Tag Archives: comic book movie

[My Reaction To Empire’s] 40 Movies You (Probably) Didn’t Know Were Comic Books

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Original Article on Empire.com So after a friend posted this article and I started reading it, I almost immediately knew I wanted to tally my scores. But then above and beyond that, my wifey and I actually started arguing about the authenticity of this list! She started questioning it at “Over The Hedge” (comic strip vs. comic book) but it really got crazy at “The Fountain” (she felt that if it was always intended to be a movie, then what’s to keep this list from saying that “you probably didn’t know that Pride & Prejudice was a comic book” (which it is)). Being a pig-headed boy, it took me a while to understand her argument, but when I finally did get it, I heartily agreed with her. But I still wanted to tally my scores, so, without further ado: the categories for scoring and the numbers on the list! Films … Continue reading →

Man of Steel (2013)

Man Of Steel (IMAX 3-D) – Edwards 26 Long Beach Town Center, Long Beach, CA

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As good as the Avengers (2012) AND it made good on every promise that The Matrix movies (1999, 2003) made but failed to deliver on (don’t laugh, consider that this is coming from me, a hardcore fan of the Matrix movies). With the death of Zod and Kal-El’s very evident anguish over his actions, I was very much reminded of the Doctor Who episode where The Master dies without regenerating despite Tenant begging him to. That same anguish is in Cavill’s performance, with him knowing that “we’re the only two left, don’t make me do this”. In the same vein as the spoiler, looking back on the music (which was gorgeous), I find myself hearing the 4-beats-drums-of-war from The Master’s mind (Doctor Who). Very interesting commentary from one of my favorite comic book writers, Mark Waid.

The Dark Knight Rises – UltraLuxe GardenWalk Cinema, Anaheim, CA

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*GRIN* Well now that I’ve had time to digest it all, I still had an amazing time, but the more I think about it, the more I’m confused as to what Christopher Nolan was trying to accomplish. I mean there were so many delightful touches of characters and the Stock Market scene was just eerie to watch (with the tragedy of Aurora fresh in my mind) and the many perfect moments they got right from the Knightfall saga of the early 90s (I was audible gaping at the first Bane/Batman brawl even though I knew it all was coming). But the plot twist. Just….guh. First he (Nolan) kills off Ras Al Ghul. Then he kills off Talia with no intention of bringing either of them back using Lazarus Pits. But then he goes and makes Bane a loyal companion/pawn (well not pawn, maybe knight or bishop) to Talia’s queen just … Continue reading →

Men In Black 3 (2012)

Men In Black 3 – Ultraluxe Cinema 14 at Gardenwalk, Anaheim, CA

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An excellently crafted third outing with the MIB. Josh Brolin was amazing as a young Agent K. Just absolutely, 100% nailed it. Wait, time travel makes sense to me, but the film’s climactic battle doesn’t. *Wifey fix* Oh, so traveling back in time less than 10 minutes or so doesn’t create a major paradox where you occupy the same physical space as yourself 10 minutes ago, but functions more like the Omega-13 device in Galaxy Quest where you basically hit the Undo button, but only the person pushing the button on the device remembers what’s going on, regardless of who else travels. And I’m desperate to understand why Agent K was so cold to Agent J in the original normal timeline. Is it really as simple as the fact that Boris lives and justice wasn’t really served? Wifey seems to think so and I’m inclined to accept it after watching … Continue reading →

The Ultimate Marvel Movie Marathon – AMC 12 @ DownTown Disney, Anaheim, CA

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$40, 6 movies, 14 hours. Special intro segments for each film (part of our “training package” for the Avengers Initiative) by SHIELD Agent Phil Coulson. An absolutely amazing and incredible experience. Not only to be packed in a theatre for 6 movies with a like-minded crowd of enthusiasts, but to experience, in it’s entirety, the subtle weaving and artistry that Marvel Studios has been constructing since they first gambled on taking control of their own movie properties in 2005, “after Marvel Enterprises declared independence by pacting with Merrill Lynch to produce a slate of films that would be distributed by Paramount Pictures” (PickMyVideo Review of Avengers). I can’t actually think of any other property in recent history that could result in this kind of amazing … “ness”. I mean maybe a Star Wars marathon would count, but nothing even really comes close. Marvel took a gamble, played their cards right, … Continue reading →

Cowboys & Aliens – AMC12 @ Downtown Disney, Anaheim, CA

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Fun. Pure, simple, action/sci-fi fun that just happens to be a Western. It’s got a few more jumpy moments than ID4 did, but the film paces itself fantastically enough that I didn’t really mind (i.e. I wasn’t scared out of my wits the whole time waiting for the next “jump” moment, I was able to enjoy the movie). I’m so happy Jon Favreau got this movie made – I really like his directorial style. There was this one really simple shot (Laura says it’s a crane shot) at the beginning of the film – Daniel Craig has just woken up in the desert and the scalpers are spreading out around him and the camera just pulls back and up and it looked really cool! I am intrigued to see what they changed from the comic book. Yay grumpy Harrison Ford! Yay Keith Carradine! It isn’t really a Western without him! … Continue reading →

Thor – AMC 12 @ Downtown Disney

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I don’t see what everyone is bitching about – this film was beautiful. Chris Hemsworth looks absolutely incredible as Thor. I mean he really bulked up for the role and it looks awesome (we last saw him as George Kirk in J.J. Abram’s phenomenal Star Trek reboot). I love that Kenneth Branagh directed the film – especially after reading interviews with him where he talks about growing up in Ireland reading the Thor comic books and enjoying them! Side Notes: In the lobby we noticed a display for Puss In Boots, which just makes me roll my eyes that they’re taking anything vaguely Shrek and giving it it’s own movie. Also there was a HUGE 3-panel display for Cars 2 with so much pretty that we stood there for about 10 minutes analyzing all the little details. I am so very excited with what Pixar has accomplished just with this … Continue reading →

The Green Hornet – Regal Garden Grove 16, Garden Grove, CA

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It was almost perfect. The number of times Seth Rogen’s character was a stubborn jackass was ALMOST proportional to the number of times he got his butt whooped…but who’s counting. This was definitely a very fun and enjoyable movie. It was nice to see Cameron Diaz again…feels like she’s been absent from my movie screen unless I watch The Mask again. 😉 The definitely amazing thing to come out of this movie is Jay Chou – he kicks butt, he’s funny and he sings! Be sure to stick around through the end credits to hear him rapping it up! I was almost unsure how I was supposed to fell about this movie thanks to the webcomicThe Gutters, but I’m glad I went. Seth Rogen does look like he put in some physical training labor (not to mention the scripting and producing credits) and got into a slightly less dough-y shape … Continue reading →

Iron Man 2 – Century 20 @ Bella Terra, Huntington Beach, CA

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Freaking amazing. The entire cast and crew do a fantastic job. Does Disney even exist in the Marvel universe? Was that an awkward moment at the Disney-buys-Marvel-negotiations? “Um yeah…Howard Stark replaces Walt Disney in our universe” RICHARD SHERMAN WROTE THE JINGLE USED IN THE ARCHIVED STARK EXPO FOOTAGE (it’s called “Make Way for Tomorrow Today”). EEEEE! Jon Favreau must really love AC/DC as he features them very prominently in both Iron Man movies so far. Sam Rockwell ALWAYS seems so sleazy to me. I know the strawberry vendor! He was in Torrance Cultural Arts Center’s summer production South Pacific (circa 2002) as Stewpot! Ha! It’s always fun to pick him out in movies. He was in one of the Fast and The Furious trailers as the truck driver who’s rig is being dismantled while he’s driving it. Having read some reviews, my language/opinions have been slightly tainted/biased, but there are … Continue reading →

The Dark Knight

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This film is staggeringly epic in it’s darkness and execution. Heath Ledger’s performance is incredible, but not in my mind Oscar-worthy (but the Academy doesn’t listen to me so we’ll just let Marissa Tomei win again ;] ). I love that the movie opens with the Scarecrow (Cillian Murphy) because it maintains the new Batman mantra of not killing off your villains and letting them be little side jokes that Batman totally destroys. Joker lines I’m like a dog chasing cars…I wouldn’t know what to do if I caught one! And here we…go! Can’t rely on anyone anymore… Why so serious son? Let’s put a smile on that face….