Where pop culture meets geek culture and they make out a little.
Posts tagged Stoker
Spawning Passion
1881 days
by Stoker
in Comics (General)
While it was not the first comic book that I ever purchased or read, “Spawn” was the first book that I ever felt the need to purchase every month. Let’s all face facts; the comic book is a form designed in large part to keep outsiders out. Most books are are absolutely mired in continuity so dense that sometimes even true devotees forget storylines. In 1992 the world of comics was turned on its head with the launch of Image, a comic company founded by some of the day’s hottest artists. I was nine at the time and remember the release well, but did not really have much interest. It wasn’t until three years later, at the age of 12, that I became interested in “Spawn.” I remember walking down the new comics wall of my local shop, seeing the cover to an issue of “Spawn,” and thinking “gee this looks pretty cool maybe I should give it a try.”
At the time that I picked up my first issue, Todd McFarlane was no longer on art duties. Pencils were being done by Greg Capullo and the dark art was all I needed to suck me in. There was something about the world of “Spawn” that was both darkly intimidating and greatly exiting. I read through that first issue several times then went on a quest to collect up all of the back issues. I knew I had stumbled on to something special. Granted, the story was not particularly original or complex. The writing was merely serviceable but, when combined with the art of McFarlane and the creators to follow, it was as though some sort of magic had aligned to create something perfect.
Everything about Spawn speaks to the mind of a twelve year old boy. The violence is extreme. The Monsters are horrific. Many a night Malebolgia would haunt my mind, my dark room full of his sharp teeth and pot belly, waiting to gobble me up and swallow my soul. The women were everything sexual. Wanda was a perfect wife with a drop dead perfect body, a woman worthy of trading your soul for. The Angels were even hotter women who could kick anyone’s ass. Angela alone could take down every nerd hating bully in the world, not break a sweat, and look beautiful doing it.
I collected everything Spawn: action figures, comics, shirts, movies, soundtracks, pins. I have every issue of “Curse of the Spawn,” “Hellspawn,” “Angela,” and “Sam and Twitch.” Over the years, the comic has lost some of its luster. Angela and Malebolgia died in issue 100. Al Simmons is no longer the Spawn of continuity; ex comma patient Jim Downing is the new character readers are following. Somehow, even though I know that it isn’t what it once was, (and, honestly, wasn’t much more than a flash to begin with) I still purchase an issue of Spawn every month and, somehow, I am transported, if only for a matter of minutes, to 1995 and the mind of a twelve year old boy who was looking for some danger.
The House of Ideas sold to a Mouse
5886 days
by Stoker
in Comics (General)
I know that this week was supposed to be dedicated to all things back to school and so I am going to make a loose connection between going back to school and what I have to discuss here. Going back to school is very depressing for youngsters, it is the demise of things that are fun and awesome. Well that is how I feel about the purchase of Marvel by Disney there goes my fun down the drain. I know that Disney might not ruin Marvel and I know that it is unlikely there will be a change in the comics after all a simple look at the relationship DC has with Warner Brothers shows that the comic world has essentially been left alone, but oh how I dislike Disney.
Ever since I was a small child and I found out the way that Disney treated Peggy Lee, for those of you who don’t know, they attempted to short her for royalties from the video release of “Lady and the Tramp”, I have thought that Disney epitomized the evil corporate empire. It is not just Peggy Lee who found Disney was treating them poorly. Many celebrities have claimed ill treatment by the company over the years. Whoopie Goldberg for once sent a tape to a roast of Richard Pryor in which she said, “Working for Disney again, I do feel like a nigger… So I just wanted to say I’m sorry I can’t be there… I’m picking cotton for Disney these days.” (her word not mine). My dislike however goes further since I grew up in Orange County everywhere I turn Disney is jammed down my throat.
My major concern is what will happen to the Marvel films. Will all of the characters I love be Disneyfied? Due in large part to Marvels previous $500 million contract with Paramount for production of films, Disney will not fully get its hooks into Marvel studios until 2013 after the release of “Iron Man 2”, “Thor”, “Captain America” and an “Avengers” film (Disney will however receive the money from these films) but it is only a matter of time ladies and gents when will we start seeing cartoons in which Spiderman and Aladdin team up to take down Jafar and the Kingpin. And What is going to happen to the darker marvel characters like the Punisher and Ghost Rider (granted neither of them have had particularly great films although the one with Thomas Jane was getting close) will they be relegated to firing bean bags and fighting fairies. I can’t even imagine.
The purchase of marvel has actually already had ramifications for the film world of the “Fantastic Four”. While the first two films were marginal at best saved only by the work of Michael Chiklis and Chris Evans (I maintain that the Human Torch should actually be played by Mark Paul Gosselaar) it seems that Fox intends to get everything they can out of their properties before the rights are turned over to Disney forcing through a new Four movie by prepare yourselves Akiva “Batman and Robin” Goldsman. The Horror… The Horror. Next thing we know we are going to see Thing nipples Gah.
All I have to left to say is, thank you powers that be for suck fest 2009.
Glorious Basterds
2
“Once upon a time in Nazi occupied France…” a group of bad asses led by Lt. Aldo Rain (Brad Pitt) throw down the gauntlet and scalp a shit load of Nazis. At least that is what the trailer for Quentin Tarantino’s, “Inglorious Basterds” wants you to think the film is about but Basterds is so much more than a simple bloody war movie. The film is an homage to the C war movies of the past and a love letter to film as a whole. The movie’s main story line actually centers around a Nazi propaganda film and a plot to blow up or burn down the theater that is premiering it, taking out every member of the Nazi high command in one fell swoop.
I am one of those who believe that there are very few directors who do talking and excessive violence quite as well as Tarantino and he is in rare form with this new release. I cannot even begin to describe the scene in which two of the Basterds, and a British soldier, are meant to meet with a German film star in a Nazi filled bar, because the speeches contained within that scene are so brilliant. Let’s face it, though, a writer can write the best scene in the world but without the right actor to deliver the lines it all goes to hell anyway. In this case, the man who delivers those lines best is Christoph Waltz as Col. Hans “The Jew Hunter” Landa. Every scene that this man is in is mesmerizing, he utilizes four different languages in the film (German, French, English and Italian) and manages to be terrifying and yet oddly charismatic in all of them. I have never hated a villain while simultaneously being drawn to him every second he is on screen as much as with Landa (if he is not nominated for an academy award this year it will be a complete and utter debacle).
There are, however, two very important things that anyone going to see this film should know. One; the Basterds are only on screen about half the time, splitting the movie with Shosanna the undercover Jewish girl who owns the theater where the Nazis are planning to premier their film. Two; the majority of the film is subtitled so if you aren’t willing to read your entertainment then don’t bother going (and if you choose to go, don’t bitch about it later).
What really made me love this film was the way in which Tarantino dealt with his Jewish characters. I have grown very tired of the way in which Jews are portrayed in film. It is rare to find a movie in which the Jewish characters are not some absurd stereotype. We often see Jewish characters with long beards, dressed all in black, wearing hats and having peyote while Klezmer music plays in the background. The Basterds are not stereotypes. Not once do we see them engaging in any type of stereotypical behavior; they are first and foremost soldiers. Each is representative of where he is from and so, collectively, they do not continue the absurd idea that all Jews are the same. I do not have the time to heap all of the praise I wish on this film so, “Inglorious Basterds” I give you…
5/5 - Punched in the face by AWESOME!
Ness’s Mess
0894 days
by Stoker
in Comics (General)
Anyone familiar with any portion of the life of Eliot Ness most likely knows about his time as the head of The Untouchables. The Untouchables were a group of police officers who made a huge splash during the days of Prohibition. Few people, though, know what became of Ness post Chicago. It is Ness’s time in Cleveland Ohio investigating a series of grizzly murders that Brian Michael Bendis tackles in his award winning graphic novel “Torso.” Bendis is best known for his work on marvel comics superhero books but his true strength lies in the crime tales he told oh so many years ago.
Torso is a roller coaster of a ride as we follow Ness, and two other detectives, trying to solve the killings that have been plaguing Cleveland. Bendis utilizes many unique techniques to tell his story including spiraling panels and news clips from the time. The most shocking and valuable of his techniques, and also the most bloody and terrifying, is the utilization of actual crime scene photos in the pages to the comic. This book is not for the squeamish and I have warned people in the past that if you cannot handle photos of decapitation and decay that this is not the book for you…but if you can stomach it I full recommend this comic.
Torso gives the reader insight into what drives a man like Ness. Torso also gives a unique perspective on the beliefs about homosexuality at the time. The tale deals with corruption like no other book I have ever seen. The reader gets to witness the unraveling of a once powerful man as a killer slips through his fingers over and over again.
It is also important to note that Torso is a graphic novel in black and white so if you are one of those people who needs vibrant colors to read a comic; this isn’t the book for you. If, however, you are the kind of person who is ready to have chills run down your spine, if you are the kind of person who loves police procedurals, if you are the kind of person ready to expand your graphic novel reading prowess, this is the place to begin.
I do not want to give away too much of the plot because it simply would be unfair so I am going to stop here but this is my bloody valentine to all you out there in NR world. Oh, and I hope that the Torso (now called Ness) film comes to fruition soon.
4/5 - Nearly classic!
The Lucas Factor
2902 days
by Stoker
in General Nerdom
Oh how the mighty do fall.
Ok, so here we go talking about our favorite, or least favorite, train wrecks. There have been a few in recent memory that have stood out. I mean where to begin, “Indian Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull” (I try to pretend it didn’t happen), “Beowulf” (I love the poem and to say that there are going to be a lot of students who are about to fail tests because of the lack of fidelity in this is a huge understatement), “All Star Batman and Robin” (Mr. Miller I love your old stuff but not everyone is Marv and Jim Lee if you make a commitment to turn in pages you should do just that).
You know what? I’m going to go back to the first thing on the above list. My biggest train wreck is not a thing, it isn’t a film or a television show, not a comic or a gadget. No ladies and gents my biggest train wreck, the thing that I find the most repulsive in recent history, is a person and that person is…
(drum roll please)
And why is he my biggest train wreck, you may ask. Quite simply, as we were discussing a few weeks ago, George Lucas raped my childhood.
Let us begin with the holy trilogy. To start out Han shoots first god damn it, HAN ALWAYS SHOOTS FIRST!!!! That is what makes Han a bad ass; he is all about the preemptive strike. Greedo is a lame character and to allow him to even get a shot off lowers Han. Oh let’s see what else. When was the last time you heard a Jedi scream like a little bitch when he was falling…never! Jedi are intergalactic samurai and samurai do not scream like little bitches. Plus, what the hell are you doing taking Sebastian Shaw out and replacing him with Hayden Christensen (the guy has all the acting chops of a rock) in Return of the Jedi?
Then there is the total debacle that are Episodes 1, 2, and 3; microscopic organisms in the blood stream, Anakin is a little girl man. Jar Jar Binks (need I say more).
It was only after the end of “Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull” that I finally got it. George Lucas is laughing at us. He sits in his throne of power over at Skywalker ranch and says to himself “George, how can I get into the fans pockets today and then make them depressed about something they once loved? Oh I know! How about I create a movie in which one of cinemas most beloved heroes survives a nuclear blast at ground zero, then finds his long lost son who forces him to ride on the back of a motorcycle like a little bitch (my Indy would have said “Move over kid, I’m driving”) then throw in some intelligent ants, a man swinging through trees like a monkey, and a shit load of aliens.”
To thee George Lucas, I say nay. No longer shall I be duped into spending my hard earned cash on your garbage. No longer will I get my hopes up for something that should be awesome but clearly is no more than a joke to its creator. I scream to the heavens, NO MORE GEORGE LUCAS! I have never before rated a person on a scale of o to five before but let it be known that Lucas only receives a grade high because of my fond child hood memories before he ruined everything…
1/5 - Basic shite.
A Not So Perfect Get Away
1
So this last weekend, in a fit of boredom, a friend and I decided that it would be fun to go see a movie. He went to see “G.I. Joe” the night before so that was ruled out and, let’s face it, two guys are not going to go see the other major release of the weekend “Julie and Julia” so we chose instead to go see the new Rogue Pictures thriller, “A Perfect Get Away.” Unfortunately, the film is a far cry from its title. I went into the movie thinking “hey this could be fun.” I was wrong.
The actors in the movie are a veritable whose who of B and C listers and I’ll give you some other films they’ve all been in that were actually good. The First couple that we are introduced to is comprised of Steve Zahn (“That Thing You Do”, “Happy Texas”) and Milla Jovovich (“Zoolander”, “The Fifth Element”). These two play Cliff and Cydney, a newlywed couple out in Hawaii for a honeymoon. During their time in the islands they encounter Chris Hemsworth (Star Trek) and Marley Shelton’s (“Planet Terror”, “Sugar and Spice”) Kale and Cleo, a very off putting couple who may very well be the killers who have been hopping from island to island (by the way Hemsworth is almost unrecognizable in this film and huge, likely bulking up for his role in the upcoming Thor). The last couple is Timothy Olyphant (“Go”, “Catch and Release”) and Kiele Sanchez’s (? I haven’t seen anything she has been in), Nick and Gina, also possible killers. The actors do their very best and are the only real reason to see this flick. They are all, quite simpl,y great at what they do and deserve every bit of work that they get.
The problem with the film really lies in the script. For me there was absolutely no suspense whatsoever. We watch the characters as they move across Hawaii, their destination a secluded beach, in scene after scene of boring attempts to startle. Kale is an enraged ex Military man with a history who seems to be stalking Zahn. Nick has a collapsed bow and arrow set which he uses to hunt goat and people alike. Cydney almost falls to her doom only to be saved by Nick, it just goes on and on. From about ten minutes into the film I knew exactly who the killers were, I knew how it was all going to play out and I knew who would survive and who would meet his or her untimely end. The movie suffers from being a thriller with no thrills. I enjoy camp, as you can tell from my previous posts, (and even some of my above suggestions) but, if you are going to be campy commit to it…and if you are going to be scary, be really scary.
There are more Red Herrings in this movie than anything I have seen in a while and, yet, none of them pulled me away from the truth.
SPOILER ALERT Chris Hemsworth character is too crazy to be the killer and Tim Olyphant makes mention of a Red Herring meaning that it can’t possibly be him. The speech patterns of Zahn and Jovovich give them away. Too much of their dialogue has double meanings. END SPOILER.
In the end just don’t waste your time and your money. Save your cash to see “Inglorious Basterds” or simply eat it to provide yourself with some sustenance.
1/5 - Basic shite.
Zombie Rising
0
Ok, I know that Rob Zombie is not exactly under the radar. He is, after all, one of the biggest names in Heavy Metal right now and has been for many, many years. It is not Zombie’s position in the music world that I am here to discuss, rather, it is the films that he has made over the past few years. I personally have not seen Zombie’s directorial debut, The House of 1000 Corpses. I did see his two follow up films, however, The Devil’s Rejects and the 2007 remake of Halloween. I thoroughly enjoyed both of these movies for different reasons.
I suppose that the best way to do this is chronologically and so let us begin with The Devil’s Rejects, which is now one of my favorite horror movies of the last decade. Over the past few years I have noticed, as I am sure most of you have, a startling trend in Horror. There seem to be only two distinct options if you want to see a horror film in a theater recently; remakes of foreign horror and what is now commonly referred to as torture porn. What Zombie did with The Devil’s Rejects was create a film that was outside of these two subgenres; a flash back to the old slasher and Grindhouse days…but with more brutality.
I read a review of The Devil’s Rejects that condemned it because there is nothing to like about the main characters we follow. To me, the fact that theses are people completely devoid of anything good, actually is one of the movies strengths. Why is it necessary for a viewer to like or feel connected to murderers, thieves and rapists? The Devil’s Rejects, also known as the Firefly family, are pure and simple embodiments of the evils of the world. This film did not rely on cheap pop outs to make the audience jump, instead the viewer is presented with relentless images of the evil that man can do to others. Zombie’s work actually made me cringe on several occasions…as it should any sane person. The whole point of horror is to be confrontational, to force the viewer or reader to be subject to his or her worst fears in order to have a greater understanding of self.
As for Zombie’s remake of John Carpenters classic Halloween, I believe it was unfairly judged. Many blamed Zombie for creating a film that was derivative of the original. It seems that the critics have forgotten what the term remake means. I remember cries of “oh some of the scenes are identical to the original film” (note this same thing was highly praised in Peter Jackson’s remake of King Kong, I guess it is OK to be derivative if you have an academy award for Best Director and Best Picture, and by the way I liked King Kong and Peter Jackson’s films as a whole). I wonder, though, if some of these moments hadn’t been in Halloween, would Zombie have been accused of ignoring the great work of Carpenter. The one thing that makes Zombie’s film truly excellent is, in the first act, the audience is shown Michael Myer’s childhood and subsequent incarceration. We get to see how Myers became the monster. Myers was not unloved or unloving as a youth, he was actually incredibly misguided in his love for his Mother (played skillfully by Rob Zombie’s wife Sheri Moon Zombie) and baby sister. The viewer is shown attempts at treatment by the powerful Dr. Loomis (Malcolm McDowell), a man who, over the years, feels he has become a father figure to Myers and, thus, responsible for the murderer’s actions. In the end we are given a back story that is lacking from the original and only serves to improve upon what came before.
Lastly I would like to discuss the work Zombie did for the film Grindhouse. Zombie created a trailer for a fake film called “Werewolf Women of the SS,” this trailer had me, figuratively, rolling in the aisles (Nicholas Cage as Fu Manchu!?). I would be first in line to see this movie. Within the next few months the world will see two releases by Zombie. Halloween 2 will be in theaters this month and a cartoon adaptation of Zombie’s comic book The Haunted World of El Superbesto will be out in September. I hope to enjoy both.