Batman team-ups with a smile

On Friday, November 14, the latest Batman animated series, Batman: The Brave and the Bold, debuts on Cartoon Network. Aimed at younger audiences than previous shows (even younger than the recent The Batman), this series features a less stern Batman acting as a mentor and leader to various heroes throughout the DC universe, most notably, the new Blue Beetle. You can catch a sneak peek of the series on Cartoon Network's website, and read profiles of the initial set of heroes here. The first group also includes Aquaman, Plastic Man, Red Tornado and Green Arrow.

Here's how supervising producer James Tucker describes the show's demographic and approach:

The target audience for The Brave and the Bold is broadly based. Nevertheless, it works demographically for 6-15 and still appeals to the hard-core comic/animation fan. In addition, of course, we're making it so that anyone who enjoys comic books/ superheroes and is a "kid at heart" will get something out of it. This is just the version of Batman that has been in the comics from shortly after his creation up until some of the darker, grittier versions of his character appeared in the late '80s and onward. Typically, people start telling the story from where his parents are murdered. That's not suitable for what is deemed children's entertainment. This version signals a return to a more innocent time. Batman is a crime fighter and hero first. As a result, Batman can be ironic ­ he can show more sides of himself than if he's just brooding, being gruff and distant to his usual cast of characters. He simply has to be more approachable for the premise of this show to work. Otherwise, why would anyone even bother to work with him? It's pretty much the Batman from the Brave and the Bold comics I read as a kid.

The first episode, "Rise of the Blue Beetle," features both Green Arrow and the Blue Beetle (the Jamie Reyes version, currently appearing in the comics, voiced by Batman Beyond's Will Friedle), whose origin is recounted in the episode. The heroes face JLA space villain Kanjar Ro, seen in the clip.

My Favorite Scene: Some Like it Hot

At about an hour and a half into the two-hour Some Like it Hot, the scene opens with Jerry (Jack Lemmon) dressed as ‘Daphne” – wig, dress, jewelry, make-up – lying on the bed, humming the tango and shaking maracas above his head, smiling at the events of his evening. Joe (Tony Curtis) climbs in the window, returning from his own escapade:

“Hi Jerry, everything under control?”
“Have I got things to tell you!”
“What happened?”
“I’m engaged!”
“Congratulations! Who’s the lucky girl?”
“I am!”

This exchange sets the tone for scene as Jerry, who up to this point had trouble playing along with the evening’s scheme (his occupying an elderly millionaire by accepting a date with him so Joe can woo a girl on the millionaire’s yacht he pretended was his own), fully embraces his role. That is why, for almost the entire scene, from when he is alone at the beginning until after Joe enters the room, he remains in “costume.” He only removes his wig when Joe tells him to remind himself “you’re a boy, you’re a boy” (a call back to a scene earlier in the movie when Joe has to remind Jerry “you’re a girl, you’re a girl” when they are surrounded women parading around in their underwear early into their masquerade).

Throughout the scene, Jerry cites all the clichés of a woman about to be married – “Do you think he’s too old for me?”, marrying him for “security,” mulling over honeymoon locations, wondering what his fiancé’s mother will think. After all, it’s his “last chance to marry a millionaire.”

Joe insists to Jerry that he has to call off the engagement/marriage. “There are laws, conventions, it’s just not being done!” but Jerry says he will go through it only until after the honeymoon, when he will ask for a divorce and “keep getting those alimony checks every month!” This represents the first time we see Jerry initiate his own money-making scheme, which are usually spearheaded by Joe. This time, however, Joe thinks, the idea is too far out – until Jerry shows Joe his engagement presents, a diamond bracelet. “Hey these are real diamonds!” Of course they’re real! Do you think my fiancé’s a bum?” Now, Joe recognizes the possibilities. When Jerry finally realizes he’ll have to call of the engagement and return the bracelet, Joe, replies “Now, Jerry, let’s not be hasty.” Joe’s true nature shines through.

In only about three minutes, attitudes, plans and schemes evolve, with a role reversal that unravels, as Jerry can’t maintain the deception and Joe is motivated by easy money. This, however, is the last scene where we see Joe behave in this way, as reality closes in and he also realizes the emotional damage his masquerade has caused. His change of heart is illustrated by what he ultimately does with that diamond bracelet (not that it was his to do anything with, but why quibble?). As such, this scene sets the stage for the final act of this brilliantly written, directed and acted classic with one of the best closing lines in movie history: “Nobody’s perfect.”

Hulk vs. Thor

A clip from January's Hulk vs. DVD, which pits the Green Goliath separately against Wolverine and Thor. Here's Hulk dropping into Thor's homeland, Asgard:

Who Watches the Watchmen?

Earlier this week, an expanded trailer for Watchmen debuted during Spike TV's Scream Awards, and showed up online shortly thereafter in regular and HD versions (in HD, you can see Dr. Manhattan's junk about 19 seconds in when he and the Silk Spectre appear on the moon). Coinciding with the new trailer was the release of this new poster featuring an image from the end of the trailer and the beginning of the book, the event that kicks off the story.

Written by Alan Moore and illustrated by Dave Gibbons, Watchmen was published by DC Comics in 12 monthly installments in 1986, and is considered the greatest graphic novel ever by most critics, and in fact is on Time's list of Top 100 Novels. Many, including Alan Moore, who hates all adaptations of his work, consider the book unfilmable, but based on the trailer and other images that have been released so far, it seems pretty close. Anticipation has been building since the release of the first trailer in front of The Dark Knight over the summer. Sales of the book have exploded since then, and this new footage will likely sell even more. The book is prominently displayed in all bookstores -- not just comic shops, so awareness is pretty high.

Barring complications due to the lawsuit between Fox and Warner Bros. over the movie, Watchmen opens in theatres on March 6, 2009.

A Wascally Wabbit of a Movie

Let me talk about an awesome little movie called Shoot ‘Em Up.

Starring Clive Owen and Paul Giamatti, this 2007 movie has no aspirations except to entertain action fans for under 90 minutes. Full of mindless sex and violence (and in one incredible scene, both at the same time), not to mention Bugs Bunny references, this movie is funny, violent and completely nonsensical – in the best way possible.

It’s like Clive Owen decided he had a great time doing Sin City and wanted to do something similar without so much green screen, and Paul Giamatti figured it was time he played an over-the-top bad guy after being an indie darling for the past few years.

Just as you think it’s winding down as it pays obligatory attention to the "plot," another scene that is so outrageous – to an hard rock soundtrack, of course – explodes that you can’t help laughing at. And then more after that. Until the very end. Did I mention it’s under 90 minutes?

It’s bloody, and it’s ridiculous and you’ll never look at carrots the same way after you watch this, but you’ll laugh your ass off at the sheer audacity of this great silliness. Trust me, watch this one.

Animation Round-Up

• Star Wars: Clone Wars, which debuted in theatres hasn't gotten the greatest reviews nor is it doing much box office, but, it still sets the stage for the upcoming animated series of the same name, scheduled to debut on Cartoon Network Friday, October 3 at 9 p.m. ET with a special one-hour presentation.



• Batman: The Brave and the Bold, a new animated series geared towards a younger audience will debut on Cartoon Network in November 2008. The series, with an animation style reminiscent of Golden Age Batman artist Dick Sprang (which also looks similar to the main title animation of the Batman 60s TV series), features the Caped Crusader teaming up with a different hero from the DC Universe in each episode, including many heroes never before seen in animated form -- such as the new Blue Beetle, featured prominently in the trailer. You can see a list of the planned guest stars here.
  

The Wonder Woman animated movie, next in the DC Universe Animated Original Movie series, debuts on DVD in February 2009, featuring the voice of Keri Russell. Based on an original story, the script is co-written by Gail Simone, currently writing the character's comic series. It will be released in rated and unrated version and is expected to be pretty violent. See the trailer at the above link.

• More DC Universe Animated Movies are in the works, though what's after Wonder Woman is still unconfirmed. More Batman is definite, and rumors include Superman/Batman: Public Enemies (presumably based on the the Jeph Loeb/Ed McGuiness story arc of the same name) and Green Lantern. Still being discussed is Justice League: Worlds Collide, a Bruce Timm-verse movie that bridges the gap between the Justice League and Justice League Unlimited animated series. an online Plastic Man series is also supposedly in development. Nothing has been offically announced.
  



• Marvel Animated Features -- Next Avengers: Heroes of Tomorrow, featuring the children of the Avengers, as mentored by Tony (Iron Man) Stark was released on DVD on September 2. Up next is Hulk Vs., two shorts featuring the Green Goliath separately fighting Wolverine and Thor, due January. Upcoming releases include Thor: Tales of Asgard and Planet Hulk.
  



• Wolverine And The X-Men is set for a January 2009 debut, alongside Iron Man: Armored Adventures (which features Tony Stark becoming Iron Man as a teenager), on the Nicktoons Network.
  
  

Up Up and Go Away!?

(Spoilers ahead for previous and upcoming Smallville episodes)

On Thursday, September 18, Smallville returns for its eighth season. Let that sink in for a second. A show about the teenage Superman is starting its eighth year. And he’s still not Superman. And I thought I was a procrastinator.

When we last left Clark at the end of the seventh season, he had defeated Brainiac (for now), who still had cousin Kara (aka Supergirl) trapped in the past on Krypton, and was at the Arctic fortress, where Lex finally discovered what he had apparently been too blind to see all along – Clark was a strange visitor from another planet with powers and abilities far beyond those of mortal men. Then the fortress collapsed on them. End of season. And with a cliffhanger like that, it certainly couldn’t be the end of the show. But it was an ending. For some.

When the show returns this Thursday, Lex (Michael Rosenbaum), the show’s best character and central antagonist, will be gone, or "missing" as the show explains. Clark is missing too, but we know he’ll be back, thanks to the efforts of the proto-Justice League – Green Arrow (now a regular), Black Canary (in her second appearance) and Aquaman (in his 3rd or 4th, I lost track). At this point, previous team members Flash/Impulse and Cyborg, are nowhere to be found, their absence perhaps to be explained in the opener. Lana is also gone, having explained to Clark at the end of last season she had to move on so he could embrace his destiny (whatever, I’m just glad she’s gone). Kara is still on Krypton and won’t be back as a regular, though she will be back for at least one episode to wrap up her storyline. Lana, too will be back for a few episodes around mid-season.

This season will find Clark working at the Daily Planet with his
partner/competitor Lois Lane and cub reporter/photographer Jimmy Olsen. That’s right, it’s Lois and Clark, 2.0.

So, that leaves us with Lois, Jimmy and Chloe (Allison Mack), the only main character who does not have a comic book counterpart. As such, she’s good to have around because you’re never sure what’s going to happen to her. Everyone knows that ultimately, Lois, Jimmy, Lana and Lex are safe because they have comic book-established adult lives to still get to. So far the show has lost Pete Ross, who left Smallville (and briefly returned in last season’s worst episode), Jonathan Kent (who died, as he has in several—though not all – versions of the character), Martha Kent (who as a Senator, has left for Washington, D.C. in a complete departure for the character), and Lionel Luthor, Lex’s father, another character created just for the show, who gave viewers a glimpse of what a fully mature Lex Luthor would become, who was killed by Lex, expressly for that purpose – so he could replace him.

So what’s coming up this season, eight years after Clark has first learned that he’s an alien with super powers? Well, still not Superman, though he’s getting much closer (one would hope, wouldn’t one?) This season will find Clark working at the Daily Planet with his partner/competitor Lois Lane (Erica Durance) and cub reporter/photographer Jimmy Olsen (Aaron Ashmore). That’s right, it’s Lois and Clark, 2.0.

But, obviously, it’s not exactly the same as the 1993-97 series. First, he’s STILL not Superman. Plus, Chloe’s still around, though his parents are not. Also, a few new regulars debut. As mentioned, Oliver Queen/Green Arrow (Justin Hartley), who appeared only once last season, is now a regular. And there are two new characters to replace Michael Rosenbaum’s Lex – Tess Mercer (Cassidy Freeman), Lex’s replacement as the head of his company, and Davis Bloome (Sam Witwer), a paramedic who catches Chloe’s eye and is destined to become Doomsday, he character who killed Superman in he comics. How exactly that happens is anybody’s guess, as this is a complete departure from anything that’s come before in the comics.

Chloe, who was arrested by the FBI at the end of last season, just as Jimmy proposed to her, will no longer be at the Daily Planet, instead, picking up where Lana left off, running the Isis foundation, dedicated to helping so-called "meteor freaks," even as she learns to embrace her own inner freak. She will distance herself from Clark, realizing she has been too much of an enabler, hoping that leaving him to his own devices will help him embrace his destiny (there’s that phrase again, get used to it this season). One of the first she will encounter is Plastique, a character from the comics (a Firestorm villain, of all things) who can explode.

This season is the first without original executive producers Alfred Gough and Miles Millar, who instituted the "no flights, no tights" rule of the show, meaning we would never see Clark fly or put on the famous red and blue costume. According to the new showrunners, “The only thing that we are saying is that we can absolutely confirm that there is no tights, so that's pretty much all we can say on that.”

He will also learn the value of a dual identity as he begins to separate "Clark Kent" from the super-powered savior he is beginning to accept that he is. In the past Green Arrow was telling him to use his gifts to make a difference. This season, the roles are reversed, as Clark recognized what he needs to do, just as Green Arrow is having his doubts.

Helping Clark along in his journey is an appearance by comic super-team, the Legion of Superheroes, a team of young heroes from the 31st century who banded together to emulate their past hero, Superman. This episode is written by comics writer Geoff Johns, who has done a LOT of work with the Legion recently, most notably in the current "Legion of Three Worlds," which I wrote about recently. The Martian Manhunter and Brainiac are also expected to make return appearances this season.

I just read that they have a clip show scheduled (now THAT’s a bad sign) and a production break when the network will decide whether or not to bring the show back for another season, so that if this is indeed the last season, they can close it out appropriately. I really do hope that it is, because there has never been a TV series where I more looked forward to the final episode. While all descriptions and interviews suggest that Clark’s indecision will end this season, he’s at least two seasons too late. I want this show to close strong and look forward to the final iconic shot of him in costume, revealing it as he tears away is Clark Kent clothes and taking off to save the day.

There has never been a TV series where I more looked forward to the final episode.

While I will likely continue to watch this show for as long as it; on, I really hope that this is the final season. Lex was the best character on the show, and without him and without Clark actually becoming Superman, the show seems to have little reason to exist. He has been in this limbo state for far too long at his point that it’s even hard to recognize him as a hero. That he’s met almost all of his JLA teammates and faced off against his major enemies – Luthor, Brainiac, Doomsday – and still has not dedicated his life to "Truth, Justice and the American Way" is increasingly frustrating. Meeting the Legion HAS to be the final kick in the ass that he needs.

At least one more appearance by Lex and some way of somehow making everybody forget that Superman looks just like Clark can make this season and series go out on a high note. Short of introducing Batman or Darkseid, I really can’t think of what's left. Bring back Mom Kent for an episode to kick him in the butt, kill off Chloe as the last straw and put him in the costume. If it does continue, get rid of everybody except Lois, Clark and Jimmy, bring back Lex and rename the show Superman. Then go nuts with comic book stuff.

How I Spent My Summer Vacation (Part 3 - Offline)

Fortunately, one of the reasons I haven’t been blogging is because I kept pretty busy this summer, with something going on just about every weekend, and sometime during the week. Here are a few highlights – with photos!

I hosted my second Father’s Day back in June, and that was lots of fun, indoors and outdoors. We followed that up with Father’s Day-related family outing to the Phillies game in July. In between the two were a couple of days at the beach with some of the family.

In August, we saw Rebecca awesomely play a lead role in her children’s community theatre production of "Beauty and the Beast, stirring the high school theatre memories of her Uncle Mike.

The biggest family news of course was the birth of Ella Grace Armandi on August 21. Rebecca is the big sister she always wanted to be! Lots of girls in this family!

And finally, I spent a long overdue day hanging out in Burlington with the youngest old people I know, Cioci and Unk, hearing lots of old stories and memories of days gone by. Highly recommended.

Other fun stuff
Besides all of this family stuff, I did a few other things worth noting along with the usual time-killing summer activities.

I joined my brother and friends to see the Apples in Stereo show at World Café Live, that was a just a fun time of hanging out with great live music, spent a Saturday at the Princeton Record Exchange, the biggest used music store I’ve ever seen, where I bought about $50 worth of cool music (top picks: Jerry Lee Lewis, REM and the Everly Brothers) that will find its way onto mixes for years to come.

A few barbecues, lunch-time concerts and extended after-work happy hours, not to mention a few ill-fated dates, round out the summer.

I finished off the summer on Labor Day weekend by going crabbing in Barnegat Bay in Long Beach Island, NJ. Caught a few crabs, had a few beers, had lots of laughs. A great way to cap off the summer.

So, I didn’t blog at all, but I kept myself pretty busy with a lot of new things – and that's even better.

Bring on the Fall.

Special thanks for the photos to my brother's Flickr page. After scouring through my hard drive and e-mail inbox for hours, I finally realized that almost every photo I wanted to use he already posted online, making them much easier to grab. Thanks Skip!

How I Spent My Summer Vacation (Part 2 - TV and Comics)

Continuing my summary of what I was doing all summer when I wasn't blogging...

As for TV, summertime no longer means reruns. While the networks primarily ran game shows and reality shows (so easily skippable), cable as usual offered great options, though I only followed a few. I watched the premiere episodes of Swingtown and the The Middleman, but didn’t feel compelled to stick with them. As for returning shows, the second season of Mad Men has been fantastic so far, and Monk continues to be a fun diversion, though not quite compelling.

The one new show I added was Jurassic Fight Club from the History Channel, an hour-long documentary series that features paleontologists theorizing how different types of dinosaurs and other prehistoric creatures battled throughout the world, based on bones and other archaeological evidence, The climax of each episode is a 15-minute re-enactment of the battle in glorious CGI, and it’s pretty brutal stuff. The show became a little repetitive though and while I’m still recording it, I’m not quite as fascinated as I once was. The novelty’s worn off a bit.

But now, it’s post-Labor Day and the new TV season is about to begin. First up is the final season of The Shield, which premiered this past week. The network shows are all back thought September and October, and I’ll hopefully write about the new fall season soon enough – including a preview of what is likely (hopefully?) the final season of Smallville.

Comics

I’ve done a pretty good job of not buying new comics for the past several months after the disappointment of Countdown and the new Justice League book, among other things. My plan to wait for trade is mostly in full effect (not helped of course my this new tendency to put almost everything in hardcover first, making that wait even longer – over a year in some cases). But this summer, DC, or more accurately writers Grant Morrison and Geoff Johns sucked me back in with their summer event, Final Crisis and some related spin-offs.

Final Crisis is about "the day evil wins" and involves a new version of Jack Kirby’s New Gods as envisioned by Grant Morrison in his typical off-kilter fashion. The first issue begins with the death of J’onn J’onzz, the Martian Manhunter, and the return of Barry Allen, the Silver Age Flash, who was killed back in 1986 in Crisis on Infinite Earths, DC’s first major summer event. So far, it’s been a little hard to follow but I trust Morrison to pull it of in the end.

A little more straightforward is a pair of spin-offs written by Geoff Johns – Rogues' Revenge, about a banded together group of Flash villains and Legion of Three Worlds, which involves a whole bunch of characters, including several continuity challenging versions of the 30th (or 31st) Century’s Legion of Superheroes, as well as Superman and Superboy Prime, one of the villains from 2006’s Infinite Crisis ,who was first introduced around the first aforementioned Crisis, though he was a good guy at the time. The story promises to impact future storylines in books featuring Superman, Flash and Green Lantern, as well as the Legion. With art by the incomparable George Perez (also of the again aforementioned 1986 Crisis), this appears to be just a fun book.

Final Crisis, Rogue’s Revenge and maybe even Legion of Three Worlds (at least one speedster is likely to make a comeback in this story) all provide the prelude to the return of Barry Allen in the Flash: Rebirth, also by Johns, coming later this year. This is another book that I will have a hard time waiting for the collection. Just about everything else coming though, I can wait.

One of these days I may REALLY quit.

We’ll see...

How I Spent My Summer Vacation (Part 1)

June 30? My last post was over two months ago?! Apparently I decided to take the summer off from blogging, despite all kinds of "stuff" happening tailor-made for this place. But, once I started missing a few things, it got harder to catch up. And with such a gap, I started to feel a little overwhelmed about everything I "should be" covering, and that kept me away even longer. So finally, I realized/decided by the end of July, well, I’m taking the summer off.

Now, I want to wipe the slate clean and start fresh for the fall, so I’m going to get all of this out of my system with a series of summarizing posts. Then, we can begin again with hopefully a little more regularity.

The biggest miss of course was my review of The Dark Knight. If you scroll down this page, I spent almost a year blogging about my anticipation for this release. Then on July 18, it finally comes out and…nothing, even though I saw it twice (and still hope to catch it in IMAX). I reviewed Iron Man back in May , but skipped reviews of the other big summer movies I saw – Indiana Jones, The Incredible Hulk and … The Dark Knight.

One of the reasons I think I skipped it was because I didn’t know what to write. I LOVED the movie. There are only so many ways I can write "awesome". And I had read so much about the movie before and after its release, it was hard not to be influenced by some of what I had read. Heath Ledger’s Joker was inspired and Aaron Eckhart’s Harvey Dent was mostly great, though the resolution seemed a little… rushed, despite the movie’s length. Returning cast Bale, Oldman, Freeman and Caine built on their strong showing from Batman Begins with even meatier performances. Nolan blended drama, action and humor to create a fantastic, very dark sequel. It immediately leaps to the top of the list of the best comic book movie, though it’s followed pretty closely by Iron Man, as I wrote earlier.

The Incredible Hulk was a fun movie too. Casting aside the Ang Lee version from 2003, this Edward Norton-led version owed a lot to the TV show and the comics. It provided what we were looking for the first time – lots of action, with some major fight scenes against the military and the Abomination, and featured the Bixby-like Banner on the run and in hiding doing menial jobs under false names. And like Iron Man before it, the movie made clear its part of a larger Marvel movie universe. Kudos to Marvel for taking control of the movies based on its characters and planting the appropriate amount of seeds.

As for Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull, while it was great to see Harrison Ford back with his fedora and whip on the big screen again, the movie was a bit of a letdown that slightly tarnished the legacy of the character. It has its moments, but overall it was disappointing.

I didn’t see other comic adaptations Hellboy II or Wanted in the theatre, but I’m sure I’ll catch them on cable within the next year. Other summer movies I considered seeing but haven’t were the comedies Pineapple Express and Tropic Thunder, both still in theatres. I’m on a mini-vacation late this week. Maybe I’ll catch one of them.

New Hellboy II promos include animated Mignola preview

From Collider.com comes all kinds of new promotional videos for Hellboy II: The Golden Army, opening July 11, the coolest of which is an animated prolgue by comics writer/artist and Hellboy creator, Mike Mignola.

If nothing else, the movie looks pretty cool. The first one was a lot of fun, and there's no reason to expect this one won't be too, though it will be quickly be overshadowwed by Dark Knight, opening only a week later, which you may have seen mentioned a time or two on this site.

New Bond trailer

Check out 007.com to catch the trailer for the new James Bond film, Quantum of Solace, starring Daniel Craig, opening November 7th.

Shedding light on the Dark Knight

The Dark Knight opens in less than three weeks, and the full-court marketing press is on. Among the coolest promotions is from Comcast. For those with Comcast's digital cable, you can see trailers, mini documentaries, special "newscasts" and even one of the six animated segments from Batman: Gotham Knight, the animated DVD feature due out July 8, through On Demand (check "Movies & Special Events').

But even if you don't have digital cable, you can still see some of the Comcast goodies. Just go to the dedicated mini-site for some of the same documentaries and trailers.

Elsewhere are actor, writer and director interviews that help set the stage for the sequel. Most notably, you can read these interviews with star Christian Bale, co-star Aaron Eckhart, director Christoher Nolan and writers, David Goyer and Jonathan Nolan.

You can see five minutes from another segment of Batman: Gotham Knights here.

Finally, here's an early mainstream review (from Rolling Stone) that will make you just want July 18 to get here quicker!

Why So Serious?

Kevin Conroy is THE voice of Batman

There’s an emotional place I go to – Bruce (Timm) says he see it in me in the booth. It’s much more a psychology than just producing the sound. Batman is very complex. The Bruce Wayne voice is the real put-on. This is a guy who saw his parents murdered in front of him, and nobody would be normal and together after that. He feels like a freak inside. So to do the voice, you have to take on all that drama.

Kevin Conroy talks about voicing the animated Batman since 1992, and again for the upcoming Batman: Gotham Knight animated movie on DVD July 8.

New Hulk trailer

"The most powerful superhero on Earth returns" Now, that's interesting. The CGI is looking better too.

Getting psyched yet?

Make your own online mix tape

There's a site called Mixwit.com, where you can make and share your own online mixtape. Here's my first attempt:

New trailer for "Star Wars: Clone Wars"

If you thought you'd never get to see new Star Wars on the big screen, may the Force be with you. On August 15, Star Wars: Clone Wars, a computer animatred sequel to the last big screen chapter, Episode III: Revenge of the Sith opens in theatres. Here's the trailer.


The movie release of Star Wars: The Clone Wars leads directly into this fall's premiere of a weekly, animated Star Wars: The Clone Wars series on Cartoon Network, followed by airings on TNT.

Trailer for new X-Men toon

Here's the trailer for the new Wolverine and the X-Men cartoon, scehduled to debut in 2009 on Nicktoons.

Review: "Iron Man" may be the best superhero movie EVER!

I feel like a traitor, but Iron Man may be the best superhero ever made. I am loyal to the DC comics heroes, Superman and Batman. And at Marvel, only Spider-Man holds any serious sway with me. In over 30 years of reading comics, I’m not sure if I’ve ever even read an "Iron Man" solo comic, but none of that matters – Iron Man is a fantastic superhero movie, a fantastic movie, period, regardless of genre. It’s been said that Marvel heroes are more easily translatable to the big screen than the DC heroes. Iron Man is proof positive of this.

A lot of the credit has to go to Robert Downey Jr. I may not have ever been an Iron Man fan, but I’ve always loved this actor. News of his casting as Tony Stark was almost as thrilling to me as hearing Christian Bale was going to be Bruce Wayne. The rest of the cast is great too – Terrence Howard as military liaison James "Rhodey" Rhodes, Gwyneth Paltrow as loyal assistant Pepper Potts and Jeff Bridges as business partner-turned-nemesis Obadiah Stane. With a running time of just over two hours, not once did this film drag. Not a single frame was wasted, not a single scene went on too long, nor did any performance mar the film (unlike, say Katie Holmes in the otherwise excellently cast and acted Batman Begins, a mistake rectified in the sequel). There are plenty of Easter eggs for comics fans (even though, I don’t read the "Iron Man" comics, I’m familiar enough with the world to have picked up on most of them, though I’m sure I may have missed a few).

The reason this movie works for audiences beyond fanboys though is the overall realism of the film. Though there’s plenty of CGI and questionable science in the film, it doesn’t require any more suspension of disbelief than most action/adventure films, and certainly a lot less than most superhero movies. That’s because the source material is based more on reality than any of the other heroes. Though updated for the times, the origin from the comics holds up very well in the live-action adaptation. The film establishes early on Stark’s scientific and engineering expertise, so watching him, design, test, and perfect his armor in a series of vignettes is one of the best parts of the movie – a showcase of fantastic special effects, sight gags and one-liners that grounds the movie more than, say, Peter Parker finding out that he can climb walls and shoot sticky stuff out of his wrist (not that I’m knocking Spider-Man at all – I loved the movie, but still…)

What’s a good superhero movie without a good super-villain? Those looking for a more comics-accurate portrayal of Lex Luthor need look no further than Bridge’s Stane, a greedy businessman looking to eliminate his super-powered obstacle with his own super suit. Jeff Bridges is great in this movie and teaches a new lesson – never trust a man bearing New York City take-out pizza. I’ve never had much of an opinion of Paltrow one way or another, regarding either her acting or her looks, but here she more than holds her own with the great Downey and Bridges, and looks great doing it. Howard doesn’t have a lot to do, but like Samuel L. Jackson in the Phantom Menace, you know he’s going to have more to do in the inevitable sequels (one of those Easter eggs I mentioned earlier). Regardless, he’s great as both a loyal friend and solider.

But Downey carries this movie. He’s in just about every frame of this movie and never does he fail to impress, bringing his well-known personal history into the role. He’s by himself for most of the middle of the movie during the design/test/perfect scenes I mentioned, but he’s still talking almost non-stop to his mechanical assistants, those with and without voices of their own. We see him as an immoral playboy, prisoner of war, brilliant eccentric (he’s based on Howard Hughes), naïve businessman and crusading superhero, and he pulls all of them off.

Every review I’ve read of this movie has been overwhelmingly positive, noting that only the conclusion is a little cliche and too effects-driven. While I won’t say the finale is completely original, it is by no means underwhelming – yes, it’s a battle of two guys in armored suits, but unlike Transformers, you’re still caught up in the movie, knowing there’s two guys in there, not just effects (even though that’s pretty much what it is), and it not drawn out too long. It’s a short, intense, action-packed final a battle that keeps you engaged and amazed throughout.

And, very importantly, if you are a Marvel comics fan, you HAVE to wait until after the credits end for a very short scene that will soon prove that Marvel was absolutely right to take control of their characters’ movies, the next of which is The Incredible Hulk, which had a trailer in front of Iron Man.

You don't have to be a comic fan to enjoy this movie, and if you are – especially a Marvel Comics fan – you will be very, very happy with this movie.

New Dark Knight trailer!

"You either die a hero, or you live long enough to see yourself become the villian." -- Harvey Dent

The new Dark Knight trailer is here! It takes a while to download, so go to the site, and come back to it a few minutes later so you can watch it straight through. Pause the scene right before Harvey says the quote above, when he is holding up a gun, and you can see the barest glimpse of Two-Face.

Very cool!

New Hulk trailer

See the new trailer for The Incredible Hulk here.

New Dark Knight posters

New trailer expected on Sunday....

See more posters here.

TJ Hooker!

Nobody does fake stunts like Shatner! This is so funny!

The Redwalls on Letterman in January

"Batman: Gotham Knight" animated DVD trailer

Here's the trailer for the Batman:Gotham Knight animated DVD that comes out on July 8, only 10 days before The Dark Knight hits theatres. This release consists of six vignettes designed tobridge the gap between the two Nolan Batman movies. Each short story is done in a different anime style and are written by comics pros and otherscreen writers. Long-time Batman voice Kevin Conroy reprises his lead role here, which you can hear in the trailer. Most misgivings about this being "too anime" will go away after watching the trailer.

At this site, you can read an early review of the release.

Chicken Payback

New Hellboy II trailer

Hellboy II opens July 11.

Rachel Dawes believes in Harvey Dent!

Rachel Dawes supports Harvey Dent. Do you?

The Harvey Dent for Gotham City district attorney campaign is heating up. I even saw a campaign sticker in Center City Philadelphia.



However, since the fear toxin incident, crime is up and Lt. James Gordon has been tapped to head Gotham's new Major Crimes Unit.

Isn't viral marketing fun?

R.E.M. on the Colbert Report

Funny interview and great performance ("Supernatural Superserious") by R.E. M. last week on The Colbert Report.

Lop Top

A topiary Beatles display in Liverpool was recently vandalized -- poor Ringo got his head chopped off. Apparently, that's what he gets for saying he doesn't miss his hometown.

Charlton Heston dead at 84

Batman: Brave and the Bold officially announced for Cartoon Network

Batman isn't going at it alone this time! From Warner Bros. Animation comes the latest interpretation of the Batman franchise. Our caped crusader is teamed up with heroes from across the DC Universe, delivering nonstop action and adventures with a touch of comic relief. Blue Beetle, Green Arrow, Aquaman and countless others will get a chance to uphold justice alongside Batman. Though still based in Gotham, Batman will frequently find himself outside city limits, facing situations that are both unfamiliar and exhilarating. With formidable foes around every corner, Batman will still rely on his stealth, resourcefulness and limitless supply of cool gadgets to bring justice home.

The Raconteurs release "Consolers of the Lonely"

Marvel Comics set to adapt Stephen King's "The Stand"

During an NPR interview promoting the second comic mini-series based on his Dark Tower saga (the first issue came out earlier this month), author Stephen King announced that Marvel Comics will also adapt one of his earliest and most popular novels, The Stand.

Marvel hasn't officially announced it yet, so writer, artist, length and due date are still unknown. The first Dark Tower mini-series, Dark Tower: Gunslinger Born, was one of 2007's top selling comics, both in its serial form and in the hardback collection. The second series is called Dark Tower: The Long Road Home.

During the 17+ minute interview, he talks about adapting his work into comics, and he also mentions that one of the favorite comics he has discovered is Y: The Last Man.

Strangely enough, in addition to working on another novel, he is actually working on a musical with John Mellencamp.

I started reading the uncut version of The Stand when it came out in 1990, but it was so huge I never got through it. I lent it to someone and never got it back. I am currently reading King's 2006 novel, Cell, the first King book I have read in years. I also read his monthly column in Entertainment Weekly.

R.E.M. Concert @ South by Southwest Festival

In advance of the release of their new album, Accelerate, due April 1, R.E.M played a 90-minute concert at the South by Southwest Festival in Austin, TX on Wednesday night, April 12. Here's a review of the show.

NPR. org has put the entire concert online.

First "Incredible Hulk" teaser trailer now online

Finally, we get our first look at The Incredible Hulk, opening June 13, thanks to MTV.

New York Times interviews Nolan about "The Dark Knight

Christopher Nolan, the director of this summer's Batman sequel, The Dark Knight, was profiled in the New York Times this past Sunday. Not only did the article include new photos from the movie (including this one with Christian Bale and the late Heath Ledger), but it included quotes from all of the principal actors about the differences between the first and second film, the look of Gotham and dealing with Ledger's death after filming. It's a great article that shows just how much both Bale and Nolan get the character and his world.

For example, here's Nolan talking about the escalation Gordon refrerenced at the end of Batman Begins:

As we looked through the comics, there was this fascinating idea that Batman’s presence in Gotham actually attracts criminals to Gotham, attracts lunacy. When you’re dealing with questionable notions like people taking the law into their own hands,you have to really ask, where does that lead? That’s what makes the character so dark, because he expresses a vengeful desire.

Bale continues the thought:

This escalation has now meant that he feels more of a duty to continue. And now you have not just a young man in pain attempting to find some kind of an answer, you have somebody who actually has power, who is burdened by that power, and is having to recognize the difference between attaining that power and holding on to it.

Nolan says the Gotham is sleeker and shinier in the new film, which is almost completely set in the city, unlike the first film. And he describes Ledger's performance as the Joker with adjectives like "terrifying," amazing," "stunning," and "iconic."

These quotes have led to Oscar buzz for Ledger, which seems a bit premature.

The Dark Knight opens on July 18

UPDATED: Sneak peek at Batman anime DVD

Before the Bat-sequel, The Dark Knight hits theatres on July 18, Warner Bros., will release on July 8 Batman: Gotham Knight, a series of 6 related animated shorts that bridge the gap between Batman Begins and the new movie. Each short is directed by an established anime director, who bring their own look to the character and his world. Villians featured in the shorts include Deadshot, Scarecrow and Killer Croc. You can see pics of each of them here.

A 10-minute sneak peek of the DVD was included with the recently released Justice League: New Frontier DVD You can a portion of that video at the official site for the DVD. or you can watch the whole thing here:

Rock & Roll Hall of Fame inductees: Dave Clark Five and The Ventures

In honor of their induction into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame tonight, here's classic footage of the Dave Clark Five:

And here's the Ventures:

Very cool!

Mike Myers' "The Love Guru" trailer online

See the trailer for Mike Myers' first new movie in years -- The Love Guru:

Smallville Update - SPOILERS

Do not read if you don't want upcoming plot points ruined for you.

The biggest news about Smallville is that last week the CW announced it will be coming back for an 8th season. So who will be back? Well, definitely, Clark, Lois, Jimmy and Kara (see left, because, really, who wants to look at Tom Welling on this site?). That leaves out Lex, Lionel, Chloe and Lana.

Kristin (Lana) Kreuk apparently has already apparently made arrangements to return for at least a few episodes, and now Michael (Lex) Rosenbaum, who had been saying he was done after Season 7, has also recently stated that he may come back occasionally. The status of Chloe and Lionel are unknown (see below). James Marsters, who returns as Braniac on March 27, has also stated he would like to return next season.

Now, how about this season? First, returning this week -- Pete Ross, who becomes his very own "freak of the week." What else happens when Brainiac comes back? Kara teaches Clark to fly! Of course, we don't know how good a teacher she is.

Then, on the April 17the episode, according to TV Guide, someone dies! Remember, a few paragraphs ago, when I said we don't know what's up for Chloe and Lionel next season? You know, the two characters who are not part of the ongoing Superman mythos? Well, chances are really good one of them will be dying on April 17th. They can't kill Lex, Lois (below, because, really, who wants to look at Aaron Ashmore on this site?), Jimmy or Supergirl. They have long comic book destinies ahead of them.

Late last year, DC Comics announced they were introducing Chloe to the "Superman" comics, but guess what happened about a month later -- they changed their minds -- no Chloe in the comics. That's not a good sign. Of course, I don't think Lionel is going to last forever either.

So, welcome back Smallville, everything's going to change real soon.

New Indiana Jones poster

New Spidey toon debuts this weekend

This weekend, sees not only the the two-part finale of The Batman, but the two-part opener of The Spectactular Spider-Man. See the trailer here.

Watchmen movie character shots

Watchmen, the movie based on the groundbreaking comic series of the same name by Alan Moore and Dave Gibbons, opens in theatres in exactly one year. In recognition of the date, director Zack Snyder revealed 4 new photos on his production blog featuring the movie's characters, looking fairly faithful to their comic versions. Here's a shot of the Comedian:

Hour long Batman finale features JLA

This weekend, the two-part series finale of The Batman guest-stars -- for the first and only time on the show -- the entire Justice League of America -- Superman, the Flash, Green Arrow, Green Lantern, Hawkman and the Martian Manhunter -- as they battle the Joining, the alien invaders that were first seen in the two-part 4th season finale that concluded with Batman meeting the JLA for the first time.

This new two-parter marks the end of the series. Executive producer Alan Burnett, gave a final interview about the series here, where he talks about how the show evolved:

... the changes in The Batman were pretty organic. The first season he was a complete loner. By the second season he was accepted by the police. The third season added Batgirl. The fourth, Robin. This season, the JLA. The fourth season was probably the darkest, blessedly so. We thought it was going to be the last season. When the network gave us the go-ahead for a fifth season, they wanted us to get a little more kid-friendly again.

While still only a rumor, this is likely not the end of animated televison Batman adventures, as a new series that tfetures Batman teaming up with a different guest hero episode, as the Brave and the Bold comic did in the '60s through the '80s. hiopefully, we'll hear more during hte summer convention season.

In the meantime, we don't have to wait long for new anmated Batman, as the DVD Batman: Gotham Knight debuts on July 8, just a few weeks before the Dark Knight hits theatres. A series of six short stories written by comics and other genre writers, and directed in anime style by famous anime directors, this new animated venture features the return of Kevin Conroy, known as the voice of Batman for over a decade, starting with Batman: the Animated Series in 1992, up through Justice League Unlimited, which ended in 2006. It's not clear if Conroy will be the feature voice of Batman in all six stories, or in fact, if he is even voicing Batman, but his involvement was confirmed during a recent interview at the San Francisco WonderCon while promoting the DVD release of Justice League: The New Frontier.