee, Jack Kirby, Larry Lieber and Don Heck. Thematically, the Iron Man title was used to represent the Cold War and the idea of business tackling communism.

Tony Stark is overseas, observing how his new technology is aiding the American war effort, but is injured by a booby trap and taken hostage. His captors demand that he make weapons for them, but with the help of fellow prisoner Ho Yinsen, he constructs a suit to both make his escape and sustain his heart, after the heart became loaded with shrapnel.

The origin is perhaps one of the best of any hero in comics and to this day, remains the same, save for updating the war to the current day (the first film naturally has this event occur in Afghanistan). The one exception I can think of is The Invincible Iron Man, a straight to DVD film from 2007, in which he's in China trying to raise a city (I'll get to that one somewhere along the line).

So, with the first movie going with that for the first act, how does the rest of it go?

Well, after Tony (Robert Downey Jr.) gets back to America, he announces that Stark Enterprises is getting out of the weapon manufacturing game and he spends his time making better versions of the suit. Tony's partner, Obidiah Stane (Jeff Bridges) is not pleased about this change in plans, and decides to take things in his own direction. All the while, Tony's trying to prove not just to the world that he's making an effort to change, but his friend Jim Rhodes (Terence Howard), his secretary/love interest Pepper Potts (Gwyneth Paltrow) and himself.

Going into the film back in 2008, I had little knowledge of the Iron Man franchise. I knew that Tony was one of the few heroes whose identity was public knowledge (though Marvel did kind of flip-flop on that) and that the suit was his means of escaping. Though the film did look really good based on the trailer, I still wasn't sure on how things would turn out. But here's my opinion in a nutshell: if The Dark Knight had not come out in 2008, this would have been my favourite movie of the year.

There is just so much to love about this movie. It's a wonderful mix of humor, action, drama and even the faintest hint of romance. Even with the changes between the comic history and the movie, they are changes that aren't done to the movie's detriment.

Let's start with the characters: I swear, it's like Robert Downey Jr. was born just to be Tony Stark. Even though the film doesn't really go into detail with Tony's alcoholism (often considered his Achilles heel in the comics), it's still present as is his desire for attention, over-confidence and dry sense of quick-wit. The man with a thousand one-liners, never missing his mark and always at the ready. RDJ's best role by far and he is an absolute joy. My absolute favourite part of the movie is this exchange, between a reporter (Leslie Bibb) and Tony:
“What do you say to your other nickname, "The Merchant Of Death”?”

“That's not bad.”

He says that without missing a beat. AND he manages to seduce the reporter, despite the fact that she's basically mud-slinging! He's like James Bond minus the spy part!

And his slight evolution from playboy to crusader is totally believable. I say slight, because he's still got ways to go, but that works. As does his attempts at being sincere with Pepper about how much he needs her. RDJ swaps gears within a second anytime he needs to and he's wonderful.

Speaking of Pepper, of any love interest in any comic book movie, she is the absolute best. She's independent, capable, confident, and funny. As a bonus (spoilers for the... what is it, six people who haven't seen this yet?), she DOESN'T get kidnapped AND she actually helps take down the villain! Holy crap, she's not a prop! Why has it taken this long to happen?! Why can't Mary Jane Watson be more like this?

Terence Howard's the straight man for this film, when Pepper's not on screen, and that totally works. Too bad he couldn't be War Machine, but hey, he was still a great supporter.

Jeff Bridges... holy crap, Jeff Bridges was a marvelous (no pun intended) villain. Cool and confident (yeah, this movie oozes confidence), even when going to the brink of insanity (“TONY STARK BUILT THIS IN A CAVE! WITH A BOX OF SCRAPS!” Come on, you knew I was going to do it). And when he climbs into the Iron Monger suit... awesomeness ensues.

Action-wise, it blows (again, no pun intended) the competition away. Seeing the Iron Man suit in action, my jaw dropped the first time he flew. And even today, I'm still in awe of what they've achieved. Whether it's just simple flight, or taking on planes and hitching a ride on them, it's breathtaking.

Now, with me and my tendencies to find flaws, did I find any in this film? One. And it's a small one: over the closing credits, Black Sabbath's Iron Man is playing. That is awesome. However, it's instrumental. I was hoping for the original. Yeah, the lyrics may not play out well with the movie, but still, it's an awesome song. There, that's the only complaint, a tiny one.

Also, the changes I mentioned? There's only one major one: in the comics, Edwin Jarvis is the butler of the Avengers, and is kind of like Alfred, to an extent. In this movie, he's an AI instead, voiced by Paul Bettany. Am I bothered by this? No, because he has Edwin's dry wit and is extremely useful. Much like Edwin.

Oh, and Coulson. He's awesome. Nothing more needs to be said.

So, yes, I love this movie and I highly recommend it. 4.5/5. Oh and the scene at the very end of the credits? Amazing. Samuel L. Jackson's first appearance as Nick Fury and in that very short scene, he commands the scene. “I'm here to talk to you about the Avenger Initiative”. And with that, the game changed even more.

But how does Iron Man 2 stack up?

Six months after the end of Iron Man, in which Tony Stark has revealed he is Iron Man, Ivan Vanko (Mickey Rourke) seeks vengeance on Tony for what Tony's father did to his own. Meanwhile, Tony's dying from the arc reactor that keeps his heart going and is growing more and more reckless. He's trying to win Pepper over, but only succeeds in pushing her further away, as well as Rhodey (Don Cheadle stepping in to take over the role from Terence Howard, the only change in actors between the two films). Can they save him from self-destruction?

You know, I get sick of people who are like “it's not as good as the first, boooo!” And that goes for anything. To them I say: so, because it may not be super-special-awesome, it's automatically deemed crap? Piss off! You just don't appreciate what you've got. You just want more and more of everything, without even knowing what you want.

It's not AS good as the first, sure, but it's still damn enjoyable!

Of the new characters, Mickey Rourke is really good as lead villain, Whiplash. Able to take on Iron Man with just a couple of special whips, he amazes early on and always seems to have an ace up his sleeve.

Sam Rockwell as Justin Hammer, Tony's business rival and second villain of the piece, isn't as good as Whiplash or Iron Monger, but he's still pretty good. It's not his fault he gets overtaken by Mickey Rourke (and his “burd”. I love that bit)

Scarlett Johansson's Black Widow makes her debut, ready for The Avengers, and damned if she's not cool. I'm a huge fan of Scarlett (personal life choices aside) and for her to be a part of this world is wonderful, as is a bigger role for Nick Fury, who is hilarious.

Don Cheadle does a great job in the role of Rhodey, probably right on par with Terence Howard. And yes, he does get to be War Machine.

And that leads to the best scene of the entire movie. As Tony's at home, drunk as a skunk, and showing off his Iron Man capabilities to his party guests. Rhodey's had enough. He gets into one of Tony's suits, tells everybody to leave, and gets into a physical match with Tony. To the tune of both Queen's Another One Bites The Dust and Daft Punk's Robot Rock. HELL. YES. This is too awesome for words. Seeing the two of them just duke it out, at one point using gym equipment, is priceless. When it comes to action, I'm a huge fan of close quarter combat, and this does not disappoint.

I know I didn't mention much about Tony and Pepper for Iron Man 2. Well, pretty much everything from the first movie applies here, but with a huger development on their chemistry, which is magical. And it pays off, as we'll (or rather, you'll) soon see...

Another great thing both movies share: awesome music. Both of them start with a kickarse AC/DC song, with Back In Black in the first movie and Shoot To Thrill in this. Hot damn.

But there is one big flaw with the movie, and that's with the end, so there will be spoilers.

Now, Tony and Rhodey teaming up to take on drones, that's all cool, that's fine. But Whiplash in his own suit... it's just a little too similar to the Iron Monger/Iron Man confrontation from the previous movie. I mean, it's still cool but I was hoping for something a little different.

But still, I highly recommend this film. And not just because Coulson is still awesome. 4/5

And the scene at the very end of this one? Damned if it wasn't good.

Well, that clears the rest of the Avenger tie-ins. Next time, the main event itself.

He Could Clear A Super Mario Level In Seconds Flat...

Alright, time for another theme week involving movies. With the Avengers looming ever closer, it's about time I finished the other tie-in films. So, for the next two posts, Iron Man and the Hulk will get their turn. Today, however, we turn to the not-so-jolly green giant himself.

Now, despite the fact that it's not technically connected to the Avengers, I'll also be covering the Hulk film directed by Ang Lee. Why? Well, it is kinda-sorta-maybe-related. Besides, if Spirit Of Vengeance can be connected to the first Ghost Rider, why can't this?

But first, some backstory: a Stan Lee-Jack Kirby creation, the Incredible Hulk came about in May 1962, making his debut in the first issue of the comic bearing the same name.

Meek and awkward scientist Dr. Bruce Banner risks his life to save a young man who inadvertently makes his way on to the test range for Bruce's creation, a gamma bomb. Instead of killing him, it creates an alternate personality that emerges in times of great rage: The Hulk. Hulk's primary superpower is incredible strength, which actually increases as he gets angrier. He also has accelerated healing, high resistance to mind control and is immune to disease and viruses.

The Hulk may just be one of the most feared yet misunderstood characters in comic history, as most of the time, he's on the run from the army, in particular, General Ross, father of his love interest, Betty.

But now, for the first film:

It begins in 1974 and goes over how Bruce's (Eric Bana) unstable father, David (Nick Nolte) experimented on himself while trying to create super-soldier prototypes. His altered DNA gets passed down to Bruce and David tries to find a cure. When the plus is pulled on his project, David goes mad and attempts to kill his son, which results in the accidental death of his wife and being locked away in a mental hospital, with Bruce going into foster care and repressing the entire event.

Years later, Bruce is working in a military-industrial complex, working on a similar project that his father was involved in. An accident involving gamma radiation mingling with his unusual DNA soon causes him to transform into a giant green monster. Banner ends up being hunted by General “Thunderbolt” Ross (Sam Elliot) while simultaneously pursued by his ex-girlfriend, Betty (Jennifer Connoly), who happens to be the general's daughter.

There's a little bit more to that, but we could be here all day, and I've got another movie to review below. Actually, that's one of the film's problems in a nutshell: the story is more complicated than it needs to be. I mean, what's wrong with the origin story from the comic? Yeah, using weapons on test ranges is probably uncommon these days (I have no idea, I'm not American) but it's simplified and classic. You don't have to have Rick Jones in there, just some random guy. Yes, the movie tries something that's almost the same, but the part I don't like is the whole “born with mutant DNA” thing. Wait, so that technically makes him a mutant. Now you're crossing into X-Men territory. I don't know if it's a retcon from later in the comics, but even so, I would have preferred the simpler approach.

Speaking of simple, another thing that bugs me is the use of splitscreen-like shots. I get that they're supposed to resemble comic panels, but for what reason? To remind us it's a comic book movie? Why not add thought bubbles while we're at it? It's actually kind of off-putting.

But I guess what bugs me the most is that it's hard to tell what's going on in places. Especially the final battle. I mean, it's mostly dark, with some movement, some glimpses of the Hulk and... that's it. I don't know if anyone had any idea what went on.

So, in a nutshell, I guess the biggest problem was the editing.

Were there positives? Well, sure, a few.

Compared to Ghost Rider, despite being released four years after Hulk, Sam Elliot cares more about this film than Ghost Rider. Maybe over the years he just stopped caring? No, that can't be it. For what little time he was in Thank You For Smoking, he was great. Maybe he found this role more believable, which I can't blame him for.

Eric Bana... is just OK. He's not terrible, not outstanding. Even when trying to get angry, I'm just not buying it. Oh well, good effort, Eric. You rocked in Chopper, though, and don't let anyone tell you otherwise.

Jennifer Connelly, though, I did like. She's supportive and smart, which is in character with her comic counterpart (I say that very obvious statement because you would believe otherwise if you have only been reading comics from the Ultimate Universe, you'd find she's a raging bitch. But then, for reasons I can't fathom, most of the Ultimate Universe versions are arseholes).

David Banner... OK, I have to ask: did they just get Nick Nolte to speak gibberish, look like a homeless addict and just roll camera? That's pretty much how he comes off, a homeless addict. Yeah he spent time in a mental hospital, but dear lord, couldn't he at least have shaved and cleaned himself up a bit? You want people to take you seriously, stop looking like you're about to bash our faces in with a hammer to steal our fillings. Also, as a supervillain, you wasted your power.

But, and perhaps the most important aspects when making anything Hulk related, two questions will be raised: how do they handle the Hulk effects and how are the action scenes? To answer the first question: it's actually pretty decent. The green's a little too bright and he only looks slightly bigger, but I can live with it. The action's not terrible, but not entirely convincing either. Sure, he fights some tanks and wins, naturally, but there's no tension. Yeah, we know he's going to win, cos, he's the goddamn Hulk, but couldn't you at least put in a chance he could fall?

That's still better than the aforementioned final battle, or the fight with the three big dogs. Yeah. Like a crappy boss in a bad video game, Hulk takes down three mutated dogs. It sucked.

So, all in all, a confusing, poorly edited film saved by decent acting from the supporting cast and the passable effects on the Hulk (but bonus points for all the shots of his giant leaps, those were pretty cool). It gets by on 2.5/5, half a star more than when I originally saw it nearly a decade ago, proving why rewatching movies is a good thing. Third time seeing it now and it's making a little more sense! Maybe another five viewings and I'll understand all of it.

And now, for The Incredible Hulk, which is officially part of the Marvel Cinematic Universe, whereas Hulk is... sort of related, like a distant cousin no one talks about.

Skipping the origin (it takes care of that in the credits, so already it wins points), Bruce (now played by Edward Norton) has been on the run for at least five years, successfully keeping off the grid, has a job in a bottling factory. However, some of his blood spills into a bottle that is ingested by an American man, which gives General Ross (William Hurt taking the reigns here) the tip-off on his location. With a team led by British soldier Emil Blonsky (Tim Roth), Ross attempts to capture Banner and fails to do so, though Bruce now heads back to America, reunites with Betty (Liv Tyler stepping in) and attempts to find a cure.

Again, I'm leaving a lot of detail out, but it's meant to be an intro, not a full recap. All you need to know is this: between the two films, this Hulk smashes the other one into the ground.

You can say what you want about how Hulk tried to elevate comic book films by adding a bit more drama to it, but considering what the Hulk's about, is the Hulk the first character you think of for high concept films? The Incredible Hulk manages to blend both invigorating action scenes and introspective moments without dropping the quality of the film, much like the comic. It's about the right blend, as is anything.

Acting-wise, of the three roles carried over, only one of them is on-par with the previous film (the role of General Ross), while the other two exceed it. Edward Norton has been one of my favourite actors for some time, ever since the first time I saw Fight Club and Red Dragon. He adds layers of emotion that Bana just couldn't conjure, and he's always believable. He has said he's a fan of the TV show that this movie pays loving homage to (from what I can gather, anyway, I've never seen it) and the some of the runs in the comic, and it's always nice when an actor is a major comic fan who gets to participate in a movie such as this (Nic Cage may be a subversion to a point but like I said in my Ghost Rider blog, his appearance in Kick-Ass appeases me).

Liv Tyler takes what Jennifer Connelly did and expands on it, making her a little more pro-active in helping Bruce, and getting moments to shine on her own (one of my absolute favourite scenes is her verbal-bordering-on-physical attack on a taxi driver, with Bruce humorously looking on and joking with her soon after. It's a sweet moment). The chemistry between Liv and Edward is great and it's another sign that Marvel knows how to make a great, three-dimensional love interest in their cinematic universe (something that Spider-Man, as fantastic as that trilogy is, never quite did to the full.)

Moving on to the new, Tim Roth made a far more capable villain with the Abomination. A man driven to be the best, like no one ever was (yes, wanting to outdo the Hulk himself), even more ruthless than Ross. Even when it's Tim in human form taking on the Hulk, he's a credible threat and never stands down in the face of overwhelming odds.

But when he does become the Abomination...

Well, like every other action scene, it's as exciting as I expected. Banner avoiding the soldiers in the factory, Hulk's fight on the campus, the final battle... glorious. And this time around, the Hulk looks more realistic (as realistic as a giant green rage monster can). What I mean is, he's more detailed and the transformation looks and flows more organically. Also, Lou Ferrigno's few lines as the Hulk were neat! Including the classic “HULK SMASH!” His and Stan's cameos in both films were great, though I prefer both of their cameos in this film, obviously.

Overall, a better effort and a sign that Hulk wasn't staying down for the count this time. 4/5. He may not be played by Edward Norton in The Avengers but that's not going to stop him from being awesome again.

And that ends the Hulk double. Next time, the movie that kicked off the Marvel Cinematic Universe, and the sequel.