Showing posts with label Movies. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Movies. Show all posts

Friday, January 06, 2023

Avatar, the endless path

Well, we just this week watched the second James Cameron Avatar film, The Way of Water, and well, I want to give all’ya’all my quickie review of the film here on my blog before I post a longer, more reflective , review over on my HubPages site.

Still, to do that, I’m-a gonna have to give you my quickie review of the first film.

Avatar

A group of nasty, self-entitled, White Colonials travel across the galaxy to new planet to seize a power source from the sacred ground of the indigenous peoples. Only the hi-tech, highly militarized, Colonials get their collective asses kicked by the lo-tech (bow-and-arrow) indigenous peoples and are sent packing. 


Avatar 2: The Way of Water

Fifteen years later, those same nasty, self-entitled, White Colonials (pissed that they got their collective asses kicked) travel back across the galaxy in order to seize a brand-new power source from sacred creatures of the indigenous peoples. Once again, they get their collective asses kicked, only this time in water. 

For my next trick, as Cameron has announced several more Avatar films (one every two years from now to eternity and beyond, just like James Bond). So I’m going to (precognitively) deliver my reviews of the next six projected Avatar films.


Avatar 3: The Way of Fire

The nasty, self-entitled, White Colonials (who are still living on Pandora) attempt to seize another brand-new power source from the indigenous peoples of Pandora. Once again, they get their collective asses kicked, only this time more severely, and with fire. 

Avatar 4: The Way of Wind

Here it is another several years later and those same nasty, self-entitled, White Colonials (still pissed that they keep getting their collective asses kicked) travel across Pandora in order to seize another new power source, this time from the very planet of the indigenous peoples. But, once again — that’s right — get their collective asses kicked. 


Avatar 5: The Way of Desert

A whole bunch of new nasty, self-entitled, White Colonials (pissed that their friends got their collective asses kicked) arrive on Pandora so as to seize spice from the giant sandworms that are ridden by the indigenous Na'vi Dessert Dwellers, and are surprised when they get their collective asses kicked.  

Avatar 6: The Way to Tipperary

Those very bad nasty, self-entitled, White Colonials (once again surprisingly pissed that they got their collective asses kicked) travel back across Pandora to seize a new and improved power source from a sacred place of the indigenous peoples. Only to (surprise), get their collective asses kicked. 


Avatar 7: The Way to San Jose

You will get to see even more nasty, self-entitled, White Colonials (once again, eternally pissed that they keep getting their collective asses kicked) travel to yet another sacred place on Pandora so as to seize a spanking-brand-new power source from the indigenous peoples. And here’s a new twist to the story, they get their collective asses seriously kicked.

 

Avatar 8: The Way of the House Speaker


This time the Na'vi are fed up with the constant waring on their planet, and travel to Earth in order to confront the nasty, self-entitled, White Colonials on their homeworld to once again, majorly kick their collective asses, this time on TV by repeatedly not voting Kevin McCarthy as House Speaker. (Yeah, I totally went there,.)

 

Yeah, I realize that I got seriously flip with my extended mini reviews, but here’s the rub. When thew first Avatar film came out Cameron was fairly-well roasted over the fact that his plot for that film read suspiciously like the plot to the Disneyfied version of Pocahontas. Now, having seen both films, we now feel that the film he will be retelling for the next 3,000 years of longing will, in fact, be Zulu (a 1964 film that recounted a 1879 battle where the Zulu nation hands the invading Colonial British armed forces a resounding defeat in battle; a defeat that will be echoed throughout history by the American Colonists, and virtually ever British protectorate for all times). 



Friday, March 18, 2016

Batman Vs Superman: General Mills Edition

OK, we just posted about how the new Batman/Superman film is appearing at McDonald’s with Hot Wheels superhero cars, well it is also appearing in General Mills Cereals with a quartet of pint mini comics. Here re the first two:




OK, now I have issue #3 as well!


Thursday, March 03, 2016

NYC’s Big Apple Con Returns Saturday March 5, 2016

Well, it looks like this is going to be another great weekend time for comicbook fans in the NY Tri-state area as Mike Carbonaro (“Mike Carbo”) throws yet another of his legendary Big Apple Cons The comicbook show is the longest-running Pop Culture convention in New York City. As usual, the show is happening at Penn Plaza Pavilion (401 7th Ave @ 33rd Street — opposite Madison Square Garden). The show launches Saturday, March 5, 2016 and runs from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. This show is (as usual) an amazing confluence of comicbooks, Sci-Fi, Fantasy, Horror, and Cosplay (costume play for the uninitiated — where fans dress up as their favorite heroes).

As with most of these types of multi-media, Pop Culture events, the New York Big Apple comicbook show brings together top-flight not only numerous fan-favorite comicbook creators along with media celebrities, but combines them with a metric tonne of vendors all of whom have gathered together in this one location in order to sell unique and interesting items of interest, along with panel discussions each targeting various aspects of comicbook, collectible, and multi-media culture. There will also be a costume contest, as well as many more additional attractions all gathered together in one place for their fans to enjoy. Carbonaro himself assures us that there will not only be hundreds of tables offering comics, toys, posters, videos, original art, t-shirts and other collectibles all available for purchase.


The show also includes a number of special panels and programming that will highlight the 50th anniversary of the Batman TV show, the first appearance of Marvel’s Black Panther (who will be featured in the upcoming Captain America Civil War film), as well as the history of Charlton Comics, Star Wars, plus the Winter Indie Film Awards animated shorts, and NY Jedi.


In addition to the multitude of vendors that will be appearing at this year’s Big Apple Con, the event will also feature a full-to-the-brim Artists Alley of comicbook and trading card creators, including: Jim Steranko (Captain America, Nick Fury: Agent of SHIELD), Neal Adams (Batman, Green Lantern/Green Arrow), Mark Texeira (Wolverine, Ghost Rider), Ramona Fradon (Aquaman, Super Friends), Erik Larsen (Spider-Man, Savage Dragon), Rich Buckler (Fantastic Four, Deathlok), Reilly Brown (Deadpool, Daredevil), David Lloyd (V For Vendetta, Aces Weekly), Joseph Michael Linsner (Vampirella, Cry For Dawn), John Cebollero (Captain America, Batman), Sean Chen (Iron Man, Valiant Comics), and Brian Kong (Leaf Trading Cards, Cryptozoic Entertainment).  


In addition to all of the comic and collectible guests, headlining the show will be a number of media guests form films and television, including Lori Petty (Tank Girl, Orange is the New Black), Laurence Mason (Gotham, The Crow), Jason David Frank (Mighty Morphin Power Rangers, Sweet Valley High), Kathy Garver (Spider-Man and His Amazing Friends, Family Affair), Karyn Parsons (Static Shock, The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air), Johnny Brennan (Family Guy, Jerky Boys), Debbie Rochon (Tromeo & Juliet, Santa Claws), as well as Pro Wrestlers The Nasty Boys, Scott Steiner, and Ryan Shamrock from the WCW and WWE.


Still, perhaps one of the most anticipated highlights of the show will be Captain Zorikh’s Costume Contest which will once again bring together the most amazing costumers and Cosplayers for a fast-paced, exciting show of creative excellence and costume design. So, shake off the winter blues, and come on out as your favorite character in comics, sci-fi, fantasy, horror, cartoons, anime/manga, video games, or simply make up your own. There will be prizes awarded by audience applause to the event’s best costumes. So come on out and enjoy the day, Saturday, March 7th from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. at the Penn Plaza Pavilion; located at 401 7th Ave. @ 33rd St. in midtown Manhattan. 


Friday, January 22, 2016

Stan Lee's Marvel Cameos

We all know that Stan Lee is Marvel’s ultimate showman, and that he has appeared in a number of Marvel's recent films. Here is a compilation of nearly all of his cameos...



Here is Stan’s “Appearance” in the cartoon Big Hero 6.



Enjoy!

Friday, January 01, 2016

Comicbook Movies of the Millennium

Back in 2000 (the year that Marvel’s first X-Men film came out, and fundamentally altered the way that both Hollywood and — by extension — all of pop culture) viewed the comicbook genre. There have been between four and a dozen comicbook-related films released per year. Over the past decade-and-a-half we have been tracking comicbook movies, (As you'd know if you've been following this blog for any length of time — we have a 30+year history or reporting of actual comics). 

In 2015 there were five comicbook-related movies that hit the theaters. As we’ve reported in previous installments of this column, we are only discussing live-action films that a) either started off in comics, b) are clearly influenced by comicbooks themselves, or c) by comicbook superheroes. Films that we are not considering for this series include anything that originally appeared on TV (live action or animated), theatrically-released animated films, or films based on properties adapted into comics, but were best known for initially appearing in another medium (e.g.: toys). We are also not considering films that were released direct to video or DVD.

The first set of links list an overview of films categorized as the titles indicate. Those links are followed by links to the films chronically by year with the most recent year listed first: We began to post this list over at Examiner.com, but as we are no longer associated with that website, we will continue to post the list over at Hubpages (where we currently post our reviews).

So, here you go, effendi, enjoy!


Other articles in this series are located via the below links:



Saturday, October 31, 2015

A Journalist in waiting

OK, so here’s the thing. I've been writing professionally since 1981. No, really. My first published piece appeared in Amazing Heroes #5, and I’ve been going ever since, with a few thousand articles in print, and probably about that many online, I've authored a couple of books, and contributed to about 20 or so more. I’ve been told that I’m one of the longest-published journalists in the field of comics (not to mention that my work has appeared in virtually every major comic magazine published in the ‘80s & ‘90s.

In the Mid-‘80s I took a step over to the other side of the editorial desk and created and wrote a short-lived espionage series entitled Agent Unknown. I didn't return to writing fiction until 2006 when I started writing for Guild Works Production. since then I’ve been splitting my (writing) time between reviewing comics, and writing for Indie Comicbook Companies like Red Anvil, Atlas Unleashed, Main Enterprises, and others. (You can take a peak at my Comicbook Database bio here).

Why am I bringing all of this up now? Well, earlier in October, I attended New York Comic Con where I picked up a handful-a-handful-and a half of comics while there. Now this is significant (to me at least), because when I got home after the con and added those comics to the (several) stack(s) of comics that were already piled around my house, and wow, do I have a tremendous backlog of comics.

No, seriously.

Now, I'm not trying to say that I'm busier than you, but since the end of August, I've helped setup, run, and tear down a local annual entertainment festival (that I've worked at for nearly 30 years), organize and run a local primary (I'm the Deputy Registrar of Voters in town), attended NY Comic Con, and am now preparing to run an election. Not to mention that I'm in the middle of attempting to downsize, pack up my house, and re-locate to the great state of VA. (Oh yeah, and just last week I attempted to install Win10 on my PC which is currently playing Hobb with my computer).

So, what I guess I'm saying now is that if I haven't gotten to review your comic, pitch you a project, get back to you on the project on which you want me to work with you on, or pen that script, well, truthfully, I've been just a tad busy/distracted/overwhelmed.

So, in no particular order, these are the items in my "in-basket" that are waitinng to be read or reviewed.


I've been a fan of Captain Canuk since the early '80s. When I heard that he was returning to comics, I had to acquire the new series. Upon doing so, I discovered the most excellent We Stand on Guard, another comic from north of the border. I also discovered that I seem to be missing some of the Captain Canuck comics that have come out over the intervening years, and now I'm attemptinng to hunt them down.


Growinng up, one of my first exposures to comics was Charlton Comics, which in recent years has mad its resurgence, due in part to guys like Mort Todd, Paul Kupperberg, and Roger McKenzie. I recently acquired issue #4 of the Charlton Arrow, now I'm looking to get my hands on the new Steve Ditko book they just published.


As we are rapidly approaching Halloween (it is today as I'm writing this) Diamond is celebrating it's annual Halloween Comicfest with a round of free comics (which I just reviewed over at Comics Bulletin). 



I just picked up a double handful of $1.00 cover-priced comic reprints from Mike over at Rogue Comics. The comics above are from Marvel...


...and here are a bunch from a number of other publishers. I like these $1.00 reprints as they allow me to check out stuff that I might have otherwise have missed. 


Oh, and for the record, I don't just review comics, but I also review films, and DVDs as well


I also received a(nother) packet of comics from Dynamite Entertainment to read, review, and enjoy. 


Here is a stack of comics sitting in the "reading room" waiting to be read.


This is literally a copy of the very first comicbook I recall reading. My Uncle used to own a deli/grocery store and when I discovered comics, I'd sit on the newsstand reading (but not buying) every comic I found. I believe that I probably read about a couple of million dollars worth of comics over the years had I actually purchased and saved them) I saw this book back in the early '80s for $10.00 but didn't buy it then as I thought it was too much. Just recently I found it again for quite a bit less and decided to purchase it. It recently arrived.


This is a pile of comics that I acquired at the recent 2015 NY Comic Con.


This is (just one) pile of comics (and books) that I have read over the past several months that need to be reviewed.


This is another pile of recently read comics looking for reviews.


I met Cesar Feliciano, the artist on Comix Tribe's The Red Ten some time back at a CT comicbook show, and he gifted me with four copies of the comic. Well, when I finally got around to reading it I was so hooked, that when I got to Comix Tribe's booth at NYYCC I had to buy all the issues I was missing, including copies of The Oxymoron. Let me tell you it is an outstanding superhero murder mystery, that is unlike anything you've ever read.


Yes, I'm still a dedicated Spider-Fan, and here is my (recent) weekly take of Spidey-titles.


Here is another pile of books that I need to read. This pike sits alongside my bed.


So kids, when I tell you that "I'll get to" your comic, graphic novel, prose novel, etc. and read/watch/review it, really I do mean well , and I honestly will, it is just that I'm not only falling way behind, but I'm also working very hard.

Thanks for (hopefully) understanding.

P.S. So, as I was cleaning up, I found this stack of 2015 Free Comic Book Day (FCBD) comics that have been read, but need to be reviewed and/or discussed.


Thursday, January 24, 2013

Comic book movies from 2012

Here is a look back on the comicbook films from last year..


“Like the decade that preceded it, the 2012 Box office was replete with films that either started out in comics, or had a long history in comicbook form. Last year was particularly notable as it featured not only the massive blockbuster hit, The Avengers (which finally brought together many of the lead Marvel comic characters that have been popping up in films for the past several years), but because it also marked the conclusion of Christopher Nolan’s epic Dark Knight trilogy, as well as the re-boot of Marvel’s very popularAmazing Spider-Man franchise. These three films were certainly the most anticipated of the comicbook fare to hit the Silver Screen last year, and while many fans did express some disappointments with them, they each did quite well at the box office, landing First, Second and Sixth (respectively) as the top-grossing films from last year.”

 [Via Examiner.com]

Saturday, June 16, 2007

Spidey Week may be over, but here come the FF!

Imagine my surprise when I went into Burger King the other day, and noticed that Spidey had been replaced by the Fantastic Four. Yeah, yeah, I knew that the FF has stealth-filmed their way into theaters this year (until I saw the trailer, I honestly had no idea the the film was even in the works — as soon as I pen the review, I’ll post it on my review page over at PopThought). Well, anyway, I’m really happy that not only is the film being made, but that BK has chosen to distribute Kid Meal toys with it.



There are six toys, and I already have four of them. I’m hoping to score the other two over the weekend or early next week. Here are the toys that I have collected thus far from BK. The toys are seriously cool, (especially for a Fast food toy collector like myself who dabbles in superheroes). Anyways, the next two toys in the set are Dr. Doom and the Invisible Woman.


I don’t know if there are any other comicbook films due out this year, but if there are, I hope that they also have fast food toy tie-ins.


Whelp, that’s it for now. See you in the funnypapers!

The Writing (and Publishing) Life.

            I’ve been writing professionally for nearly 50 years, My first published work was as a radio ad copywriter, for a number of ra...