Nolan has made his masterpiece. This summer's biggest film that isn't made by Pixar, Inception follows the Nolan formula of complex, intricate plotting and imaginative methods of storytelling that made films like Insomnia and Memento (another of my favourite films of all time) such comeplling, amazing pieces of art. And make no mistake, this movie is a piece of art. Beautifully crafted, expertly acted, there are no faults here whatsoever. For those who don't know (incoming plot details, turn away if you don't want to know) Leo DiCaprio plays a man who has mastered the art of cracking into a person's mind via their dreams and stealing all their secrets. Unfortunately, his own subconscious has started to interfere with his missions (in the form of his dead wife, the gorgeous Marion Coullitard) and really starts to throw a wrench in the works while on his most dangerous mission yet: planting (rather than stealing) an idea in the head of a young soon-to-be CEO of an energy company, played by Cillian Murphy.
Of course, the beauty of using dreamscapes in cinema is the ability to depict absolutely anything you like and have it make sense. This leads to some incredibly specatacular set pieces, such as a fist fight in zero gravity and a snowmobile chase. All the fireworks and stunts never detract from the acting and characterization however and in this respect, Inception is truly a film with everything: alongside your action you have another sterling performance by DiCaprio, stellar supporting turns by both Joseph Gordon Lovett and Tom Hardy and a surprisingly brilliant leading turn by Ellen Page in her best performance since Juno.
Make no mistake, this is the best film Nolan has ever made and it goes to show that along with this, another two of his films (The Dark Knight and Memento) are in my ten favourite films of all time. Inception is undeniably Oscar-bound and if Nolan can top this with future films, then those films will be a sight to see
Until my next trip to the cinema,
Captain Mark ;)
Saturday, 17 July 2010
Wednesday, 14 July 2010
On fixed guitars, Sonisphere festivals and some upcoming karaoke...
Just thought I'd let you all in on a bit of news: my gorgeous, lovely Fender Telecaster is now fixed. After like, a year or so. I just always had something else a bit more pressing I had to spend money on! Anyways, now I have my sweet sweet tone back, I'm indulging in something I've seen done elsewhere: bandeoke. As in, karaoke, but with a live band. I test run it at an upcoming private function (my own incredinly delayed housewarming party) and hopefully will be taking it to pubs and clubs around Essex and London soon enough.
Anyways, Sonisphere is just around the corner and my tickets have arrived, great success. I will probably have some kind of report on the action and unlike Download, will end up seeing absolutely everything I want to see with no compromises because I'm only going with one other person who wants to see all the same stuff as well.
Signing off,
Cap'n Mark
Anyways, Sonisphere is just around the corner and my tickets have arrived, great success. I will probably have some kind of report on the action and unlike Download, will end up seeing absolutely everything I want to see with no compromises because I'm only going with one other person who wants to see all the same stuff as well.
Signing off,
Cap'n Mark
Thursday, 1 July 2010
Doctor WHAT?!
AH! I hear you gasp, a new post, so soon? But you're crushing all my expections of your fine self as a lazy yet loveable writer! But today, something as been splashed around the Internet which has driven me to my keyboard of contempt. And that is my beloved Doctor.
Reported on multiple websites, including MTV News, is that a Hollywood Doctor Who feature film is in the works. Even bigger news, Johnny Depp has apparently signed a deal to play the Doctor. Gad-zooks! Soooooo, here's where I stand. If you even care.
Russell T. Davies is apparently back at the helm for the film version. I'm acclimatised to Moffat now! He has fundementally changed the way the show works for the better and to go back to the old style will be somewhat jarring.
And of course we have the obvious problem: Matt Smith is the Doctor! And the best damned Doctor we've had since Tom Baker! Unless they actually write next season so that Smith regenerates into Depp at the end to lead into the film, it won't work! And if they DO end up doing that, we lose Smith before he may have wanted to bow out! I should imagine paying Depp for a two minute appearence at the end of next season's finale would destroy their budget too.
Anyways, this might be a hoax, or it could fall through...in short, I'm apprehensive. Extremely apprehensive. Some fans might love the idea, most fans probably hate the idea of the Americans doing what they do best and Americanising everything, which is a whole other argument to get into. I'm pretty sure homegrown U.S. creative properties (or creative properties from any other country for that matter) aren't adapted and made more English when they reach our shores. Why on Earth do the Americans do the same? Is it any wonder the American population has the lowest international awareness on the planet? Anyways, I'm done ranting. RTD is a fine writer and I love the man for bringing Who back and doing it successfully. Johnny Depp is a fine actor and has starred in most of my all time favourite films. But you could kill off American interest that Moffat and co are currently working so hard to build (this series has just launched on BBC America within the past few weeks) Think about it!
Signing off,
Capn' Mark
Reported on multiple websites, including MTV News, is that a Hollywood Doctor Who feature film is in the works. Even bigger news, Johnny Depp has apparently signed a deal to play the Doctor. Gad-zooks! Soooooo, here's where I stand. If you even care.
Russell T. Davies is apparently back at the helm for the film version. I'm acclimatised to Moffat now! He has fundementally changed the way the show works for the better and to go back to the old style will be somewhat jarring.
And of course we have the obvious problem: Matt Smith is the Doctor! And the best damned Doctor we've had since Tom Baker! Unless they actually write next season so that Smith regenerates into Depp at the end to lead into the film, it won't work! And if they DO end up doing that, we lose Smith before he may have wanted to bow out! I should imagine paying Depp for a two minute appearence at the end of next season's finale would destroy their budget too.
Anyways, this might be a hoax, or it could fall through...in short, I'm apprehensive. Extremely apprehensive. Some fans might love the idea, most fans probably hate the idea of the Americans doing what they do best and Americanising everything, which is a whole other argument to get into. I'm pretty sure homegrown U.S. creative properties (or creative properties from any other country for that matter) aren't adapted and made more English when they reach our shores. Why on Earth do the Americans do the same? Is it any wonder the American population has the lowest international awareness on the planet? Anyways, I'm done ranting. RTD is a fine writer and I love the man for bringing Who back and doing it successfully. Johnny Depp is a fine actor and has starred in most of my all time favourite films. But you could kill off American interest that Moffat and co are currently working so hard to build (this series has just launched on BBC America within the past few weeks) Think about it!
Signing off,
Capn' Mark
Wednesday, 30 June 2010
Getting back on the ball...
Yeah yeah, this thing went dead for a bit. My parents went away and my brother invited a friend to live at our house for two weeks, which subsequently had the knock on effect of turning the place into a low rent recording studio. By the time he left, I couldn't muster the enthusiam to keep up with the Doctor Who reviews, the gig reviews...
But now I am back. And I've done things. Life experience crazy things. I'll try and boil the stuff I've missed down into one post I guess. Buckle up ;)
Sooooooooooooo............
First up, Doctor Who. All done now! I have to say, I was thoroughly impressed with the overall plot arc and the latest Who first of not wrapping up absolutely everything neatly in a bow by the final scene of the series finale. Lingering questions are good, they will have more people returning methink. Kudos to the writing team there, breaking tradition can be difficult. On a extra note, the games which are now being drip fed to us scott free via the BBC website are also pretty bloody amazing. At the time of writing, the first two are now available, although I've only had the time to play the first.
Okay, next, Rage at Finsbury Park. One for the history books. I think a sense of occasion always makes what could have been a regular gig that much more lively. The crowd certainly seemed to think so, I can't recall a crowd crush that intense. Well, not at the time...ANYWAYS, having more bands than just Rage on the bill was a keen idea, as was opening the day with Gallows. Frank Carter was never one to shy away from speaking his mind (some gems include 'Justin Bieber's up the road, if you boo loud enough he'll hear you' and 'I want you to make a wall of death...if you don't know what this is, you shouldn't fuckin' be here!) Amptly put, Frank! In any case, you can never go wrong opening a gig in London with God Save The Queen. The Sex Pistols classic of course, not our national anthem. Although sometimes I wonder...
I will admit to not watching Roots Manuva. Not my cup of tea. And I was hungry, only a seriously overpriced burger would stop the ol' stomach rumbling. So my brother and I wade back to the stage in time for Gogol Bordello. Now if you're headed to Reading/Leeds this...DO NOT MISS THEM. Gypsy punk from the city of New York, they would brighten your dullest, most depressing day. Enough of a singalong factor to get everyone in the crowd all cosy with one another in time for...
Rage. Against. The. Fucking. Machine.
Oh yeah. This easily qualifies as the best gig I've ever been to. Hilarious cartoon Simon Cowell introduction, bringing out the Morters (the couple who started the Facebook campaign that made the gig happen in the first place,) playing a Clash cover (White Riot, if you were wondering,) and playing a video detailing the events at Christmas with Joe McElderry's The Climb playing over the top of it, all of this leading up to an explosive Killing In The Name...simply legendary. Kudos to the bus surfing guys on the way home who saw an easy way to cut through the crowds and took it. Yes, bus surfing. Exactly what it sounds like.
And now we get to a week later, Download Festival! A long weekend of intense drinking, plenty of well proportioned breasts and the best bands in the world. So, a day at a time...
Friday. Waking up semi bladdered already is a good way to start, but Friday for me was actually a bit slow. Not many bands I wanted to see, it felt to me like a warm up for the next two days. It was so unremarkable (except for maybe AC/DC) that I barely remember who I saw. Oh, and AC/DC were good. Never been a crazy fan, and the lack of choice (not to mention lack of their logo on the Festival t-shirt and the butchering of the main stage area all so they could bring their own stage with them) seemed a little off to me, almost like they held the whole thing in contempt really.
Saturday. This is more like it! Rise To Remain open the second stage and thoroughly impress everyone, it looks as if another Dickinson will be making his mark on metal (lead singer Austin Dickinson is the son of You Know Who. And if you don't, go brush up on your classic metal!) Several slots later and the band I pushed to the front of the second stage for are on: Cancer Bats. And they blow the feckin' roof off the place. Well, they would of, if it happened indoors. There's even pictures of me with frontman Liam Cormier as he reaches into the front row and blasts our collective faces off scattered around the internet. We leave after this and I get involved with a Rock Band competition which won me free beer (I play on Expert!) and a preview of what a mass singalong to Killing In The Name will sound like later that night. I watch the end of Megadeth on the main stage (awesome, but the P.A let them down) and then head to the second stage and watch The Blackout. Who are fucking amazing. Two drummers. Inflatable middle fingers. Rage, AC/DC and Aerosmith covers. 300% more Welsh than anyone I've ever seen in my life. Check them out if you get the chance. HIM are on after, my favourite band from when I was a broody sixteen year old, so it's nice to catch them live once more. Almost like greeting an old best friend who you've stopped talking to, it makes you wonder why you broke contact in the first place. The old favourites are all in there (Join Me, Wicked Game, Buried Alive By Love et al) mixed in with some new ones I like and some I don't (Wings Of A Butterfly has an awesome riff, but really, it's the only song on the Dark Light album that should still be played live!) Overall, a fantastic reminder of how much better my taste in music was compared to the chavs back at school. So the headliner rolls around and it's Rage for the second time within six days. The set is pretty much the same as Finsbury Park, with some added Wake Up (which is my favourite Rage song, so big thumbs up from me there) Overall, best headliner and best set of the whole weekend.
Sunday bloody Sunday. It didn't go exactly how I hoped it would. We have a lie in today and get to the arena in time to watch Slash. If you haven't heard the new Slash album yet, you really need to, it rocks. Slash's touring singer Myles Kennedys (from the band Alter Bridge) is easily the greatest male singer on this planet right now. He can sing ANYTHING, from other people's songs on the Slash album to old Guns tunes like Sweet Child and Rocket Queen. Further kudos go the completely topless chick shaking what god gave her astride somebody's shoulders and projected on the big screen all the way through the end solo to set finale Paradise City. Seriously, tits, beer and Slash, my life was perfect for five mins or so!
So now comes the disappointment. I'm all ready for Billy Idol and subsequently Motorhead, Stone Temple Pilots and Aerosmith and then the rain begins. And it doesn't stop. Rebel Yell would have sounded awesome but dying of pneumonia doesn't. I'll admit, I was ill prepared, no poncho, no wellies, and because of that, it was back to the tent for me, my weekend cut abruptly short. Still, I had fun singing the Ace Of Spades at the live band karaoke that night, could have been worse!
Wow, all done, breathe out now! So after the Download insanity, I got festival fever and have roped a friend into getting Sonisphere tickets with me. So come the first week of August expect a full review! Probably!
Your ever lovin' captain,
Mark
But now I am back. And I've done things. Life experience crazy things. I'll try and boil the stuff I've missed down into one post I guess. Buckle up ;)
Sooooooooooooo............
First up, Doctor Who. All done now! I have to say, I was thoroughly impressed with the overall plot arc and the latest Who first of not wrapping up absolutely everything neatly in a bow by the final scene of the series finale. Lingering questions are good, they will have more people returning methink. Kudos to the writing team there, breaking tradition can be difficult. On a extra note, the games which are now being drip fed to us scott free via the BBC website are also pretty bloody amazing. At the time of writing, the first two are now available, although I've only had the time to play the first.
Okay, next, Rage at Finsbury Park. One for the history books. I think a sense of occasion always makes what could have been a regular gig that much more lively. The crowd certainly seemed to think so, I can't recall a crowd crush that intense. Well, not at the time...ANYWAYS, having more bands than just Rage on the bill was a keen idea, as was opening the day with Gallows. Frank Carter was never one to shy away from speaking his mind (some gems include 'Justin Bieber's up the road, if you boo loud enough he'll hear you' and 'I want you to make a wall of death...if you don't know what this is, you shouldn't fuckin' be here!) Amptly put, Frank! In any case, you can never go wrong opening a gig in London with God Save The Queen. The Sex Pistols classic of course, not our national anthem. Although sometimes I wonder...
I will admit to not watching Roots Manuva. Not my cup of tea. And I was hungry, only a seriously overpriced burger would stop the ol' stomach rumbling. So my brother and I wade back to the stage in time for Gogol Bordello. Now if you're headed to Reading/Leeds this...DO NOT MISS THEM. Gypsy punk from the city of New York, they would brighten your dullest, most depressing day. Enough of a singalong factor to get everyone in the crowd all cosy with one another in time for...
Rage. Against. The. Fucking. Machine.
Oh yeah. This easily qualifies as the best gig I've ever been to. Hilarious cartoon Simon Cowell introduction, bringing out the Morters (the couple who started the Facebook campaign that made the gig happen in the first place,) playing a Clash cover (White Riot, if you were wondering,) and playing a video detailing the events at Christmas with Joe McElderry's The Climb playing over the top of it, all of this leading up to an explosive Killing In The Name...simply legendary. Kudos to the bus surfing guys on the way home who saw an easy way to cut through the crowds and took it. Yes, bus surfing. Exactly what it sounds like.
And now we get to a week later, Download Festival! A long weekend of intense drinking, plenty of well proportioned breasts and the best bands in the world. So, a day at a time...
Friday. Waking up semi bladdered already is a good way to start, but Friday for me was actually a bit slow. Not many bands I wanted to see, it felt to me like a warm up for the next two days. It was so unremarkable (except for maybe AC/DC) that I barely remember who I saw. Oh, and AC/DC were good. Never been a crazy fan, and the lack of choice (not to mention lack of their logo on the Festival t-shirt and the butchering of the main stage area all so they could bring their own stage with them) seemed a little off to me, almost like they held the whole thing in contempt really.
Saturday. This is more like it! Rise To Remain open the second stage and thoroughly impress everyone, it looks as if another Dickinson will be making his mark on metal (lead singer Austin Dickinson is the son of You Know Who. And if you don't, go brush up on your classic metal!) Several slots later and the band I pushed to the front of the second stage for are on: Cancer Bats. And they blow the feckin' roof off the place. Well, they would of, if it happened indoors. There's even pictures of me with frontman Liam Cormier as he reaches into the front row and blasts our collective faces off scattered around the internet. We leave after this and I get involved with a Rock Band competition which won me free beer (I play on Expert!) and a preview of what a mass singalong to Killing In The Name will sound like later that night. I watch the end of Megadeth on the main stage (awesome, but the P.A let them down) and then head to the second stage and watch The Blackout. Who are fucking amazing. Two drummers. Inflatable middle fingers. Rage, AC/DC and Aerosmith covers. 300% more Welsh than anyone I've ever seen in my life. Check them out if you get the chance. HIM are on after, my favourite band from when I was a broody sixteen year old, so it's nice to catch them live once more. Almost like greeting an old best friend who you've stopped talking to, it makes you wonder why you broke contact in the first place. The old favourites are all in there (Join Me, Wicked Game, Buried Alive By Love et al) mixed in with some new ones I like and some I don't (Wings Of A Butterfly has an awesome riff, but really, it's the only song on the Dark Light album that should still be played live!) Overall, a fantastic reminder of how much better my taste in music was compared to the chavs back at school. So the headliner rolls around and it's Rage for the second time within six days. The set is pretty much the same as Finsbury Park, with some added Wake Up (which is my favourite Rage song, so big thumbs up from me there) Overall, best headliner and best set of the whole weekend.
Sunday bloody Sunday. It didn't go exactly how I hoped it would. We have a lie in today and get to the arena in time to watch Slash. If you haven't heard the new Slash album yet, you really need to, it rocks. Slash's touring singer Myles Kennedys (from the band Alter Bridge) is easily the greatest male singer on this planet right now. He can sing ANYTHING, from other people's songs on the Slash album to old Guns tunes like Sweet Child and Rocket Queen. Further kudos go the completely topless chick shaking what god gave her astride somebody's shoulders and projected on the big screen all the way through the end solo to set finale Paradise City. Seriously, tits, beer and Slash, my life was perfect for five mins or so!
So now comes the disappointment. I'm all ready for Billy Idol and subsequently Motorhead, Stone Temple Pilots and Aerosmith and then the rain begins. And it doesn't stop. Rebel Yell would have sounded awesome but dying of pneumonia doesn't. I'll admit, I was ill prepared, no poncho, no wellies, and because of that, it was back to the tent for me, my weekend cut abruptly short. Still, I had fun singing the Ace Of Spades at the live band karaoke that night, could have been worse!
Wow, all done, breathe out now! So after the Download insanity, I got festival fever and have roped a friend into getting Sonisphere tickets with me. So come the first week of August expect a full review! Probably!
Your ever lovin' captain,
Mark
Saturday, 8 May 2010
Avengers Assemble!
This is gonna be kinda a double whammy type affair, a quick review of Iron Man 2 and then we get to talking about where all the current crop of Marvel movies seem to be headed: The Avengers.
First, Iron Man 2.
With this sequel, Faverau clearly took the 'if it ain't broke, don't fix it' mantra to heart and thanks to the winning formula, Iron Man 2 is a major victory for the comic book movie genre. Robert Downey Jnr's Tony Stark steals the shows as he did in the first movie, shooting off wryly-delivered one liners one after one another. He spends more time outside of the suit than in it, and with a superhero movie, one would think this would doom it to failure. But Tony Stark is one of Marvel's most complex characters, and Downey Jnr. is one of Hollywood's most complex character actors, allowing him to turn an otherwise difficult to approach leading role into a roaring success. Robert Downey Jnr IS Tony Stark up on that screen, and has given the world a definitive portrayal. Much like anybody else trying to play the Joker now after Heath Ledger's legendary performance, it just ain't gonna work.
Speaking of Batman movies, Iron Man 2 works in exactly the opposite manner. Both are furnished with at least an adequate amount of plot, but whereas Batman movies are all about the villian, both Iron Man movies thus far have kept the focus with its central character. I've always said Batman is always the least interesting thing about a Batman movie however, and here is where the comparison ends. The villians of Iron Man 2 are far from uninteresting. Mickey Rourke's Ivan Vanko AKA Whiplash is played with the right amount of taciturn silence and leering, a cruel cold silent juxtaposition to both Tony Stark and Vanko's own partner in crime, which leads us to the most interesting choice the writers have made with Iron Man 2.
Justin Hammer. Anybody who follows the Iron Man comics will know that Hammer is responsible for some of Stark's biggest failures and upsets in both his professional and social life. He drives him to alcoholism and constantly prods Stark towards the paranoia which would ultimately spawn Stark's championing of the Superhero Registration Act, which in turn leads to the Marvel Civil War and the final deaths of many Marvel characters including the original Captain America, Steve Rodgers. That's an awful lot of villiany to heap on one actor's shoulders. Enter Sam Rockwell. Playing Hammer as a sort of Stark wannabe, his more corporate foil is in line with the comics and Rockwell does this exceedingly well. His words near to the end of the movie (not giving anything away here, so don't worry) telling Pepper Potts (and the audience) that he will return and we will see him get revenge. Foreboding stuff.
Elsewhere, the 50's romantic comedy type relationship between Stark and his assistant Pepper Potts is played again to perfection, Gwyeneth Paltrow playing off of both Stark's narcissism and his internal emotional struggle throughout the film well. She is both surrogate mother and love interest to Stark and we see why a woman like her is the perfect match from him: she needs someone to take care of and he in turn needs somebody to take care of him, to ground him.
On to War Machine. Tentatively stepping into the role played by Terance Howard in the first movie, Don Cheadle plays Lt. Col. Cody Rhoades with the right amount of desperation: due to the events of the film, he truly has his back against the wall and has to choose between his friend and his country. It is a great personal journey the audience see him take; even when the film has managed to show you said journey and still have time for everything else, especially Stark's ego. Last but not least, alongside Cheadle in the ranks of the supporting cast, we get (the incredibly gorgeous!) Scarlett Johannson as Natasha Romanova AKA Black Widow, Nick Fury's (Samuel L. Jackson) right hand woman and the person keeping an eye on Stark. I don't really have to say much here except SCARLETT JOHANSSON IN A LEATHER BODYSUIT. You get the picture, if you don't, Google it. You won't regret it.
Overall, this is how it should be done. When I say that of course, I mean this is how Iron Man movies should be done, not all superhero and comic book movies. I think every franchise needs a different approach. The very underated Daredevil movie is another case of the franchise being done in the right way, suprisingly enough in the case of Ben Affleck as Matt Murdoch, with the right cast. Iron Man 2 pushes all the right buttons and delivers everything you could want from an Iron Man movie. And of course, it wins extra geek points for helping to set up...The Avengers!
So, here come the spoilers. If you haven't seen Iron Man, Iron Man 2 or The Hulk (the good one, with Ed Norton, not the sucky Ang Lee one) stop reading now. If you have, or can't be bothered and just want to know why the hell I'm getting so excited, feel free to keep reading. Even though if you're in the latter, you're missing out on how superhero movies should be done. Seriously. Go watch!
So, for the uninitated, the Avengers are Marvel's dream team, a crack team of superheroes who fight the bad guys team up style. Every hero in the Marvel Universe has probably been either on the squad or an auxillary member (see Spider-Man) at some point, but the core three are usually Captain America, Iron Man and Thor. Complete those three with Ant Man and you get the original Avengers, complete them with Wolverine, you get the New Avengers, e.t.c, e.t.c, you get the idea here. Of course, the core three represent the three standard superhero types, Iron Man as the technologically aided hero, Captain America as the costumed 'normal' hero (about as close to normal as Marvel gets anyways) and Thor as the magical hero. Alright, picture painted. Onwards with my pressing topic.
At the end of Iron Man in a post credits scene, Nick Fury, head of secretive special forces group S.H.I.E.L.D. (portrayed in his Ultimates incarnation by Samuel L. Jackson which, considering they based the character design on Jackson himself when they first created Fury in the Ultimates timeline, is the ONLY choice for the role) appears to Tony Stark wanting to talk about something calling The Avengers Initiative. Cue 90% of the audience not knowing what the hell he's yammering on about and the other 10% (of which I was a member) climaxing on the spot and launching into crazed chatter about the possibility of a full blown Avengers movie.
So a few months later, the Hulk happens. In the movie, Neil Blonsky (played by Tim Roth) is tasked to track the Hulk down and capture him and in order to be any match for him, is injected with an serum developed during World War Two that turns men into super soldiers. This is the same serum that turned lowly army puke Steve Rodgers into Captain America. Unfortunately, Rodgers is the only successful test subject in history and this fact, combined with the fact that Blonsky takes too much, turns him into the movie's villian, Abomination. Now at the end of that movie, Tony Stark makes an appearence to General Ross (the man who heads up the Army's Hulk Buster task force) to see if he's interested because S.H.I.E.L.D are putting together a special team.
On to Iron Man 2. When Fury visits Stark somewhere in the latter half of the film, we see that Stark is uninterested in the Avengers idea still (Best line of the movie in fact: "I'm not interested in joining your super secret boy band.") This puzzled me a little as it contradicts the ending of The Hulk, but then at the end of Iron Man 2, when Fury is debriefing Tony, I noticed one of the screens in the scene bringing you a live new update from Culver University where a monster has just ran riot and destroyed army vehicles. This is a scene from The Incredible Hulk, which places the ending of Iron Man 2 at around halfway through the events of the Hulk movie. Thank my eagle eye for that one.
Okay, so we get to post credits of Iron Man 2. Earlier in the movie, as Stark is creating Vibranium (which Captain America's shield is made from kiddies!) Agent Coulson of S.H.I.E.L.D (god, that's a bitch to type) mentions that he has 'pressing business' in New Mexico. Now, in the post credits scene, we see Coulson arrive at a massive crater in the New Mexican desert, and as the camera pans back we see something in the center. Mjolnir. The Hammer Of The Gods. Weapon of the mighty Thor.
Ex-fucking-splosive. Movie critic Bob Chipman compared this scene to dropping a lightsaber into a post credits scene in The Godfather Part II. The Marvel universe is finally colliding and to see it bought to life is something tangiably exciting and our generation are the ones to experience it. Think about it. This is how movies could be from now on, with crossing over and continuity just like comic books.
So what do we know about the upcoming Thor and Captain America movies? Well, Thor is being played by Chris Hemsworth and the film is being headed up by Kenneth Brannagh. An interesting choice of director, I think he has the ability to give Thor's solo tale that edge of darkness it needs. Story wise, Thor is a warrior god who has become arrogant and is cast down to Earth from Asgard by his father Odin (being played by Anthony fucking Hopkins. Win.) to teach him a lesson in humility. However, Thor's half brother Loki takes advantage of his main enemy's absence and begin to gather up an army to conquer both Earth and Asgard. Cue Lord Of The Rings style epic fantasy battles.
Captain America is being portrayed by Chris Evans and the movie is being directed by Joe Johnston, who did a terrific job with The Wolfman. As for Evans, there was a slight outcry that he already portrayed the Human Torch in the Fantastic Four movies, but if this means the Four will also see a reboot, I'm all for it. Those films sucked. The big piece of casting news with the Cap movie is that of Hugo Weaving, who was the best thing about the Matrix trilogy and played a brilliant Detective Abeline in The Wolfman. He's been cast as Cap's arch nemesis, the Nazi scientist known as The Red Skull. Picture perfect choice. The Cap movie is entitled 'Captain America: The First Avenger" and will be set during World War II. We will see the character's origin story and his battle with The Red Skull and the Nazis alongside sidekick Bucky Barnes, a younger Nick Fury and his Howlin' Commandos and a possible cameo from Wolverine. He and Bucky will then be frozen in the North Atlantic where they will be discovered 60 odd years later, Cap by the good ol' U.S.A and Bucky by more nefarious forces (in the comics, it was the Russians who brainwashed him to become the Winter Soldier, one of Cap's recurring foes. The 'Commie' idea is outdated now though, so this could change, as it did in Iron Man.)
Phew, explanations over. So kiddies, now, it's speculation time! In the build up to the Avengers, there's a whole bunch of possibilities to consider. Hugh Jackman is slated to be making an appearence in both the upcoming Captain America movie and the Avengers movie, reprising his role as Wolverine. Sweet. Of course, there's the incoming Spider-Man reboot to consider. Yep, they're starting Spider-Man all over again, with a new director, new Peter Parker and placing Spidey firmly back in high school, much like his Ultimate incarnation. Past Spider-Man films haven't tied into the recent ones, but with this reboot, could we see Spidey make a cameo in the Avengers movie? A definate possibility. Bucky Barnes making an appearence as his brainwashed evil alter ego The Winter Soldier in the Avengers as a villian is also a possibility. Then there's also the chance of Hawkeye, a constant Avengers member in the comics, making his first appearence in the Avengers movie. For those not in the know, Hawkeye is a guy who is basically a REALLLLLLLLY good shot with any projectile weapon you give him. He usually uses a bow and arrow. And if Hawkeye is in, chances are so is his constant companion and love interest Black Canary. She's basically a hot chick in a catsuit who does kung fu and zips about on wires. We do already have Black Widow in that role, but you can never have enough hot chicks in leather bodysuits. There is also still a bit of a question mark as to whether the Hulk will actually be a member or not. His inability to do anything besides go mental and destroy things would really work against the idea of teamwork, but hey, it could happen.
Alright, that was a long ass post, I hope you enjoyed, until next time,
Captain Mark ;)
First, Iron Man 2.
With this sequel, Faverau clearly took the 'if it ain't broke, don't fix it' mantra to heart and thanks to the winning formula, Iron Man 2 is a major victory for the comic book movie genre. Robert Downey Jnr's Tony Stark steals the shows as he did in the first movie, shooting off wryly-delivered one liners one after one another. He spends more time outside of the suit than in it, and with a superhero movie, one would think this would doom it to failure. But Tony Stark is one of Marvel's most complex characters, and Downey Jnr. is one of Hollywood's most complex character actors, allowing him to turn an otherwise difficult to approach leading role into a roaring success. Robert Downey Jnr IS Tony Stark up on that screen, and has given the world a definitive portrayal. Much like anybody else trying to play the Joker now after Heath Ledger's legendary performance, it just ain't gonna work.
Speaking of Batman movies, Iron Man 2 works in exactly the opposite manner. Both are furnished with at least an adequate amount of plot, but whereas Batman movies are all about the villian, both Iron Man movies thus far have kept the focus with its central character. I've always said Batman is always the least interesting thing about a Batman movie however, and here is where the comparison ends. The villians of Iron Man 2 are far from uninteresting. Mickey Rourke's Ivan Vanko AKA Whiplash is played with the right amount of taciturn silence and leering, a cruel cold silent juxtaposition to both Tony Stark and Vanko's own partner in crime, which leads us to the most interesting choice the writers have made with Iron Man 2.
Justin Hammer. Anybody who follows the Iron Man comics will know that Hammer is responsible for some of Stark's biggest failures and upsets in both his professional and social life. He drives him to alcoholism and constantly prods Stark towards the paranoia which would ultimately spawn Stark's championing of the Superhero Registration Act, which in turn leads to the Marvel Civil War and the final deaths of many Marvel characters including the original Captain America, Steve Rodgers. That's an awful lot of villiany to heap on one actor's shoulders. Enter Sam Rockwell. Playing Hammer as a sort of Stark wannabe, his more corporate foil is in line with the comics and Rockwell does this exceedingly well. His words near to the end of the movie (not giving anything away here, so don't worry) telling Pepper Potts (and the audience) that he will return and we will see him get revenge. Foreboding stuff.
Elsewhere, the 50's romantic comedy type relationship between Stark and his assistant Pepper Potts is played again to perfection, Gwyeneth Paltrow playing off of both Stark's narcissism and his internal emotional struggle throughout the film well. She is both surrogate mother and love interest to Stark and we see why a woman like her is the perfect match from him: she needs someone to take care of and he in turn needs somebody to take care of him, to ground him.
On to War Machine. Tentatively stepping into the role played by Terance Howard in the first movie, Don Cheadle plays Lt. Col. Cody Rhoades with the right amount of desperation: due to the events of the film, he truly has his back against the wall and has to choose between his friend and his country. It is a great personal journey the audience see him take; even when the film has managed to show you said journey and still have time for everything else, especially Stark's ego. Last but not least, alongside Cheadle in the ranks of the supporting cast, we get (the incredibly gorgeous!) Scarlett Johannson as Natasha Romanova AKA Black Widow, Nick Fury's (Samuel L. Jackson) right hand woman and the person keeping an eye on Stark. I don't really have to say much here except SCARLETT JOHANSSON IN A LEATHER BODYSUIT. You get the picture, if you don't, Google it. You won't regret it.
Overall, this is how it should be done. When I say that of course, I mean this is how Iron Man movies should be done, not all superhero and comic book movies. I think every franchise needs a different approach. The very underated Daredevil movie is another case of the franchise being done in the right way, suprisingly enough in the case of Ben Affleck as Matt Murdoch, with the right cast. Iron Man 2 pushes all the right buttons and delivers everything you could want from an Iron Man movie. And of course, it wins extra geek points for helping to set up...The Avengers!
So, here come the spoilers. If you haven't seen Iron Man, Iron Man 2 or The Hulk (the good one, with Ed Norton, not the sucky Ang Lee one) stop reading now. If you have, or can't be bothered and just want to know why the hell I'm getting so excited, feel free to keep reading. Even though if you're in the latter, you're missing out on how superhero movies should be done. Seriously. Go watch!
So, for the uninitated, the Avengers are Marvel's dream team, a crack team of superheroes who fight the bad guys team up style. Every hero in the Marvel Universe has probably been either on the squad or an auxillary member (see Spider-Man) at some point, but the core three are usually Captain America, Iron Man and Thor. Complete those three with Ant Man and you get the original Avengers, complete them with Wolverine, you get the New Avengers, e.t.c, e.t.c, you get the idea here. Of course, the core three represent the three standard superhero types, Iron Man as the technologically aided hero, Captain America as the costumed 'normal' hero (about as close to normal as Marvel gets anyways) and Thor as the magical hero. Alright, picture painted. Onwards with my pressing topic.
At the end of Iron Man in a post credits scene, Nick Fury, head of secretive special forces group S.H.I.E.L.D. (portrayed in his Ultimates incarnation by Samuel L. Jackson which, considering they based the character design on Jackson himself when they first created Fury in the Ultimates timeline, is the ONLY choice for the role) appears to Tony Stark wanting to talk about something calling The Avengers Initiative. Cue 90% of the audience not knowing what the hell he's yammering on about and the other 10% (of which I was a member) climaxing on the spot and launching into crazed chatter about the possibility of a full blown Avengers movie.
So a few months later, the Hulk happens. In the movie, Neil Blonsky (played by Tim Roth) is tasked to track the Hulk down and capture him and in order to be any match for him, is injected with an serum developed during World War Two that turns men into super soldiers. This is the same serum that turned lowly army puke Steve Rodgers into Captain America. Unfortunately, Rodgers is the only successful test subject in history and this fact, combined with the fact that Blonsky takes too much, turns him into the movie's villian, Abomination. Now at the end of that movie, Tony Stark makes an appearence to General Ross (the man who heads up the Army's Hulk Buster task force) to see if he's interested because S.H.I.E.L.D are putting together a special team.
On to Iron Man 2. When Fury visits Stark somewhere in the latter half of the film, we see that Stark is uninterested in the Avengers idea still (Best line of the movie in fact: "I'm not interested in joining your super secret boy band.") This puzzled me a little as it contradicts the ending of The Hulk, but then at the end of Iron Man 2, when Fury is debriefing Tony, I noticed one of the screens in the scene bringing you a live new update from Culver University where a monster has just ran riot and destroyed army vehicles. This is a scene from The Incredible Hulk, which places the ending of Iron Man 2 at around halfway through the events of the Hulk movie. Thank my eagle eye for that one.
Okay, so we get to post credits of Iron Man 2. Earlier in the movie, as Stark is creating Vibranium (which Captain America's shield is made from kiddies!) Agent Coulson of S.H.I.E.L.D (god, that's a bitch to type) mentions that he has 'pressing business' in New Mexico. Now, in the post credits scene, we see Coulson arrive at a massive crater in the New Mexican desert, and as the camera pans back we see something in the center. Mjolnir. The Hammer Of The Gods. Weapon of the mighty Thor.
Ex-fucking-splosive. Movie critic Bob Chipman compared this scene to dropping a lightsaber into a post credits scene in The Godfather Part II. The Marvel universe is finally colliding and to see it bought to life is something tangiably exciting and our generation are the ones to experience it. Think about it. This is how movies could be from now on, with crossing over and continuity just like comic books.
So what do we know about the upcoming Thor and Captain America movies? Well, Thor is being played by Chris Hemsworth and the film is being headed up by Kenneth Brannagh. An interesting choice of director, I think he has the ability to give Thor's solo tale that edge of darkness it needs. Story wise, Thor is a warrior god who has become arrogant and is cast down to Earth from Asgard by his father Odin (being played by Anthony fucking Hopkins. Win.) to teach him a lesson in humility. However, Thor's half brother Loki takes advantage of his main enemy's absence and begin to gather up an army to conquer both Earth and Asgard. Cue Lord Of The Rings style epic fantasy battles.
Captain America is being portrayed by Chris Evans and the movie is being directed by Joe Johnston, who did a terrific job with The Wolfman. As for Evans, there was a slight outcry that he already portrayed the Human Torch in the Fantastic Four movies, but if this means the Four will also see a reboot, I'm all for it. Those films sucked. The big piece of casting news with the Cap movie is that of Hugo Weaving, who was the best thing about the Matrix trilogy and played a brilliant Detective Abeline in The Wolfman. He's been cast as Cap's arch nemesis, the Nazi scientist known as The Red Skull. Picture perfect choice. The Cap movie is entitled 'Captain America: The First Avenger" and will be set during World War II. We will see the character's origin story and his battle with The Red Skull and the Nazis alongside sidekick Bucky Barnes, a younger Nick Fury and his Howlin' Commandos and a possible cameo from Wolverine. He and Bucky will then be frozen in the North Atlantic where they will be discovered 60 odd years later, Cap by the good ol' U.S.A and Bucky by more nefarious forces (in the comics, it was the Russians who brainwashed him to become the Winter Soldier, one of Cap's recurring foes. The 'Commie' idea is outdated now though, so this could change, as it did in Iron Man.)
Phew, explanations over. So kiddies, now, it's speculation time! In the build up to the Avengers, there's a whole bunch of possibilities to consider. Hugh Jackman is slated to be making an appearence in both the upcoming Captain America movie and the Avengers movie, reprising his role as Wolverine. Sweet. Of course, there's the incoming Spider-Man reboot to consider. Yep, they're starting Spider-Man all over again, with a new director, new Peter Parker and placing Spidey firmly back in high school, much like his Ultimate incarnation. Past Spider-Man films haven't tied into the recent ones, but with this reboot, could we see Spidey make a cameo in the Avengers movie? A definate possibility. Bucky Barnes making an appearence as his brainwashed evil alter ego The Winter Soldier in the Avengers as a villian is also a possibility. Then there's also the chance of Hawkeye, a constant Avengers member in the comics, making his first appearence in the Avengers movie. For those not in the know, Hawkeye is a guy who is basically a REALLLLLLLLY good shot with any projectile weapon you give him. He usually uses a bow and arrow. And if Hawkeye is in, chances are so is his constant companion and love interest Black Canary. She's basically a hot chick in a catsuit who does kung fu and zips about on wires. We do already have Black Widow in that role, but you can never have enough hot chicks in leather bodysuits. There is also still a bit of a question mark as to whether the Hulk will actually be a member or not. His inability to do anything besides go mental and destroy things would really work against the idea of teamwork, but hey, it could happen.
Alright, that was a long ass post, I hope you enjoyed, until next time,
Captain Mark ;)
Tuesday, 4 May 2010
Don't be silly, you can't ever run out of time!
So part two held up the high expectations of part one. We're talking Doctor Who here by the way. If we're ever NOT talking Doctor Who, I'll let you know :P
Anyways, flipping the rules on their head for an episode at least is something Moffat does well and in that we get the most tension filled scene we've seen thus far, Amy having to fool the Angels into believing she indeed has her sight, walking blindly through masses of them. Nail biting stuff. The only thing I wasn't too sure about was Amy throwing herself at the Doctor in her room at the end of the episode. Seemed a little out of character for her, I get the sexy factor (as anyone who's read this before will know, I really get the sexy factor with Amy) but just throwing herself at the Doctor like that. I hope this is explained at some point, by some strange scientific Doctor ramble, or more preferably by Amy herself as an extreme case of cold feet.
Also, nice to see that the Angels aren't indeed completely infailable. And identifying the cracks in the universe as something even they are scared of was a neat way of putting an intimidating emphasis on what seems to be this season's overreaching plot arc.
Speaking of overreaching plot arcs, it seems River will 'kill' the Doctor in the future? With the way she gushes on and on about him, I can't see how anybody else could be 'the greatest man I've ever known.' Maybe Captain Jack. Considering he can die without consequence. But does this mean the mighty Matt Smith has only signed on for a single season?! We'll have to wait and see I guess.
Next time I review Iron Man 2 (if I go see it Wednesday) and talk about the excitingness of the upcoming Thor, Captain America and eventually, Avengers movies!
Sayonara!
Captain Mark
Anyways, flipping the rules on their head for an episode at least is something Moffat does well and in that we get the most tension filled scene we've seen thus far, Amy having to fool the Angels into believing she indeed has her sight, walking blindly through masses of them. Nail biting stuff. The only thing I wasn't too sure about was Amy throwing herself at the Doctor in her room at the end of the episode. Seemed a little out of character for her, I get the sexy factor (as anyone who's read this before will know, I really get the sexy factor with Amy) but just throwing herself at the Doctor like that. I hope this is explained at some point, by some strange scientific Doctor ramble, or more preferably by Amy herself as an extreme case of cold feet.
Also, nice to see that the Angels aren't indeed completely infailable. And identifying the cracks in the universe as something even they are scared of was a neat way of putting an intimidating emphasis on what seems to be this season's overreaching plot arc.
Speaking of overreaching plot arcs, it seems River will 'kill' the Doctor in the future? With the way she gushes on and on about him, I can't see how anybody else could be 'the greatest man I've ever known.' Maybe Captain Jack. Considering he can die without consequence. But does this mean the mighty Matt Smith has only signed on for a single season?! We'll have to wait and see I guess.
Next time I review Iron Man 2 (if I go see it Wednesday) and talk about the excitingness of the upcoming Thor, Captain America and eventually, Avengers movies!
Sayonara!
Captain Mark
Monday, 26 April 2010
Whatever you do, DON'T BLINK
So, the return of the Weeping Angels...if you read my last post, you'd know that I've been foaming at the mouth of their return and overall, it certainly didn't disappoint!
Beginning the episode by reuniting the Doctor with the excellent River Song, we are then quickly thrown headfirst into a mission where the Doctor once again crosses paths with the galaxy's deadliest lifeform, the Weeping Angels themselves. They can't move if someone is looking at them, turn your back and they're on you in a flash: Moffat has managed to create a monster that could very well stand the test of time as the Daleks have. The 'don't blink' mechanic at play throughout the episode keeps the tension running, spiking at opportune moments to scare you behind your sofa.
The interaction between River Song is also another high point in the episode, she seems to be the only character who can put the Doctor off balance, which is fun to watch. Amy was Amy some more this week, which puts her at her usual best. I will never love another ever again.
On a last point, it's nice to see that this episode is a two parter. The previous episodes have suffered from pacing issues, especially Victory of the Daleks, and it's nice to see a story spread out across two episodes like the Doctor Who of old. More of that please.
See, now here's the problem when it's a good episode: I can't really write much. Other than to say everything worked and it was good, and tune in next week. Like you weren't going to :P
Adios
Captain Mark
Beginning the episode by reuniting the Doctor with the excellent River Song, we are then quickly thrown headfirst into a mission where the Doctor once again crosses paths with the galaxy's deadliest lifeform, the Weeping Angels themselves. They can't move if someone is looking at them, turn your back and they're on you in a flash: Moffat has managed to create a monster that could very well stand the test of time as the Daleks have. The 'don't blink' mechanic at play throughout the episode keeps the tension running, spiking at opportune moments to scare you behind your sofa.
The interaction between River Song is also another high point in the episode, she seems to be the only character who can put the Doctor off balance, which is fun to watch. Amy was Amy some more this week, which puts her at her usual best. I will never love another ever again.
On a last point, it's nice to see that this episode is a two parter. The previous episodes have suffered from pacing issues, especially Victory of the Daleks, and it's nice to see a story spread out across two episodes like the Doctor Who of old. More of that please.
See, now here's the problem when it's a good episode: I can't really write much. Other than to say everything worked and it was good, and tune in next week. Like you weren't going to :P
Adios
Captain Mark
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