Well, I am going to be in process of changing locations, so the blog is on hold. How long, not too sure, but hopefully not long. Thank god for comic books and movies 'cause I'd be losing my *censored* right now mentally ahaha Well, lose what is left of my sanity that is ahaha


Here's something to tide you over till The Clown In Black, the Non-Geeky Nerd returns aha

I noticed today some people disliking the look of Bane in Chris Nolan’s third instalment in the Batman franchise, The Dark Knight Rises. Most wanting a style that resembles the comic book, which I understand as I used to want that before and just as comic book movies were starting to make its initial strides in Hollywood. But, at some point I realized, although I loved pro wrestling, not many would make great actors. Not knocking the boys, they have the builds down to a “t” in some cases, just stating that these films have been carried by mostly great acting and directing. I remember when the first X-Men movie was coming out and first wondering, who the hell is Hugh Jackman? Second, after finding out somewhat who he was and what he looked like, I thought he was too tall and didn’t look badass enough to carry the claws of Wolverine. Jackman used his acting ability and work ethic to make it work wonderfully. I say work ethic, as Hugh was ripped for the solo instalment (favourite scene is when he pops out of the tank and then takes the bullet off the head).

Looking too much like the books can lead to problems ranging from small to big. From poor acting, to having to use CGI which can look lifeless taking away from the “coolness” of what we are watching, as well as the fact that some comic book characters outfits look a tad bit cheesy, especially in real life. 

Here’s some fails or would be fails following the comic book style too closely. Only my opinion of course.

Robin. The Boy Wonder’s costume? Although it can work in art form, on screen it looks kind of tacky. Remember the 1960’s version? Cheese intended, but looked tawdry. However, Robin’s outfit in Batman Forever was actually not a bad upgrade, and his costume in Batman & Robin was one of the high points in my opinion, looking like Nightwing but with a cape.

Wonder Woman. Okay, Lynda Carter was able to pull it off, but that was the latter end of the 1970’s. Yes, I am a hetero-sexual male, and would still watch the original look being used, but I just think it’s time for an upgrade somewhat, and what would the feminist say? Aha! I liked the look from the recent series that was rejected (the look was only good thing, story was weak), but since I feel it should go back to her homeland story wise, I thought an Amazon meets Gladiator type look would be perfect also. Not sure “who” this is in the picture, but the look is spot on.

Martian Manhunter. Wouldn’t be a total fail, but would they keep the underwear look? I can picture a close resemblance to Dr. Manhattan from The Watchmen just green and not glowing.

Bane. They have tried before and failed. Batman & Robin featured a Bane that although looked similar to his comic book repertoire, looked horrible. To make matters worse, he was made out to be a mindless oaf. Also, the tubing at the back of his head, in my opinion, make him very vulnerable. In The Dark Knight Rises we see a Bane sporting almost a Hannibal Lector meets Scorpion of Mortal Kombat, but if you look close they appear to be tubing leading to the mouth and nose. I think, I may be wrong, but the quickest way to get drugs into the system is through inhalation, or was it the drug is more potent? Either way, perhaps this is how he uses the Venom Formula, or it was simply a way to make him look more like a Badass who broke the Bat instead of a low promotion wrestler he does in the comic books. Who knows, but remember there were some Heath Ledger haters, and well they still are sucking it large aha! Personally though, it is the story of this version of Bane that intrigues me. Remember, Bane didn’t just break Batman using his strength and power; he also used a very high intellect.

Anyone who wears just Spandex. Honestly, it just doesn’t really work in real life. Yes, Spidey sported the stretch, but the webbing was 3D-ish to compensate. Like I said before, the comic book movies need great stories as well as good to great acting to work properly. Even back in the Action Movies hayday, there were still only really Arnold and Sly with jacked up physiques, but the acting range isn’t really there. Most of the good actors out there are far from the physiques that would fill out the spandex costumes. Hugh Jackman beefed up pretty good to play Wolvie and still wouldn’t have been able to pull neither the yellow and blue or the brown, black and yellow suits. I suppose other would argue that Christopher Reeves pulled it off in the Superman movies, but he didn’t “nail it”. I am talking “look” not in no way performance.

Going back to pro wrestlers though, I feel they should be used as henchmen for sure in these movies. Especially for “brainy” villains or ones that would simply use these guys to soften up the hero, such as The Joker, The Penguin, The Riddler, etc (yes, the brain is in the Cave aha). I did like Triple H (Paul Levesque) in Blade: Trinity, limited yet good lines, and had the back ground for the fight scenes with Reynolds to make it look better (hate noticing a double at work). Kevin Nash as The Russian in The Punisher (2004), however I did not. First Big Sexy looked silly, and had nothing to say, the man is great on a mic and can do lines, just watch The Longest Yard (2005). Also, this would allow the comic book movie maker to possibly use WWE to reach what is typically the exact same market that the movie is targeting. The Rock (Dwayne Johnson)is going to play Roadblock (I think) in the next instalment of G.I. Joe, but I could see a wrestler or former wrestler getting evolved eventually in the franchise, seeing how popular Sgt. Slaughter was back in the day.

Usually, when you think of a Superhero, you think “secret identity” (among other things, but this is the focus of this blog). Batman is really Bruce Wayne, Superman is Clark Kent, Spider-Man is Peter Parker, the list goes on and on. The typical reason they keep their true identities a secret is to protect those that they love, or themselves I guess in some cases, don’t want to get killed off while you’re sleeping ahaha!

What about the heroes that don’t really have an alias or their true identities are public knowledge? Some just don’t have one, others don’t need it, and some are just simply known among the public. Or perhaps they have Super confidence and don’t need an secretive lifestyle because they know, ain’t nobody gonna mess wit’ ‘em! Aha!

The Punisher. He is more vigilante than hero I guess, but there is a very thin line most times so who’s to really say for sure aha! Everyone knows it is Frank Castle, and that his family was murdered. So, he doesn’t really need to keep his true name a secret, as he has no one to worry about. Although I wonder if he would look extra badass with a skull mask of some sorts.

The Fantastic 4. Their identities are known to all, but I guess when all you really have is each other, then it isn’t needed. Thing aka Ben Grimm definitely doesn’t need one in this case, as he looks the way he does all the time unlike his team mates.

Iron Man. Unlike Bruce Wayne as Batman, Tony Stark is open with who he really is, Iron Man. All that money, all that state of the art security, and quick access to the suit. But, there is some sacrifice, this puts Pepper Potts in danger. But hey, with all that money she is replaceable right? Ahahaha! Joking.

Blade. Born a vampire and an orphan. Other than that I don’t know much. Read the bio at Marvel.com where they say his real name is Eric Brooks (perhaps what his mother would have named him), but that his Identity is secret. I’ll have to google that perhaps sometime.

Well, I think this is the first “Marvel heavy” blog from me, which is really what I grew up on (due to no DC titles where I lived), but I can’t think of any DC characters of the Hero nature that fit the bill. Swamp Thing perhaps? I guess if you go by the Plant who thinks he’s a Human route. Martian Manhunter? Earth knows he’s an alien, and I think the last of his kind so he doesn’t need one I guess, although I doubt few earthlings know his real name is J’onn J’onzz.

One thing I know, well almost, is that Villains may try to have one, but typically they get caught at least once and everyone knows, or are so badass that they don't need nor have one.

The Trilogy. The Saga. They are how movie fans get the “bigger story”. It is how people who enjoy novels are able to get a closer translation of their books on the big screen, than a traditional 2 hour movie. 

Personally, I prefer movies this way, multiple chapters or parts. I understand that it is extremely difficult to tell a story onscreen with limited screen time, again the traditional run time is only 2 hours. However, I am almost always left wanting more. There are a few occasions where only one movie was needed to tell the story, The Sixth Sense is one, and almost always films based on true events/stories, such as American Gangster, are able to tell the whole story or at least the important events within the time allotted. 

I am also a strong believer that these trilogies and sagas should be filmed in the same manner in which they apparently filmed Lord Of The Rings. Back to back to back. Yes, I am also aware that this is another difficult task to pull off. Actors and directors have “other jobs”, but I just enjoy having all the same characters joined with the same directors vision all the way through from the start of the first flick to the closing credits of the final entry of the series. Having characters played by two different actors/actresses makes it similar to a Soap Opera on television. Personally, I think perhaps Joel Schumacher’s mishaps could have been over looked had Michael Keaton maintained the cape and cowl through all 4 movies instead of 2. Maybe, as the look of Gotham changed dramatically having swapped directors. In a later blog I do plan on pointing out the positives of the movies considered “flops” by the majority.It can be said that it is easier to shoot a series based on books in this style, but The Matrix was started as a single movie, then with the success, the writers wrote 2 more parts (The Matrix Reloaded and Resurrection) and they were filmed back to back. 

Might be wrong on this one, but perhaps when trilogies are “planned”, it draws and keeps more people than usual. People who will give the second or third (or fourth, etc) parts a chance even if they are not completely sold after the first, they do this with anticipation it will get better and better. The first instalments are usually used to set up the story and provide information on the key characters, so the following instalments are more open to “go for it” in other areas on the film/story (special effects, fight scenes, etc). I say this as I am not an avid reader, but my Sweets is, and she is a typical female and loves the Twilight saga. So, of course I have been dragged to the theatre to see them, and bought them as gifts on DVD, like most boyfriends out there I am sure (called a “safe gift”). Anyhow, my Sweets told me that the final chapter of the series is pretty gruesome. I admit, despite the sappy love story, the series gets better with each film. I am actually interested in seeing the final film, it could be a movie both the guys and gals will like. Girls cause its well Twilight, and guys because of the fighting and I think its the child birth that’s the gruesome part.

Trilogies, sagas, or whatever you want to call them (if a prequel is added to a 2 part series, is it now a trilogy? Matter of opinion I say) make for perfect entertainment, well definitely for the couch potatoes, on a boring day, rainy day or even a sick day especially. So, here is a semi-quick Top 10 List of Trilogies/Sagas. They are in no particular order, some I like more than others and will simply forget to add them to the list. 

 

        I.            Star Wars saga

1.       Star Wars Episode I The Phantom Menace

2.       Star Wars Episode II Attack Of The Clones

3.       Star Wars Episode III Revenge Of The Sith

4.       Star Wars Episode IV A New Hope

5.       Star Wars Episode V The Empire Strikes Back

6.       Star Wars Episode VI Return Of The Jedi

      II.            Back To The Future

1.       Back To The Future

2.       Back To The Future II

3.       Back To The Future III

    III.            X-Men

1.       X-Men

2.       X-Men II: X-Men United

3.       X-Men III: The Last Stand

A.      X-Men Origins: Wolverine

B.      X-Men: First Class

    IV.            Underworld

1.       Underworld

2.       Underworld Evolution

3.       Underworld: Rise Of The Lycans

      V.            Indiana Jones

1.       Indiana Jones and the Raiders of the Lost Ark

2.       Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom

3.       Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade

4.       Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull

    VI.            Austin Powers

1.       Austin Powers: International Man of Mystery

2.       Austin Powers: The Spy Who Shagged Me

3.       Austin Powers in Goldmember

  VII.            Lord Of The Rings

1.       Lord Of The Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring

2.       Lord Of The Rings: The Two Towers

3.       Lord Of The Rings: The Return of the King

VIII.            Die Hard

1.       Die Hard

2.       Die Hard 2 Die Harder

3.       Die Hard with a Vengeance

4.       Live Free or Die Hard

    IX.            Harry Potter

1.       Harry Potter & The Philosopher’s Stone

2.       Harry Potter & The Chamber of Secrets

3.       Harry Potter & The Prisoner of Azkaban

4.       Harry Potter & The Goblet of Fire

5.       Harry Potter & The Order of the Phoenix

6.       Harry Potter & The Half-Blood Prince

7.       Harry Potter & The Deathly Hollows Pt. 1

8.       Harry Potter & The Deathly Hollows Pt. 2

      X.            The Godfather

1.       The Godfather

2.       The Godfather II

3.       The Godfather III

Again, no particular order, I know I left off some. Spider-Man, Star Trek, 007, the list is rather large. Some are good from start to end, some start great and die off, others pick up speed as they go on. Long running series like Star Trek or especially Harry Potter, it’s quite a trip watching them age with each passing film.

So, go pick these and other ones up. Rent if you can (Blockbuster gone), buy is preferred, because then in some cases you can get the extended versions, giving even more of the story! Ahaha! Sometimes you get a cool collectable....you know you wanna. Off you go.