Step Up To Bat, Man...

I'm finally heading out to see the new Batman movie tonight. I'm looking forward to it... but I hear the villain, Bane, is really scary!

Bane Capital.
Photo from The Huffington Post.

Meanwhile, President Obama gives his acceptance speech tonight... hope it goes alright... maybe he should do it slow-jam style:



Links:

www.demconvention.com

Month of Heroics!

July is going to be some month. A wedding, honeymoon, birthday, and two superhero movies... Ok, the movies are the least of my concerns, but they do look promising:








My best man played an extra in the Batman film, shot partially in Pittsburgh's Heinz Field--a life-long dream for him, I think... at one point I think he thought he was Batman! Also, the director of this Batman series, Chris Nolan, brings an indie film sensibility to the films. As I blogged before, Nolan's movies would work as cohesive stories, even without the fancy spandex. I don't know a lot about the Bane character though... I was always more of a Marvel guy. And Anne Hathaway as Catwoman... eh...


Spider-Man... well, he was always my favorite character. I always related to that "get knocked down, get up again" character. When I heard they had a new movie coming out already with a new Spidey... I thought it seemed a little unnecessary. But having watched a couple of these trailers, it looks interesting. I like they way he is moving around in his suit, which makes me think that they are relying on less CGI (or it just looks better). The actor playing Spidey... hmm... verdict is still out, but the Gwen Stacey thing is interesting, and Lizard is a nearly forgotten old-school villain that just might look cool on the big screen... Sarah regularly shows reptiles and snakes at her science museum, so I'll have to ask her for accuracy...



Speaking of which, I better sign off. Tomorrow is her bridal shower, and she has to get up rather early. I feel somewhat guilty when I am doing creative work or blogging when she is around... hmm... we'll have to work on that one. With great power comes great responsibility... 


Related Links:


www.theamazingspiderman.com


www.thedarkknightrises.com

P.S.- Both movies have really great poster designs! I am impressed with the creativity on both counts (courtesy + © official websites).

Source: Uploaded by user via The Amazing on Pinterest

Earth's Mightiest Heroes

Ok, we loved The Avengers−it had just the right mix of action, personal drama, and cool costumes. My "inner fanboy" was revived at the sight of Thor doing battle with The Hulk, and I could feel the grin on my face forming when Captain America met Iron Man for the first time. A proper review will have to wait, while I catch my breath...

Exhausted after a long day at work, I asked Sarah if she wanted to watch Thor, which we hadn't seen yet−she agreed... said she was wished we could have had a Marvel movie marathon instead of work today (yeah, she's a keeper!).

Thor wasn't one of the comic books I really read as a kid, but the movie actually stacks up as one of the better superhero movies I have seen! Great art direction and cinematography, and I loved the Ice Giants. I think the character Thor, played by Chris Hemsworth, was even better here than in The Avengers... interesting to see how the director's hand influences things (here by Kenneth Branagh, and in The Avengers: Joss Whedon).  

My spider-sense was always tingling.
Photo ©The J.Clowe Experience archives.

For someone who grew up during a time when it wasn't cool to admit you liked comic books, the recent movie adaptation craze is like a sweet reversal of fortune! I always knew there was some great storytelling and creativity here... nice to see more people catching on. Here's a quick top-ten list of my favorite superhero movies:

1. Batman: The Dark Knight (2008): great direction, acting, everything... Proof that you could make a "realistic" superhero movie that exists outside the genre.

2. Spider-Man 2 (2004): always my favorite superhero growing up. Tobey Maguire was a brilliant Peter Parker... I'm not sure I can deal with this new series about to be released. This second movie in director Sam Raimi's series was quite a ride... I can forgive some of the fake CGI. 

3. X-Men (2000): Patrick Stewart as Professor Xavier... Hugh Jackman as Wolverine... YES.

4. The Avengers (2012)

5. Batman Returns (1992): I was a big Tim Burton fan, and in this sequel to his take on the character, the director is really able to showcase his own creativity. Enjoyed Michael Keaton as Batman, Danny DeVito as The Penguin, and Michelle Pfeiffer as Catwoman was purrrfect. Great costuming, art direction... but maybe a little too "dark and adult" for kids, eh?

5. Thor (2011)

6. Captain America: The First Avenger (2011): we caught this at the drive-in... great popcorn movie! Again: great actors, story, cinematography, art direction. Love the 1940s period setting.

7. Superman II (1980): Christopher Reeve will always be "The Man of Steel."

8. Batman Begins (2005): start of great series (so far) by director Christopher Nolan.

9. Spider-Man (2002): As I said above, I loved Tobey Maguire as Spidey... and Willem Dafoe as the Green Goblin... Kirsten Dunst as Mary Jane... just wish the CGI was more consistent... I would have rated this higher. I was absolutely thrilled when this was released (caught it opening day in NYC).

10. Iron Man (2008): Cool suit and action... Robert Downey Jr. is a great Iron Man... hope they tackle the alcoholism thread from the comics at some point. Great kick off to the modern Marvel movie era−shows they knew what they were doing... like in the old days!

Keep 'em coming!...