Man of Steel (Movie)

A familiar tale,

reconfigured for our time.

More Man than Super.

A familiar tale,

I'm willing to bet that if you asked 10 people who Superman was, 9 out of 10 would be able to tell you something.  The golden boy of Krypton has reached the milestone of 75 years in pop culture, he's been the star of countless comics, a handful of movies, television shows, and children's cartoons.  His story is familiar, and without a doubt one of the most retold stories of our time.  The movie was very enjoyable and though it did not give me the chills I experienced from the trailer, it was a very good movie that is worth seeing in theatres.

reconfigured for our time.

As I left the theatre I overheard a conversation one young man was having with another.  He was complaining about the use of flashbacks in the movie.  His complaint was that they didn't "tell the story like he knew it."  He wanted every detail of minutiae he knew about Clark's childhood.  This is something I often hear when coming out of a comic book movie.  Having been a reader of comics for as long as I can remember, I have to say that I would not enjoy a movie that told me the same story I've read over and over.  I'm always excited to see how a story is retooled, reconstructed, and reworked.  It's thrilling and far more satisfying for me when I see a clever spin on original material, and makes me feel as though I didn't just waste my time and that the writer didn't just set his keyboard to auto-pilot.

There are many plot points in the film that have changed from what you would expect coming to this movie from an elementary understanding of the Superman mythos.  Without giving too much away for people who haven't seen the film, here are some bullet points.

• Lois Lane is far more resourceful.  She's what you'd expect from a tough-as-nails reporter.
• A view into Kryptonian society adds fantastic and philosophical elements to the movie and fleshes out Kal-El's people.  They are more than merely a extinct society that Clark is the last descendant of.
• Clark and Jonathan's relationship is a strained one.  While still being a loving father, he's too cautious with his invulerable son.  I suppose that's how all good father's are meant to be, and Clark become his own man when he understands his father and then makes his own decisions.

More Man than Super.

Beyond the fact that this a superhero movie, the subtext is far more interesting to me.  It's appropriate that I'm writing this on Father's day because at its the core Man of Steel is the story of fathers and sons.  It's undeniable and often taken for granted that the way a boy is raised will dictate the way he will interact with others and how he will exist as a man in his society.  

Not to become overly philosophical, but as Friedrich Nietzsche wrote in Thus Spoke Zarathustra, he urges humanity to turn away from the promises of an afterlife where all the torments of this world are forgotten.  Nietzsche champions what's called "This-Worldliness" because "Other Worldliness" (found in religions such as Catholicism and Islam) draws us away from this world.  We set our hopes on the other world, to the detriment of this world.  He expounds the thought that all men should strive to be Übermensch: Overmen, Above-Human, Superhuman... Supermen.  He entreats humanity to do this, not as Christianity teaches to gain entry into heaven, but for the greater good of the society.  

I've read before somewhere that the Übermensch that Nietzsche wants might only be attainable through a societal program of eugenics.  This is interesting when juxtaposed against one of the plot points in Man of Steel.  It turns out that Krypton had done away with natural childbirth and each child was produced in pods, genetically engineered for specific tasks and thus set for specific lives: warriors, workers, politicians, scientists, etc.  Kal-El is the first natural childbirth in centuries and is sent from the dying planet to a new world.  It's interesting because the fall of Krypton is blamed on an empire that obviously installed this eugenics based society.  Nietzsche wants a good world, a sustainable world; Krypton is obviously not that.

In parallel to Krypton we have the Kents.  Jonathan instills in Clark the need for him to control his power, and he does this because he fears what will become of Clark.  And while Clark is an exaggerated example of the power a being can wield, Clark's mythos can be a parable for us all.  I was raised catholic and growing up I always believed that God would change things for the better when it needed to happen.  How could I think other when in all the stories of Jesus, he comes and solves problems for everyone?  It's very easy to fall into the trap that we need to be saved, that we need to be helped by someone that can do extraordinary things for us that we cannot do for ourselves.  It's easy.  It's comforting.  

The truth is this:  Each of us has the ability to be more than our fathers before us were.  In fact, it is our duty to be better than they were, to take the good in them, make it ours, magnify it, and add our own.  We are all Men, but we can be Super, and not for ourselves, but for those in our lives that need us.

Happy Father's Day everyone.

Chronicle (Movie)

Three sides to one-third.

Telekinetic thriller.

Carry a smart phone.

My cousin Chris sent me a text message early last week. It read, “have you seen this yet? If not we should go. Looks dope!” A link was attached to a movie I’d seen previews for but instantly put on my mental list of “Movies to Watch... Eventually”. Now this list belongs strictly, if one were to create a Venn diagram, where the segments “Have nothing to do”, “Remembered something”, “My bandwidth isn’t being used right now for anything constructive” and “have a need to wear my eye patch”* intersect. So, as you can see, Chronicle did not rate high on my watch list as opposed to, say, The Avengers movie which easily resides in the large and all encompassing finite collection titled “Imperative to Life”. But I digress, on with the review.

Three sides to one-third.

So as the trailer gives away, this is the story of three characters who each attain telekinetic powers while adventuring into a underground cave. The plot is nothing stunning, I’ll give it that, but the execution was, to say the least, thoroughly entertaining. For the first act we are treated to handycam filmed hi-jinx of the teen-trio as they discover the limits of their fledgling powers, all the while peppered with disharmonious scenes of abuse the character Andrew Detmer suffers at the hands of his father. Not to give too much of the plot away, this abuse sets up two causalities: one, drives the plot forward; and two, gives us a character that has more than one dimension. The operative word here being: One.

All visual affects and entertaining pranks that resonate with jack-ass comedy aside, the fact that the people involved in writing this film did not take the time to flesh out the rest of the characters gives us no reason to cheer for a victory, or praise the film as more than the heartless piece of entertainment it is. We simply leave the theatre with a feelings akin to beating a toddler in a game of tackle football: pity and emptiness. There is no rejoicing, or internal conflict. Just an overwhelming sense of: shit, that was a downer. The movie ran a paltry 84 minutes, so I can only attribute the lack of depth in the other two protagonist to budget constraints and/or laziness.

Telekinetic thriller.

Beyond my need as a writer to have characters that are dripping with reason, back story, and a motive to connect with them, Chronicle was AMAZING. If you aren’t the type to enjoy comic books, movies based on comic books, or novelizations based on movies that were actually based on comic books (it’s a very niche market, but it exists, I assure you.) then you probably won’t enjoy Chronicle. But if you are an intelligent, handsome, extremely loved human being, like myself and the people I keep company with, then, well, this movie is right up your alleyway.

The effects are not exactly top notch, some of the CGI effects look, well, like they belong in a pixar movie. There are instances where they look real, and there are instances where their colouring or lighting might be off. Thankfully, the effects are more the former than the latter. While this might seem like nitpicking, it’s actually distracting if I’m thinking, “Hey, that doesn’t look real.” But then again, for 12 million, I shouldn’t expect Industrial grade Light and Magic.

Aside from that though, the script is solid and the idea that the entire film is being captured by the more-creepy-than-artsy-type-filming-we-saw-in-American-Beauty-Ala-Ricky-Fitts is surprisingly carried through the entire film without breaking character. At least for what I could see, and if you’re watching the movie tracking that... well, I’m sure people who wank and finger-bang to the “Goofs” section of IMDB will want to shake your hand.

Carry a Smart Phone.

This isn’t so much part of the review as it is a public service announcement. If you find yourself at the movie theatre and the lines for both human and automated ticket servers are akin to “Last Spaceship off of Earth Before the Highly Advanced Dinosaurs Crawl Out of the Depths of the Earth to Eat or Rule All Beings Remaining, We’re Not Sure” lines, then be thankful if you have a smart phone. There’s a little used kiosk in most Cineplex Odeon theaters that can be communicated to via your smartphone to produce tickets. AMAZING. We faced one of these lines, but Chris spotted the machine and we quickly jumped on our smartphones while queuing. Long story short, we moved inches in the time it took us order and receive our booking number. I love technology. That is all.

Oh, go see Chronicle. It’s pretty good. I thought it entertaining, and the lady in front of me must’ve thought I was really into it because during one of the more intense scenes, my cellphone went off [an alarm to take my anti-psychotics,(kidding.)] and I kicked the SHIT out of her chair, effectively launching her forward, while trying to straighten my leg to get at the whaling and vibrating technology in my pocket. Still, I love you technology. That never changes, xoxo.

*it’s a piracy reference. ARGH, matey.

Pride of Baghdad (Graphic Novel)

Freedom is not free.

Prowling the broken city.

Tragic, heartache, purrr.

Freedom is not free.

This is the message woven throughout the graphic novel “Pride of Baghdad” as a subtle subtext to the violence, broken lives, and ruins both metaphorical and literal that the lions wander through. Pride of Baghdad, written by super star writer Brian K. Vaughan, and illustrated by the heavily under rated artist Niko Henrichon, seeks to tell the story of the American occupation of Iraq through the lens of the occupied; more specifically, through the lives of a pack of lions set free during the bombing of the Baghdad zoo.

Through the hundreds of panels that Pride runs, we follow four lions. Zill, a full grown Lion with not much experience in the wild. Safa, an older lioness who was brought into captivity much later in life and knows what lies dangers beyond the cement walls of the zoo; she has the missing eye to show for it. There is Noor, a younger lioness, much closer to Zill’s age than Safa, crafty, and cunning. And precocious Ali, Noor’s cub. Through these four lions the point that freedom is not free is pounded into us with increasingly heart-wrenching images. This is no super hero smash ‘em up, there is something to be taken away from this.

Prowling the broken city.

The pride travels aimlessly through the wreckage of war-torn Baghdad, where the ruined lives of the human inhabitants are inter-twined with the ramshackle mess of the crumbling buildings. Through the lions, each with their own perceptions and interpretations of what is occurring around them, they serve as a unique point of view for those familiar with the conflict that occurred only a few years ago. One particular exchange is poignant and worth noting when and if someone were to read Pride of Baghdad after reading this review. It’s when the pride stumbles upon a tortoise. While I’m not necessarily a fan of didactic literature, it does go down much more smoothly coming from a tortoise that has seen it all and has suffered his own losses.

tragic, heartbreak, purrr.

Be forewarned, this is not a book to be give to a child, so don’t go putting that in your amazon cart hoping to give it to little Miguel for his upcoming 10th birthday. There, as in war, are horrors to be seen in this graphic novel. (Note: you cannot un-see a giraffe's head being blown off.) As I re-read Pride for the first time in over a year in preparation for writing this review, I was stunned at how raw my nerves still were after I turned the last page, even though I was aware of what was going to happen on each subsequent page or panel. Brian K. Vaughan is a master of his craft, a storyteller through and through. Niko Henrichon earns a tip of my hat for his stylized sketchy depictions that provoke and provide a sense of urgency to the subject matter.

And just so you know: In the spring of 2003, a pride of lions escaped from the Baghdad Zoo during an American bombing raid.

This is their imagined story as told in graphic novel form.

Paul (Movie)

Seth Rogan as Paul.

Look at cast, it's not for kids.

Put brain on vibrate.

So I'm a little rusty when it comes to reviewing movies. Haven't done it since I was maybe 19 or 20. Let's see how it goes. I used to talk about cinematography like I knew shit about it, which I didn't and still don't. So yea, I won't be going there. You're welcome.

Seth Rogan as Paul.

I'm a big fan of Seth's work. Not because he's an amazing actor, I won't even pretend I know what the difference between a competent actor and an academy award winning actor is aside from the little golden statute. I am either convinced you are the person you are trying to play or I'm not. I like Seth because he's good at what he's trying to do. And what's that you ask, oh faithful reader? It's making people laugh. The guy is hella funny and in Paul he's still funny so we can rule out the fact that he looks funny. Bottomline: dude got a way with the HA-HAs y0. While Paul, the actual character, is pretty much just Seth Rogan from another planet, they do some clever shit with his dialogue. There's one scene where Paul SPOILER ALERT UNTIL END OF PARAGRAPH tells Simon Pegg and Nick Frost about the first time he saw a human being. He says something like, "Man you guys freaked me out, those tiny, tiny heads on those enormous bodies." Come on, who doesn't like irony?

I also love the implication that Paul was responsible for many of the advancements in technology that are available today, and also was an acting consultant for a specific all-time-high-grossing film from the 80s. I especially love the scene where Paul is on the phone with said director and the punchline for that scene is, "Less is more." All these little bits of information give the movie the feeling that this shit wasn't just churned out, that there was actually some thought put into it. I appreciate that. They don't let you sit there too long pondering these wonderous ideas though; the next second some is peeing their pants, commenting on how three tits are awesome, or Paul is baring his little green ass.

The plot is nothing new, there are a few twists in it, but they aren't like OMG SHYAMALAN. They're serviceable twists. I liked this movie because it was light fare, I wasn't worried about the characters dying and being a downer, and it made me laugh. You bet your big fat cock I laughed. You'll get that if you ever see the movie.

Nick Frost and Simon Pegg are also funny as geeky British 30+ nerds who've come to San Diego for Comicon. They were great in Hot Fuzz, and weren't they in Shaun of the Dead together? Super funny movies too. I wonder, is this British comedy? People keep telling me I need to see Monty Python and the Holy Grail. I have it, have tried to watch it, but shit just seems hella corny. Don't get me wrong, I like hella corny, I loved and still love any Leslie Neilson flicks, but man, corny + british accents just equals too much more for me to stomach.

Look at cast, it's not for kids.

I know people that won't go to movies because it's too expensive and protest that it's "not worth it." They say things like "Why would I want to go to the theater when my home theater is just as good!" Well I say to you, kind sirs and madames, you obviously don't understand the movie going experience then. I love watching the previews and the commercials. I love hearing the comments people make when they leave, or in one particular instance when two girls thought they were the only ones in the theater because they didn't see 'Lis and I in the corner, one spoke out loudly and said, "Let's take out shirts off." ??? Add on top of that the parents that have to have the awkward conversations with their children when when didn't do their due diligence and find out what the fuck the movie is about. I'll gladly pay the 6.75 on cheap night to be a part of it all. Case in point, the people behind us during Paul. Mom, dad, two kids. Children, 7 and 5 years of age? Yea, there's a lot of F-bombs dropped in that movie. Not to mention dick and fart jokes. Lol, come on guys. Just cuz it's got a CGI alien in it doesn't mean it's Pixar.

Put brain on vibrate.

Don't leave your brain at home, and don't completely zone out. This movie is not brilliant, it's not intelligent, and it's not even smart! But it is, and does have it's clever moments that if you get the joke will make you smile.

Halo Reach (XBOX 360)

Battle scarred armor.

Multiplayer massacre.

Less whining, more play.

I realize this review is a little late, but give me a break. I just started this blog fifteen minutes ago. I've been playing Halo since Derek got me into it with Halo 2. I did play Halo: Combat Evolved, but never finished it. Regardless, Halo is a fantastic series for people who enjoy killing aliens and saving earth, while using futuristic armor and weapons. The storyline is a little pedestrian, nothing that steps out from the "Last of the Greatest" mold of storytelling. It's merely a means to an end; the end being a kick-ass gaming experience in both the campaign and especially the multiplayer.

Battle scarred armor.

The spartan armor has never looked better or more real. Long gone are the cartoony look of halo 3. The only thing left for the next Halo game is visual armor damage. Player models aside, the levels, if you take the time to actually look at the alien-blood spattered areas you fight in, are amazing. Even the different sounds of footsteps on various surfaces have been taken into consideration. This game just drips with detail. Everything you do in Reach earns you credits that you can spend on armor. Armor configuration is purely aesthetic, and it is easy to fall into buying all the coolest looking shit, adding it all on your spartan at once, and effectively end up looking like a bad impression of Optimus Prime. But hey, personal taste aside, it's fun to play with the armor. I've actually found myself becoming superstitious of what I put on when I go into battle!

Multiplayer massacre.

I got my copy on launch night. When I got home at 1 am, I fired up my 360 and slapped the disc in the drive. What did I do first? Did I start the campaign? Nah, I knew I'd eventually get to that. I jumped directly in the multiplayer because I knew that that's where I'd be spending the bulk of my time in this installment of the Halo franchise. I distinctly remembering my awe at two things playing that night: "WOW. I'M FLYING. PEW PEW PEW!" and "WHY CAN'T I KILL THIS GUY??!! HE'S RUNNING INTO A WALL, HE'S LAGGING!!!! (and the realizing) OH FUCK, HE'S A HOLOGRAM!" I don't care what anyone says, armor powers rock and I'll tell you why...

Anyone who really knows me know I got it bad for Halo. When asked what the game is like I've always likened Halo to the old game Rock, Paper, Scissors -- But really, really fast and with guns. In Halo 3, a good player was able to 1) determine what weapons the opposing player has 2) know which weapon beats those weapons 3) kill the opposing player without taking too much damage. All of this within a matter of seconds. That doesn't take into consideration more advance tactics like spawn locations of weapons and players, spawn times and what weapons will constantly respawn, and which won't unless the "empty" is dropped. ANYWAY, Halo tactics are a completely different post, and while much of the strategy I used in Halo 3 is still used in Halo Reach, Bungie (developer of the Halo franchise) has thrown in a new set of factors: Armor powers. These armor powers are a specific load-out chosen when you start the match or respawn. To put it succinctly:"Armor lock beats stickies" in Halo Reach is to "Shotgun beats Sword" in Halo 3. These new sets of armor powers have changed the game play immensely and in some cases is welcome and in others makes the game unbalanced. Either way the reason armor powers rock is simply this: it has added a new layer of tactics to the gameplay of previous halo games.

There are a few other things that I love about Reach over Halo 3. I'm too lazy to actually write full paragraphs for all, so lets hit the bullet points of what I love and hate so far.

• Love. The magnum is no longer a piece of shit that I drop as soon as I can.
• Hate. Focus Rifle and Plasma Launcher are as effective as shooting opposing players with a dachshund.
• Love. Health packs instead of constantly regenerating health adds another level of memorization to the game.
• Hate. Shotgun doesn't seem to be the antithesis of the sword any more. I've just been killed too many times while shotgunning a sworder that I know in H3 would've been effed.
• Love. Daily challenges and weekly challenges. They give you the false sense of accomplishment when you're merely accomplishing getting fat and wasting time! YAY!
• Hate. I just wish that the health packs would actually prevent you from getting killed if shot while administering it. Maybe something like a mini overshield effect, I don't know.
• Love. Assassination Animations. I just love getting one then teabagging. It's just such a "eff you buddy!"
• Hate. Ranked matches, otherwise known as Arena, really have worth. YAY I get a NUMBER for playing. People need visual shit, like gold stars or cookies.
• Love. DLC map Anchor 9. Amazing looking, great concept.
• Hate. Elite Slayer. It's terrible. Why can't we just have a good old fashion Spartan vs Elite beat down???? (and not in Invasion)

The maps are stunning, varied in visual appearance, and will provide hours of fun for anyone willing to put the time in. And if you're creative, Forge got a 'roid boost. I made my own map and it had a lot of fun doing it! Some kids even make games that aren't about killing, sometimes it's about racing to the top of a giant column while blocks fall down on you like Tetris blocks. Mad cool.

Less whining, more play.

I'm convinced there are two types of people in the world. Those who accept change and those who don't. Coming out of movies that are remakes or are adapted from comic books or books, I cringe and have to hold my tongue when people say "Such and such didn't happen in the comic book!" (especially when they haven't read a comic book in 10 years, but that's beside the point I'm going to make) I personally do not go to movies or play games to experience something that I've already experienced. Movies and gaming are a complete waste of time. Yet I enjoy them and I'd rather experience something new than repeat the same gameplay or seeing the same story play out on screen over and over again ad nauseam.

People have complained that the DMR is a shit weapon and they want their BR back. Some say the armor powers are gay and they want on map power ups back. Some say that the reticle bloom is stupid. Well, if you hate it that much then play halo 3. If it makes you feel better, tape the words REACH you disc and pretend it's Halo 3.

Reach, for better or worse, is new. Bungie has tried to make a game that will satisfy the fanboys and entice those new to the franchise to give it a try. I welcome the changes, but I hope that 343 studios (now replacing Bungie in taking on the Halo franchise) will check the forum regularly and keep their finger on the pulse of what their fans see might be broken in online multiplayer.